As in many sports, the US Equestrian Open of Dressage offers its own kind of home field advantage. This weekend, Ge&ntilde;ay Vaughn will be riding on it. Based in Northern California, Thermal is a familiar stop on Vaughn&rsquo;s competition calendar. She opened her 2025 season with a win there. Now, she returns to finish the story.
<h2 dir="ltr">Built in California</h2>
Vaughn rides Gino, a 14-year-old KWPN gelding she&rsquo;s brought along since he was six. The two are inseparable. She is Gino&rsquo;s rider, groom, chef, travel companion, and emotional anchor.
<blockquote>
&ldquo;My world revolves around him. It&rsquo;s his world&mdash;I&rsquo;m just living in it.&rdquo;
</blockquote>
That bond has carried them from California&rsquo;s regional CDIs to the top tier of the US Equestrian Open. Vaughn is the only undefeated rider in Series qualifiers, going four-for-four with CDI wins at Thermal, Del Mar, and Devonwood. She finished the regular season ranked 7th on the leaderboard with 80 points, despite fewer starts than many of her rivals. Her Series average and personal best sit at 74.859% and 75.875%, respectively.
Her early-season winning streak earned her a ticket to the 2025 FEI World Cup Final in Basel, where she placed 14th with a 73.765%. Not bad when your lowest score of the year comes at your first major international championship. That kind of experience is exactly what prepares a rider for a grand final like the one in Thermal.
<h2 dir="ltr">Freestyle with Soul</h2>
Vaughn brings that technical know-how and a popular freestyle soundtrack to this weekend&rsquo;s event. Her test is a love letter to her roots, choreographed and set to music she selected herself. The soundtrack blends artists from her childhood: Barry White, Luther Vandross, and Earth, Wind &amp; Fire.
<blockquote>
&ldquo;I picked songs that I grew up on&mdash;artists that were close to me, and music that I really liked and felt was part of my culture. I picked a lot of African-American artists.&rdquo;
</blockquote>
That music pairs beautifully with Gino&rsquo;s expressive confidence. &ldquo;He knows when it&rsquo;s showtime,&rdquo; Vaughn said.
Their freestyle averages in the mid-70s, but over the summer, Vaughn has been working to refine the floorplan and increase the degree of difficulty&mdash;a crucial scoring factor with a 4x multiplier. Top combinations like Hendricks and Drombusch or Ebeling and Bellena consistently earn degree of difficulty marks in the high 8s and low 9s. To challenge for the win, Vaughn will need to bring the same level of technical complexity.
<h2 dir="ltr">A Family Foundation</h2>
Vaughn&rsquo;s career is powered by her family. She trains daily with her mother, Michele, who has coached her from juniors to the international Grand Prix level. Together, they run Starr Vaughn Equestrian in Elk Grove, CA. The high-performance mindset also runs through her father, a former MLB player, whose mantra still guides her:
<blockquote>
&ldquo;If you want to be above average, then you can&rsquo;t just do the average things.&rdquo;
</blockquote>
In a sport often dominated by big names, grooms, and European bases, Vaughn has carved her own path. She rides without major sponsors, without a typical team behind her&mdash;and she wins anyway. Her work ethic, resourcefulness, and bond with Gino have made her one of the most authentic contenders in the Series.
<h2 dir="ltr">Thermal, Again</h2>
This weekend, Vaughn returns to where it all began&mdash;Thermal, the site of the very first US Equestrian Open qualifier and the first win of her undefeated season. A mid-70s performance is all but assured.
But if the summer went as she&rsquo;d planned, and she&rsquo;s managed to increase the degree of difficulty in the floor plan, then a fairytale finish isn&rsquo;t out of reach.
She&rsquo;s just one win away from a perfect season.
&nbsp;
<hr>
For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.
For media inquiries about the US Equestrian Open Series, please contact Carly Weilminster at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:cweilminster@usef.org">cweilminster@usef.org</a>. aFor sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.

Geñay Vaughn smiles while riding Gino in Thermal after their January win, both dressed in a navy winner’s blanket with US Equestrian Open branding.

