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TerraNova Showdown: Coleman Arrives, Pamukcu Pushes, and Dutton Sets The Bar

Galway Downs: West Coast Firepower and Rising Stars

The US Equestrian Open is an exciting new competition series that launched in late 2024, showcasing the three Olympic equestrian disciplines: dressage, eventing, and jumping.&nbsp; Designed to elevate the sport&rsquo;s visibility, engagement, and fan experience, the series will bring together elite athletes and top horses to compete for the discipline titles of US Equestrian Open Champion.&nbsp;&nbsp;
With more than $1 million in prize money and extensive media coverage from USEF Network and ESPN, the US Equestrian Open promises thrilling competition and unparalleled exposure for the sport. This premier series aims to set a new standard in equestrian sport, delivering world-class competition and captivating audiences across the globe.&nbsp;&nbsp;
<h3>2025 US Equestrian Open Finals Schedule:&nbsp;</h3>
<blockquote>
Jumping Final: March 25-30 at the WEF Rolex Finale Week in Wellington, Fla.&nbsp;
Eventing Final: October 9-12 at the Morven Park CCI4*-L in Leesburg, Va.&nbsp;
Dressage Final: November 13-16 at the Thermal CDI5* in Thermal, Calif.&nbsp;
</blockquote>
Great American Insurance Group is a leading provider of equine insurance, offering specialized coverage for horse owners, trainers, breeders, and equestrian businesses. With decades of experience in the industry, Great American is known for its tailored insurance solutions including equine mortality, medical, surgical and liability coverages. It serves a wide range of equestrian sport interests, from high-performance disciplines to breeding and recreational riding. &nbsp;
<blockquote>
&ldquo;The launch of the US Equestrian Open marks an exciting new chapter for equestrian sport in the United States, and we welcome Great American Insurance Group as an official sponsor and supporter of this initiative,&rdquo; said Bill Moroney, US Equestrian Chief Executive Officer. &ldquo;Their longstanding commitment to the equine industry and dedication to supporting horse owners, athletes, and professionals makes them ideal for this series.&rdquo;&nbsp;
&ldquo;We are thrilled to collaborate with USEF for the inaugural US Equestrian Open competition series,&rdquo; said Anne King, Divisional Assistant Vice President, Great American Equine Mortality. &ldquo;This relationship reflects our deep commitment to the sport and its incredible community. We wish all the competitors the best of luck and look forward to celebrating their dedication, talent, and passion for equestrian excellence.&rdquo;&nbsp;
</blockquote>
<h3>About Great American Insurance Group&nbsp;</h3>
Great American Insurance Group&rsquo;s roots go back to 1872 with the founding of its flagship company, Great American Insurance Company. Based in Cincinnati, Ohio, the operations of Great American Insurance Group are engaged primarily in property and casualty insurance, focusing on specialized commercial products for businesses. Great American Insurance Company has received an &ldquo;A&rdquo; (Excellent) or higher rating from the A.M. Best Company for more than 115 years and is currently rated &ldquo;A+&rdquo; (Superior). The members of Great American Insurance Group are subsidiaries of American Financial Group, Inc. (AFG), also based in Cincinnati, Ohio. AFG&rsquo;s common stock is listed and traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AFG. Policies are underwritten by Great American Insurance Company, Great American Assurance Company, and Great American Security Insurance Company, authorized insurers in all 50 states and the DC.&nbsp;
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/4def42c5-5a3c-4d2d-a9c5-7b6f757148ec.png?width=1080&amp;height=1080" alt="Great American Advert">

US Equestrian Welcomes Great American Insurance Group as the Official Equine Insurance Sponsor of the US Equestrian Open

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>
<iframe style="border: none;" title="Embed Player" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/35565715/height/192/theme/modern/size/large/thumbnail/yes/custom-color/0a317e/time-start/00:00:00/hide-playlist/yes/download/yes/font-color/ffffff" width="100%" height="192" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
<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.

Eventing