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New Podcast: David O'Connor on Changing The Game for Horse Sports

Carolina CCI4*-S first ran in 2014 and every winner since 2015 (nine consecutive winners)&nbsp;has won from a dressage score in the 20s. This year, the pre-competition favorite on the <a href="https://prediction-centre.equiratings.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">EquiRatings Prediction Centre</a> is the only combination in the field with a dressage 6RA (six-run average) in the 20s. They enter on a 23% win chance.
So will it be that simple? Can Boyd Martin and new partner Cooley Nutcracker lead Qualifier 5 of the US Equestrian Open from start to finish and continue the trend? It just might not be quite that simple.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/5958a4ec-0ce3-4f95-a44b-05ab4a22e6fa.png?width=908&amp;height=1718" alt="Table showing the Best Dressage Horses in the Carolina Cci4 S Field According to the Equiratings 6ra">
<h2 dir="ltr">A &ldquo;True Honor&rdquo;</h2>
Boyd Martin sits in a familiar position as the highest ranked US eventer in the FEI World Rankings, currently ranked #10. But he&rsquo;s a rider that will sacrifice a short-term win for a longer-term plan and that may just be the case in this instance. They say eventing is the greatest test of horse and human partnership, but creating that partnership takes time. Boyd takes over the reins from a recovering Liz Halliday, and his sights are set on future targets:
<blockquote>
&ldquo;This will be my and Cooley Nutcracker's first FEI event together. My plan is to use it as a competition to build our partnership and gain a qualification towards Tryon 4L. In short, I will be coasting around not taking any chances.&rdquo;
</blockquote>
On taking over the reins from his Olympic teammate, Boyd couldn&rsquo;t have said a kinder word:
<blockquote>
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a true honor and privilege to campaign Liz&rsquo;s top horses whilst she is working hard at her recovery.&rdquo;
</blockquote>
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/7bbdc92c-3e98-41f2-8ad9-f3adc8f2545e.jpg?width=5392&amp;height=3592" alt="Liz Halliday fist pumping toward the audience as she rides the dark bay horse Cooley Nutcracker after their dressage test at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The Palace of Versaille looms large in the background as the pair are still in the arena.">
Cooley Nutcracker with Liz Halliday at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
<h2 dir="ltr">Wide Open</h2>
Top level eventing isn&rsquo;t always an open affair, but this edition looks to be exactly that. Those who shine in the first phase can often build a lead that is insurmountable. Five of the ten previous Carolina 4*-S winners have led the dressage phase. However, with the likely dressage leader (Boyd &amp; Cooley Nutcracker) taking their time on the cross-country, the obvious starting point for a likely winner is last week&rsquo;s Qualifier 4 victor, Caroline Pamukcu.&nbsp;
Pamukcu only needed 5 weeks to recover from the birth of her first child when winning Bouckaert on HSH Double Sixteen, so don&rsquo;t expect the five-day turnaround between series qualifiers to present any challenge to the winning-most international eventer of the past two seasons.
She is double-handed near the top of the EquiRatings Prediction Centre with both King&rsquo;s Especiale and She&rsquo;s The One likely to feature at the top of the final leaderboard.&nbsp;
<h2>US versus the rest&hellip;</h2>
For Pamukcu to make it back-to-back wins, we'd expect her to have to climb the leaderboard as she did last week. Her strongest challenger is most likely to come from outside the home nation, as US-based New Zealander Monica Spencer will start with a strong first phase aboard her long-term partner Artist.
Spencer has contested 18 four-star shorts, withdrawn from two, and finished in the top eight on every other occasion. That remarkable consistency spans four different horses and goes back as far as 2012. However, her only win came at Matamata on home soil back in 2022 with her partner for this weekend.&nbsp;
With Spencer likely to start strong and Pamukcu looking to chase her down, other notable combinations include Will Faudree aboard the experienced PFun. If this combination can jump clear through the cross-country obstacles, then we expect them to sit alongside, if not surpass, the main contenders of this wide open qualifier.&nbsp;
&nbsp;<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/470cec83-cf63-4c17-ae6e-7b618b2c3f4f.jpg?width=1600&amp;height=1068" alt="Photo of Will Faudree and the grey horse Pfun clearing a cross country obstacle. photo by Leslie Mintz">
Will Faudree and Pfun. Photo by Leslie Mintz.
<h2 dir="ltr">All the facts, stats and key contenders</h2>
The reality of this sport and this qualifier is that nothing will be easy or even simple when it comes to taking the top spot. For all the key insights, past trends, facts and stats around who wins and who looks strongest in each phase, <a href="https://digital.equiratings.com/view/1020318388/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">check out the official fan guide here</a>.&nbsp;
Guides for the Open series are always accessible in the <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/magazines" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fan Guide</a> section of this site.
<h2 dir="ltr">What's Next</h2>
After Carolina, the US Equestrian Open heads to The Event at TerraNova at the end of March.&nbsp;
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/aee0755f-7ba0-4aaf-b197-8570742781c8.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Competition Calendar for the 2024-2025 US Equestrian Open of Eventing">
<h2 dir="ltr">Stay Connected</h2>
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.
&nbsp;
<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;
&nbsp;

Image of Monica Spencer and the bay horse Artist after their show jumping round in a competition. Monica smiles at the camera.

