The Series hits its midpoint this weekend with Ocala, FL and Fair Hill, MD running simultaneously - Qualifier 9 in Florida across Friday and Saturday, and Qualifier 10 in Maryland wrapping in a single day on Friday. Ten qualifiers remain after this weekend, plus the $200,000 Final at Morven Park in October.
At the top of the leaderboard, Caroline Pamukcu leads on 145 points, just five ahead of Lucienne Bellissimo on 140. Waylon Roberts sits third on 110. Boyd Martin, William Coleman, and Tamie Smith are all tied fourth on 95.&nbsp;
<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">Qualifier 9: Ocala</h2>
<a class="underline underline underline-offset-2 decoration-1 decoration-current/40 hover:decoration-current focus:decoration-current" href="https://usequestrianopen.info/ocala2026/" target="_self">Check out the Fan Guide</a>
Tamie Smith holds the top win chances at Ocala. EquiRatings gives her a huge 46% across her three rides: Jump To Day D,&nbsp;Pierre's Farceur du Bochard, and Spiro P who makes his four-star debut this weekend.
Second in the predictions is Colleen Loach &amp; Chiaro Z Excalibur on 16%. The Canadian combination&nbsp; arrive off the back of a podium finish at TerraNova CCI3*-S and look ready to make an impactful debut at the four-star level.
Jack Curtis &amp; Luska Candy Clover sit third on 12% win chance. They arrive on a strong SJ run: seven consecutive clear international rounds, with the horse's last rail dating all the way back to Plantation Field's CCI3*-S in September 2023.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/860c5942-dcc1-43e5-8000-3c3ad11aa4a3.png?width=1080&amp;height=589" alt="Untitled Design (7)">
Smith's three-horse showing and what it means for the overall Series picture is worth reading in full: <a class="underline underline underline-offset-2 decoration-1 decoration-current/40 hover:decoration-current focus:decoration-current" href="link">Tamie Smith is the EquiRatings favorite to win the 2026 Series</a>.
<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">Qualifier 10: Fair Hill</h2>
<a href="https://usequestrianopen.info/fairhill2026/">Check out the Fan Guide</a>
Fair Hill returns to the Series calendar for the first time since 2022, and it's Sharon White who leads the predictions. Sharon &amp; Jaguars Duende carry a 25% win chance and 55% podium chance - the strongest numbers in either field this weekend. Despite not seeing Jaguars Duende at this level since May 2025 (where they won), EquiRatings has been flagging this horse as one to watch for a while. Read about how data predicts the future US superstars <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/the-crystal-ball-how-data-predicts-the-next-generation-of-us-superstars" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here.</a>
Boyd Martin brings two horses with real winning chances. Shanroe Cooley sits second on 16% &mdash; and arrives on a showjumping clear streak &mdash; while&nbsp;Miks Master C is third on 15% and leads the pre-event dressage rankings with a 6RA of 25.6. Boyd has a real chance of beating the venue dressage record (26.3), set by none other than himself, back in 2018 riding Long Island T.
Series leader Caroline Pamukcu brings HSH Double Sixteen on 14%, matching Olivia Dutton &amp;&nbsp;Jewelent at the same mark. While Olivia's father, Phillip Dutton &amp; Denim sit just behind on 13%.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/e80a9f9f-65ee-4b95-b9a6-a1081aae8897.png?width=1080&amp;height=569" alt="Untitled Design (8)">
History at Fair Hill offers a useful reminder: just two of the event's eleven 4*-S winners were leading after dressage. The jumping phases tends to settle it, and only one combination in the event's entire history has made the time cross country. If you had to guess who is capable? EquiRatings would put their money on HSH Double Sixteen (Caroline Pamukcu).
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<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">The Leaderboard Picture</h2>
At the top of the leaderboard, Caroline Pamukcu leads on 145 points, just five ahead of Lucienne Bellissimo on 140. Waylon Roberts sits third on 110. Boyd Martin, Will Coleman, and Tamie Smith are all tied fourth on 95 - but the points gap is only part of the story.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/3fa98857-d7b3-4cf1-93ee-0367e4e05c1f.png?width=1080&amp;height=801" alt="Untitled Design (9)">
Each rider can count a maximum of six scores across the Series. Caroline&nbsp;Pamukcu has already used five of her six slots; Boyd Martin four. Tamie Smith has used just three, meaning all three of her Ocala entries could add to her tally in full.
Once a rider fills their six slots, future gains only come by beating an existing score - the improvement replaces rather than adds. Tamie Smith's three open slots give her a straightforward path to the top of the leaderboard this weekend. And if not this weekend? Stand by for Kentucky.
<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/the-open-weekly-world-cup-glory-for-farrington-historic-podium-for-simonson" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/797de4a4-a9fd-4ef8-8f83-7253791613fc.png?width=4048&amp;height=577" alt="Us Open Blog Inserts"></a>
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Caroline Pamukcu and Tamie Smith cross country

