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With just one California qualifier left on the calendar, Kristina Harrison-Antell and her longtime partner Finley seized their moment in Del Mar. The pair topped Sunday&rsquo;s Grand Prix Freestyle with a score of 72.180%, earning Harrison-Antell her first career win in a CDI Grand Prix Freestyle&mdash;and her first Big Tour win of any kind in three years, following a Grand Prix victory the day before.
She and the 15-year-old KWPN gelding have been together from the start. Harrison-Antell purchased Finley as a coming three-year-old and has developed him up the levels herself. For the California native, earning her first freestyle victory at a venue like Del Mar&mdash;one she competed at often in her junior years&mdash;was a full-circle moment.
With this result, Harrison-Antell moves into sixth place on the US Equestrian Open leaderboard with 69 points, likely securing a ticket to the Final in Thermal, California this November.
<h2 dir="ltr">Leaderboard Implications Beyond the Win</h2>
The field in Del Mar was smaller than usual, but still yielded meaningful leaderboard movement. Nadine Schwartsman and Royal Flash R finished second with a personal best of 69.935%, a result that&mdash;while below the typical freestyle benchmark&mdash;adds valuable points to her season total. With consistent appearances across multiple qualifiers, Schwartsman is quietly building a strong case for a Finals berth.
Laura DeCesari and Rossi rounded out the podium in third with a score of 66.845%, just ahead of G&uuml;nter Seidel and Equirelle. While Seidel&rsquo;s freestyle didn&rsquo;t land as hoped, a fourth-place finish in the small field added enough to push him into 15th on the leaderboard with 47 points. That keeps him within the current Finals cutoff, but his position remains vulnerable. A fifth-place or better result at Galway Downs in May would help secure his spot as the leaderboard tightens.
Meanwhile, Anna Buffini and Fiontini&mdash;<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/coach-vs-student-round-two-the-del-mar-rematch" target="_blank" rel="noopener">favorites heading into the weekend</a>&mdash;were eliminated during the Grand Prix and did not advance to the freestyle. Buffini later explained on Instagram that while she didn&rsquo;t feel anything wrong in the moment, &ldquo;after reviewing the video, it&rsquo;s clear the judges made the right call.&rdquo; The elimination likely ends her chances of climbing the leaderboard, especially as the remaining qualifiers begin to fan out across the country.
With 16 qualifiers down and <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/dressage-us-equestrian-open-quick-guide" target="_blank" rel="noopener">just seven remaining</a>, the leaderboard is tightening. The top names have begun to pull away, but the final slots for the $250,000 Final are still very much in play.
<h2 dir="ltr">The Series Continues</h2>
The US Equestrian Open has its first break in qualifiers next week but returns with a dual-coast, double-header on May 1. West Coast riders like Seidel and Harrison-Antell will have a chance to reinforce their leaderboard standing in Temecula, California, at Pacific Coast Dressage, while East Coast contenders such as Karen Lipp, Anna Marek, and Denielle Gallagher head to TerraNova in Myakka City, Florida.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/dce51360-5371-41aa-a234-8d5afb25ac10.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Dressageopensched Final">