Carolina is Set to Upset the Trends

<h3 data-start="433" data-end="462">&nbsp;</h3>
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<h3 data-start="433" data-end="462">The Riders to Watch</h3>
At the top of the prediction center sits Boyd Martin and Luke 140, a serious talent making a long-awaited return. While Boyd&rsquo;s horse is undeniably gifted, will he be at full throttle this early in the season?
Meanwhile, Phillip Dutton has a powerful hand with Jewelent and Quasi Cool, both well-placed to secure more crucial Open points. Dutton already holds the lead in the standings&mdash;could Bouckaert extend his advantage?
Another major contender is Lucienne Bellissimo&rsquo;s Dyri, a standout in the first phase with the lowest dressage average in the field. If she jumps clear in show jumping, she could find herself at the top heading into cross-country.
<h3 data-start="1141" data-end="1194">The Bouckaert Challenge: Time is Everything</h3>
Bouckaert&rsquo;s cross-country course is a true test of speed and endurance, with only four combinations in history finishing inside the time in this class. In an event where cross-country time penalties will likely decide the winner.
<h3 data-start="1479" data-end="1526">Dark Horse Alert: Who Could Surprise?</h3>
With fast horses and new riders riders in the mix, don&rsquo;t be surprised if a new name shakes up the leaderboard. Could this be the breakthrough event for someone like Ava Wehde and Bonaire? A strong show jumper with speed potential, Bonaire could benefit from the nature of this venue. Diarm picks them as his dark horse to follow here and in the series in general.&nbsp;
<h3 data-start="1827" data-end="1855">Who Takes the Win?</h3>
With it being so early in the season, and the influence of time so high, this is one of the hardest events to call. Expect&nbsp;Dutton, Martin, Bellissimo, and a few surprises to be in the mix for the podium.
Follow the action and check out the <a href="https://digital.equiratings.com/view/306031364/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">full Form Guide here</a> Stay tuned for our post-event breakdown, and get ready for the next stop: Carolina International!

New Podcast: Eventing Series Returns; Bouckaert International Preview

This weekend's Bouckaert CCI4*-S marks the latest battleground in the US Equestrian Open of Eventing, a series designed to push the sport&rsquo;s top competitors to new heights. With Phillip Dutton currently leading the Open series, the stakes couldn&rsquo;t be higher as this fourth leg kicks off, picking up from last year's autumn qualifiers.&nbsp;
This time last year, Dutton and Jewelent were the Bouckaert 4*-S runners up. This weekend, he no doubt arrives on a mission to go one better and secure his first Bouckaert CCI4*-S victory. If he can achieve the top spot, he&rsquo;ll soar past the 100-point threshold, solidifying his grip on the&nbsp;$50,000 series leaderboard and putting himself in a commanding position for the remainder of the 2025 qualifiers.
<h3>Series Standings Coming into Qualifier 4 this weekend:</h3>
See the full series standings, updated after each qualifier,&nbsp;<a href="https://equestrian-hub-usef.pages.dev/us-equestrian-open" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/d85de2e9-4a7d-4cdc-9eb6-538d9de32553?width=1080&amp;height=1682" alt="Table Showing the Top 10 Athletes on the Us Open of Eventing Leaderboard as of the End of 2024">
But there&rsquo;s a fresh challenge in the mix. Boyd Martin &mdash; another of eventing&rsquo;s biggest names &mdash; is making his Bouckaert four-star debut, bringing&nbsp;Luke 140&nbsp;into the fray. While Martin has yet to register on the Open leaderboard, his presence alone shifts the landscape, and he enters the weekend as the pre-competition favorite.
The numbers tell the story of Bouckaert&rsquo;s challenge. Of the 251 starters&nbsp;in this venue&rsquo;s feature competition,&nbsp;only one has ever finished on their dressage score &mdash; Jacob Fletcher and Atlantic Domino&rsquo;s winning 30.0 performance in 2018. That&rsquo;s also the&nbsp;record score to beat, and if we see anything sub-30, history will be made.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/11bdcc43-d5c5-4bea-9358-ed74c2f0ed88.jpg?width=765&amp;height=1080" alt="Photo by Shannon Brinkman of Jacob Fletcher and the grey horse Atlantic Domino clearing a cross country jump during competition">
Jacob Fletcher &amp; Atlantic Domino. Photo by Shannon Brinkman.
The Bouckaert CCI4*-S is more than a qualifier &mdash; it&rsquo;s an early-season&nbsp;defining moment. With big names, fierce competition, and the&nbsp;US Open series crown&nbsp;on the line, this weekend is set to deliver eventing at its very best.
For all the essential facts and insights, be sure to check out the Official Form Guide, and follow the&nbsp;US Equestrian Open series via the official microsite to stay up to date with all the action.
<h2>More Stats &amp; Stories</h2>
<a href="https://digital.equiratings.com/view/306031364/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Check out our free, stat-driven guide to Bouckaert 4*-S</a> for this weekend's predictions and ones to watch in each phase. Guides for the Open series are always accessible in the <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/magazines" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fan Guide</a> section of this site!
<h2 dir="ltr">What's Next</h2>
Next week, the qualifiers will continue with the Carolina CCI4*-S which always brings a star-studded field.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/6d91f2af-a0f6-44aa-b503-1751f1d6726b.png?width=1080&amp;height=1080" alt="Table of the Event Calendar for the 2024-2025 Us Equestrian Open of Eventing Series">
<h2 dir="ltr">Stay Connected</h2>
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.
&nbsp;
<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;

Side-on, close-up image of Phillip Dutton riding a grey horse during a dressage test in competition.

The Jewelent in Dutton's Crown?