Ocala and Fair Hill run simultaneously as the Series reaches its halfway point

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Main

California based, Tamie Smith&rsquo;s moved east for the start of the season and it is playing to her advantage. It&rsquo;s giving her access to bigger fields and therefore bigger points, setting the tone for a serious 2026 Series campaign.
Now she arrives at a defining moment. This weekend at <a href="https://usequestrianopen.info/ocala2026/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ocala,</a> she arrives with three horses, including the <a href="https://usequestrianopen.info/ocala2026/who-wins--top-scores" target="_blank" rel="noopener">EquiRatings Prediction Centre favorite.</a> Two more enter with strong podium chances. Next week at Kentucky, she brings another three, including both the <a href="https://prediction-centre.equiratings.com/competitions/kentucky_4s_2026" target="_blank" rel="noopener">favorite and the second favorite.</a>
That's six horses across two back-to-back qualifiers. And she's only used half her scoring allocation.
<div style="text-align: center; padding: 1.5rem 0;"><a style="display: inline-flex; align-items: center; gap: 10px; background: #185FA5; color: #fff; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 500; padding: 12px 28px; border-radius: 6px; text-decoration: none; letter-spacing: 0.01em;" href="https://usequestrianopen.info/ocala2026"> Learn more about Ocala in the Fan Guide </a></div>
<h2 dir="ltr">Where Tamie sits right now</h2>
Tamie is equal 4th in the 2026 Series standings on 95 points. Seems like a big gap to close? It's not.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/741b82fa-462c-4474-9975-e2fc822dfc71.png?width=717&amp;height=513" alt="Screenshot 2026 04 16 105732">
The leader, Caroline Pamukcu has five counting scores. Tamie has three and is only 50 points behind (just one Kentucky win away from matching her!). Of course competitors can improve upon their scores but to do that, they need to beat what they've already posted which is a harder task than simply adding.
At 145 points across five results, Pamukcu's floor is already high. Tamie's three open slots have no floor at all. Every score she adds counts in full. It&rsquo;s not a gap to close, it&rsquo;s an advantage.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/812789df-6b96-4362-8f94-51b264689242.jpg?width=4256&amp;height=2832" alt="Tamie">
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<h2 dir="ltr">The Ocala opportunity</h2>
This weekend in Ocala, Tamie arrives with three horses and holds the top win chance in the field by some distance.
EquiRatings gives Jump To Day D a 28% win chance and a 57% podium chance. No other combination in the field is even close to that number on win chance. Pierre's Farceur du Bochard slots in fourth on a 12% win chance and&nbsp;Spiro P is on a 6% win chance.
Three horses. Three podium shots. Three scores left to count for the leaderboard. The probability of Tamie leaving Florida without additional points on the board is low.
<a href="https://usequestrianopen.info/ocala2026/#page-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/68bf1206-5e83-4549-91b8-19fcac2cda8d.png?width=715&amp;height=486" alt="Screenshot 2026 04 16 122320"></a>
<h2 dir="ltr">The Kentucky chance</h2>
Whatever Tamie takes out of Florida, Kentucky gives her a second chance to build on it.
The points scale shifts at Kentucky. With a field of over 25 starters, every placing pays more. Tamie doesn't even have to improve her finishing position to improve her points, the same result is simply worth more.
