The Fab Five: Who’s Realistically Headed to the US Equestrian Open of Dressage Final?

To make this list, strong averages alone weren’t enough. We also factored in leaderboard standing, qualification status, and whether a rider is realistically expected to attend. That means a few impressive combinations didn’t make the cut due to international residency or uncertain participation (see “Who’s Missing and Why?” below). These five, though? They’ve proven themselves, they’re eligible, and they’re on track to deliver in Thermal.

1. Adrienne Lyle & Helix

No surprise here—Adrienne Lyle and Helix are leading nearly every statistical category. They’ve posted the two highest scores of the season and average nearly 80%. Even their “off day” at the World Cup Finals landed them a 71.255%. To put that number in perspective, 71 percent is higher than the average scores for four of the riders in the top 18, and it’s higher than the averages of 34 riders who have competed in at least one Series qualifier.

That said, Helix is a sensitive type, and all of his standout tests came at Wellington. The Final will be held at Thermal, a venue he’s never seen. It’s a small question mark for an otherwise dominant pair.

• Series Avg: 79.402% | Series PB: 80.600%
  
  
• Why she’s in: Tied for 14th with 57 points, already qualified. World Cup Finals and Paris Olympic partnership.

2. Kevin Kohmann & Düenensee

Kohmann and the 16-year-old Düenensee have been a model of consistency all season, often going head-to-head with Anna Marek. They peaked at the Palm Beach Derby, posting a career-best 79.240% under pressure to clinch the final World Cup Finals ticket, where they went on to become the highest-placed American pair.

Their freestyle is creative and technically ambitious, including unexpected choreography like piaffe pirouettes during the walk section. They’ll test their international mettle again next week as part of Team USA at CHIO Aachen.

• Series Avg: 77.917% | Series PB: 79.240%
  
  
• Why they’re in: World Cup Finals appearances, top scores, and a record of peaking at the right time.

3. Anna Marek & Fire Fly / Fayvel

Anna Marek leads the series, and she’s done it with two different horses. Between Fire Fly and Fayvel, she’s consistently posted top-five scores and podium finishes. Her average across both horses ranks just behind Lyle and Kohmann, and both are individually capable of winning the Final.

The only question left: which one will she bring to Thermal?

• Series Avg (across both horses): 77.130%
  
  
• Fire Fly Series PB: 77.755%
• Fayvel Series PB: 78.785%
  
  
• Why she’s in: Series leader, multiple wins, and qualified on two different mounts.

4. Benjamin Ebeling & Bellena

A late arrival to the series, Benjamin Ebeling and Bellena made an instant impression with a win on debut and a new personal best just six weeks later when they beat Series leader Marek in a head-to-head competition. 

Still young and trending upward, Ebeling will join Team USA at CHIO Aachen next week in his first major international appearance with Bellena. It’ll be an important pressure test ahead of November’s Final.

• Series Avg: 75.305% | Series PB: 76.190%
  
  
• Why he’s in: Three scores above 75%, rapid rise into contention, and confirmed qualification.

5. Genay Vaughn & Gino

No rider has been more dominant on the West Coast than Genay Vaughn. With four wins in four outings, she’s the only undefeated rider in the Series. Her lowest score? 73.765% earned at the World Cup Finals in Basel, where she made her debut on the international stage.

Gino, a 14-year-old KWPN gelding, has been with Vaughn since he was six. Their long partnership shows in their polish and trust. And with the Final taking place in their home state, this pair has both the record and the venue advantage.

• Series Avg: 74.859% | Series PB: 75.875%
  
  
• Why she’s in: Four-time qualifier winner, confirmed for the Final, and has a homefield advantage. 

Who’s Missing and Why?

Four series riders have higher averages than some on this list, but they’ve been excluded due to to qualification or likelihood of attendance:

• Julio Mendoza Loor & Jewel’s Goldstrike – Third by average (77.190%) but ranked just 25th on the leaderboard. Not currently qualified.
  
  
• Felicitas Hendricks & Drombusch OLD – 11th overall with a 76.533% average, but no confirmation that she’ll return from Germany for the Final.
  
  
• Kasey Perry-Glass & Heartbeat W.P. – A brilliant pair with a strong PB, but sitting 27th in the standings. She’d need two more appearances to break into the top 18 which is unlikely at this stage. They will, however, represent the US in Aachen next week.
  
  
• Evelyn Eger & Tabledance 3 – 4th on the leaderboard and sixth by average, but like Hendricks, her status for the Final is unclear.

Next Up: CHIO Aachen

Next week, we’ll preview CHIO Aachen. Although the competition won’t affect the Series standings, all four of the American team members—Kevin Kohmann, Benjamin Ebeling, Kasey Perry-Glass, and Jennifer Williams—have made an impact on the US Equestrian Open. Their results next week may just predict how they’re likely to perform on a Final’s stage.