white horse trotting in a dressage arena and dressage gear

Kristina Harrison-Antell Clinches First Freestyle Victory in Del Mar

One of America&rsquo;s most decorated dressage mentors and his star student go head-to-head again this weekend in Del Mar. The last time Anna Buffini and G&uuml;nter Seidel met here, Buffini edged her longtime coach for the win. But on that day, it was Seidel&mdash;not Buffini&mdash;who received the highest individual judge score of the class. Now, just two California qualifiers remain before the series heads east, and both riders return to a familiar arena with different goals on the line.
Buffini returns with Fiontini, a <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/a-quiet-stage-a-legendary-mare">triple World Young Horse Champion</a> who once posted an 83.410% freestyle under Patrik Kittel. Buffini&rsquo;s best with the mare sits at 73.235%&mdash;a strong result, but still shy of Fiontini&rsquo;s proven potential. This season is about whether she can unlock the brilliance embedded in that record.
Seidel, meanwhile, isn&rsquo;t chasing redemption. With three Olympic appearances and a resume full of World Cup Finals, his return is about rhythm and refinement. After a three-year freestyle hiatus, he and Equirelle posted a shaky 68.695% at the Del Mar Opener in February before rebounding to 73.080% in March&mdash;just 0.155% behind Buffini at their last faceoff.
<h2 dir="ltr">A Test Decided by Tenths</h2>
That March faceoff&mdash;<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/buffini-returns-seidel-surges-a-tight-finish-at-the-del-mar-affaire">Qualifier 12</a>&mdash;was one of the closest finishes of the season. Buffini won the class on 73.235%, but Seidel earned the day&rsquo;s highest single judge score: a 75.175%. More than half of the movements were separated by less than a tenth of a point on average. It was, in every sense, a test decided by the slimmest margins.
<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-0GzTl" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Movement-by-Movement: Buffini vs. Seidel in Del Mar" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/0GzTl/4/" height="794" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Split Bars" data-external="1"></iframe>
Buffini won more of the directly comparable movements, especially in trot work and artistry. Her final halt carried an average margin of +1.8. Her extended trot was another highlight, netting her a +0.9 edge. She also led the field in rhythm&mdash;a 0.28-point advantage that helped tilt the artistic panel in her favor.
But her weaknesses were just as pronounced. In extended canter, Buffini lost by an average of 1.8 points. Her half-pass left (&ndash;0.5) and canter pirouette right (&ndash;0.3) were additional soft spots. More telling than the averages, though, was the judging spread. Her extended canter was scored as low as a 4.0 and as high as an 8.0. One judge gave her an 8 in the half-pass right while another gave a 6. At position H, one judge consistently diverged&mdash;awarding an 8 where others gave 5s, and later handing out a 5 where most gave 7s.
Seidel, by contrast, was steady. Across all 25 matched movements, no score differed by more than 1.5 points between judges. His ride was measured and deliberate, and the panel stayed in agreement from start to finish. His extended canter remained his biggest win, and his musicality continued to shine.
Despite the difference in style, the two riders finished nearly tied in overall artistic averages. Buffini led in rhythm and choreography. Seidel edged ahead in degree of difficulty and music. Their totals were separated by just 0.02 points before coefficients were applied. It was, essentially, a draw&mdash;but one that revealed two very different strengths.
<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-6OqPx" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Buffini vs. Seidel: The Artistic Edge" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/6OqPx/2/" height="455" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Grouped Bars" data-external="1"></iframe>
<h2 dir="ltr">The Leaderboard Picture</h2>
Although the student-versus-mentor rematch headlines the weekend, it&rsquo;s Kristina Harrison-Antell who may have the most to gain. She sits 12th on 49 points. With just five riders in the field, she&rsquo;s guaranteed at least 15 points&mdash;likely enough to push her into the top ten.
Seidel, currently holding 32 points, would move to 52 with a win. And if he competes again at Galway Downs in a few weeks, a fourth result would likely secure his place in the Final.
Buffini is still on the outside looking in when it comes to the leaderboard. But two strong results&mdash;this weekend and at Galway&mdash;could change that. She&rsquo;ll need top-two finishes at both, and she&rsquo;ll need to deliver tests that show not just potential, but polish.
<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-ksVwv" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Grand Prix Freestyle Stats: Del Mar National Horse Show" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/ksVwv/1/" height="528" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Table" data-external="1"></iframe>
Technically, the West Coast season wraps at the Ginny Rattner Memorial in Oregon at the end of May. But with Del Mar and Galway Downs marking the <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/dressage-us-equestrian-open-quick-guide">last two California qualifiers</a>, the travel questions are real. Riders looking to avoid a 2,000-mile haul to the East Coast will need to make these final stops count.
Watch the freestyle Sunday at Del Mar Horse Park. The class starts at 10:30 a.m. Pacific on USEF Network. <a href="https://www.usef.org/membership/join-renew">Sign up for free</a> as a fan to stream the action.

A dressage rider pats her bay horse after a test.

Coach vs. Student, Round Two: The Del Mar Rematch

In their Grand Prix Freestyle debut as a pair, Benjamin Ebeling and the 14-year-old Hanoverian mare Bellena delivered a winning performance under the lights at the April CDI4* in Ocala. Their bold, girl-power-themed freestyle scored 75.740%&mdash;just 0.365 percentage points shy of the mare&rsquo;s personal best, earned with Benjamin&rsquo;s father, Jan Ebeling, in 2022.
<h2 dir="ltr">Bellena&rsquo;s Breakout Win</h2>
Despite only receiving the music two days prior, Ebeling and Bellena looked at home in the arena. Clapping erupted as they trotted down the final centerline to &ldquo;Femininomenon&rdquo; by Chappell Roan, closing a clean, high-energy ride that also featured &ldquo;Rich Girl&rdquo; by Gwen Stefani and &ldquo;Maneater&rdquo; by Nelly Furtado.
&ldquo;I think that was my best ride ever,&rdquo; Ebeling beamed after the test. &ldquo;The mare is such a powerhouse."
<blockquote>
"I think this girl really loves to dance.&rdquo;
</blockquote>
In the four months since their debut in Wellington, Ebeling and Bellena have placed in the top five in every start. With the second half of the season underway and only three Florida qualifiers remaining, the pair still have the scoring power&mdash;and the opportunity&mdash;to make a serious run at the Finals. Even with three fifth-place finishes, they&rsquo;d be sitting on 65 points&mdash;enough to stay in the hunt for a Finals berth. Sixty-five points wouldn&rsquo;t guarantee a Finals berth, but with the top 18 advancing&mdash;and many contenders opting to skip qualifiers outside their home regions&mdash;it&rsquo;s a realistic benchmark. Ebeling, based in Wellington, is also strategically positioned to capitalize as the series begins to stretch across the country.
But geography isn&rsquo;t their only edge&mdash;their advantage also lies in technical brilliance and high execution. Friday&rsquo;s test had a single 6.0, with all other marks 6.5 or higher. One judge even awarded a rare 9.0 for their extended trot&mdash;a mark that speaks to the pair&rsquo;s polish, power, and precision. And if this is what they can do with a freestyle they&rsquo;ve ridden only once, imagine what&rsquo;s possible when they&rsquo;ve had time to refine it.
<h2 dir="ltr">Another Top Finish for Gallagher</h2>
Denielle Gallagher and her Lusitano gelding, Come Back de Massa, continued their strong run in Ocala, securing second place with a score of 72.685%. The pair have been a consistent force at the WEC dressage shows this season, finishing in the top three in all of their 2025 appearances. This performance nearly eclipsed their personal best&mdash;just 0.255 percentage points shy of the score they posted in February at this same venue. Their freestyle, set to the nostalgic Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron soundtrack, continues to be a crowd favorite and a signature of Gallagher&rsquo;s expressive style.
This latest result cements Gallagher firmly inside the top five on the US Equestrian Open leaderboard, despite having competed in just four qualifiers. With two wins, a second, and a third to her name, her record now rivals that of current leader Anna Marek, who holds 88 points from five qualifiers.
<h2 dir="ltr">Lipp&rsquo;s Strategic Climb</h2>
Karen Lipp successfully defended her third-place position in the overall standings, finishing third in the class with a score of 71.345%. The result allowed her to drop a previous 10-point finish in favor of this 17-point placing&mdash;netting an additional 7 points and tightening the leaderboard race.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/52538ac1-caaf-404c-b7f7-1642fe51636d.png?width=986&amp;height=730" alt="Leaderboard as of April 13, 2025">
<h2 dir="ltr">Stay Connected</h2>
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.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/dce51360-5371-41aa-a234-8d5afb25ac10.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Dressageopensched Final">
<hr>
&nbsp;
For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at USEquestrianOpen@usef.org.
For media inquiries about the US Equestrian Open Series, please contact Carly Weilminster at cweilminster@usef.org.&nbsp;
For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at lgriffin@usef.org.&nbsp;