And if Ocala goes quietly? It doesn't matter. She still arrives with three experienced horses, three open slots, and both the favorite and second favorite on the&nbsp;<a href="https://prediction-centre.equiratings.com/competitions/kentucky_4s_2026" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Prediction Centre.</a>
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/f4c60395-4300-4ffc-a11d-a722b69c73c4.png?width=717&amp;height=397" alt="Points Scale for Blog Inserts">
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<h2 dir="ltr">The huge string behind her</h2>
Tamie's string is one of the biggest in the US at the four-star level right now. Looking at her 2025 and 2026 results &mdash; and setting aside Jutopia (Molly Duda's horse, on whom she did one run) and the retired&nbsp;Mai Baum &mdash; she has seven horses competing at the level, one of which makes their four-star debut at Ocala this weekend.
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The string is not just large, it's in form. Tamie has already won five international events in 2026, more than any other rider globally. Only one of those wins has come at four-star level, but the volume and consistency across the board points to a rider hitting her stride at the right time.
The finishing score data backs it up. Among US athletes at the four-star level over the last 12 months, Tamie sits atop of the EquiRatings power* rankings with an average of 29.8 - the only US rider to break the sub-30 barrier.&nbsp; *The Power average is calculated from the three best finishing scores recorded by an athlete, meaning it strips out the outliers and measures sustained quality.&nbsp;
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<h2 dir="ltr">The West Coast factor</h2>
After Kentucky, the calendar likely takes Tamie home. She's normally California-based, and while she has made the journey east for the early season qualifiers in the lead up to Kentucky weekend and likely, to make a statement before Aachen - but what matters for the Series is what follows.
The late summer West Coast events of Rebecca Farm (July 15), Twin Rivers (September 17), and Woodside (October 2) bring smaller fields &mdash; and a smaller points scale &mdash; but wins and podiums are more attainable than they are in the wide-open fields of Carolina and Kentucky. Multiple horses on home turf makes that a realistic expectation, not just a possibility.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/b4b1426e-0fc3-45ba-89be-28e45c559c5e.jpg?width=5172&amp;height=5606" alt="Kynan Kentucky 2024 Er Tamie Smith 3949">
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<h2 dir="ltr">The Call</h2>
This weekend will see qualifier 9 and 10 take place marking the halfway point with only 10 more to go. The&nbsp;EquiRatings model has Tamie as favourite and second favorite to win qualifier 9 and 11. She has more open scoring potential than anyone above her on the leaderboard.
Here is the EquiRatings prediction: Tamie Smith wins the 2026 US Equestrian Open of Eventing Series.
<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/the-open-weekly-world-cup-glory-for-farrington-historic-podium-for-simonson" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/797de4a4-a9fd-4ef8-8f83-7253791613fc.png?width=4048&amp;height=577" alt="Us Open Blog Inserts"></a>
<h3 data-path-to-node="9">Join the Conversation</h3>
Follow us for daily highlights, behind-the-scenes content, and live updates:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Facebook</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/useqopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">X (Twitter)</a>
<h3 data-path-to-node="6">Go Beyond the Article</h3>
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Tamie Smith and Kynan during the dressage phase

