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With 105 points, Anna Marek became the first rider in US Equestrian Open of Dressage history to cross the 100-point mark, sealing her place as the inaugural Series champion.
<h2 dir="ltr">The Art of Almost Winning</h2>
When the season opened in January, Marek sat mid-pack while European riders like Felicitas Hendricks and Evelyn Eger traded early wins. But by Week 10, after a string of podiums in Wellington and Ocala, she overtook the leaderboard. From that point on, no one caught her.
<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-itjY6" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="The Points Race: Anna Marek, Ben Ebeling, Felicitas Hendricks" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/itjY6/2/" height="653" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Line chart" data-external="1"></iframe>
Across her six qualifying runs, Marek never finished lower than third and averaged over 75% in every freestyle. She also logged four second-place finishes, more than any other rider in the Series. It&rsquo;s the kind of stat that cuts both ways: a testament to her reliability, but also a question mark heading into the Final.
Can the sport&rsquo;s most consistent contender finally trade silver for gold when it matters most?
<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-MMizW" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Anna Marek's Series Points" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/MMizW/1/" height="438" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Table" data-external="1"></iframe>
<h2 dir="ltr">The Power of Two</h2>
Most riders only managed one horse through the Series. Marek managed two.
<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-cOxSA" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Anna Marek's Grand Prix Stable: Fire Fly vs. Fayvel" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/cOxSA/2/" height="414" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Table" data-external="1"></iframe>
Fire Fly, the high-voltage Pan Am Games medalist, brings flair with an all-time best of 78.750%. But he&rsquo;s a sensitive horse. Electric, but unpredictable under pressure.
Fayvel, by contrast, is the dependable one. A 15-year-old KWPN gelding by Zizi Top, he&rsquo;s an accurate horse, rarely dropping below 75%. Marek herself calls him &ldquo;bold but honest,&rdquo; a horse who gives her confidence to take risks.
When she needed reliability, Fayvel delivered. When she needed brilliance, Fire Fly did. That dual approach kept her ahead of riders just fielding one mount.
<h2 dir="ltr">What the Numbers Say</h2>
Heading into the Final, Marek is the only rider in the field with two proven Grand Prix Freestyle horses, both capable of scoring in the high 70s. She&rsquo;s logged seven top-four finishes this season, more than any other competitor, and her 105 points make her the most consistently high-scoring American across the year.
On paper, that consistency makes her a statistical favorite for another podium&hellip; but not necessarily for the win. Four second-place finishes have shown she&rsquo;s reliably in the mix, but rarely untouchable.
The question now is whether she can ride for first in the palm-lined arenas of Thermal, California.

Anna Marek smiles while riding during a US Equestrian Open Dressage competition, wearing a navy coat with the U.S. team badge and helmet, set against a blurred green background with the event logo in the corner.

How Anna Marek Won the Series

In a final qualifier class of just three, Tryon proved that a small field can still have Series-altering impact. Both Julio Mendoza Loor and Laine Ashker entered the weekend outside the qualification cutoff&mdash;and both left with invitations to the Final.
Mendoza Loor and his Paris mount, Jewel&rsquo;s Goldstrike, claimed victory on a 76.190%, while Ashker and Zeppelin followed with 72.955%. Their one-two finish vaulted both riders up the leaderboard: Mendoza Loor now sits in 18th, the last automatic qualifying position, and Ashker moves to 20th but has already received and accepted her invitation to the Final.
Entries for the US Equestrian Open of Dressage Final will be confirmed later this week, but several riders inside the top 18&mdash;Eline Eckroth, Evelyn Eger, and Kevin Kohmann&mdash;have already declined their spots, which created an opening for Ashker. Eckroth plans to stay in Florida to prepare for the winter circuit, while Eger and Kohmann are entered in the $350,000 World Cup event in Mexico the week before the Final. As for Mendoza Loor, we&rsquo;ll have to wait and see whether he joins the field in Thermal when entries are confirmed.&nbsp;
With the standings now set, Anna Marek officially tops the season leaderboard on 105 points, closing out the inaugural season with a $12,500 payout. Later this week, we&rsquo;ll take a closer look at her journey and how she got here. In the meantime, as we wait with bated breath for official entry announcements, one question lingers: <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/reliability-or-flash-which-will-marek-choose" target="_blank" rel="noopener">which horse will she bring to the Final</a>? With Kohmann out of the picture and Ebeling on an upward trajectory, it&rsquo;s a decision that promises to be anything but simple.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/ec351ddc-39ae-4bbb-8c20-23407423ff89.png?width=497&amp;height=684" alt="Screenshot of the final US Equestrian Open of Dressage leaderboard showing Anna Marek in first with 105 points, followed by Benjamin Ebeling with 94, and Kristina Harrison-Antell, Eline Eckroth, and Kevin Kohmann tied at 86. The top 20 riders are listed through Laine Ashker in 20th with 52 points.">