Four to Follow at the US Equestrian Open Final: Geñay Vaughn

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Benjamin Ebeling is emerging as one of the most exciting young dressage talents in the United States. A former youth champion, Ebeling has spent 2025 redefining himself as a serious senior international contender. He rides Bellena, a 15-year-old Hanoverian mare formerly campaigned by his father, 2012 Olympian Jan Ebeling.
Their entire international career together has unfolded within the US Equestrian Open of Dressage. Since debuting their freestyle in April, Ebeling and Bellena have finished second in the overall standings with 94 points, posted the third-highest average score in the Finals field (76.325%), and climbed steadily through the leaderboard with personal bests that just keep rising.
<h2 dir="ltr">Brick by Brick</h2>
Nearly every start this season has brought a new career high for Ebeling and Bellena. Their first freestyle win came in April at WEC&rsquo;s CDI4*, where they debuted their freestyle with a 75.740%. The next month, they returned to Ocala and upped that mark to 76.190%, besting Series leader Anna Marek.
That win secured Ebeling a spot on the U.S. team for CHIO Aachen, where he made his senior team debut. While their freestyle in Aachen didn&rsquo;t meet expectations, Ebeling rebounded quickly. He stayed in Europe to compete at the Achleiten CDI4* in Austria, where he and Bellena set back-to-back personal bests&mdash;winning the Grand Prix and scoring 76.615% in the Freestyle.
By September, they were peaking. At Dressage at Devon, they posted a 77.665% in the largest qualifying field of the season. One month later, they capped off the regular season with a new combination-best of 78.055% at TerraNova. That mark is the third-highest score of any pair entered in the Final, behind only Drombusch OLD and Fayvel.
In just seven months, Ebeling and Bellena have built a career to rival riders who&rsquo;ve spent decades in the senior division.&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">Style Points</h2>
Their rise has come with a soundtrack. Set to confident, crowd-pleasing hits like Femininomenon, Rich Girl, and Maneater, the pair&rsquo;s freestyle has become one of the Series&rsquo; most recognizable.
<blockquote>
&ldquo;I think in the Grand Prix, it&rsquo;s very difficult for the average fan to really connect with that,&rdquo; Ebeling said. &ldquo;But the freestyle, people really understand. Horses dancing is so exciting.&rdquo;
</blockquote>
The choreography is upbeat, punchy, and highlights Bellena&rsquo;s athleticism and responsiveness. The fiery mare, known for her expressiveness and energy, has matched Ebeling&rsquo;s confident style with patented chestnut-mare flair.
&ldquo;The mare is such a powerhouse,&rdquo; Ebeling said after their Ocala debut.&nbsp;
<blockquote>
&ldquo;I think this girl really loves to dance.&rdquo;
</blockquote>
<h2 dir="ltr">The Turning Point</h2>
Ebeling didn&rsquo;t plan on a career in dressage. He began in the jumper ring, competing in his first Grand Prix over fences before ever stepping into a CDI arena. The pivot started when he asked his father to teach him a pirouette, not to win a dressage test, but to help him turn tighter in his jump-offs.
He didn&rsquo;t realize it then, but that moment marked the beginning of a new chapter. His ability to handle sensitive, high-powered horses has shaped the rider he&rsquo;s become.
At shows, Ben and Jan still carry one shared ritual: whoever finishes higher buys dinner; the other buys ice cream. After years of picking up the dessert tab, Ben finally got to pay for dinner.
<h2 dir="ltr">Poised for More</h2>
Ebeling is the highest-ranked rider in the Finals field based on FEI World Rankings (No. 34), and he&rsquo;s hit a new personal best with Bellena in each of their last three starts. If he can make it four in a row at the Final, a podium is easily within reach, but a title is on the table.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<hr>
For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.
For media inquiries about the US Equestrian Open Series, please contact Carly Weilminster at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:cweilminster@usef.org">cweilminster@usef.org</a>. aFor sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.