Wrigley Field, Madison Square Garden, Arrowhead Stadium. Like some of the most well-known sporting venues, eventing venues can adopt personalities of their own.
Stadiums are compared on fan decibel levels, seating capacity, or audience experience. Eventing venues are compared on cross country difficulty, field strengths, or arena footing (to name a few). With several ways to parse apart events, this time we&rsquo;re boiling it down to winning margins: how many points does the victor win by?
Winning margins are a function of several variables: the strength of the field, the size of the field, and the conditions on cross-country day, for example. But as one, big, high-level analysis, its insightful and interesting. So here we go.
<h2>Parameters</h2>
We looked at winning margins within these boundaries.
Venues: <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/about-the-us-equestrian-open-series">US Open venues</a>
<h3>Level:</h3>
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>CCI4*, since all qualifiers are at that level</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Separately, we also looked at Morven Park CCI4*-L since that is the location and level of the final.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="MsoNormal">Timeframe:</h3>
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li class="MsoNormal">2019-2024</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Why 2019? Because modern scoring started in 2019 so it allows the cleanest apples-to-apples comparison. (The dressage multiplier was gone starting in 2018 and, starting in 2019, SJ time penalties went from 1 penalty per second to the current 0.4 per second.)</li>
</ul>
<h2>The narrowest victories come at Tryon</h2>
The narrowest victory in the list comes from Tryon in April 2022 when both&nbsp;Doug Payne (Vandiver) and Phillip Dutton (Z) both finished on a score of 30.8. Doug started on a dressage score of 30 (Phillip 28) but Doug was closer to the time with just 0.8 added compared to Z&rsquo;s 2.8. Both jumped clear. Both ended up with a HPR (High Performance Rating) of 97 &ndash; one of the highest ever recorded at the venue. That rating is driven a number of factors but primarily, who they beat and by how much. That day, Vandiver and Z finished ahead of Aachen winner Off The Record (Will Coleman) and Boyd Martin&rsquo;s Tsetserleg. &nbsp;
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/c8787753-9fb6-4db8-b872-e956f5ab83eb.png?width=1252&amp;height=2542" alt="Table showing the 10 Smallest Largest 4S Winning Margins at Us Open Venues">
Later the same year, we saw another narrow victory, this time from&nbsp;Julie Wolfert with SSH Playboy finishing on 55.3, just ahead of Ariel Grald and Forrest Gump 124 on a score of 55.4. This was a different quality of field, and a differently rated performance with a winning HPR of 57.&nbsp; Emily Beshear&rsquo;s 0.1 winning margin in the opening leg of the US Equestrian Open with Rio de Janeiro is joint second on the list.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/dbdb4ab1-a525-4ee7-8959-8dfdd4396cbc.png?width=1116&amp;height=1414" alt="Table showing the average 4S Winning Margins at the Us Open Venues">
<h2>Small Fields, Big Wins</h2>
Lauren Billys holds the biggest winning margin in our list when she dominated a small field in Twin Rivers back in 2019. Castle Larchfield Purdy started on a score of 29.8 and only added a couple of cross country seconds to finish on a score of 30.6. Liza Horan was second that day with a score of 66.8. The win didn&rsquo;t translate to a big rating, coming in at 52.&nbsp; Karen O&rsquo;Neal (Clooney 14) had a big win at Aspen Farms in June last year, finishing 23.5 marks ahead of Sophie Click and Quidproquo. The winning rating was 46 &ndash; again coming from the small field ad without some of the superstars.
<h2>What about the final, a CCI4*-L?</h2>
This October, the <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/about-the-us-equestrian-open-series" target="_blank" rel="noopener">US Open final will take place at Morven Park as a CCI4*-L</a>. There will be (at least) $200,000 in prize money on the line. So how close might it be when deciding the biggest chunk of the winnings?
Well, historically, the winner of Morven Park CCI4*-L has triumphed by just 0.6 penalties to as much as 10.4. That 10.4 margin, produced by&nbsp;Boyd Martin and Commando 3, was largely thanks to the pair's fast and clean cross country round (fastest of the day) on a day when only seven of the 14 starters finished the course. On the other hand, 12 of the 16 starters completed last year's cross country with Julie Wolfert and SSH Playboy going on to win by 1.0 point, a victory earned by finishing on their dressage score.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/31003839-e2e6-44d4-af56-512d34df36d5.png?width=1068&amp;height=824" alt="table showing the Winning Margins in the Morven Park 4L and how they've Ranged From 0 6 to 10 4 Points">
<h2 dir="ltr">What&rsquo;s Next in the Open?</h2>
Having kicked off in 2024, the US Equestrian Open qualifiers will pick back up next Friday, March 7th&nbsp;when the leaderboard battle continues at <a href="https://bouckaertfarm.com/equestrian-events/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bouckaert</a>.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/145ad0e6-6356-4cd4-98f7-394e78b6afdb?width=1080&amp;height=1080" alt="Table of the Event Calendar for the 2024-2025 U.S. Equestrian Open of Eventing Series">
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>.
<h3>Series Standings at the End of 2024:</h3>
See the full series standings, updated after each qualifier,&nbsp;<a href="https://equestrian-hub-usef.pages.dev/us-equestrian-open" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/d85de2e9-4a7d-4cdc-9eb6-538d9de32553?width=1080&amp;height=1682" alt="Table Showing the Top 10 Athletes on the Us Open of Eventing Leaderboard as of the End of 2024">
<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.
&nbsp;
<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;

Profile image of Doug Payne & the bay horse Vandiver clearing a show jumping obstacle

Narrow defeats or convincing victories: how close has it come at the US Open venues?

