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As expected, Christian Simonson and Indian Rock opened the 2026 US Equestrian Open of Dressage with a win, topping the class on a 78.840%. It marks their second World Cup qualifier victory in the past three months and moves Simonson into third in the FEI World Cup standings&mdash;behind Benjamin Ebeling and Kevin Kohmann&mdash;as the race intensifies for one of North America&rsquo;s three qualifying spots for the World Cup Final in Fort Worth, Texas, four months from now.
<h2 dir="ltr">A Wide Spread on a Clean Test</h2>
While this weekend&rsquo;s score sits a few percentage points below the pair&rsquo;s debut earlier this fall, it remains a strong result. Still, a closer look at the score sheets reveals a striking judging spread.
Simonson and Indian Rock delivered what was, by any measure, a fault-free test. Yet the difference between the high and low marks totaled more than ten percentage points. Gabriela Valeri&aacute;nov&aacute; (H) awarded an 83.525%, while Brenda Minor (B) scored the ride at 73.225%.
Interestingly, the variation did not come from the individual movements themselves. Across the panel, most marks stayed within a reasonable range, rarely differing by more than a point and often not involving Minor at all.The divergence emerged almost entirely in the artistic scores, each carrying a 4x coefficient. While the rest of the judges rewarded the performance with consistent 8s and 9s, Minor stayed firmly in the 7 range, only reaching an 8.9 for degree of difficulty. The result was an unusually low overall score from a single judge, despite broad agreement elsewhere.
That lack of alignment extended down the leaderboard. While the final placings appeared relatively consistent, the scorecards revealed a different pattern. Overall totals from judge to judge were notably closer than in Simonson&rsquo;s case, but the individual movement marks showed significantly more variation. A canter pirouette might earn a 7 from one judge and a 4 from another. Two judges could award 7s for piaffe while a third landed at a 5. Notably, the lowest mark rarely came from the same judge, making it clear that the variation was not driven by a single consistently harsh scorer.
<h2 dir="ltr">A Quiet Start for the Defending Champion</h2>
Defending Series champion Benjamin Ebeling and Bellena finished fifth on a 71.790%&mdash;a result below their recent average, but not one that raises alarms. The pair have been remarkably consistent over the past season, and this performance reads more like a let-up on the gas than a red flag as they ease into the new year.
Instead of their usual run of 7.5s and 8s, the score sheet leaned heavily on 6.5s and 7s, and errors in the one-tempis proved costly. Those details made the difference this time, but unless they start to repeat, they are unlikely to be cause for concern. Ebeling remains a proven contender and is well positioned to make a World Cup run in Wellington early next season.
<h2 dir="ltr">Westward Bound</h2>
The Series heads west next weekend for the first West Coast qualifier of the 2026 season, which also doubles as a World Cup qualifier. Expect a smaller field but no shortage of quality.
It will also offer the first real look at the new points system in action. With historically leaner West Coast entries, next week&rsquo;s winner is unlikely to earn the same haul of points as Simonson did in Ocala, reflecting a system that now rewards how many riders you beat rather than simply where you place.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/c3546a81-b82e-4bd7-940c-bd104895ed19.png?width=1253&amp;height=794" alt="Screenshot showing the 2026 US Equestrian Open of Dressage standings after Ocala, with Christian Simonson leading the leaderboard.">

Close-up portrait of a dressage horse in bridle and crystal browband.