Six horses, two weekends: Why Tamie Smith is the Series favorite

<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">Jumping: The Open Champion becomes the World Cup Champion</h2>
The Rolex US Equestrian Open Grand Prix was just two weeks ago. Kent Farrington has since added the a title that had eluded him until this point in his career at the very top of the sport.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/d5d2869e-08fa-46dd-9a8a-47e0806619ad.png?width=758&amp;height=745" alt="Screenshot 2026 04 14 112210">
Kent Farrington and Greya won the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Final in Fort Worth. He is the first US World Cup champion since Beezie Madden in Paris in 2018. He led from day one, sharing the workload between Toulayna and Greya across the three days before closing out Sunday's double round to seal it.
Katie Dinan and Out of the Blue SCF climbed to third when Steve Guerdat picked up rails on the final day, giving the US two of the top three places on the podium.
For the full breakdown, day by day, number by number, the complete article is live now ⇨ <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/the-open-champion-becomes-the-world-cup-champion" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/the-open-champion-becomes-the-world-cup-champion</a>
<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/categories/jumping" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/eeee484b-ef16-4e10-9de3-6d72b0a7f0c7.png?width=1080&amp;height=161" alt="Read More Jumping"></a>
<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">Eventing: O'Neal and Clooney 14 end Alliston's Twin Rivers reign</h2>
Next Qualifiers: Ocala, Florida (16 April) &amp; Fair Hill, Maryland (17 April) | The Final:&nbsp;Morven Park 4*-L, October 8th
For three years, <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/for-the-first-time-in-three-years-twin-rivers-has-a-new-story-to-tell" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Twin Rivers belonged to James Alliston.</a> Back-to-back wins at the California venue had made him the name synonymous with this 4* class. Without an entry in the four-star short this weekend, someone new was always going to write their name into its history and it was Karen O'Neal and Clooney 14 who did it.
O'Neal led from start to finish. A dressage score of 29.2 &mdash; the pair's second-best test at the four-star level, behind only their 28.0 at Aspen Farms last year &mdash; put them ahead and a clear show jumping and cross-country round kept them there. It was Clooney 14's third CCI4* win, following victories of Aspen Farms 4*S and Galway Downs 4*L and a timely one for the Washington-based pair. Next up for the combination is a CCI5* debut at Kentucky.
<h3 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">The Series Picture</h3>
Karen O'Neal enters the <a href="https://us.equestrian-hub.com/public/championship/eventing/2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">leaderboard</a> in joint 12th on 40 points and&nbsp;Audrey Sanborn who finished second joins her in 15th on 35. At the top, Caroline Pamukcu leads on 145, Lucienne Bellissimo sits second on 140, and Waylon Roberts is third on 110.
<a href="https://us.equestrian-hub.com/public/championship/eventing/2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/874c7c6c-4b1b-421b-a6a8-ea87f282ac96.png?width=1240&amp;height=760" alt="Ksrq T Current Leaderboard of the Us Equestrian Open of Eventing "></a>
<h3 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">What's Next</h3>
This weekend brings an east coast double-header with Ocala and Fair Hill running simultaneously. Fair Hill sports big names such as Caroline Pamucku, Boyd Martin, and Sharon White, while Ocala's four-star short field is the largest the event has ever seen, with 23 starters expected to line up if all entries go to post, surpassing the previous high of 21 in 2024.&nbsp;
Full previews, form guides, and predictions are on the way, with both qualifiers also covered on the US Equestrian Open podcast which is out every Wednesday. Don't miss it.
<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/categories/eventing" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/254e09dd-d92e-4194-986b-baf0dbd8460b.png?width=1080&amp;height=158" alt="Read More Eventing"></a>
<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">Dressage: Simonson and Indian Rock put America back on the World Cup podium</h2>
Christian Simonson and Indian Rock finished second at the FEI World Cup Finals in Fort Worth with 83.810% - a personal best for the combination, a record for the horse, and the first time an American has stood on a World Cup podium since 2019.&nbsp;
The previous best score the pair had posted together was 81.445% at Wellington earlier this season. Indian Rock's all-time record &mdash; set at 's-Hertogenbosch in 2024 with Emmelie Scholtens &mdash; was 82.095%. He was the youngest rider in the field and still qualifies for Under 25. This was also his first senior championship. If he and Indian Rock show up at the November Final for their second attempt at a big title, good luck beating them.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/31cc7a4a-be65-484b-811d-293b1876c3ad.jpeg?width=1354&amp;height=1600" alt="Aw Wcf 9">