Eventing has long been a sport where experience is king, but a handful of young American riders have proven age is just a number when it comes to delivering top performances at the highest level. Across all recorded competition data,&nbsp;only five sub-40 finishing scores have been achieved by US teens at the four-star level &mdash; a rare and remarkable feat.
The list includes some of the today's brightest names in US eventing:
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/378ac4bd-2135-4397-b534-75a2239be442?width=1032&amp;height=848" alt="US Teenagers Who've Finished Sub-40 at the Four-Star Level">
Among these elite performances, Cassie Sanger stands out &mdash; not only as the sole US teenager to achieve two sub-40 finishes, but also as the only rider to record one at age 18. This underscores her consistency and ability to compete at the highest levels across multiple seasons.
<h2 dir="ltr">America&rsquo;s Most Experienced Teenage Event Riders</h2>
Sanger&rsquo;s achievements don&rsquo;t stop at her finishing scores &mdash; she is also among the most prolific teenage riders at top level competition. Below is a look at the young athletes who have racked up the most four- or five-star international starts in their teenage years:
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/f46622bd-f12c-4629-b3b9-9ddf6a99fcb2?width=1016&amp;height=1016" alt="Table Showing the Worldwide Eventers With the Most 4 or 5 Starts as Teenagers">
This list includes current Olympic and championship competitors, showing how crucial a strong start as a teenager can be in setting up an elite career. Alex Hua Tian, for example, is now a multiple-time Olympian, Cathal Daniels has won multiple championship medals for Ireland, and Caroline Pamukcu represented Team USA at the 2024 Olympics off the back of becoming the 2023 Pan-American gold medallist.
Great Britain&rsquo;s Emily King is not only leading the way as the most experienced teen rider to come through the sport since 2008, but she is also the only teenager to achieve a top 5 finish at five-star which she did aboard Brookleigh at Pau in 2015 when finishing fourth.
With US rising star Sanger racking up competitive starts and elite-level finishing scores, she is firmly on a path that could see her as one of the future leaders of US eventing.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/d9d8a4df-7a48-4bf9-93c4-6195d85c3c4c?width=1339&amp;height=1200" alt="A front-on Image of Cassie Sanger &amp; the bay horse Fernhill Zoro clearing a Show Jumping Fence at the 2024 Bramham CCI4-L Under-25 Class. Image by Tilly Berendt.">
Cassie Sanger &amp; Fernhill Zoro in the 2024 Bramham CCI4*-L U25 class. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
<h2 dir="ltr">The Future Starts Now: US Equestrian Open 2025</h2>
With the US Equestrian Open underway, these bright young stars will have a new stage to showcase their talent. The series is set to revolutionize the sport in the US, bringing top-level eventing into the spotlight like never before.
Given their track records, expect to see names like Sanger, Pamukcu, Farley, and Duda featuring heavily in the new competition format. Their early results prove they are more than just future stars &mdash; they are already among the best young eventers in the world. The next generation of US eventing has arrived, and 2025 is just the beginning.
<h2 dir="ltr">What&rsquo;s Next in the Open?</h2>
Having kicked off in 2024, the US Equestrian Open qualifiers will pick back up in March when the leaderboard battle continues at Bouckaert.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/145ad0e6-6356-4cd4-98f7-394e78b6afdb?width=1080&amp;height=1080" alt="Table of the Event Calendar for the 2024-2025 U.S. Equestrian Open of Eventing Series">
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>.
<h3>Series Standings at the End of 2024:</h3>
See the full series standings, updated after each qualifier,&nbsp;<a href="https://equestrian-hub-usef.pages.dev/us-equestrian-open" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/d85de2e9-4a7d-4cdc-9eb6-538d9de32553?width=1080&amp;height=1682" alt="Table Showing the Top 10 Athletes on the Us Open of Eventing Leaderboard as of the End of 2024">
<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.
&nbsp;
<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;

Front-on photo of Cassie Sanger & the bay horse Fernhill Zoro trotting up during a horse inspection at a competition. Cassie has a pleasant expression while wearing a navy turtleneck & blazer with amber-colored shorts. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Cassie Sanger Has Entered Her Twenties as One of the USA's Elite Young Eventers