A dressage rider in formal competition attire raises his fist in celebration while riding a chestnut horse adorned with a ribboned bridle and the Ecuadorian flag on its saddle pad. The US Equestrian Open Dressage logo appears in the top right corner

Tryon Delivers the Final Twist in the US Equestrian Open Qualifiers

Taking place at Tryon International Equestrian Center, this week&rsquo;s qualifier may feature a small class, but it&rsquo;s far from insignificant.
Two familiar faces headline the final qualifier: Julio Mendoza Loor and Laine Ashker. Both sit just outside the top 18, and both could qualify for the Final by Saturday night if conditions align.
<h2 dir="ltr">Mendoza Loor&rsquo;s Mission</h2>
Mendoza Loor enters Tryon in 25th place on 37 points. Despite contesting only two qualifiers, he finished first and second in those starts. With his 14-year-old partner Jewel&rsquo;s Goldstrike, the Paris Olympian boasts a strong Grand Prix Freestyle average of 77.549%, one of the highest in the Series, and a personal best of 84.230% making him the clear favorite in Tryon.
If he wins (and it&rsquo;s hard to see him not doing so), he&rsquo;ll finish the season on 57 points, tying with Adrienne Lyle for 18th place, the final qualifying position for the Thermal Final. Even if he skips the trip west, that 18th-place finish still nets him $500, which isn&rsquo;t much, but it&rsquo;ll pay for his next FEI entry fee.
<h2 dir="ltr">Ashker&rsquo;s Chance</h2>
Ashker&rsquo;s path is a little different. A second-place finish would add 17 points to her current 35-point total, bringing her to 52 points and 19th&nbsp; overall&mdash;just outside the automatic qualifying cutoff. But there&rsquo;s still hope. When riders inside the top 18 decline their invitations, the next in line receive the call-up. With Kevin Kohmann and Eline Eckroth already confirmed as non-participants, at least two Final spots should open, likely including one for Ashker.
<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-OIbVf" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Grand Prix Freestyle Stats: Tryon Fall Dressage III" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/OIbVf/1/" height="470" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Table" data-external="1"></iframe>
<h2 dir="ltr">The Leaderboard at a Glance</h2>
With Kevin Kohmann, Eline Eckroth, Benjamin Ebeling, and Kristina Kristina Harrison-Antell all sitting out this weekend, Anna Marek&rsquo;s hold on the top spot is secure. Once the dust settles in Tryon, she will officially be crowned the Series leaderboard champion, earning $12,500 for her season-long effort. The bigger check, of course, awaits in Thermal.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/f4b16253-141a-41e1-8da6-537304def5ae.png?width=1080&amp;height=1080" alt="Infographic titled &ldquo;The Series Standings Are Finalized After the Qualifiers.&rdquo; It explains how $50,000 in prize money for the US Equestrian Open of Dressage is distributed based on season-end standings. The Series winner earns $12,500; payouts continue through 18th place, which receives $500. The graphic includes icons of first-, second-, and third-place trophies and notes that riders can also qualify for the Final event.">
<h2 dir="ltr">Stay Connected</h2>
For the <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/dressage-us-equestrian-open-quick-guide">most up-to-date series calendar</a> and <a href="https://equestrian-hub-usef.pages.dev/us-equestrian-open">latest standings</a>, visit the official US Equestrian Open Series hub at <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/">usequestrianopen.org</a>.
Stay connected with the latest news and standings on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen"> Facebook</a> and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen"> Instagram</a>, and follow US Equestrian on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/USequestrian"> Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrian/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@usequestrian">TikTok</a>, and <a href="https://x.com/usequestrian">X (Twitter)</a>. Use #USEquestrianOpen to join the conversation.