Becky Moody and Jagerbomb won the class with an astounding 88.330%, one of the highest freestyle scores posted on American soil in recent years. Scores at that level show up in Olympic medal rounds. Moody is not an Open Series rider, but she is one to watch as she builds toward Los Angeles 2028.
Three other Open Series riders made the trip to Fort Worth. Julio Mendoza Loor and Jewel&rsquo;s Goldstrike finished sixth at 78.645%. He sits 27th on the Open leaderboard, but that placing is a function of having competed in only one qualifier this season, not of what he's capable of producing. Kevin Kohmann, currently 16th in the Series, finished ninth at 76.730%. Benjamin Ebeling, the reigning US Equestrian Open Champion, finished tenth at 74.965%.
<a href="https://us.equestrian-hub.com/public/championship/dressage/708" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/c3eb7fde-ec87-4e7a-bb3c-8fe5a84eef60.png?width=1240&amp;height=806" alt="Gl Jzk Current Leaderboard of the Us Equestrian Open of Dressage "></a>
The US Equestrian Open resumes next week in Del Mar, where Ge&ntilde;ay Vaughn could retake the lead with a fourth qualifier run.
<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/categories/dressage" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/df3afaab-1f25-4fab-a1dc-c46c608169fb.png?width=1080&amp;height=171" alt="Read More Dressage"></a>
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<h2>&nbsp;</h2>
<h2>The fantasy cards are released</h2>
The US Equestrian Open Fantasy Card Collection celebrates the winning partnerships of the first-ever US Equestrian Open. Inspired by classic sports trading cards, each set profiles Open Champions from eventing, dressage, and jumping. Explore the collection and discover the stories behind the sport&rsquo;s top competitors.&nbsp;<a href="https://usequestrianopen.info/fantasy-cards" target="_blank" rel="noopener">You can find out more here.&nbsp;</a> The first packs were released at Wellington and can next be found in Fort Worth at the FEI World Cup Finals (at the US Equestrian booth). A special pack will also be placed inside every US Open merchandise sale via Shop USEF.&nbsp; &nbsp;<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/f98e4f4b-f8f1-4098-ae75-18bb85695c35.JPG?width=3414&amp;height=5120" alt="615a101d 21f8 4ccf 9f94 9c5a0e1e15fe">&nbsp;
<h2 data-path-to-node="4">Stay in the loop with The Open Weekly</h2>
Thanks for joining us for this week's edition! Don't forget: a fresh update of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/categories/the-open-weekly" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Open Weekly</a>&nbsp;drops on the site&nbsp;every Tuesday.
<h3 data-path-to-node="9">Join the Conversation</h3>
Follow us for daily highlights, behind-the-scenes content, and live updates:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Facebook</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/useqopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">X (Twitter)</a>
<h3 data-path-to-node="6">Go Beyond the Article</h3>
Catch the latest insights and expert interviews on the&nbsp;<a href="https://sites.libsyn.com/559710" target="_blank" rel="noopener">US Equestrian Open Podcast.</a>&nbsp;
The Mission of the Open&nbsp; 
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The US Equestrian Open was born from a strategic&nbsp;Board of Directors decision in 2023 to build a permanent legacy for US&nbsp;Equestrian sport.&nbsp;Its mission is to grow and foster a deeper connection to equestrianism by delivering a premier, unified championship series in the Olympic disciplines.&nbsp; With top-level competition, storytelling, and a dynamic, entertaining experience, the&nbsp;vision is to transform disparate events into a cohesive, narrative-driven season.&nbsp;The Series is anchored by core values which include fan-first accessibility, competitive integrity, storytelling, and a dynamic&nbsp;entertaining experience onsite.
The&nbsp;US Equestrian Open&nbsp;spans the three Olympic disciplines&mdash;Jumping, Eventing, and Dressage&mdash;with USEF contributing $200,000 in prize money to each final to ensure high-stakes competitive integrity. The Jumping Final took place at Wellington International from&nbsp;March 24&ndash;29, 2026. Next stop will be&nbsp; the Eventing Final at Morven Park from&nbsp;October 8&ndash;11, 2026.&nbsp;The season concludes with the Dressage Final at the Desert International Horse Park from&nbsp;November 11&ndash;15, 2026. You can follow along with the qualifiers, the unfolding stories and sport updates at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.usequestrianopen.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">www.usequestrianopen.org</a>, on our video series&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkdGSxID6G_eceNlWgvqIuspJsKrSqCq2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The&nbsp;Open&nbsp;Road</a>, and on our&nbsp;<a href="https://podfollow.com/the-us-equestrian-open-podcast" target="_blank" rel="noopener">weekly podcast</a>.&nbsp;
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Kent and Greya on the Open Weekly Graphic