In a recent episode of the US Equestrian Open of Eventing Podcast, Annie Bishop sat down with eventing star Sharon White and EquiRatings' Diarmuid Byrne to discuss one of the most exciting horses in the sport today &mdash; Jaguars Duende.&nbsp; The US Equestrian Open Podcast is available <a href="https://podfollow.com/the-us-equestrian-open-podcast" target="_blank" rel="noopener">on all podcast channels here</a> and you can check out Sharon's <a href="https://pod.fo/e/2ac78a" target="_blank" rel="noopener">episode here.&nbsp;</a>
<h2 class="p-rich_text_section">A Mare with Confidence and Character</h2>
Sharon White describes Jaguars Duende as fiercely independent and confident, traits she believes are essential for success.
<blockquote>
"She shows up to work every day. She likes her job, she likes doing things well, and she goes along with my motto: If you're going to do something, do it well. That&rsquo;s what makes her so special &mdash; she finds enjoyment in working hard." 
</blockquote>
Her determination is evident not only in competition but also in training. Sharon enjoys that Jaguars Duende isn&rsquo;t afraid to express herself, even if it means bucking her off every now and then!
<blockquote>
"I like that she has enough confidence to try and tell me to go fly a kite sometimes."
"If you&rsquo;re gonna do something, do it well, otherwise don&rsquo;t bother to do it. Which includes bucking me off, by the way! That&rsquo;s one of her favorite things too &mdash; which I love, right? Because I like that she has enough confidence to try and tell me to go fly a kite sometimes."
</blockquote>
<h2><video controls="controls" width="600" height="300"><source src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/c66e89fb-6000-4eed-9ed9-9ef123b671cb" type="video/mp4"></video></h2>
<h2>A Remarkable Journey from an Unlikely Start</h2>
<blockquote>
"When I first saw the videos, I was like, 'I wouldn&rsquo;t buy that.'"
</blockquote>
Jaguars Duende&rsquo;s journey began when Sharon purchased her as a three-year-old, sight unseen. However, she admits her first impressions weren&rsquo;t exactly glowing.
"When I first saw the videos, I was like, 'I wouldn&rsquo;t buy that. Just being honest.' And then when she came over, I thought, 'I don&rsquo;t know. I don&rsquo;t know what&rsquo;s going to happen.'"
Despite initial doubts, White recognized that Jaguars Duende needed time and patience. She focused on helping her develop confidence and strength rather than rushing her progress. That patience has certainly paid off, as she has developed into one of the most exciting horses in US eventing today.
<blockquote>
"I&rsquo;ve always thought big picture with her. It&rsquo;s not about the immediacy of what you&rsquo;re going to do this weekend. It&rsquo;s: what am I going to do three years from now? That&rsquo;s what really interests me."
</blockquote>
<h2>A Stellar Competition Record</h2>
Jaguars Duende has quickly become one of the sport&rsquo;s most talked-about rising stars. Diarmuid shared the impressive statistics:
<ul class="p-rich_text_list p-rich_text_list__bullet p-rich_text_list--nested" data-stringify-type="unordered-list" data-list-tree="true" data-indent="0" data-border="0">
<li data-stringify-indent="0" data-stringify-border="0">11 international starts, nine podium finishes (the other two starts were withdrawals before cross-country)</li>
<li data-stringify-indent="0" data-stringify-border="0">Three wins in her last four competitions</li>
<li data-stringify-indent="0" data-stringify-border="0">A victory in the Maryland 5 Star CCI3*-L to close out the 2024 season</li>
</ul>
These numbers are staggering, but White admits she rarely focuses on them.
<blockquote>
"It's hard to read the label when you're inside the box. You don't even realize what's happening until you step back and look at that pile of blue ribbons. I was cleaning out the barn and found this pile of ribbons, and I thought, 'Holy moly, they're all Jags!'"
</blockquote>
<h2 class="p-rich_text_section"><video controls="controls" width="600" height="300"><source src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/40daeed9-fdb5-437d-be20-7123a08e2d76" type="video/mp4"></video> The Road Ahead: US Equestrian Open and Beyond</h2>
<blockquote>
"With horses, you never really know. You make a plan, but they tell you what&rsquo;s next."
</blockquote>
Looking ahead to the 2025 season, Jaguars Duende is set to make her first appearance at <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/about-the-us-equestrian-open-series" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bouckaert</a>. While the US Equestrian Open remains a possibility, White emphasizes the journey will be dictated by what Jags tells her.
"The US Equestrian Open is exciting because it brings so much fun into the sport. There&rsquo;s so much talk about it, so much anticipation. You look at the calendar and think, &lsquo;Could this be an option?&rsquo; But with horses, you never really know. You make a plan, but they tell you what&rsquo;s next."
White&rsquo;s philosophy remains centered on patience and trusting the process. Every step of Jaguars Duende's career has been carefully planned to ensure she moves up when she&rsquo;s ready. With continued growth and strong performances, her future looks incredibly bright.
&nbsp;
<h2>"My Little Pegasus"</h2>
Jaguars Duende is more than just a top competitor; she&rsquo;s a horse with presence, personality, and a devoted team behind her. Sharon White&rsquo;s dedication to her long-term success is evident, and as she steps into 2025, fans will be eagerly following along to see just how far she can go.
<blockquote>
"She doesn&rsquo;t mind digging deep when she has to, and I love that. That&rsquo;s something you need in a great horse. When she started to give me that feeling, I would call her my little Pegasus, because suddenly, she had wings."
</blockquote>
With a stellar track record and a team committed to her development, Jaguars Duende is a name to remember. As the season unfolds, we&rsquo;ll all be watching to see where her journey takes her.
<h2 dir="ltr">What&rsquo;s Next in the Open?</h2>
Having kicked off in 2024, the US Equestrian Open qualifiers will pick back up in March when the leaderboard battle continues at Bouckaert.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/145ad0e6-6356-4cd4-98f7-394e78b6afdb?width=1080&amp;height=1080" alt="Table of the Event Calendar for the 2024-2025 U.S. Equestrian Open of Eventing Series">
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>.
<h3>Series Standings at the End of 2024:</h3>
See the full series standings, updated after each qualifier,&nbsp;<a href="https://equestrian-hub-usef.pages.dev/us-equestrian-open" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/d85de2e9-4a7d-4cdc-9eb6-538d9de32553?width=1080&amp;height=1682" alt="Table Showing the Top 10 Athletes on the Us Open of Eventing Leaderboard as of the End of 2024">
<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.
&nbsp;
<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;

Photo of Sharon White during an awards ceremony. She is seen from the torso up behind her horse's ears, who she sits on while smiling very broadly, still in her show jumping kit.