Ben Ebeling points in celebration aboard Bellena after a freestyle ride, both in full competition turnout with the US Equestrian Open of Dressage logo in the corner.

Four to Follow at the US Equestrian Open Final: Ben Ebeling

Germany&rsquo;s Felicitas Hendricks is a staple on the Wellington podium, but for the first time in her already-storied career, she&rsquo;s heading west. She&rsquo;ll make her West Coast debut at the US Equestrian Open of Dressage Final in Thermal, CA.
In 15 career Grand Prix Freestyles together, Hendricks and Drombusch OLD (by Destano) have finished outside the top three only three times. In 2024, they went undefeated through their Wellington season. This year has been a quieter one, but even Hendricks&rsquo; so-called &ldquo;off day&rdquo; was a 75 &mdash; a score most riders would celebrate.&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">Always in Rhythm</h2>
Across their four qualifier appearances, Hendricks and Drombusch OLD averaged a freestyle score of 76.533%. Their best outing came in January, when they won the first Adequan Global Dressage Festival qualifier with a 78.200%, dazzling judges with 20 one-tempis and an average degree of difficulty of 9.46. In just three months, they amassed 64 Series points before returning to Germany for the summer season.
<blockquote>
&ldquo;I feel like the sky really is the limit for this horse because he wants to do it, and I know he will," Hendricks said.
</blockquote>
<h2 dir="ltr">The Making of a Match</h2>
Trained by famed German coach Christoph Koschel, Hendricks has married classic schooling with contemporary flair. Her disco-inspired freestyle, set to music her mother danced to in the &rsquo;80s, is a crowd favorite. Drombusch himself lights up when the music comes over the loudspeakers.
<blockquote>
&ldquo;He&rsquo;s such a big personality,&rdquo; Hendricks laughed. &ldquo;I really believe he knows his music. When the crowd starts clapping, it&rsquo;s our favorite part.&rdquo;
</blockquote>
The pair has bonded over nearly a decade, and Hendricks says each competition season reveals new layers to his personality and ability. In addition to her recent senior success, she was the 2023 European Under-25 Grand Prix gold medalist and Freestyle silver medalist, helping Germany capture team gold at the U25 FEI European Championships. Now based in Hagen, Germany for the summer, she is making her first trip to the West Coast for the Final.
<blockquote>
&ldquo;I couldn&rsquo;t wish for a better dance partner. Every day I think, I don&rsquo;t want him to get older. I just want to freeze him and have him forever," Hendricks explained.
</blockquote>
<h2 dir="ltr">West of Wellington&nbsp;</h2>
The Final in Thermal will be Hendricks&rsquo; first West Coast appearance and perhaps the biggest test of her career so far. Her record leaves little doubt about her ability, but this time she&rsquo;ll be outside the familiarity of Wellington. If she can channel the same precision, composure, and trust that have defined her partnership with Drombusch, the path to the title may well run straight through her centerline.
&nbsp;
<hr>
For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.
For media inquiries about the US Equestrian Open Series, please contact Carly Weilminster at&nbsp;<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>.

Dressage rider Felicitas Hendricks smiles and celebrates while patting her horse after a ride, both wearing competition gear with the US Equestrian Open of Dressage logo in the corner.