Close up image of a dressage rider's leg and torso riding an extended trot.

Bellena Dances to Victory, but the Leaderboard Holds Its Breath

This weekend&rsquo;s qualifier shifts to the World Equestrian Center, with three of the current top six US Equestrian Open of Dressage riders set to compete. Leaderboard movement is inevitable&mdash;yet the field is notably missing star power: no Olympic team members, no reigning series leaders. Still, this week is a rare one. It&rsquo;s both unpredictable and important. And there&rsquo;s no scenario where the leaderboard doesn&rsquo;t shift.
<h2 dir="ltr">The Five to Watch</h2>
Five riders stand to make an impact this weekend, each with a unique twist on the series narrative.
<h3 dir="ltr" role="presentation">1. Benjamin Ebeling &amp; Bellena</h3>
Benjamin Ebeling and 14-year-old mare Bellena are arguably the favorites based on personal bests and averages. Bellena holds the highest PB in the field&mdash;76.105%, earned with Ebeling&rsquo;s father, Jan Ebeling&mdash;and a competitive average of 73.441% in the Grand Prix Freestyle. The caveat? This marks Benjamin and Bellena&rsquo;s series debut&mdash;and their first Grand Prix Freestyle together. If they come anywhere near Bellena&rsquo;s past peak, they could take the win. That wouldn&rsquo;t just launch Ebeling onto the leaderboard in stylish fashion&mdash;it would also block riders like Eline Eckroth, Denielle Gallagher, or Karen Lipp from earning those critical 17&ndash;20 point finishes.
<h3 dir="ltr" role="presentation">2. Charlotte Jorst &amp; Zhaplin Langholt</h3>
Charlotte Jorst is one of the most accomplished amateur riders in the US, having competed at the 2016 World Cup Finals and made the Olympic shortlist in 2021. She returns this weekend aboard 11-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding Zhaplin Langholt. While they&rsquo;ve entered two qualifiers this year, they&rsquo;ve only earned points in one. That single result, however, was a big one&mdash; a win at the Gold Coast Opener in January that netted 20 points. The following weekend, they posted a strong 72.800% at AGDF 3, but narrowly missed the placings in a stacked field, finishing 11th. With just one qualifying score, Jorst is only just getting started in the series. But if Zhaplin Langholt lands on the podium, as expected, she&rsquo;ll almost certainly vault into the top 15. She&rsquo;s not a title contender yet, but she can absolutely steal points from those who are. That&rsquo;s the trouble for riders like Lipp. It&rsquo;s not just about who climbs, it&rsquo;s about who gets bumped.
<h3 dir="ltr" role="presentation">3. Karen Lipp &amp; Infinity</h3>
Karen Lipp currently sits third on the leaderboard with six of six qualifying results logged. That means she can only gain points by dropping her lowest score: a 10. Lipp&rsquo;s consistency has been impressive. All of her scores have come from deep fields at Wellington, where she&rsquo;s placed 6th through 10th in all but one of her qualifying results&mdash;a win in the CDI3* during Week 8. Despite cracking the top five just once, that steady accumulation has carried her into the leaderboard top three. To gain any ground, Lipp must place 5th or better, and even then, only a win would improve her total by the full 10 points, bringing her to 80. She can&rsquo;t catch Anna Marek or Evelyn Eger this week, but a podium keeps her in range. With the AGDF season now over and many top riders abroad, Lipp could find herself in more forgiving fields. Her average of 71.451% puts her well within top-five potential here.
<h3 dir="ltr" role="presentation">4. Eline Eckroth &amp; Daphne</h3>
If Lipp is the series&rsquo; consistency queen, Eline Eckroth is chasing results through a different strategy: podiums in smaller fields. Eckroth and her 14-year-old mare, Daphne, have made smart use of the series format. Their scores may not always be flashy, but final placings matter more in this series&mdash;and so far, that&rsquo;s working in Eckroth&rsquo;s favor. They&rsquo;ve earned three top-three finishes in four qualifiers. She enters this weekend with two scores still to add. Even a finish at the bottom of the standings (7th) would earn her 10 points, bringing her to 76. Although unlikely, a second-place finish to anyone other than Lipp would propel her into the overall top two. And if she makes the podium again next week, she&rsquo;s a legitimate threat for the series lead.
<h3 dir="ltr" role="presentation">5. Denielle Gallagher &amp; Come Back de Massa</h3>
With only three qualifying results so far&mdash;two of them wins&mdash;Denielle Gallagher may be the most dangerous rider in the field. She currently sits sixth overall with 57 points. A third win this weekend would tie her with Eger at 77. But unlike Eger, Gallagher has not yet maxed out her six scores. With two more qualifying results still to come, she has plenty of room to rise. Her potential path? A win here takes her to 77. A solid podium next week could launch her into the 90s&mdash;above Marek. With her trajectory and remaining opportunities, Gallagher may be the dark horse in the race to the Final.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/a7ba8c4c-ce1e-4095-9594-d67272edac9f.png?width=1080&amp;height=1080" alt="graphic showing how the scoring works: 1st 20 points, 2nd-3rd 17 points, 4th-5th 15 points, 6th-10th 10 points">
<h2 dir="ltr">Depth of the Field</h2>
Qualifier 15&rsquo;s scoring spread is notable. The difference between the highest and lowest average Grand Prix Freestyle score is 6.6%&mdash;a sizable gap. But that spread narrows significantly when you focus on the top five contenders. Less than three percentage points separate Come Back de Massa (the fifth-highest average) and Bellena (the highest). Zhaplin Langholt, ranked second on averages, is only 0.875% ahead of Hatsjie B. At this level, one mark, from a single judge, can be the deciding factor.&nbsp;
<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-HAEyM" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Grand Prix Freestyle Stats: WEC - Ocala April Dressage" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/HAEyM/1/" height="666" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Table" data-external="1"></iframe>
This may not be a star-studded cast, but it&rsquo;s a pivotal week for leaderboard restructuring. Whoever wins here doesn&rsquo;t just collect points&mdash;they shift the pressure onto the riders sitting out, especially those hoping to coast on early-season success. As the second half of the season rolls along, Ocala offers an opening to gain ground&mdash;or to get passed. The race to Thermal is far from over, and this weekend&rsquo;s results will help define who&rsquo;s still in it. <a href="https://www.clipmyhorse.tv/en_US/events/16321" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tune in Friday night</a> for live coverage of the freestyle action.&nbsp;
<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-eKemH" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Current US Equestrian Open standings" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/eKemH/1/" height="1096" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Table" data-external="1"></iframe>
Stay connected with the latest news and standings on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen">Facebook</a> and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen"> Instagram</a>, and follow US Equestrian on&nbsp;<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.
<hr>
For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at <a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.
For media inquiries about the US Equestrian Open Series, please contact Carly Weilminster at <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>.&nbsp;