A male dressage rider wearing a navy coat, white breeches, and a helmet rides a dark bay horse performing an extended trot. The US Equestrian Open of Dressage logo appears in the top left corner. Red, white, and blue stripes border the bottom edge

All Eyes on Tryon: The Last Dance Before the Desert

Every once in a while, a horse and rider come along and completely rewrite the established narrative. This weekend at TerraNova, 23-year-old Christian Simonson and Indian Rock did just that.
Their Grand Prix Freestyle score? 81.405%.
Eighty. One. Percent.
In a field of eight, the young American and his new partner not only won their first CDI-W together but did it with the highest score ever recorded in the US Equestrian Open of Dressage.
<h2 dir="ltr">A Storybook Debut</h2>
Simonson&rsquo;s freestyle debut with Indian Rock felt like something out of a storybook, each chapter unfolding with drama and delight.
TerraNova marked Simonson&rsquo;s first CDI-W appearance with Zen Elite Equestrian Center&rsquo;s 12-year-old stallion, Indian Rock (Apache x Vivaldi). Previously campaigned by the Netherlands&rsquo; Emmelie Scholtens &mdash; who rode him at the 2024 Paris Olympics, finishing 11th with an 81.750% &mdash; Simonson took over the ride less than a year ago. Typically, partnerships need time to settle before scores rise again. But Christian and &ldquo;Rocky&rdquo; are clearly on their own timeline.
<blockquote>
&ldquo;To compete in my first CDI-W, let alone have the placing and score that we did today, was just a dream come true,&rdquo; Simonson said. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s kind of my best friend. He and I are real bros. We spend so much time together grazing and hanging out... He&rsquo;s such a cool character.&rdquo;
</blockquote>
Their test was bold yet precise, with artistry peaking at 87.600% and technical marks reaching 79.500%. The piaffe&ndash;passage work and canter pirouettes earned some of the highest marks of the season, and Rocky&rsquo;s elasticity allowed for a 9.5 degree of difficulty, a score on par with fellow rising star Felicitas Hendricks.
It was the first time since Adrienne Lyle&rsquo;s 80%+ freestyles on Helix &mdash; Indian Rock&rsquo;s half-brother &mdash; that a rider crossed the 80 percent barrier in the Series. The symmetry is hard to miss. Both horses share Apache bloodlines and are owned by Zen Elite Equestrian Center, and while Helix is piloted by Lyle herself, Indian Rock is now ridden by her student.
While Simonson has only two qualifying starts this season, his timing might be better than it looks on paper. If he competes in Tryon this weekend and repeats anything close to this form, he has a real shot at qualifying for the Final in Thermal this year, a twist that could upend even the most well-calculated Final predictions.
<h2 dir="ltr">The Contenders Close In</h2>
Behind Simonson&rsquo;s record-breaking ride, two familiar names continued their steady climb. Benjamin Ebeling rode Bellena to a new personal best of 78.055% for the mare, reinforcing his position as one of the most consistent performers of the season. His balance of athletic precision and composure under pressure has kept him firmly in the title race, inching closer to Anna Marek&rsquo;s long-standing lead.
Just behind him, Kevin Kohmann and D&uuml;nensee delivered a polished, expressive test for 77.17%. The score pushes Kohmann into a three-way tie for third on the overall Series standings &mdash; though his confirmation that he&rsquo;ll skip the Final in favor of a World Cup event in Mexico leaves podium predictions tantalizingly open.
<h2 dir="ltr">The Leaderboard Shockwave&nbsp;</h2>
When the dust settled at TerraNova, the leaderboard told a very different story than it had on Friday morning.
Anna Marek still holds the lead on 105 points, but her once-comfortable margin is shrinking. Ebeling&rsquo;s latest result vaults him solidly into second with 94 points, while Kohmann&rsquo;s performance locks him in a three-way tie for third with Kristina Harrison-Antell and Eline Eckroth, each sitting on 86 points. Jennifer Williams, on her debut with Babylon Berlin, climbs into the top 15 which is a promising development for a combination just finding its rhythm.
If Ebeling makes the trip to Tryon and continues his current trajectory, Marek&rsquo;s six-month grip on first could finally be in jeopardy.
<h2 dir="ltr">The Next Chapter Begins</h2>
Simonson&rsquo;s breakthrough performance underscores why the Open was created. It offers a stage for rising riders to prove they can shine under pressure and to compete on a large stage.
The United States has a decade-defining stretch ahead: the World Cup Finals in Fort Worth in 2026, then the LA Olympics in 2028. If this weekend was any indication, Simonson embodies what&rsquo;s next for US dressage: polish, poise, and ambition.
Even if Simonson doesn&rsquo;t make the trip to Thermal this year, his name is now firmly in the conversation. And with Open qualifiers for the 2026 season right around the corner, it won&rsquo;t be the last time we hear it.