Four to Follow at the US Equestrian Open Final: Felicitas Hendricks

As the 2025 season winds down, we wondered who might have a breakthrough season at CCI4*-S next year? We turned to the EquiRatings High Performance rating to give us some clues, looking at who had measurably good results at CCI3*-L this year as a precursor to a 2026 step-up.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/c5f0a2eb-5ab4-4bd5-81fb-5ecc953fe639.png?width=1540&amp;height=1672" alt="Ux Hjx Top 10 Cci3 L Hprs on Us Soil This Year ">
<h1 dir="ltr">What&rsquo;s the HPR?</h1>
The High Performance Rating (HPR) measures the strength of a single performance. For every result, the HPR assesses factors such as quality of opponents beaten, winning margin, course difficulty and scoring conditions. Because these factors vary from one competition to another, not all wins are equal and not all scores exactly reflect the true level of performance. By acknowledging and capturing these variables, the HPR objectively compares performances and placings across different classes.
HPRs in the 90s are exceptional - the kind of complete performance that signals a horse is ready to climb the levels.
The following five combinations earned the highest HPRs among all CCI3*-L results on US soil this year.
<h1 dir="ltr">1. Isabelle Bosley &amp; Conner &mdash; HPR 96 | 24.8 (1st)</h1>
Best 3*-L result of 2025: 24.8 to win the 3*-L at Maryland 5 Star
Why it matters: Just eight years old, Conner produced one of the most complete 3*-L wins of 2025. On his first run at the level, Conner finished on his sub-25 dressage score to top the 53-strong field. The performance gave Isabelle her first CCI3*-L victory and one of the highest HPRs recorded all season.
<h1 dir="ltr">2. Alyssa Phillips &amp; Rockett 19 &mdash; HPR 95 | 25.5 (2nd)</h1>
Best 3*-L result of 2025: 25.5 for 2nd place in the Maryland 5 Star 3*-L
Why it matters: Having just acquired the ride on Rockett 19 this year, Alyssa and the 10-year-old have already produced two wins at the 3*-S level (Bouckaert &amp; Plantation). Finishing on their dressage score at Maryland 3*-L earned them a statement second place in the deep field.
<h1 dir="ltr">3. Rebecca Brown &amp; Fernhill Quite Frankly &mdash; HPR 88 | 29.3 (1st)</h1>
Best 3*-L result of 2025: 29.3 to win the Ocala 3*-L.
Why it matters: On Fernhill Quite Frankly&rsquo;s first ever run at the level, he and Rebecca earned the win. They were second after the first phase on a sub-30 score and, of 27 starters, Rebecca and the 10-year-old &ldquo;Frank&rdquo; were one of only two pairs to finish on their dressage score, winning on 29.3.
Of our top five list, Frank and Jewelent are the only horses who&rsquo;ve already contested a four-star. Frank&rsquo;s came a few months after his 3*-L win but the pair didn&rsquo;t complete cross-country on that first attempt, choosing to retire. A step down to 2*-S afterward proved a confidence-boosting run (jumped double clear) so it will be interesting to see how Frank carries his few months of extra experience into the four-star level next season.&nbsp;
<h1 dir="ltr">4. Olivia Dutton &amp; Jewelent &mdash; HPR 88 | 32.9 (3rd)</h1>
Best 3*-L result of 2025: 32.9 for 3rd in the Maryland 5 Star 3*-L
Why it matters: Jewelent is one of the more-familiar names on our list as the 13-year-old has already contested 20 four-stars and even jumped clear around Badminton 2022. But this was his first year with Olivia and the pair got to know each other with two three-star runs, including their 3rd place in the Maryland 3*-L.&nbsp;
With Sea Of Clouds, Olivia has 11 four-star runs under her belt so - with both Jewelent and Olivia knowing the four-star ropes - this will definitely be an exciting pair for 2026.&nbsp;
<h1 dir="ltr">5. Margaret Pellegrini &amp; Falcon Crown Z &mdash; HPR 85 | 27.7 (1st)</h1>
Best 3*-L result of 2025: 27.7 to win the CCI3*-L at Rebecca Farm
Why it matters: When Meg and Falcon Crown Z step up to four-star, it will be a level debut for both horse and rider. The pair took the Rebecca Farm 3*-L win by finishing on their dressage score. It was their first and only 3*-L as a pair (to date) and while they&rsquo;ve shown mixed cross-country form at the 3*-S level they did produce a second place result at Tryon 3*-S this past May and added just 0.8 time faults over the Plantation 3*-S course last year. They&rsquo;ve demonstrated ability at three-star and now it&rsquo;s just a matter of consistency and strategy for the step up to four-star.
<h1 dir="ltr">Why These Five Matter</h1>
Each combination delivered a complete three-phase performance: low dressage, efficient cross-country, and clean show-jumping. These are precisely the indicators of readiness that the US Equestrian Open of Eventing was created to celebrate; rewarding development, not just destination.
<h1 dir="ltr">The Open Continues</h1>
The 2026 US Equestrian Open of Eventing is already underway. <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/bellissimo-and-dyri-make-it-five-in-a-row-at-bouckaert" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bouckaert opened the season</a> and TerraNova is next on the calendar. Stay tuned as new stars emerge and established names climb higher.
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<li dir="ltr" style="font-weight: bold;" role="presentation"><a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/magazines" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Latest Fan Guide </a></li>
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<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/c9dfe039-3b02-415d-b513-c5bd87d85dae.jpeg?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="26 Open Eventing Qualifier Calendar">