The Open Weekly: World Cup glory for Farrington and a historic podium for Simonson

For those following closely, Fort Worth felt like a continuation rather than a surprise: the newly crowned US Equestrian Open Champion added the missing trophy to an already heavyweight CV.
Fresh from their statement win at the Open in Wellington,&nbsp;Kent Farrington &amp; Greya carried that same assured rhythm into the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup Final, sharing the workload with Toulayna through the early stages before closing out Sunday&rsquo;s double round to deliver another emotional night on home soil. The stage is now set for a summer adventure in Europe and she will almost certainly start as favorite to win the World Championships at Aachen.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/ec539404-493f-4ce0-bdf3-6746fcf063eb.png?width=871&amp;height=837" alt="Screenshot 2026 04 14 113208">
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<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr">The pre-competition favourite and the missing title</h2>
For more than a decade, Kent Farrington has sat in the top tier of global show jumping. He has had spells in the world number one spot, major wins from Spruce Meadows to Geneva but the World Cup Final remained stubbornly absent from his record. He started as the favorite to win but actually getting it done (which needed a perfect final round) is a different story.&nbsp;
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/0744badb-61a9-4131-98a9-6f7e80af43a1.png?width=1920&amp;height=1080" alt="Cmh World Cup Finals Thursday"> 
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<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr">Thursday: Toulayna on top &amp; leader trend maintains</h2>
The opening leg in Fort Worth was a speed class under Table C. Aaron Vale &amp; Carissimo 25 set an early pace. Farrington came in 15th to go, took the lead and never lost it. Toulayna played her part in the win when you see the trends. It has proved almost impossible to overturn a day 1 World Cup Final leader. Germany&rsquo;s Daniel Deusser &amp; Otello de Guldenboom were second and multi-time World Cup champion Steve Guerdat with Albfuehren&rsquo;s Iashin Sitte sat third.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/39092eab-8f43-4102-a28c-28e27b7048fa.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Er Post Wc">
<h3><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/166bd141-311d-406d-8bf5-220a143d22e5.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Er Post Wc (1)"></h3>
By the numbers &ndash; after Day 1
<ul>
<li>1st: Farrington leads the standings after Thursday&rsquo;s speed.</li>
<li>40%: statisical chance of converting that lead into the title.</li>
<li>7: Number of previous World Cup champions who all led from Day 1.</li>
<li>0.19s: Margin back to Daniel Deusser in second, with Steve Guerdat within half a second.</li>
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<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr">Friday: Greya gives him a cushion</h2>
Toulayna stepped out and Greya stepped in. The format switched to a standard round. The first round whittled the field down to seven for the jump‑off, among them Eiken Sato, Kevin Staut and an in‑form Guerdat.&nbsp;
Going in last in the jump‑off, Farrington knew exactly what was required. Sato &amp; Chadellano JRA had set 34.90 seconds; Staut &amp; Visconti du Telman posted 35.79. Greya&rsquo;s record in top level jump-offs and ability to convert is one of the best in the sport with perhaps only Richard Vogel and United Touch or Gangstar Mondesir who can challenge them. Greya left a stride out down the final line, and slid under Sato&rsquo;s time to stop the clock in 34.36 seconds, securing Farrington a second win in as many days.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/b704f32b-505d-44d6-ba6e-cb5ebe373e17.png?width=739&amp;height=798" alt="Screenshot 2026 04 14 113354"> &ldquo;I think I came with a faster horse today, which makes it easier,&rdquo; he admitted with a grin. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve been really thinking about Sunday and wanted to measure her efforts and measure her speed to put myself in the best position possible.&rdquo;&nbsp;
The numbers told the story of that positioning. With the Friday victory, Farrington remained on a zero score overall, while Guerdat moved to four penalties and Staut to six, giving the American a full rail in hand heading into Sunday&rsquo;s decisive rounds. The win chance moved to 66%.&nbsp; <img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/31f861c2-f252-4741-a388-d16bd609ef7d.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Er Post Wc (2)">