Simonson and Indian Rock Start 2026 on Top

The first freestyle of the 2026 US Equestrian Open of Dressage kicks off tomorrow in Ocala, and it&rsquo;s nothing short of a proper season opener. A deep field, the reigning Finals champion, and the highest-scoring pair of 2025 all converge, giving us an early look at the storylines that may shape the months ahead.&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">Indian Rock&rsquo;s New Era</h2>
Few combinations in the world enter 2026 with more intrigue than Christian Simonson and Indian Rock. Simonson took over the ride on the Dutch stallion last May, taking the reins of a horse with Olympic mileage, an 82.095% personal best under Emmelie Scholtens, and an 81.750% finish at the Paris Games. It&rsquo;s a major inheritance for any rider, let alone one who is only 23.
But from the moment Simonson swung a leg over, the results spoke for themselves. Their first Grand Prix together was a 70.543%, followed by a 74.277% Grand Prix Special, the sport&rsquo;s most demanding and unforgiving test. Then in October, they debuted their freestyle: 81.405%, the <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/simonson-shakes-the-series-at-terranova" target="_blank" rel="noopener">highest score recorded</a> in the entire 2025 Open season.
Transitions like this don&rsquo;t often come together so quickly. Many riders never access a horse&rsquo;s previous peak, yet Simonson already has. Tomorrow&rsquo;s freestyle offers the next glimpse of where this young partnership is headed&mdash;and a chance for spectators to simply enjoy two genuinely exciting performers do their thing.&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">The Champion Returns</h2>
The last time Ben Ebeling and Bellena rode under a spotlight, they walked out of the arena as the inaugural <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/ben-and-bellena-save-their-best-for-last">US Equestrian Open Final champions</a> with a personal best of 79.930%. It was the culmination of a year in which they built their entire Grand Prix career inside the Series: from their freestyle debut in April to that electric November finish, they grew sharper, braver, and more expressive with every start.
Bellena originally competed under Ebeling&rsquo;s father, Jan, before Ben took the reins in early 2025. Their very first freestyle together was a 75.740%, and the rise since then has been unmistakable. They broke their personal best four times in six months, won three qualifiers, and ended the year as Final champions&mdash; all before the partnership reached its first anniversary.
After the season they had, they don&rsquo;t need another career-defining ride tomorrow. This weekend just gives us a sense of how they&rsquo;re carrying that momentum into 2026.&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">The Watch List</h2>
Behind the two headliners sits a group of combinations worth watching for very different reasons.
Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu and Jaccardo arrive with limited freestyle mileage but meaningful promise. Their two FEI freestyles averaged 76.823%, with a 77.520% personal best, and they were poised for a strong showing at Devon before an elimination took them out of contention. With so few data points, Ocala might give us the first real sense of where this pair fits in the broader 2026 picture.
For Erin Nichols and Elian Royale, the numbers are fuller: a 72.266% average and a 75.975% PB, plus a consistent trend upward throughout last season. Elian Royale is a horse who tends to shine in freestyles, and Nichols has shown she can coax quality out of high-energy environments. If they open the season in the mid-70s, that would signal a continuation rather than a reset.
And then there&rsquo;s Jennifer Williams with Babylon Berlin, a horse she seriously considered taking to the Final last year. With just one FEI freestyle on the record &mdash; a 74.005% &mdash; Babylon Berlin is still developing, but Williams clearly believes in his future. He reads like championship material once the strength and polish come together, and this weekend might tell us whether that maturity is arriving early in 2026 or building more gradually. Either way, it&rsquo;s always compelling to watch an experienced rider guide a young Grand Prix horse into his next stage.
<h2 dir="ltr">Opening Bars of 2026</h2>
It&rsquo;s only Qualifier One, and no one is crowning a champion this early. The fun of early-season qualifiers is getting these combinations back in the ring, checking in on familiar faces, and seeing the first hints of what 2026 might hold. Between a world-class young rider on a world-class horse, a Finals champion on a sharp rise, and the middle of the pack with genuine potential, Ocala offers a strong opening frame for the season.
Good horses, good riders, and good music. Hard to argue with that.&nbsp;

Christian Simonson smiles while riding Indian Rock in competition at the US Equestrian Open of Dressage.