Five Combinations Primed to Make Their Mark in the 2026 US Equestrian Open

With 105 points, Anna Marek became the first rider in US Equestrian Open of Dressage history to cross the 100-point mark, sealing her place as the inaugural Series champion.
<h2 dir="ltr">The Art of Almost Winning</h2>
When the season opened in January, Marek sat mid-pack while European riders like Felicitas Hendricks and Evelyn Eger traded early wins. But by Week 10, after a string of podiums in Wellington and Ocala, she overtook the leaderboard. From that point on, no one caught her.
<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-itjY6" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="The Points Race: Anna Marek, Ben Ebeling, Felicitas Hendricks" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/itjY6/2/" height="653" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Line chart" data-external="1"></iframe>
Across her six qualifying runs, Marek never finished lower than third and averaged over 75% in every freestyle. She also logged four second-place finishes, more than any other rider in the Series. It&rsquo;s the kind of stat that cuts both ways: a testament to her reliability, but also a question mark heading into the Final.
Can the sport&rsquo;s most consistent contender finally trade silver for gold when it matters most?
<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-MMizW" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Anna Marek's Series Points" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/MMizW/1/" height="438" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Table" data-external="1"></iframe>
<h2 dir="ltr">The Power of Two</h2>
Most riders only managed one horse through the Series. Marek managed two.
<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-cOxSA" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Anna Marek's Grand Prix Stable: Fire Fly vs. Fayvel" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/cOxSA/2/" height="414" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Table" data-external="1"></iframe>
Fire Fly, the high-voltage Pan Am Games medalist, brings flair with an all-time best of 78.750%. But he&rsquo;s a sensitive horse. Electric, but unpredictable under pressure.
Fayvel, by contrast, is the dependable one. A 15-year-old KWPN gelding by Zizi Top, he&rsquo;s an accurate horse, rarely dropping below 75%. Marek herself calls him &ldquo;bold but honest,&rdquo; a horse who gives her confidence to take risks.
When she needed reliability, Fayvel delivered. When she needed brilliance, Fire Fly did. That dual approach kept her ahead of riders just fielding one mount.
<h2 dir="ltr">What the Numbers Say</h2>
Heading into the Final, Marek is the only rider in the field with two proven Grand Prix Freestyle horses, both capable of scoring in the high 70s. She&rsquo;s logged seven top-four finishes this season, more than any other competitor, and her 105 points make her the most consistently high-scoring American across the year.
On paper, that consistency makes her a statistical favorite for another podium&hellip; but not necessarily for the win. Four second-place finishes have shown she&rsquo;s reliably in the mix, but rarely untouchable.
The question now is whether she can ride for first in the palm-lined arenas of Thermal, California.

Anna Marek smiles while riding during a US Equestrian Open Dressage competition, wearing a navy coat with the U.S. team badge and helmet, set against a blurred green background with the event logo in the corner.

Four to Follow at the US Equestrian Open Final: Geñay Vaughn

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Four to Follow at the US Equestrian Open Final: Geñay Vaughn

Four to Follow at the US Equestrian Open Final: Ben Ebeling

Four to Follow at the US Equestrian Open Final: Felicitas Hendricks

Five Combinations Primed to Make Their Mark in the 2026 US Equestrian Open

How Anna Marek Won the Series

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