dressage rider entering the ring seen from the back. Riding a black horse.

Unpredictable but Pivotal: Why WEC Could Reshape the Leaderboard

In only her second Grand Prix Freestyle as a senior, accomplished 21-year-old Erin Nichols earned her first international freestyle victory at TerraNova, scoring 72.140% aboard her 16-year-old KWPN gelding, Elian Royale. While this marks a new milestone at the senior level, Nichols is no stranger to the spotlight&mdash;she&rsquo;s a former triple gold medalist at the North American Youth Championships and a winner of multiple international U25 classes, including freestyle victories on both sides of the Atlantic.
Nichols placed second in Friday&rsquo;s Grand Prix with a 68.848%, just behind USA&rsquo;s Benjamin Ebeling and Bellena (69.109%). While Ebeling opted to ride in the Grand Prix Special, it was Nichols and Eline Eckroth contesting the Freestyle the next day.
While not an overall personal best, the 72.140% is right in line with Nichols&rsquo; average across her freestyle performances&mdash;most of which came during her successful run in the Under 25 ranks. That makes this weekend&rsquo;s test a senior-level personal best, and an important benchmark as she builds her r&eacute;sum&eacute; at the top level. Although the field was small, the win is a clear milestone for Nichols, who has her sights set on future U.S. team appearances and dreams of representing her country at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
<h2>Eckroth Climbs the Leaderboard</h2>
Eckroth&rsquo;s second-place finish&mdash;earned in a modestly contested class&mdash;was enough to propel her from 11th to 4th in the US Equestrian Open of Dressage standings. She edges out early-season favorite Felicitas Hendricks, who is likely returning to Germany now that the Wellington circuit has wrapped. Like Karen Lipp, currently ranked third overall, Eckroth is gaining ground through consistent 2nd- and 3rd-place finishes at smaller shows. It&rsquo;s a reminder that Series points don&rsquo;t always come from big wins&mdash;smart scheduling can pay off, especially with cash prizes going to the top 18 riders at the end of the qualifiers. The biggest payday, however, will come at the Finals, where those top 18 will face off in Thermal, California, this November.
<h2>Ocala Could Shake Things Up</h2>
The TerraNova weekend may have featured a small field, but it gave Nichols another career milestone to add to her already impressive resume. It also shuffled the standings in favor of Eckroth, who will compete again next weekend against third-place rider Karen Lipp at the World Equestrian Center&rsquo;s CDI4* Freestyle. With the two riders only four points apart, Ocala&rsquo;s outing could significantly reshape the leaderboard&mdash;potentially even knocking Germany&rsquo;s Evelyn Eger out of second place.
Stay connected with the latest news and standings on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen">Facebook</a> and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen"> Instagram</a>, and follow US Equestrian on&nbsp;<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.