Simonson Shakes the Series at TerraNova

Competitors will take to the idyllic TerraNova dressage arena this weekend for the penultimate qualifier of the US Equestrian Open of Dressage. At this stage, every placement and every percentage point matters. Not only will this weekend&rsquo;s performances determine who makes the cut for the Final in California, but leaderboard payouts are also on the line. Thousands of dollars could hinge on which horse decides to cross its legs in just the right way on Saturday night.
<h2 dir="ltr">Contenders in Motion</h2>
As a Florida stop, it&rsquo;s no surprise that familiar names fill the roster. Among them, Benjamin Ebeling and Kevin Kohmann are both poised for upward momentum. Each sits on four completed qualifiers, meaning any finish here directly boosts their season total.
Despite only debuting his freestyle with the 15-year-old Bellena in April, Ebeling enters the weekend as a favorite, leading Kohmann&rsquo;s average freestyle score by a slim 0.4 percentage points. It&rsquo;s a narrow gap, and one Kohmann will be eager to close aboard D&uuml;nensee, who owns the third-highest score of the season (79.240%), behind only Adrienne Lyle&rsquo;s and Helix&rsquo;s 80% performances.
With TerraNova marking their fifth qualifier, both riders will look to climb into the top five overall, a feat a freestyle win could achieve.
Adding a personal twist to the weekend, Kohmann will also face off against his wife, Devon Kane, who enters ranked 16th. Even a modest result would move her solidly into the top ten, and with one of the highest freestyle averages in the field, she could easily finish higher still.
<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-tk8R5" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Grand Prix Freestyle Stats: TerraNova Dressage II" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/tk8R5/1/" height="706" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Table" data-external="1"></iframe>
<h2 dir="ltr">A High-Risk Debut</h2>
On the edge of qualification sits Jennifer Williams, currently holding the 18th and final spot on the leaderboard. Rather than bringing her seasoned partner Joppe K, Williams will debut a new horse, Babylon Berlin, at the Grand Prix level this weekend.
It&rsquo;s a bold move at a critical moment. Even an eighth-place finish would improve her total, but the real intrigue lies in what this debut signals about her strategy for the Final. Joppe K, who has been in Williams&rsquo; program since his early years, carried her to U.S. team selection for Aachen earlier this season, though their outing there was below expectations.&nbsp;
Is Babylon Berlin&rsquo;s first appearance a changing of the guard? Or is this simply a curiously timed debut?&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">Shaping the Final</h2>
With Ebeling and Kohmann chasing higher placements, Williams fighting to stay inside the top 18, and the Final just four weeks away, TerraNova will reshape the starting lineup for the desert showdown. Series leader Anna Marek is still safe&hellip; for now. But with Ebeling and Kohmann closing in on their fifth qualifying run, her title spot may be in jeopardy next week.&nbsp;
For now, settle in for an evening of freestyle in one of the country&rsquo;s most beautiful arenas as riders take one more swing at shaping the Series before the road turns west to California.&nbsp;
<hr>
For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.
For media inquiries about the US Equestrian Open Series, please contact Carly Weilminster at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:cweilminster@usef.org">cweilminster@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;
For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.

Kevin Kohmann and Duensee half pass across the arena in trot

The Penultimate Push

Germany&rsquo;s Felicitas Hendricks has spent the past ten winters lighting up Wellington&rsquo;s Global Dressage Festival. Now, she&rsquo;s heading west to California for the US Equestrian Open of Dressage Final with her longtime partner, Drombusch OLD.
Their partnership is nearly a decade in the making. Hendricks has brought the 14-year-old Oldenburg gelding up the levels herself, from six-year-old prospect to international Grand Prix winner.&nbsp;
<blockquote>
&ldquo;Every day I think, I don&rsquo;t want him to get older,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;I just want to freeze him and have him forever.&rdquo;
</blockquote>
That bond was on full display earlier this year when the pair opened their Open campaign with a 78% freestyle win, one of the highest scores in the Series. Their upbeat disco routine&mdash;set to the same &lsquo;80s hits her mother once danced to&mdash;has become a crowd favorite. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s such a big personality,&rdquo; Hendricks laughed.&nbsp;
<blockquote>
&ldquo;I really believe he knows his music. When the crowd starts clapping, it&rsquo;s our favorite part.&rdquo;
</blockquote>
Despite early hesitation about the long trip from Germany to California, Hendricks says there was no question she&rsquo;d make the journey once she qualified. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve got the perfect horse right now, and he&rsquo;s such a good traveler. I had to take the chance,&rdquo; she explained.
<blockquote>
&ldquo;[The Final] is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.&rdquo;
</blockquote>
Listen to the full episode of the US Equestrian Open Podcast to hear Felicitas share stories from her season, her preparations for Thermal, and what it means to bring Drombusch to one of the sport&rsquo;s most exciting new finals.
Listen to the full podcast <a href="https://sites.libsyn.com/559710/dressage-felicitas-hendricks-on-drombusch-disco-and-the-road-to-la" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.
<iframe style="border: none;" title="Embed Player" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/38572145/height/192/theme/modern/size/large/thumbnail/no/custom-color/001c54/time-start/00:00:00/hide-show/yes/hide-playlist/yes/hide-subscribe/yes/hide-share/yes/font-color/ffffff" width="100%" height="192" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>