Jaguars Duende: Sharon White on Her Rising Star of US Eventing

As the 2025 season approaches and the qualifiers roll back around for the US Equestrian Open, excitement is building around several talented young US horses ready to make their mark on the international stage at CCI4*-S level. The horses in these lists are:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr">no older than 10 years old,&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr">have competed up to at least CCI3*-L,</li>
<li dir="ltr">and have yet to achieve a podium finish at CCI4*-S or higher.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Based on their impressive career trajectories, they are prime candidates to break through this year. Using EquiRatings&rsquo; Elo ratings and Opposition Beaten Percentage (OBP), we&rsquo;ve identified standout horses most likely to shine in the coming season.
<hr>
<h2 dir="ltr">The Top 5 Horses by Elo: Career Competitiveness</h2>
The EquiRatings Elo is a measure of a horse's competitiveness and the quality of its opponents. It reflects how well a horse performs against tough competition, making it a critical indicator of breakout potential.
<h3>1. Shanroe Cooley</h3>
Horse age: 10 | Max level reached: CCI4*-L | Rider: Liz Halliday |&nbsp;Owners: Ocala Horse Properties
As Liz continues to recover from injury, we don&rsquo;t yet know where or when we will see Shanroe Cooley but when we do, it is one to watch. With an Elo of 637, Shanroe Cooley leads the pack in terms of breakthrough podium potential. This experienced competitor tackled the hotly contested CCI4*-S in Kentucky last year. In that class, full of the USA's best vying for Olympic selection, Shanroe Cooley and Liz finished top 10. They have also been to CHIO Aachen, where they finished 16th. We expect them to podium somewhere soon.&nbsp;
<h3>2. Denim</h3>
Horse age: 10 | Max level reached: CCI4*-L | Rider: Phillip Dutton | Owner: Caroline Moran
Denim&rsquo;s Elo of 624 reflects consistent performances at the highest level, in particular a top 8 finish in the Blenheim CCI4*-L last year. Under the guidance of series leader Phillip Dutton, this horse is well-positioned to make waves in 2025 and we would expect him to contribute valuable series points along the way. With his CCI4*-L experience, Denim may be particularly helpful in the <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/eventing-us-equestrian-open-quick-guide" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Morven Park CCI4*-L Open final</a>.&nbsp;
<h3>3. Jaguars Duende</h3>
Horse age: 9 | Max level reached: CCI3*-L | Rider &amp; owner: Sharon White
This is arguably one of the most exciting horses in the sport at the moment and one who, if Sharon keeps her, could return Sharon to the top of the sport. Still only 9, Jaguars Duende boasts a 603 Elo and has 9 podiums from 9 completions (twice they WD after dressage). They have three wins (Maryland 5 Star CCI3*-L, Tryon CCI3*-L and Carolina CCI3*-S) in their last four internationals. You can expect to hear a lot more about Jaguars Duende this season and beyond.&nbsp;
<h3>4. ChinTonic 3</h3>
Horse age: 10 | Max level reached: CCI3*-L | Rider: Sydney C. Elliot | Owner: Arden Stephens
ChinTonic 3 came from our Tokyo Olympic Champion Julia Krajewski and with an Elo of 590, he looks set to be a horse to follow in 2025. They were second last time out in the Bromont CCI3*-L with a dressage score of 28.0 and a clear show jumping round. We are all looking forward to what comes from this combination.
<h3>5. Kismet</h3>
Horse age: 10 | Max level reached: CCI3*-L | Rider: Jennie Brannigan | Owner: Nina Gardner
Kismet is a little under the radar right now but with an Elo of 516 and big performances in the first half of 2024 (including a podium finish in the Bromont CCI3*-L, just behind ChinTonic 3), we think Kismet is very likely to make a breakthrough at the CCI4* level.&nbsp;
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/c7273e29-f876-4db5-8e2b-9fe19720fc1c?width=988&amp;height=1014" alt="Table showing the top 5 U.S. Breakthrough Candidates by Elo rating with their ELo rating, Opposition Beaten Percentage and best result at their highest completed level of competition">
<h2 dir="ltr">The Top 5 Horses by OBP: Consistent Performers</h2>
The Opposition Beaten Percentage (OBP) is the percentage of opponents a horse has beaten across its last six international competitions. This statistic accounts for the size of the field, making it a valuable predictor of success on the big stages.
<h3 dir="ltr" role="presentation">1. Jaguars Duende</h3>
Horse age: 9 | Max level reached: CCI3*-L | Rider &amp; owner: Sharon White
Leading the OBP rankings on 95%, Jaguars Duende has exceled in large, competitive fields. The mare also appears in the above Elo list (crossover is expected), so with a high Elo&nbsp;and OBP, we are constantly talking about Jaguars Duende here at EquiRatings.&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr" role="presentation">2. Cooley Corraghy Diamond</h3>
Horse age: 8 | Max level reached: CCI3*-L | Rider: Kim Severson | Owners: William Johnson, Roslyn Johnson
This 8-year-old has an OBP of 87%, showcasing its ability to outperform its competition. He and Kim have seven career internationals and have only once been outside the top 5 (9th in the 2024 Stable View&nbsp;Oktoberfest CCI3*-S). Under Kim's guidance, Cooley Corraghy Diamond is one to watch this season.&nbsp;
<h3>3. Kismet</h3>
Horse age: 10 | Max level reached: CCI3*-L | Rider: Jennie Brannigan | Owner: Nina Gardner
Like Jaguars Duende, Kismet has crossover with the top Elo-rated horses. Kismet's 85% OBP is largely due to placing top 3 in four of his last six internationals. Two of those podiums were at the CCI3* level, reinforcing Kismet and Jennie's podium potential at the CCI4* level this season.
<h3 dir="ltr" role="presentation">4. Cooley Chromatic</h3>
Horse age: 9 | Max level reached: CCI3*-L | Rider &amp; owner: Sara Schulman
Apart from one blip at Kentucky back in 2022 (having won at Bromont next time out), this horse has never been outside the top 10 in his nine international starts. With an OBP of 83%, Cooley Chromatic is a consistent performer at CCI3* and finished 2024 with a second-place finish in the Maryland 5 Star CCI3*-L (behind Jaguars Duende). One to track for sure.&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr" role="presentation">5. Gillou</h3>
Horse age: 9 | Max level reached: CCI3*-L | Rider &amp; owner: Devin Robel
Gillou&rsquo;s OBP of 81% comes from five international starts. They were on the podium in Ocala last April alongside Jennie Jarnstrom-Dennis &amp; Flower Girl, who went on to pick up series points at TerraNova). We haven&rsquo;t seen Gillou since but if they come back as we hope they will, it's a 9-year-old who is well-positioned for a breakthrough season. 
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/87a50853-0a3d-4976-87d2-ffdd1818492c?width=1000&amp;height=1032" alt="Table showing the top 5 Breakthrough Candidates by Opposition Beaten Percentage. Shown also with their Elo rating, highest level reached &amp; best placing at that level.">
<h2 dir="ltr">Why This Matters</h2>
The journey to international success is built on incremental achievements, and these horses represent the next wave of U.S. talent ready to break through. As fans, riders, and sponsors look ahead to the 2025 season, keep an eye on these rising stars&mdash;each one has the potential to shape the future of the series and of the sport in the US.&nbsp;
Stay tuned for updates as we follow their progress through the year!
<h3>Series Standings at the End of 2024:</h3>
See the full series standings, updated after each qualifier,&nbsp;<a href="https://equestrian-hub-usef.pages.dev/us-equestrian-open" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/d85de2e9-4a7d-4cdc-9eb6-538d9de32553?width=1080&amp;height=1682" alt="Table Showing the Top 10 Athletes on the Us Open of Eventing Leaderboard as of the End of 2024">
For continual leaderboard updates, visit the official US Equestrian Open Series hub at <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">usequestrianopen.org</a>. The hub is also the best place for the most up-to-date series calendar as it's subject to change.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/83a19dee-925b-4fef-bc95-741180113e6b?width=1080&amp;height=1080" alt="Table of the Event Calendar for the 2024-2025 U.S. Equestrian Open of Eventing Series">
Stay connected with the latest news and standings on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Facebook</a> and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Instagram</a>, and follow US Equestrian on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/USequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrian/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TikTok</a>, and <a href="https://x.com/usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">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;

