Dressage: Gundersen Surges as Wellington Welcomes Olympians

Next Qualifier: Wellington CDI5* | The Final: Desert Dressage, Thermal CA (November)

The dressage leaderboard saw an unexpected shake-up following the Gold Coast qualifier. Capitalizing on the withdrawal of the class favorite, Ellesse Gundersen seized her moment, delivering a personal best score of 74.530%. This standout performance vaulted her into 3rd place on the series leaderboard.

Looking ahead, all eyes turn to Wellington for the prestigious CDI5*. The field is stacked with elite talent, including six Olympians in the Grand Prix. The weekend also marks the return of 2025 Series Winner Anna Marek and Fayvel for their first freestyle of the season, as they look to defend their Series crown. Last year, we interviewed Anna for the US Equestrian Open Podcast which you can download here.

Show Jumping: Keenan and Vale unmatched in 2026 Debuts

Next Qualifier: Wellington (Final) | Countdown: 9 Weeks

The jumping season continued with two more eye-catching results for two top American combinations. Lillie Keenan and her new partner, Highway TN—formerly a five-star winner for Willem Greve (NED), claimed victory in their first show together at the $50,000 150 Palm Beach Equine Clinic National Grand Prix. Keenan spoke about the opportunity and the horse’s mindset, saying, "I’m incredibly blessed that I got this opportunity.”

"In a career, you only get so many opportunities with horses that truly love their job, and I can tell just by this horse’s expression that he really loves his job. I’m making the most of the moment."

Meanwhile, Aaron Vale and Carissimo 25 (Ducky) wasted no time proving their speed, winning the CSI4* 155 Grand Prix of Ocala. This marks their third career Grand Prix victory, adding to previous major wins at Wellington and Dinard. With the Final just nine weeks away, analysts are already tapping these two as the pairs to watch, Lillie with huge depth in her string and a 2025 campaign that saw her star on US Nations Cups teams and Cassismo 25 as a horse with speed to suit the Open and consistently now delivering clear rounds to make the Jump Off.

We interviewed Aaron on the podcast last year (one of our favorite shows) and you can hear more from him here.

Eventing: Icons Return and Eventing Champion Honored

Next Qualifier: Bouckaert Farm | Countdown: 6 Weeks

National events are buzzing as series stars return from winter breaks. This weekend at Rocking Horse Stables, we see a heavy-hitting lineup including Phillip Dutton on Possante and Buck Davidson on Cooley Candyman. Perhaps most anticipated is Sharon White and Jaguar’s Duende. The mare boasts an incredible record, having never finished outside the top five in her international career. If you want to hear Diarm in full ‘hype mode’, our weekly podcast round-up has a deep dive on why he thinks the return of Jags is such a big moment. You can access the weekly podcast here.

Off the field, reigning Series Champion Boyd Martin was named the 2025 USEF International Equestrian of the Year. In an emotional speech, Martin reflected on his journey to the U.S.

“I soon realized when I got to America that this is my home. I also wanted to support the country that was supporting my career. I also felt it was wrong for the owners that had poured so much into me, being a rider with a different flag. It was the greatest decision I ever made.”

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