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<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr">Sunday: riding with a rail in hand</h2>
On Sunday, there was an air of anticipation in Fort Worth and around the jumping world. Kent, despite the huge win chance, was shadowed by Steve Guerdat, a rider who has built his own legend on the World Cup Final stage. Behind them, Kevin Staut and Katie Dinan sat poised to capitalize on any crack in the leader&rsquo;s armour, while only the top 30 combinations from the earlier days returned to jump two final tracks.
The format was straightforward: two rounds, cumulative faults deciding the title. Greya had a rail in the first round.&nbsp; If he felt the pressure of expectation, it did not appear in his language. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m just in the present, riding the course with my horse,&rdquo; he said of his approach to the final day. When Greya cleared the final oxer in the last round, Dickies Arena responded with the full force of a home crowd that had just seen one of its own produce a full‑length performance rather than a late‑night twist. It felt just like Wellington had a couple of weeks before for the Open final. Rails for Steve Guerdat meant Katie Dinan climbed onto the overall podium with Out of the Blue SCF, giving the United States two of the top three places on the final podium.&nbsp;
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/f68f5c1e-a981-47af-91c8-b8125f6870cb.png?width=758&amp;height=745" alt="Screenshot 2026 04 14 112210">
For US Jumping, the image of Farrington lifting the World Cup trophy in Texas, with Dinan on the podium feeds directly into the wider narrative of resurgence on the championship stage. With McLain to return, with Karl Cook and Lillie Keenan waiting in the wings, with Laura Kraut having the superstar Bisquetta, it is going to be an exciting summer. Stay tuned to the open channels to follow it all.&nbsp;&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/the-open-weekly-fods-personal-bests-lucienne-bellissimo-and-devon-kane" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/797de4a4-a9fd-4ef8-8f83-7253791613fc.png?width=4048&amp;height=577" alt="Us Open Blog Inserts"></a>
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<h3 data-path-to-node="6">Go Beyond the Article</h3>
Catch the latest insights and expert interviews on the&nbsp;<a href="https://sites.libsyn.com/559710" target="_blank" rel="noopener">US Equestrian Open Podcast.</a>&nbsp;
<h3>The Mission of the Open&nbsp; </h3>
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The US Equestrian Open was born from a strategic&nbsp;Board of Directors decision in 2023 to build a permanent legacy for US&nbsp;Equestrian sport.&nbsp;Its mission is to grow and foster a deeper connection to equestrianism by delivering a premier, unified championship series in the Olympic disciplines.&nbsp; With top-level competition, storytelling, and a dynamic, entertaining experience, the&nbsp;vision is to transform disparate events into a cohesive, narrative-driven season.&nbsp;The series is anchored by&nbsp;core values which include fan-first accessibility, competitive integrity, storytelling, and a dynamic&nbsp;entertaining experience onsite&nbsp;.
The&nbsp;US Equestrian Open&nbsp;spans the three Olympic disciplines&mdash;Jumping, Eventing, and Dressage&mdash;with USEF contributing $200,000 in prize money to each final to ensure high-stakes competitive integrity. The Jumping Final took place at Wellington International from&nbsp;March 24&ndash;29, 2026. Next stop will be&nbsp; the Eventing Final at Morven Park from&nbsp;October 8&ndash;11, 2026.&nbsp;The season concludes with the Dressage Final at the Desert International Horse Park from&nbsp;November 11&ndash;15, 2026. You can follow along with the qualifiers, the unfolding stories and sport updates at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.usequestrianopen.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">www.usequestrianopen.org</a>, on our video series&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkdGSxID6G_eceNlWgvqIuspJsKrSqCq2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The&nbsp;Open&nbsp;Road</a>, and on our&nbsp;<a href="https://podfollow.com/the-us-equestrian-open-podcast" target="_blank" rel="noopener">weekly podcast</a>.&nbsp;
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Kent Farrington winning the World Cup Final in Forth Worth