Close-up profile image of Jennie Brannigan in her dressage phase competition attire. Jennie is smiling very broadly.

US Horses Poised for a Breakout Season in 2025

The inaugural US Equestrian Open of Eventing may well be dominated by a home hero who is yet to feature in the qualifiers. Looking at the global stage of eventing, there is no rider performing with more precision and consistency than U.S. stalwart Will Coleman.
Eventing has many challenges &ndash; multiple phases to master &ndash; and none is more testing than cross-country. To win, it may come down to fine margins, but a quick scan of any final leaderboard will show the other side of the story too. Scoring low on any day is tough, but scoring low on a consistent basis is almost unheard of for any top-level competitor, except one.
<h2>51% of Competitors Fail to Finish Below 60</h2>
At the top levels of the sport (4*/5*) over the past three seasons, over half (51%) of starters failed to post a finishing score below 60 penalties. Only 14% finished below a score of 40.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/c558e72c-57fb-45f7-a858-8c7b73038858?width=1324&amp;height=1046" alt="Bar chart showing the number of four- and five-star results in each of 9 scoring brackets (2022-2024)">
<h2>The U.S. Outlier</h2>
The competitor who "looks different" than any other rider on the global stage over the past two years, for all the right reasons, is Will Coleman.
Two years ago, Will started the 2023 season with an incredible finishing score of 19.4 (Chin Tonic HS, Carolina CCI4*-S). Starting with that result and over the next two seasons, Will contested the cross-country phase in 16 four- or five-star events. In 14 of those 16 runs, he finished on a sub-40 score. &nbsp;That&rsquo;s a hit rate of 87.5% which is over 6 times the global average.&nbsp;&nbsp;
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/08d7cc6b-9cff-4f99-a075-3b27658cea44?width=1324&amp;height=1062" alt="Bar chart showing Will Coleman's number of four- and five-star results in each of 9 scoring brackets (2023-2024)"> 
<h2>How He Compares</h2>
To be the best you have to beat the best. So how does &ldquo;Clinical Coleman&rdquo; compare to some of the other top riders in the sport that are also renowned for their precision and consistency?
Individual medalists from the Paris Olympics, Michael Jung and Laura Collett, are both known for being competitive every time they set foot on the international stage. They both boast a sub-40 rate of 48% <span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Aptos',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Aptos; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language: EN-IE; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">&ndash; &nbsp;exceptional, but nothing close to Coleman&rsquo;s current level.
The 2024 Aachen winner and the sport&rsquo;s one and only female Olympic individual champion, Julia Krajewski, shows the closest top-level &ldquo;balance&rdquo; to the USA&rsquo;s &ldquo;King of Clinical.&rdquo; Krajewski has a sub-40 rate of 70% which is still lower than Coleman, and she also has a 20% DNF (did not finish) rate.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/8a5d1084-5754-4c84-8106-153d852daf74?width=1156&amp;height=1228" alt="Table showing the four- and five-star zone analysis of Laura Collet, Michael Jung, Julia Krajewski and Will Coleman. It shows what percentage of their results fall in each of nine scoring brackets.">
<h2>What This Means?</h2>
The US Equestrian Open is an innovative new series that will not only elevate US equestrian sport, but it will reward both quality AND consistency. Phillip Dutton currently holds the series lead on 75 points, but if anyone is going to emerge as a real and persistent threat in 2025, then look no further than Will Coleman.
<h3>Series Standings at the End of 2024:</h3>
See the full series standings, updated after each qualifier,&nbsp;<a href="https://equestrian-hub-usef.pages.dev/us-equestrian-open" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/d85de2e9-4a7d-4cdc-9eb6-538d9de32553?width=1080&amp;height=1682" alt="Table Showing the Top 10 Athletes on the Us Open of Eventing Leaderboard as of the End of 2024">
For continual leaderboard updates, visit the official US Equestrian Open Series hub at <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">usequestrianopen.org</a>. The hub is also the best place for the most up-to-date series calendar as it's subject to change.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/3a5ed1a6-9a37-4e0f-ab64-e740e86f2cb4?width=1080&amp;height=1080" alt="Table of the Event Calendar for the 2024-2025 US Equestrian Open of Eventing Series">
Stay connected with the latest news and standings on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Facebook</a> and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Instagram</a>, and follow US Equestrian on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/USequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrian/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TikTok</a>, and <a href="https://x.com/usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">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;