Unwrapping the 2026 Season

The 2026 US Equestrian Open of Dressage arrives with a ruleset that&rsquo;s familiar in shape but slightly different in how it functions. Most of the changes revolve around how points are earned and what it now takes to build a competitive season. The goal is simple: reward riders for showing up where the depth is real, and make the pathway to the Finals more reflective of performance than pure mileage.
Below is a breakdown of what&rsquo;s changed, and why it matters as the new season gets underway.
<h2 dir="ltr">A Points System That Reflects the Field</h2>
The biggest shift for 2026 is the complete overhaul of the points structure. The old system assigned fixed points regardless of how many riders showed up. A four-horse qualifier gave the same points as a ten-horse qualifier.
The new version changes that. Points now adjust to field size: small fields include 1&ndash;5 starters, medium 6&ndash;10, and large 11&ndash;15. The top end of each range mirrors the intent of the old system, but the spacing and values change dramatically.
- Small fields (1-5) now top out at 15 points for a win and drop quickly.
- Medium fields (6-10) match the former standard&mdash;20 for the win&mdash;but smooth out the distribution through the top 10.
- Large fields (11-15) receive the biggest boost, offering 25 points to the winner and a strong payout down the order.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/ca9b4a65-64fb-4868-aeb9-d7e3ee412167.png?width=1080&amp;height=1080" alt="Points chart showing how riders earn points based on field size at US Equestrian Open qualifiers, with separate tables for large, medium, and small classes.">
This new system, which follows the same principles used in the Eventing Open, rewards depth and showing up in competitive fields. Second place in a large field (20 points) is now equal to what winning used to earn across the board. In a large field, sixth place still earns 10 points, but unlike before, 7th&ndash;10th now receive fewer points&mdash;so finishing one place higher actually changes your season total. In large fields, points now extend through 15th place&mdash;five places deeper than before&mdash;allowing more riders to accumulate meaningful totals.
This system does two things. It rewards riders who step into deep, competitive environments. And it pressures those aiming for the Finals to choose their venues carefully. A small field still counts, but it no longer holds the same weight.&nbsp; &nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">Fewer Results Count&mdash;So Each One Matters More</h2>
Another fundamental change is the shift from counting a rider&rsquo;s top six results to counting their top four.&nbsp;
Under the old structure, consistency across a long schedule was rewarded, and riders based on the East Coast naturally benefited from having more Big Tour opportunities within easy reach. With only four results now counting, each ride carries more weight, but riders who compete more than four times still have the flexibility to replace low scores as the season progresses.
This setup also softens the impact of an off weekend, but it also sharpens the value of every strong performance. Four mid-range scores won&rsquo;t do the work that four competitive ones can, especially under a points system that rewards depth.&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">Clarifications, Cleanups, and Codified Scenarios</h2>
The remaining changes are small adjustments that refine rather than overhaul.
<h3 dir="ltr">Multi-Star Weekends.</h3>
When a venue offers multiple Grand Prix Freestyles in a single weekend, riders can now earn points only in the highest-star class offered. The exception: if there&rsquo;s a CDIO3* (or higher), riders may also earn points in the highest non-CDIO class. Previously, the rule existed in spirit but not in precise language. Now, it&rsquo;s spelled out.
<h3 dir="ltr">Tie-breaking language.</h3>
The underlying approach remains unchanged&mdash;ties occupy consecutive places, and the next rider&rsquo;s placing is adjusted accordingly&mdash;but the rulebook now gives a clearer example. It&rsquo;s administrative clarity, not structural change.
<h3 dir="ltr">Season dates.</h3>
The Series now officially begins December 1 instead of January 1. The end-of-season timing remains the same: at least two weeks before the Finals. Practically speaking, this mostly aligns the paperwork with how the season already operated.
<h3 dir="ltr">What Hasn't Changed.</h3>
While the points system and season structure have evolved, the foundation of the Series remains the same. The $50K season prize pool and $200K Finals purse are unchanged, as are the qualifications that shape the competitive field: the top 18 advance to the Finals, riders must earn a 67% Certificate of Capability, each athlete may bring only one horse to the Final, and a 60% Grand Prix score is still required to ride the Freestyle Final.&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">Looking Ahead to Ocala</h2>
The heart of these updates is simple: the 2026 Open rewards strong performances in strong company. Riders won&rsquo;t need as many big weekends to qualify, but the big weekends they choose will matter more than ever.
The first chance to see this new landscape in action is next weekend in Ocala, where the season officially begins. Tune in and watch the new points era take shape from the very first judge&rsquo;s bell.