Horse and rider trot away from the camera in an upper level dressage test.

Nichols Claims First Senior Freestyle Victory at TerraNova

With the Adequan&reg; Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) behind us, the US Equestrian Open of Dressage shifts into a new phase. Riders now face geographically dispersed events, a significant mid-year break, and tough decisions around international competition.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/c5764cda-d700-4051-93da-8bca9f1c478d.jpg?width=3157&amp;height=2128" alt="Sketch of riders at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival">
From the sketchbook of artist Cheri Isgreen.&nbsp;
<h3>The Geography Game: Moving Beyond the Palm Beach Bubble</h3>
The power of Wellington is hard to overstate. Of the 29 riders who have completed at least two qualifiers&mdash;the minimum needed to be eligible for the Finals&mdash;21 of them have competed in at least one AGDF qualifier. If the series ended today, a large percentage of qualified riders would trace their points directly back to Wellington. That density of opportunity gave early-season competitors a meaningful head start.
Now, with just five of the remaining eleven qualifiers taking place in Florida, the series shifts into a more decentralized phase.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/dce51360-5371-41aa-a234-8d5afb25ac10.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Dressageopensched Final">
Current series leader Anna Marek is perfectly poised to capitalize on this. Sitting at 88 points after five qualifiers, Ocala-based Marek is shifting her full focus to the series after missing a World Cup Finals berth. With one more high-performing qualifier, she could become the first rider to surpass 100 points, likely securing her spot as series leader heading into the Finals.
In contrast, Germany&rsquo;s Evelyn Eger (85 points) may see her second-place standing slip as she heads back to Europe. Her points total is now fixed, leaving her vulnerable to riders who remain active domestically.
<h3>The International Gamble: Risks vs. Rewards</h3>
Several prominent contenders&mdash;including Adrienne Lyle (5th in the standings), Kevin Kohmann (8th), and Ge&ntilde;ay&nbsp;Vaughn (16th)&mdash;are currently in Basel for the World Cup Final, kicking off Europe's outdoor dressage season. For riders with aspirations beyond the US Equestrian Open, international competitions in Europe offer prestige and national team opportunities for events like the Pan American Games and the Olympics.
Yet, these benefits come at a cost. Series points can only be earned domestically, placing riders who choose extended European campaigns at significant risk. Vaughn, particularly, faces a pivotal decision: return to the limited West Coast events or potentially miss out on critical qualifying points.
<h3>On the Bubble: Who's Safe and Who's Not?</h3>
The Series Finals in Thermal, California, boasts a significant $200,000 prize pool, reserved for the top 18 riders after qualifying events. While riders like Marek, Eger, and Karen Lipp (70 points) seem securely qualified, several top-scoring riders face uncertainty.
Lyle, despite holding the series' highest freestyle score (80.600%), sits precariously at 57 points with only three qualifiers completed. Similarly, Kohmann (79.240% PB, 52 points) and Vaughn (75.150% PB, 40 points) should comfortably qualify based on their performances so far&mdash;but only if they return home to actively compete in series qualifiers. Without prioritizing stateside events, their impressive resumes alone won't guarantee a spot in the Finals.
Also at risk are Ecuador&rsquo;s Julio Mendoza Loor (78.520% PB, 37 points) and Sweden&rsquo;s Tinne Vilhelmson Silfv&eacute;n (75.515% PB, 42 points), both heading to Europe for the summer season.
<h3>Quiet Weekends, Big Implications</h3>
Qualifier 14 might not feature a star-studded lineup, but its outcome could significantly impact the standings. Eline Eckroth, currently tied 11th with 49 points, can vault into fifth place with a win. Such weekends, quieter on paper, often profoundly influence the final leaderboard.
<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-aZawz" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Grand Prix Freestyle Stats: TerraNova Dressage I" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/aZawz/1/" height="390" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Table" data-external="1"></iframe>
As the US Equestrian Open moves forward, adaptability, strategic insight, and careful planning will distinguish those who thrive from those who falter.
Tune in to Qualifier 14 this weekend&mdash;every point matters as riders navigate this new landscape. Catch all the action Saturday night on the USEF Network.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usef.org/membership/join-renew">Sign up for free</a>!
<hr>
For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at <a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.
For media inquiries about the US Equestrian Open Series, please contact Carly Weilminster at <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>.&nbsp;