Photo of Will Coleman during a horse inspection of Chin Tonic HS. Will is wearing sunglasses with a focused express. Chin Tonic looks into the distance with his ears pricked forward & a pleasant expression. Image is a close-up from in front of them. 

Coleman, The King of Clinical

This analysis compares data from two perspectives: the 2024 data for venues selected for the 2025 US Equestrian Open and their performance over the past 10 years, including the length of time these venues have been part of the 4*-S calendars. The results reveal fascinating details about these premier locations.
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><hr align="center" size="0" width="100%"></div>
<h2 class="MsoNormal">Overall cross-country clear rates at CCI4*-S: How do the venues compare?</h2>
&nbsp;
<ul style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;">US Open Venues (2024): 69%</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;">All US Venues (2024): 68%</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;">US Open Venues (Last 10 Years): 71%</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;">All US Venues (Last 10 Years): 70%</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;">All Venues Worldwide (Last 10 Years): 69%</li>
</ul>
Globally, at the CCI4*-S level over the last 10 years, the cross-country clear rate is 69%, meaning just shy of 7 in every 10 horses jump clear in this phase. This is exactly on par with how cross-country played out in the US Equestrian Open venues in 2024 and aligns closely with the 70% clear rate for all US venues over the past decade. These figures highlight that the US is in step with global trends at this level of competition.
<h2 class="MsoNormal">So where does cross-country hold the most influence in the US Open?</h2>
The table below highlights cross-country clear rates at 4*-S competitions for the 2024 US Open venues.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/f6f01d53-255b-4233-bf15-a01d3b51b9ee?width=1390&amp;height=1194" alt="3 M3 Nc 2024 Xcj Clear Rates at Us Open 2025 Venues">
Stable View (62%) and Tryon (56%) were the most notable influential cross-country courses of the US Equestrian Open in 2024, especially given the higher number of starters at each of those events.&nbsp; 
Tryon was a stiff cross-country test of time too. Only two horses came home with single-figure time faults, Will Coleman and Off The Record (8.4) and Dan Kreitl and Carmango (9.6), the eventual first and second place finishers. We&rsquo;ll do a deep dive into the toughest time-tests soon, but it highlights a day when brilliant cross-country horses truly relished the challenge. 
Carolina (88%) stands out as the venue whose cross-country course had the least influence last season. 
As a new addition to the calendar, and with a smaller number of starters, Aspen Farm (50%) is the one to watch in 2025 to see how the competition evolves, and how the clear rate might play out. The US Equestrian Open heads to Aspen Farm 12-15 June; one not to miss!
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<h2 class="MsoNormal">Last 10 Years: Trends Across All US Open Venues </h2>
The extended 10 year data set reveals a broader picture of performance across the US Open venues over the past decade at the CCI4*-S level.
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Rather than rely on just a snapshot of data from one event in one year, we&rsquo;ve looked back at the US Equestrian Open venues running at the CCI4*-S level over the last 10 years to see how they shaped up. 
Bouckaert Farm and Stable View (both 70%) are the two most in line with the global average and have two of the strongest data sets to analyze given the number of horses to have run their since they started running at this level.&nbsp; 
Rebecca Farm (61%) emerges as one to watch for the 2025 US Equestrian Open, as it historically poses a greater challenge in the cross-country phase.
Twin Rivers (79%), Tryon (78%), Carolina (75%) and TerraNova (74%) are the venues that have offered up higher than average clear rates in the cross-country phase over the past 10 years.&nbsp; 
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<h2 class="MsoNormal">Final Thoughts</h2>
The 2024 US Equestrian Open venues offer a balanced mix of opportunity and challenge, and this reflects careful curation of locations that highlight the best of American eventing. As the competition grows, these trends will serve as a benchmark for understanding the dynamics of cross-country performance at the highest level.
Stay tuned as we dive deeper into venue-specific trends over the coming months, including the toughest time tests across the US Equestrian Open venues!
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For continual leaderboard updates, visit the official US Equestrian Open Series hub at <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"> Facebook</a> and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Instagram</a>, and follow US Equestrian on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/USequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrian/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TikTok</a>, and <a href="https://x.com/usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">X (Twitter)</a>. Use #USEquestrianOpen to join the conversation.
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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;

Photograph of Will Coleman and the bay horse Off The Record galloping on a cross country course during competition. It is a close-up, action shot from in front of the pair. Both horse and rider look focused.

Eventing