A decorated archway marking the entrance to the US Equestrian Open of Dressage, framed by tall palm trees and flower arrangements on a sunny day.

What’s New for 2026: A Clearer, Sharper US Equestrian Open of Dressage

On a night defined by personal bests, it was Benjamin Ebeling and Bellena who delivered the most meaningful one. Their final freestyle of the season scored 79.930%, a career high and more than enough to win the US Equestrian Open of Dressage Final. After building their entire Grand Prix career together within the Series, the pair capped their year with a test that had the crowd clapping along and judges reaching for 9s.
They weren&rsquo;t the only ones who saved their best for last. Three other riders posted personal bests in Saturday night&rsquo;s freestyle, and ten of the twelve riders in the field outscored their season averages.
<h2 dir="ltr">Bellena&rsquo;s Best Yet</h2>
From their freestyle debut in April to their crowning ride in November, Ebeling and Bellena have looked more confident with every outing. In just six months, they started their showing career together, came second in the Series, won three of their five qualifiers, broke their personal best four times in a row, and now, have won the inaugural Final.&nbsp;
Riding to a girl-power soundtrack of &ldquo;Maneater,&rdquo; &ldquo;Femininomenon,&rdquo; and &ldquo;Perfect,&rdquo; they closed their test with a soaring extended trot and a seamless halt, drawing cheers from the crowd and topping the field by more than a point. Two judges scored the ride above 80%, and Ebeling was the only rider to receive that distinction.
His final score&mdash;79.930%&mdash;was nearly two points above his previous best. He earned 8s across the board for harmony, 8s and 9s for choreography, and an average degree of difficulty of 9.0. It marked the fourth personal best in a row for the pair, whose trajectory has been steep and steady: from 76.190% in July, to 76.615%, then 77.655%, 78.055%, and now this.
On a night full of strong rides, Bellena was the belle of the ball.
<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-3NPja" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Bellena's scores with Ben" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/3NPja/1/" height="769" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Line chart" data-external="1"></iframe>
&ldquo;This Series has opened the sport to people who can appreciate horse dancing,&rdquo; Ebeling said afterward. &ldquo;I mean, who doesn&rsquo;t like that?&rdquo;
He also gave full credit to Bellena, a 15-year-old Hanoverian mare owned by Ann Romney.
<blockquote>
&ldquo;She means everything to me. Every time I&rsquo;ve asked her to come into the clutch, she&rsquo;s always come through for me. She&rsquo;s a special mare.&rdquo;
</blockquote>
<h2 dir="ltr">Margin of Greatness</h2>
Germany&rsquo;s Felicitas Hendricks and Drombusch OLD finished second with a 78.260% in a technically ambitious freestyle that earned the highest degree of difficulty of the night (9.3). She also received a 9.0 for her final halt and scored consistently high for music and choreography. Hendricks, already a two-time U25 European Champion, is a world champion in the making. At just 25, she&rsquo;s already holding her own against senior riders despite still being young enough for the junior division.
&ldquo;The test felt incredible,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;My horse gave it his all."
<blockquote>
"He was on fire in the best way possible.&rdquo;
</blockquote>
Series champion Anna Marek returned to the arena with Fayvel. Their test was clean and assertive&mdash;though perhaps not as relaxed as their best outings&mdash;and included an extremely difficult line of one-tempi changes into twos, plus a final extension that closed the performance with strength. They finished third with their second-highest score of the season at 77.830%.&nbsp;
Kristina Harrison-Antell and Finley delivered a brilliant 75.470%&mdash;their first new personal best since 2022, and fittingly, at the very same show. It lifted her into fourth&nbsp;in the final standings and served as a fitting high point for the longest-running partnership in the Series.
Laura DeCesari and Nadine Schwartsman also notched career bests. DeCesari, riding in her first CDI5*, earned a 70.304%, while Schwartsman opened the evening with a 70.775%&mdash;her first time breaking the 70% barrier in freestyle. Both finished inside the Series top ten.
<h2 dir="ltr">The Final Page</h2>
Back in January, the US Equestrian Open was a budding series. We didn&rsquo;t know the cast of characters, and the possibilities were endless. By Saturday night, we&rsquo;d finished reading the last chapter.
We&rsquo;ll be reliving the highlights for weeks to come. The 2026 season starts soon, and when it does, a new volume of the US Equestrian Open gets underway.
&nbsp;