The Open Champion becomes the World Cup Champion

In November, Benjamin Ebeling and Bellena closed out the dressage season with a career-best 79.930% freestyle to become the inaugural US Equestrian Open champions. Just two weeks ago, Kent Farrington delivered a statement win in Wellington, taking the $1M Rolex US Equestrian Open Grand Prix to become the first winner of the 2026 series.
This weekend, both champions arrive at the World Cup Final in Fort Worth, Texas with the chance at another huge title in their respective disciplines.
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<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">Jumping: Farrington Has Never Won This</h2>
Across his two horses &mdash;&nbsp;Greya and Toulayna &mdash; Kent Farrington carries a 22% win chance, the highest in the field by a distance. In a sport where 10% is considered strong, 22% with the two entries is a statement.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/d4d09312-f450-42eb-bf9a-7bbf354879c0.png?width=1692&amp;height=1538" alt="B X Wf V Win Chances for the World Cup Final ">
The format sees the competition spread across Thursday, Friday and Sunday and rewards tactical thinking. Being able to campaign two horses across three days is a weapon in the right hands, and Day 1 (Thursday) matters more than people expect. Day 1 matters more than you think - the last seven World Cup Final winners all led after the opening day.
One storyline sharpens all of this: Farrington has never won the World Cup Final. Wellington was his. Is Fort Worth next?
A horse that could stop him? Gangster Montdesir - ten years old, six starts at CSI5* 1.60m, six clears. The only horse in the entries with a perfect record at this level. Richard Vogel rode him faster than Greya in the Wellington jump-off before a single rail at the final fence handed Farrington the title. He will not need reminding. The rivalry from Wellington is not finished.
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<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">Dressage: Bellena's First World Cup Final</h2>
Four horses competing in Fort Worth's Grand Prix have ridden down a US Equestrian Open centreline. One of them is the champion.
Benjamin Ebeling &amp; Bellena arrive as the Open's defining partnership. From their freestyle debut in April through to the inaugural final in November, they broke their personal best four times in a row. That final score &mdash; 79.930% &mdash; is still their peak. This combination consistently&nbsp;raise their game when the occasion demands it.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/4da24029-4984-4685-9e34-9b3f831c40c6.png?width=1408&amp;height=1736" alt="R8i6 T the Top 10 Grand Prix Freestyle Combinations at the World Cup Final ">
Fort Worth is a step up from anything they have faced together. Three combinations in this field average above 80% in the Grand Prix Freestyle including early 2026 Series leader Christian Simonson with Indian Rock. Bellena's average of 75.779% puts her in the chasing pack. But the Open final showed what she can produce when it counts, and Ebeling &mdash; who competed at the Riyadh final in 2024 &mdash; already has World Cup Final experience.&nbsp;
The Grand Prix is tonight. The freestyle is Saturday - the format the US Equestrian Open is built around. If you want to watch your champions on the world stage, Saturday night is the moment.
<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/the-open-weekly-fods-personal-bests-lucienne-bellissimo-and-devon-kane" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/797de4a4-a9fd-4ef8-8f83-7253791613fc.png?width=4048&amp;height=577" alt="Us Open Blog Inserts"></a>
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<h3 data-path-to-node="6">Go Beyond the Article</h3>
Catch the latest insights and expert interviews on the&nbsp;<a href="https://sites.libsyn.com/559710" target="_blank" rel="noopener">US Equestrian Open Podcast.</a>&nbsp;
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<h3>The Mission of the Open&nbsp; </h3>
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<div tabindex="-1">
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The US Equestrian Open was born from a strategic&nbsp;Board of Directors decision in 2023 to build a permanent legacy for US&nbsp;Equestrian sport.&nbsp;Its mission is to grow and foster a deeper connection to equestrianism by delivering a premier, unified championship series in the Olympic disciplines.&nbsp; With top-level competition, storytelling, and a dynamic, entertaining experience, the&nbsp;vision is to transform disparate events into a cohesive, narrative-driven season.&nbsp;The series is anchored by&nbsp;core values which include fan-first accessibility, competitive integrity, storytelling, and a dynamic&nbsp;entertaining experience onsite&nbsp;.
The&nbsp;US Equestrian Open&nbsp;spans the three Olympic disciplines&mdash;Jumping, Eventing, and Dressage&mdash;with USEF contributing $200,000 in prize money to each final to ensure high-stakes competitive integrity. The Jumping Final took place at Wellington International from&nbsp;March 24&ndash;29, 2026. Next stop will be&nbsp; the Eventing Final at Morven Park from&nbsp;October 8&ndash;11, 2026.&nbsp;The season concludes with the Dressage Final at the Desert International Horse Park from&nbsp;November 11&ndash;15, 2026. You can follow along with the qualifiers, the unfolding stories and sport updates at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.usequestrianopen.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">www.usequestrianopen.org</a>, on our video series&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkdGSxID6G_eceNlWgvqIuspJsKrSqCq2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The&nbsp;Open&nbsp;Road</a>, and on our&nbsp;<a href="https://podfollow.com/the-us-equestrian-open-podcast" target="_blank" rel="noopener">weekly podcast</a>.&nbsp;
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US Open Champions Kent Farrington and Benjamin Ebeling holding a trophy 

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Ocala and Fair Hill run simultaneously as the Series reaches its halfway point

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Ocala and Fair Hill run simultaneously as the Series reaches its halfway point

Six horses, two weekends: Why Tamie Smith is the Series favorite

The Open Weekly: World Cup glory for Farrington and a historic podium for Simonson

The Open Champion becomes the World Cup Champion

Your US Open Champions are at the World Cup Final

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