New Podcast: Felicitas Hendricks Takes the Long Flight West

For six-time Olympian Steffen Peters, dressage has always been about connection. Between horse and rider, yes, but also between sport and audience. His partnership with Suppenkasper (&ldquo;Mopsie&rdquo;) captured the world&rsquo;s imagination during the Tokyo Olympics, when their electric freestyle earned millions of views and a nickname that stuck: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sc92GJphMqA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the Rave Horse</a>.
<iframe style="border: none;" title="Embed Player" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/38339040/height/192/theme/modern/size/large/thumbnail/no/custom-color/5883c8/time-start/00:00:00/hide-show/yes/hide-playlist/yes/hide-subscribe/yes/hide-share/yes/font-color/ffffff" width="100%" height="192" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
&ldquo;I knew when we designed that freestyle that it would likely be my last,&rdquo; Peters shared on the&nbsp;US Equestrian Open of Dressage Podcast. &ldquo;I wanted music you&rsquo;d play at a party &mdash; something that makes people want to get up and dance. That&rsquo;s the essence I wanted to share with Mopsie.&rdquo;
And, it almost didn&rsquo;t happen. Fifteen minutes before the Olympic freestyle began, Peters realized he&rsquo;d submitted the wrong music file.
<blockquote>
&ldquo;We were calling Florida at three-thirty in the morning to get the right version sent to Tokyo,&rdquo; he laughed. &ldquo;The tower was not happy, but it worked out.&rdquo;
</blockquote>
<h2 data-start="1362" data-end="1389">The Energy of a Crowd</h2>
From Tokyo to Aachen, the crowd has become part of the performance. In a normal Grand Prix test, Mopsie, who is a fairly noise sensitive horse, would probably react. But in a freestyle? He feeds off it.
<blockquote>
"The American crowd gets so into it. They bring the score up. There&rsquo;s no doubt in my mind.&rdquo;
</blockquote>
That bond &mdash; between horse, rider, and audience &mdash; is what Peters hopes to see again when he joins the US Equestrian Open Final commentary team this fall. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m excited to be there with empathy,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;When someone has a mistake, I feel it. When someone has a great ride, I&rsquo;ll react to that emotionally. I know what it feels like to be in that moment.&rdquo;
<h2 data-start="2046" data-end="2073">The Power of the Open</h2>
Peters also sees the US Equestrian Open of Dressage as something transformative not just for riders, but for fans discovering the sport. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s such a wonderful idea to have this Series here in the United States,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s bringing dressage into the mainstream, where people who might not know the sport can suddenly fall in love with it. We saw that with Mopsie &mdash; millions of people saw him online and thought,&nbsp;this is dressage? That&rsquo;s what the Open can do, too.&rdquo;
He highlighted the Open&rsquo;s coast-to-coast reach and the significance of holding its inaugural Final in California &mdash; a reflection, he said, of the strength and depth of West Coast dressage. With world-class footing, an energetic atmosphere, and a venue built to bring fans closer to the action, Thermal represents exactly what the Series stands for: connection, excitement, and exceptional sport.
For Peters, it&rsquo;s also about community. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s not the Pan Ams, it&rsquo;s not the Olympics, but it&rsquo;s still a big stage,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;
<blockquote>
&ldquo;It gives riders and horses the chance to shine under pressure and fans the chance to be part of something special. That&rsquo;s what keeps the sport growing.&rdquo;
</blockquote>
<h2 data-start="3234" data-end="3255">Words of Wisdom</h2>
As for advice to riders fine-tuning their freestyles ahead of the Final? Peters encourages balance and intuition. Success, he believes, comes from partnership rather than pressure. &ldquo;Let your horse tell you how far you can go,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t ride the scoreboard. Ride your horse.&rdquo;
Listen to the full podcast <a href="https://sites.libsyn.com/559710/dressage-steffen-peters-on-freestyle-fans-and-finding-balance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

New Podcast: Steffen Peters on Freestyle Joy, Olympic Lessons, and Riding for the Dance Floor