Benjamin Ebeling smiles and waves while riding Bellena in the winner’s presentation at the US Equestrian Open of Dressage Final. Bellena wears a champion’s cooler and sash with blue ribbons as palm trees and branding fill the night-lit arena backdrop.

Ben and Bellena Save Their Best for Last 

Saturday night&rsquo;s Grand Prix Freestyle will decide the US Equestrian Open of Dressage Final, and if <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/whos-on-form-for-the-final" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Friday&rsquo;s Grand Prix</a> was any indication, the field is more than ready. All three podium finishers landed within 0.304 percentage points of one another, with Anna Marek taking the win on 70.804%. Nine riders scored above their season average. And Laura DeCesari delivered a personal best that outpaced her norm by more than three full points.
In short: the field is in form, and they came to play.
With the Freestyle&rsquo;s added score multipliers and $200,000 on the line, we&rsquo;re likely to see bold riding, tight scoring, and more than a few new personal bests. And at the end of it, we will crown an inaugural champion.
<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-E2Jw7" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Grand Prix Freestyle Stats" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/E2Jw7/2/" height="887" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Table" data-external="1"></iframe>
<h2 dir="ltr">The Usual Suspects&nbsp;</h2>
You know who the statistical favorites are, and it's anyone's game. Anna Marek, Felicitas Hendricks, and Ben Ebeling all average above 75% in the freestyle across the season, and all three landed on the Grand Prix podium last night. Even Ge&ntilde;ay Vaughn, who finished in sixth, has the technical skill to knock any one of them off the podium tonight. She and Gino just need to clean up some communication, and if they can achieve that, the top three need to watch their backs.&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">The Not-So-Usual Suspects</h2>
Outside the top four, the field doesn&rsquo;t get much more predictable. Which, let&rsquo;s be honest, just makes it all the more fun.
Kristina Harrison-Antell came fourth last night with a strong 68.978% in the Grand Prix&mdash;two full points above her average and just 0.3 percent off a new personal best. Often playing second fiddle to Ge&ntilde;ay and Gino on the California circuit, Harrison-Antell proved that the queen of the West Coast isn&rsquo;t untouchable. With the small matter of riding in a ring that Finley knows well, she&rsquo;s the kind of steady hand who could capitalize if others falter. She and Finley have the longest partnership in the field, and a podium tonight would be a full-circle moment in a strong season.
Jan Ebeling and Jubi&rsquo;s Tenacity bring that same veteran feel. Their name rarely tops headlines, but their 75.720% freestyle personal best is no small number, and it trails Vaughn's by just a tenth of a point. If Jubi's relaxed and Jan&rsquo;s riding sharp, they could absolutely disrupt the expected order.
Charlotte Jorst and Karen Lipp both have wide scoring spreads. Their personal bests sit in the 72&ndash;74% range, but either could break out with a clean ride and technical finesse. Lipp, in particular, has climbed the leaderboard all season by riding clean, artistic tests in tough fields.&nbsp;
Then there&rsquo;s DeCesari, who broke through with a personal best in Friday&rsquo;s Grand Prix that clocked in over three percentage points above her average. Their partnership has been trending upward all year, and a repeat performance tonight could launch them into the upper half of the leaderboard.&nbsp;
Laine Ashker and Zeppelin tied for 11th last night with Nadine Schwartsman. As only the second pair to go, there was a little tension, probably nerves in both horse and rider. While Ashker isn&rsquo;t new to the top of horse sport (she's an accomplished five-star eventer), she is new to the top of this horse sport. This is her first dressage five-star. Even still, one look at her social media tells you how much fun she&rsquo;s having just being here. If she can tap into that joy tonight, her 73% ceiling could come tumbling down with a new career-best.&nbsp;
Schwartsman hasn&rsquo;t cracked 70% yet, but she&rsquo;s getting close. Her personal best of 69.935% came earlier this spring, and her Grand Prix last night was nearly a full point above her average. If she can bring that same composure to the freestyle, a new PB&mdash;and a place inside the top 10&mdash;is absolutely within reach.
And then there&rsquo;s Brittney Simpson and Kartsevo Goldfinch. With a Grand Prix performance that outpaced her average by 1.572 points, she&rsquo;s quietly positioned herself to surprise. While her average freestyle sits near 67%, she&rsquo;s hit 72% before. If she does it again tonight, she&rsquo;ll be in the mix with the likes of Jorst, Lipp, and Harrison-Antell.
<h2 dir="ltr">X Halt, Salute</h2>
Not every rider will win tonight, but nearly all are chasing something meaningful. A personal best. A top-ten finish. A ride that reflects the work it took to get here.
That&rsquo;s what the Open has offered all season: a chance to show up, to break through, and to build something. Each qualifier brought new faces, new milestones, and new horses to fall in love with.
But this is the one that counts.
The math is simple now. Whoever wins tonight, wins the Final. And while the numbers will crown a champion, it&rsquo;ll take more than that to earn the title. Trust, timing, and maybe even a little luck.
All that&rsquo;s left now&hellip; is to ride.
&nbsp;
<hr>
&nbsp;
Don&rsquo;t miss a moment of the US Equestrian Open Final. Watch live on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usef.org/network" target="_blank" rel="noopener">USEF Network</a>, dive deeper with the complete&nbsp;<a href="https://usequestrianopen.info/dressagefinal2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fan Guide</a>, and follow along on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/instagram.com/usequestrianopen/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Facebook</a> for updates, results, and behind-the-scenes coverage.