black dressage horse wearing a double bridle 

After Wellington: Navigating the New US Equestrian Open Landscape

Wellington&rsquo;s winter circuit drew to a close this weekend, marking a turning point in the US Equestrian Open of Dressage. While the Series standings held mostly steady, the podium featured fresh faces and standout performances. Kasey Perry-Glass led an all-female top three with power and poise&mdash;each rider showcasing a partnership built on feel, finesse, and growing trust.
2016 Rio Olympian Kasey Perry-Glass sat atop the podium on Heartbeat W.P.&mdash;a mount she debuted at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival a year ago. Although their final score of 75.915% was not a PB, it was three points above their average, showing that the pair is starting to figure one another out. She and the 13-year-old KWPN gelding rode to a cinematic soundtrack featuring a heartbeat motif that nodded to the horse&rsquo;s name. The heroic music fit Heartbeat&rsquo;s powerful movement. At 17.1hh, he is a large horse for any rider, but especially for 5&rsquo;4&rdquo; Perry-Glass.
&ldquo;To be able to make him a small woman&rsquo;s ride has been a journey. There was a lot of power and a lot to contain, but I&rsquo;m starting to be able to manage it,&rdquo; explained Perry-Glass. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s about figuring out what works for him, but once I get in the ring, he&rsquo;s a true showman.&rdquo;
The idea of learning to speak a horse&rsquo;s language&mdash;and figuring out what works for them&mdash;was a thread that connected all three riders on this week&rsquo;s podium.
&ldquo;[Hawtins San Floriana] is really the first trained horse I&rsquo;ve taken over the ride on, and I found that a bit tricky,&rdquo; said Ashley Holzer, a four-time Canadian Olympian who now rides for the United States. Despite riding to freestyle music they received just three days before the class, they earned on a combination-best score of 74.840%. Although Holzer initially struggled to find a bond with the mare, she felt they started to find their groove in recent weeks.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve started to feel that she&rsquo;s speaking my language,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;She really tries so hard, and it&rsquo;s special when you feel a horse start to become your teammate.&rdquo;
Camille Carier Bergeron and 15-year-old mare Finnl&auml;nderin&rsquo;s strengthening partnership came third on a score of 73.370%. The 25-year-old rider explained last month that after the Paris Olympics, this year has been all about fine-tuning the freestyles and having fun in the process. She&rsquo;s been a steady presence in Wellington this season, consistently scoring well. She currently sits seventh on the US Equestrian Open of Dressage leaderboard with 54 points from four out of six possible qualifying results.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/5f272c11-abe5-4d5a-b837-ccd222a08c3f.png?width=496&amp;height=522" alt="Screenshot of the leaderboard for spots 1 thru 10.">
<h2 dir="ltr">What&rsquo;s Next</h2>
April kicks off its weekly qualifiers at TerraNova, an equestrian facility in Myakka City, Florida. The CDI3* follows last weekend&rsquo;s US Equestrian Open of Eventing qualifier, also held at the venue.
With just three combinations entered in the freestyle, it&rsquo;s a smaller field&mdash;but not an irrelevant one. A strong result could vault a lesser-known rider into the top five of the overall Series standings. And with Wellington now behind us, the second half of the season begins under a new set of conditions&mdash;shaped less by winter circuit regulars and more by who keeps showing up throughout the rest of the season.