Rain soaked through show coats on Saturday night as freestyles began in the Dixon Oval. Polished boots and plaited manes became waterlogged as the evening wore on. The storm didn&rsquo;t deter spectators, though. Enthusiastic fans packed Devon&rsquo;s pale blue grandstands and clapped along to familiar tunes.&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">Bellena&rsquo;s Big Step</h2>
Benjamin Ebeling and Ann Romney&rsquo;s 15-year-old Hanoverian mare, Bellena, earned a combination-best of 77.665% to secure the win. The atmosphere didn&rsquo;t seem to faze Bellena, perhaps thanks to her stint in Europe over the summer. The pair has been on a steady climb since their freestyle debut in April, notching multiple wins and consistently raising their scores. With this result, Ebeling moves to a tie for sixth on 77 points, momentum that comes at a pivotal moment with Finals just six weeks away.
&ldquo;There&rsquo;s no place like Dressage at Devon,&rdquo; Ebeling said. &ldquo;This was a big step in getting my horse acclimated in big environments in an arena like this.&rdquo;&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">Kohmann Climbs, Bergeron Learns, Marek Falters</h2>
Kevin Kohmann and D&uuml;nenesee placed second with 77.005%, a performance that launched them eight places up the leaderboard into ninth on 69 points. With only two qualifiers left, Kohmann is now comfortably positioned for a Finals berth. True to form, the freestyle was steady and lyrical, with D&uuml;nenesee&rsquo;s calm presence making the rain-soaked Dixon Oval look easy.
&ldquo;It feels like a big show in Europe. I love it here,&rdquo; Kohmann said. &ldquo;This was the show where I rode this freestyle the first time and I&rsquo;m here one year later to ride it again.&rdquo;
Canada&rsquo;s Camille Carier Bergeron looked set for a podium finish, but an error proved costly. Riding ahead of her music, she over rotated a pirouette &mdash; a violation of FEI rules that slashed her degree of difficulty score and left her with 68.450%. Even so, Bergeron&rsquo;s ninth-place finish earned her 10 leaderboard points, moving her into 13th overall. Her climb adds another layer of pressure for riders heading to the Final.
Saturday was not Anna Marek and Fire Fly&rsquo;s night. Whether it was the rain or the unfamiliar arena, the 15-year-old KWPN gelding never settled fully into the test. The pair earned 72.790% for fourth place, a respectable score but several points below their average of 75.683% and well off their last freestyle outing. That&rsquo;s the tricky thing about sensitive horses. They can deliver brilliance at their best, but that same sensitivity can also unravel under pressure. 
<h2 dir="ltr">The Title Picture Shifts</h2>
Marek and Fire Fly have proven themselves in Wellington as regulars at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival. But the Finals will be held at the Desert International Horse Park in Thermal, CA, a venue Fire Fly has experienced. Devon provided a preview of what that challenge could look like: a charged atmosphere outside their comfort zone. Fire Fly&rsquo;s personal best came at the Pan American Games in Santiago, proof that the potential is there, but consistency in new environments remains the question.
That decision is complicated further as the title fight is no longer only between Marek and Kohmann. Ebeling is charging into contention, Bergeron is climbing, and Genay Vaughn &mdash; undefeated queen of the West Coast &mdash; awaits them all on her home turf in Thermal.
<h2 dir="ltr">Next Stops: TerraNova and Tryon</h2>
With Devon behind us, attention now turns to the final two qualifiers: TerraNova in early October and Tryon, South Carolina, just two weeks before the Final. Every ride left on the calendar has the potential to shape who arrives in Thermal as a favorite. And, who doesn&rsquo;t.&nbsp;
For the full calendar of events and standings updates, visit the official US Equestrian Open Series hub at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">usequestrianopen.org</a>. Stay connected with the latest news and standings on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>&nbsp;and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Instagram</a>, and follow US Equestrian on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/USequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrian/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TikTok</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">X (Twitter)</a>. Use #USEquestrianOpen to join the conversation.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/d35d5aa9-5dcf-4eb2-b1fa-746c463761a5?width=1080&amp;height=1080" alt="Table of the Show Calendar for the 2025 US Equestrian Open of Dressage Series">
<hr>
For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.
For media inquiries about the US Equestrian Open Series, please contact Carly Weilminster at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:cweilminster@usef.org">cweilminster@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;
For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.

