After Wellington: Navigating the New US Equestrian Open Landscape

With the Adequan® 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.

From the sketchbook of artist Cheri Isgreen. 

The Geography Game: Moving Beyond the Palm Beach Bubble

The power of Wellington is hard to overstate. Of the 29 riders who have completed at least two qualifiers—the minimum needed to be eligible for the Finals—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.

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’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.

The International Gamble: Risks vs. Rewards

Several prominent contenders—including Adrienne Lyle (5th in the standings), Kevin Kohmann (8th), and Geñay Vaughn (16th)—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 at 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.

On the Bubble: Who's Safe and Who's Not?

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—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’s Julio Mendoza Loor (78.520% PB, 37 points) and Sweden’s Tinne Vilhelmson Silfvén (75.515% PB, 42 points), both heading to Europe for the summer season.

Quiet Weekends, Big Implications

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.

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—every point matters as riders navigate this new landscape. Catch all the action Saturday night on the USEF Network. Sign up for free!

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. 

For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at lgriffin@usef.org.