Dressage horse and rider riding an extended trot

Perry-Glass Closes AGDF with a Win on Heartbeat

<hr>
Wellington&rsquo;s star-studded winter season comes to a close tomorrow night with the final US Equestrian Open of Dressage qualifier at this iconic venue. Even without some of the biggest names in attendance, there&rsquo;s plenty of intrigue as we close the chapter on Wellington's dressage circuit. From leaderboard shakeups to career milestones, here&rsquo;s what to keep your eye on at AGDF 12.
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<h2 dir="ltr">1. Evelyn Eger&rsquo;s new ride could reclaim the lead</h2>
After a commanding season aboard 11-year-old Oldenburg mare Tabledance 3, Evelyn Eger brings a new horse to the stage&mdash;Dancing Darkness 4. While this will be their freestyle debut, the pair logged a 72.326% in the Grand Prix Special earlier this month, suggesting they have the chops to land in the top five. That&rsquo;s all it would take for Eger to retake the series lead from Anna Marek. If it works out, she&rsquo;d join Marek as one of just two riders this season to lead the standings on two different horses.
<h2 dir="ltr">2. Camille Carier Bergeron&rsquo;s tenth freestyle could be her best yet</h2>
With nine FEI Grand Prix Freestyles under their belt, Camille Carier Bergeron and Finnl&auml;nderin will hit double digits this weekend&mdash;and they&rsquo;re doing it with momentum. Their personal best of 77.280% is second-highest in the field, and their most recent outing here earned a 75.325%. That score placed them just behind World Cup&ndash;bound Kevin Kohmann and series leader Anna Marek. A repeat performance could not only earn them the win, but also launch them into the top five on the Series leaderboard.
<h2 dir="ltr">3. Naima and Statesman bring 113 tests of experience to the ring</h2>
While Naima Moreira Lalibert&eacute; and Statesman are new to the US Equestrian Open Series, they&rsquo;re far from inexperienced. Statesman has logged 113 FEI-level tests&mdash;this weekend will be his 114th. That kind of mileage, paired with a personal best of 77.860%, makes them serious contenders. Their average (73.379%) already places them in the top five of this field. A win wouldn&rsquo;t change the leaderboard standings&mdash;but it could throw a wrench in the climb for Eger, Carier Bergeron, and Karen Lipp.
<h2 dir="ltr">4. Karen Lipp could move into third with another solid ride</h2>
Karen Lipp may not be the flashiest name on paper, but she&rsquo;s quietly become one of the Series&rsquo; most consistent performers. With 60 points from five starts, she&rsquo;s already in fourth place&mdash;and a top-five finish this weekend could move her into third. Riding Infinity, she&rsquo;s averaging 71.676% and has proven that steady, solid performances are a powerful strategy in a Series that rewards persistence as much as brilliance.
<h2 dir="ltr">5. Susan Dutta joins the double-digit freestyle club</h2>
Susan Dutta and her 14-year-old gelding Don Design DC will notch their 10th FEI Grand Prix Freestyle together this weekend. With a personal best of 73.950%, the pair are poised to contend for a top-five finish. Dutta has developed Don Design from a five-year-old to a seasoned international competitor over the years. And yes&mdash;that&rsquo;s the Susan Dutta behind the Dutta Corporation, one of the most recognized names in global horse transport.
<h2 dir="ltr">6. Kasey Perry-Glass returns aboard Heartbeat W.P.</h2>
Best known for her Olympic team bronze in Rio and team silver at the 2018 World Equestrian Games aboard Goerklintgaards Dublet, Kasey Perry-Glass is back in international competition with a new mount: Heartbeat W.P., a 13-year-old KWPN gelding. The pair debuted in February with back-to-back wins in the CDI3* Grand Prix and Special, and recently posted a personal best of 76.290% in the Freestyle. With the highest average in the field (74.728%), Perry-Glass could be a podium spoiler if she continues this upward trajectory. She may not be chasing Series points&mdash;but don&rsquo;t be surprised if she makes headlines anyway.
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While it may not have the headline names of earlier qualifiers, this weekend&rsquo;s field is full of riders with something to prove&mdash;and plenty of chances to shake up the Series standings. It&rsquo;s the last AGDF qualifier, and for some, it could be their last best shot before the season&rsquo;s second half kicks off.
Catch all the action Friday night on the USEF Network. <a href="https://www.usef.org/membership/join-renew">Sign up for free</a>!
<h1 dir="ltr">Stay Connected</h1>
For the <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/dressage-us-equestrian-open-quick-guide" target="_blank" rel="noopener">most up-to-date series calendar</a> and <a href="https://equestrian-hub-usef.pages.dev/us-equestrian-open" target="_blank" rel="noopener">latest standings</a>, visit the official US Equestrian Open Series hub at&nbsp;<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.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/dce51360-5371-41aa-a234-8d5afb25ac10.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Dressageopensched Final">
<hr>
For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at <a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.
For media inquiries about the US Equestrian Open Series, please contact Carly Weilminster at <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>.&nbsp;

A rider saluting during a dressage test aboard a chestnut horse.

One Last Dance in Wellington

The US Equestrian Open is an exciting new competition series that launched in late 2024, showcasing the three Olympic equestrian disciplines: dressage, eventing, and jumping.&nbsp; Designed to elevate the sport&rsquo;s visibility, engagement, and fan experience, the series will bring together elite athletes and top horses to compete for the discipline titles of US Equestrian Open Champion.&nbsp;&nbsp;
With more than $1 million in prize money and extensive media coverage from USEF Network and ESPN, the US Equestrian Open promises thrilling competition and unparalleled exposure for the sport. This premier series aims to set a new standard in equestrian sport, delivering world-class competition and captivating audiences across the globe.&nbsp;&nbsp;
<h3>2025 US Equestrian Open Finals Schedule:&nbsp;</h3>
<blockquote>
Jumping Final: March 25-30 at the WEF Rolex Finale Week in Wellington, Fla.&nbsp;
Eventing Final: October 9-12 at the Morven Park CCI4*-L in Leesburg, Va.&nbsp;
Dressage Final: November 13-16 at the Thermal CDI5* in Thermal, Calif.&nbsp;
</blockquote>
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<blockquote>
&ldquo;The launch of the US Equestrian Open marks an exciting new chapter for equestrian sport in the United States, and we welcome Great American Insurance Group as an official sponsor and supporter of this initiative,&rdquo; said Bill Moroney, US Equestrian Chief Executive Officer. &ldquo;Their longstanding commitment to the equine industry and dedication to supporting horse owners, athletes, and professionals makes them ideal for this series.&rdquo;&nbsp;
&ldquo;We are thrilled to collaborate with USEF for the inaugural US Equestrian Open competition series,&rdquo; said Anne King, Divisional Assistant Vice President, Great American Equine Mortality. &ldquo;This relationship reflects our deep commitment to the sport and its incredible community. We wish all the competitors the best of luck and look forward to celebrating their dedication, talent, and passion for equestrian excellence.&rdquo;&nbsp;
</blockquote>
<h3>About Great American Insurance Group&nbsp;</h3>
Great American Insurance Group&rsquo;s roots go back to 1872 with the founding of its flagship company, Great American Insurance Company. Based in Cincinnati, Ohio, the operations of Great American Insurance Group are engaged primarily in property and casualty insurance, focusing on specialized commercial products for businesses. Great American Insurance Company has received an &ldquo;A&rdquo; (Excellent) or higher rating from the A.M. Best Company for more than 115 years and is currently rated &ldquo;A+&rdquo; (Superior). The members of Great American Insurance Group are subsidiaries of American Financial Group, Inc. (AFG), also based in Cincinnati, Ohio. AFG&rsquo;s common stock is listed and traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AFG. Policies are underwritten by Great American Insurance Company, Great American Assurance Company, and Great American Security Insurance Company, authorized insurers in all 50 states and the DC.&nbsp;
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/4def42c5-5a3c-4d2d-a9c5-7b6f757148ec.png?width=1080&amp;height=1080" alt="Great American Advert">