15-year-old Hanoverian mare, Bellena, in the Dixon Oval against the background of the pale blue grandstands

Devon Delivers Drama as Finals Near

Dressage at Devon has always been a prestigious stop on the calendar, but as a qualifier in the US Equestrian Open of Dressage, it takes on a new identity. For the first time this season, the Grand Prix is more than just a warm-up. With 17 entries, only 15 will advance to the freestyle (and from there, just 10 earn Series points). The math makes Friday matter.
As the inaugural Final approaches, leaderboard pressure is at an all-time high. The Top 18 secure their ticket, but leaderboard placing also dictates the payout. Thousands of dollars hinge on who climbs and who slips. With the largest field of the season, Devon is set to be the most consequential qualifier yet.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/dc686f53-1d70-4561-86e2-c5911c577b2d.png?width=1080&amp;height=1080" alt="Graphic showing first place earns 20 points, 2nd and 3rd earn 17, 4th and 5th earn 15, and 6th through 10th earn 10 points.">
<h2 dir="ltr">Devon&rsquo;s Math Problem</h2>
Wellington&rsquo;s fields were often large and packed with talent, but even their biggest qualifier (AGDF 3) topped out at 15 riders, which meant everyone advanced to the freestyle. Not so in the Dixon Oval. Here, the Grand Prix does more than seed the freestyle &mdash; it&rsquo;s a filter. With 17 starters, two combinations will be cut before Saturday night. And once the freestyle begins, only the top 10 will earn Series points.
<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-5jpFK" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Grand Prix Freestyle Stats: Dressage at Devon" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/5jpFK/1/" height="894" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Table" data-external="1"></iframe>
That&rsquo;s the first equation. The second is the leaderboard math. Six of the current top 18 are competing this weekend, which guarantees movement in the standings. Riders can climb into new payout tiers&hellip; or slide down them.
Take Benjamin Ebeling. He comes in 14th with 57 points, but a podium here would launch him as many as seven spots into the top seven. A win could tie him for 6th. In dollar terms, that&rsquo;s the difference between a $1,000 payout and a $3,000 payout, with another qualifier still to come in his Florida backyard.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/ae89e81d-61fa-4edc-9f49-59aff5d5517f.png?width=1080&amp;height=866" alt="A graphic showing how the $50,000 prize money is allocated based on season-end standings. ">
But leaderboard math cuts both ways. With a field this deep, it&rsquo;s not just about who climbs. It&rsquo;s also about who siphons points away. Several riders in this week&rsquo;s field sit outside the top 18, meaning they won&rsquo;t qualify for the Finals, but they can still shape the standings by stealing points from those who will. Six combinations are averaging within 1.5 percentage points of one another, a cluster that includes Series number 10 Charlotte Jorst. She&rsquo;ll be chasing at least 10 points to solidify her spot, while the likes of Laine Ashker, Meagan Davis, Tiago Ernesto, Mathilde Blais Tetreault, and Allison Carmichael will be looking to disrupt her path.
<h2 dir="ltr">The Final Equation</h2>
Series leader Anna Marek and runner-up Eline Eckroth go head-to-head in Devon with an unusual twist: both have already logged six of six qualifying runs. That means the only way to add to their leaderboard totals is to improve on past results.
Eckroth&rsquo;s path is easier. She still carries two 10-point scores, so a finish of fifth or better would raise her total. Marek, though, faces a tougher equation.
She improves only if she wins. Despite leading the Series by nearly twenty points, she has just one victory to her name. With second and third both worth 17 points, only a first place adds to her total. Remarkably, she could also lose the lead this weekend. If Eckroth were to win, Marek&rsquo;s 19-point cushion would vanish. It&rsquo;s statistically unlikely based on averages, but in this sport, certainty is never guaranteed.
<h2 dir="ltr">A Few More Combinations to Watch</h2>
With a field this deep, every rider brings a storyline. It would be difficult to tell them all, but here are a few more combinations worth a watch this weekend.
<h3 dir="ltr">Kevin Kohmann &amp; D&uuml;nensee</h3>
Devon reunites one of Wellington&rsquo;s favorite rivalries: Kohmann&rsquo;s lyrical D&uuml;nensee versus Marek&rsquo;s powerful Fire Fly. The two are often separated by a single percentage point, and Kohmann holds the highest personal best in the field (79.240%). Marek has the winning record against D&uuml;nensee, but if she leaves points on the table, D&uuml;nensee will be there to scoop them up.
<h3 dir="ltr">Benjamin Ebeling &amp; Bellena</h3>
On the rise since their freestyle debut in April, Ebeling and Bellena set a new personal best of 76.615% in Austria this summer. With a 75%+ average, they&rsquo;re one of Marek&rsquo;s strongest challengers.
<h3 dir="ltr">Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu &amp; Jaccardo</h3>
Jaccardo has only one FEI freestyle on record &mdash; a 76.125% &mdash; but that score alone tops the rest of the field&rsquo;s averages. Add Fraser-Beaulieu&rsquo;s Olympic experience and proven freestyle record with All In, and this pair could upset the top five.
<h3 dir="ltr">Camille Carier Bergeron &amp; Finnlanderin</h3>
Finnlanderin made her freestyle debut at Devon last year and earned a 77.280% personal best. Bergeron has been building steadily since, and another high-70s ride could move her from a top-five lock into podium contention.
<h3 dir="ltr">Wild Cards</h3>
Several combinations logged summer personal bests at national shows, including Kobus (76.225%), DSP Dauphin (75.113%), Zeppelin (74.925%), Toronto Lightfoot (73.675%), and Don Divino (70.650%). If they can translate that form to a CDI in Devon, they can disrupt the points race. One to watch in particular is Francine Gentile&rsquo;s Don Divino, making his first-ever CDI freestyle start. At 70%, he isn&rsquo;t a podium pick, but he could deny leaderboard climbers valuable points.
<h2 dir="ltr">Looking Ahead</h2>
Dressage at Devon will shape not only who qualifies for the Final but also how much money riders take home at season&rsquo;s end. Winning here is an achievement in its own right, yet this year it doubles as positioning for November. The Grand Prix matters now in the same way it will at the Final, where only the top 15 move on to the freestyle and a $200,000 prize pool awaits. In many ways, this weekend is the dress rehearsal.
Tune in live to <a href="https://www.clipmyhorse.tv/en_US/events/16989" target="_blank" rel="noopener">USEF Network</a> to watch the Grand Prix action starting Friday night.
For the full calendar of events and standings updates, visit the official US Equestrian Open Series hub at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">usequestrianopen.org</a>. Stay connected with the latest news and standings on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>&nbsp;and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Instagram</a>, and follow US Equestrian on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/USequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrian/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TikTok</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">X (Twitter)</a>. Use #USEquestrianOpen to join the conversation.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/d35d5aa9-5dcf-4eb2-b1fa-746c463761a5?width=1080&amp;height=1080" alt="Table of the Show Calendar for the 2025 US Equestrian Open of Dressage Series">
<hr>
For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.
For media inquiries about the US Equestrian Open Series, please contact Carly Weilminster at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:cweilminster@usef.org">cweilminster@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;
For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.

