The Open Weekly: Breakthrough Wins at WEC and a Stacked Bouckaert Field

A weekly update across dressage, jumping, and eventing, covering results, leaderboard shifts, and the next Open qualifiers.

By USEF Media

February 17, 2026

Show Jumping: A First 5* 160 Win Puts Mimi Gochman in the Open Spotlight

The US Equestrian Open Final: Wellington, Week 12 | Countdown: 5 Weeks

The $300,000 Longines FEI World Cup™ qualifier at the World Equestrian Center, Ocala saw the 21-year-old rising star Mimi Gochman out-jump a field of Olympic veterans. In a high-pressure jump-off, Gochman delivered the performance of her career aboard Iron Maiden, jumping the only double clear to win her first-ever 5* 160 Grand Prix/World Cup. The victory was a massive statement for the home nation, with Gochman beating Brazil’s Eduardo Pereira de Menezes and Ireland’s Cian O’Connor.

Gochman’s dominance in Ocala isn't a flash in the pan but rather the continuation of a red-hot 2026 run. Just nine days prior, she claimed the CSI5* WEF Challenge Cup with Inclen BH. With two horses in winning form and confidence clearly building, she has moved firmly into contention for the US Equestrian Open title. With just six weeks until the Rolex finale in Wellington, the question now is whether she can sustain that momentum against the likes of World Number One Scott Brash and home-turf hero Kent Farrington.

Eventing: Heavy Hitters Headline Bouckaert

Next Qualifier: Bouckaert Equestrian | Countdown: 2 Weeks

The road to the 2026 Series heads to Georgia, with entries closing today for the first qualifier of the new year. Last week we looked at the early names on the list, and since then the field has grown to 26 confirmed combinations in the CCI4*-S - meaning the winner will walk away with a full 50 points.

Qualifiers With More Than 25 Starters (1) (1) (1)
It’s a serious field to open 2026 - the kind that sets the tone for the season ahead. Here are a few standout names on the list.

Lucienne Bellissimo: The current Series leader arrives for the first time officially flying the American flag. Bellissimo brings a two horses to the 4* with Kitsch Couture HPK and Easter Star WM, who makes her move up to the level. Her October winner, Dyri, will contest the Open Intermediate alongside Qatar M as she builds her depth for the 2026 title race.

Waylon Roberts: Currently third in the series standings, the Canadian veteran brings forward Chevalier. The new ride for Roberts in 2025 (previously campaigned by Karl Slezak) finished in the top four in all four of their international starts. This streak includes a victory in the CCI3*-S at The Fork at Tryon last September.

Buck Davidson: Currently sitting in fifth place on the Series leaderboard, Buck returns with Cooley Candyman and Cerafino D. Cerafino D already has a podium finish at this venue from October’s opening qualifier, making him a proven competitor on this track.

Caroline Pamukcu: A top-three finisher in last year’s series, Pamukcu brings three contenders including the notoriously fast HSH Double Sixteen. The thoroughbred was one of only two horses to win multiple qualifiers during the 2025 series. As the defending champion of this exact event, he returns to the venue where he secured victory last March by recording the fastest cross country time of the day. Pamukcu also brings HSH Connor and King’s Especiale.

Boyd Martin: The 2025 Series and Final winner is leaving nothing to chance, arriving with four entries. His string includes 5* superstar and previous qualifier winner Commando 3, and Cooley Nutcracker, fresh off a 3rd place finish at Pau 5*. Keep an eye on his 4* debutants Fetiche Des Rouges and Kolbeinn; both horses jumped double clear at every international start last season, with Kolbeinn winning the 3*-L at Bromont.

With two weeks to go, Bouckaert is shaping up to be a pivotal qualifier. Lucienne Bellissimo arrives with the series lead but Caroline Pamukcu and Boyd Martin bring depth, experience, and serious firepower. If she wants to extend her advantage, she’ll have to earn it.

E Fens Current Leaderboard of the Us Equestrian Open of Eventing (1)

Dressage: Davis Capitalizes as Mendoza Loor Withdraws

Next Qualifier: Adequan® Global Dressage Festival 7 | The Final: Desert Dressage, Thermal CA (November)

Screenshot 2026 02 17 130211

A four-horse Grand Prix Freestyle at World Equestrian Center–Ocala shifted before it even began when pre-show favorite Julio Mendoza Loor withdrew. No reason was given, though he is entered to compete in Wellington this week, suggesting a possible change in target. His absence left the door open, and Meagan Davis stepped through it.

Davis and Toronto Lightfoot won on a new personal best of 73.685%, narrowly ahead of Claire Darnell and Harrold S. Darnell improved nearly three percentage points from her previous outing at this venue—an unusually large gain at this level—and finished just 0.2 percentage points behind Davis. Two of the five judges had Darnell in first place.

For Davis, it was her first Series appearance since finishing third at Dressage at Devon last September. The progression with Toronto Lightfoot has been steady. “We’re just checking off goals left and right with Toronto,” she said. “Getting the personal best up there on the screen—that’s what I’m looking for.” She noted a mistake in the one-tempis but pointed to stronger second ones and twos on the line. The focus, she said, is continued improvement with an eye toward Europe later this year.

Charlotte Osborne, last month’s WEC winner, finished fourth this time. Even so, her second appearance of the season moves her into fifth on the overall Series leaderboard with 21 points. Darnell now sits tied for seventh on 20.

H Y6 Nq Current Leaderboard of the Us Equestrian Open of Dressage (1)