US Equestrian Welcomes Great American Insurance Group as the Official Equine Insurance Sponsor of the US Equestrian Open

In their first competition since last summer&rsquo;s European circuit, Anna Buffini and Fiontini clinched the Grand Prix Freestyle win at the Del Mar Dressage Affaire with a score of 73.235%. A narrow margin separated Buffini from her longtime coach, G&uuml;nter Seidel&mdash;just 0.155%.
<h2 dir="ltr">A Smooth Return for Dressage&rsquo;s Favorite &lsquo;-inis&rsquo;</h2>
It was a quiet class in sunny Southern California, with only four combinations entered in the freestyle. While eight riders completed the Grand Prix this weekend, the field split between Special and Freestyle divisions. This marks Buffini&rsquo;s first appearance in a US Equestrian Open of Dressage qualifier, and her win earns her 20 points&mdash;putting her alongside three other riders tied in the standings. With only two West Coast qualifiers remaining, Buffini could still climb the leaderboard&mdash;but unless she plans to head East for additional shows, her path to the Finals may be limited.
Their final score of 73.235% this weekend marked a steady, if not spectacular, return. Although Fiontini boasts one of the highest personal bests in the field&mdash;an 83.410% earned earlier in her career under a previous rider&mdash;Buffini is still forging her own path with the 15-year-old Danish Warmblood mare.
Buffini acquired Fiontini in late 2021 but kept the mare largely out of the spotlight for the first two years of their partnership, focusing instead on building trust and fine-tuning the basics. It wasn&rsquo;t until February 2024 that the pair made their international debut at the CDI3* in Del Mar, where they finished second in both the Grand Prix and the Grand Prix Special . The mare, a triple World Young Horse Champion, has passed through the hands of some of Europe&rsquo;s most prolific male riders. In Buffini&rsquo;s program, she&rsquo;s found a quieter cadence&mdash;one that prioritizes partnership over pressure.
Sunday&rsquo;s result gives them a strong foundation to build from this season. The test wasn&rsquo;t without its quirks&mdash;most notably, a wide spread in the scoring for their extended canter. One judge awarded an 8, while others gave 5s and even 4s, suggesting a possible miscommunication or moment of misinterpretation. Still, the performance was enough for the win.
<h2 dir="ltr">Seidel Shows His Hand</h2>
G&uuml;nter Seidel and Equirelle posted a 73.080%, a marked improvement from their last US Equestrian Open outing, where they earned a 68.695%. This time, two judges&mdash;at H and C&mdash;actually placed Seidel in first, awarding him 74.200% and 75.175%, respectively. Those were the highest individual scores given in the class.
Their test was clean and cohesive, with no major weak spots. The 16-year-old KWPN mare looked relaxed and rideable, and the pair&rsquo;s degree of difficulty averaged 9.16&mdash;just edging out Buffini&rsquo;s 9.12&mdash;making a strong case that Seidel delivered the more technically ambitious ride of the day.
<h2 dir="ltr">Standings Update</h2>
Canada&rsquo;s Brittney Simpson and her mount Kartsevo Goldfinch placed third on a 72.010%, while Kristina Harrison-Antell and Finley rounded out the field with a 68.140%. The result brings both Simpson and Harrison-Antell to a tie for ninth place in the overall US Equestrian Open of Dressage standings, each sitting on 49 points.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/bfa610aa-0a22-4f19-8ee2-f7bed19800bc.png?width=491&amp;height=609" alt="Screenshot of the leaderboard as of march 24, 2025">
<h2 dir="ltr">What&rsquo;s Next</h2>
While this weekend didn&rsquo;t dramatically shake up the leaderboard, Seidel&rsquo;s upward trajectory is one to watch. With only two more West Coast qualifiers remaining, his path to the Finals may require a few cross-country miles&mdash;but if he wins another qualifier and picks up additional points out East, he could position himself for a return trip to Thermal this fall.
Qualifier 13 takes place this Friday in Wellington, Florida, during the final week of the Adequan Global Dressage Festival. Tune in live to the USEF Network to watch the action unfold.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/22433326-f7d7-4286-930b-62c3a1ba80f2.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Show calendar for the 2025 US Equestrian Open of Dressage">

Horse and rider pictured from above entering a competition arena

Dressage