Anna Marek and Fire Fly at the final halt salute

Dressage at Devon: The Series Returns

A crisp chill hung in the autumn air as a 14.2-hand Connemara&ndash;Thoroughbred cross trotted into the famed Dixon Oval. Far smaller than his competitors, not that he knew it, Seldom Seen commanded attention. The flashy grey was about to dance his final Grand Prix freestyle. Piloted by Olympian Lendon Gray, the superstar in a pony&rsquo;s body rode to victory, sweeping Devon&rsquo;s top classes that year. He was then honored with a retirement ceremony, stepping away as a crowd darling who proved heart matters as much as size.&nbsp;
These moments, the ones that become legendary stories, are why Dressage at Devon carries a special weight in American dressage. Each autumn, careers are tested, champions are crowned, and Olympic horses are made against the pale blue grandstands of the Dixon Oval.&nbsp;
Dressage at Devon (DAD) was founded in 1975 by the Delaware Valley Combined Training Association (DVCTA). As the show grew in popularity, it began adding breed divisions, exhibitions, and larger classes. The show became a World Cup qualifier in 1990 and quickly became the biggest stage for East Coast dressage.&nbsp;
Turning 50 this year, DAD again hosts a week-long dressage festival, with vendors, masterclasses, and of course, the most elite classes in the sport. This weekend&rsquo;s Performance Division not only kicks off the 2026 World Cup Finals qualifiers, but it also hosts one of the final qualifiers for the U.S. Equestrian Open of Dressage Final.&nbsp;
This is a destination show, a bucket list item. For U.S. riders, riding Devon&rsquo;s Saturday Night Freestyle is not unlike running cross-country at Kentucky. It&rsquo;s iconic, with the crowds close, the lights hot, and the atmosphere electric. For international riders, it&rsquo;s a chance to experience U.S. dressage at its most iconic. Six-time dressage Olympian Robert Dover called Devon, &ldquo;the standard by which all American horse shows should be judged.&rdquo;
As one of the last three qualifiers in the U.S. Equestrian Open, Saturday&rsquo;s Freestyle will have lasting effects on who makes it to the Final. With 17 riders entered, it is the largest qualifying class we&rsquo;ve seen all season, and the list is stacked. Kevin Kohmann, Charlotte Jorst, Camille Carier Bergeron, Benjamin Ebeling, Eline Eckroth, and of course, series leader Anna Marek on Fire Fly. A big freestyle here could push a rider into qualifying territory&hellip; or knock someone out.&nbsp;
In the coming days we&rsquo;ll break down the data on the field of competitors. For now, tune into the breed division and get excited because CDIs are back on American soil.

Dressage