Anna Marek smiles and pats Fayvel after completing a freestyle test under the lights. The US Equestrian Open of Dressage logo and patriotic graphic elements frame the image.

The Freestyle Finale: Your Usual Suspects

The first night of the US Equestrian Open of Dressage Final delivered exactly what it was supposed to. Clarity.&nbsp;
Anna Marek and Fayvel captured the Grand Prix win on a 70.804%, edging out Benjamin Ebeling and Bellena (70.522%) and Felicitas Hendricks and Drombusch OLD (70.500%) in a top three separated by just 0.304%.&nbsp;
Behind them, the rest of the field surged, too. Laura de Cesari led the field in improvement, scoring a personal best of 67.304%&mdash;a full 3.1 points above her average. Kristina Harrison-Antell followed suit with a 2.3-point gain, and Charlotte Jorst, Brittney Simpson, and Ge&ntilde;ay Vaughn all clocked in at least 1.4 points above their norm. The result? A leaderboard where 12 of 15 combinations beat their own FEI average.
<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-A55Bc" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Form Check: How Grand Prix Scores Stack Up After Night One" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/A55Bc/2/" height="1014" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Table" data-external="1"></iframe>
<h2 dir="ltr">Close Enough to Make You Nervous</h2>
None of the four heavy hitters rode a flawless test, but that&rsquo;s what makes live sport so exciting. It&rsquo;s the drama and the unexpected that makes it so fun to watch&hellip; and so hard to predict.&nbsp;
Although Fayvel broke into canter in the very first extended trot, Marek still beamed after her test. &ldquo;I did have a very excited Fayvel when I first started the test,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;But I love that. He knows that test so well. I said, &lsquo;okay, let&rsquo;s put a lid on it,&rsquo; and he did.&rdquo; Fayvel settled as the ride went on. Marek rode smartly but not cautiously, opting to push for expression in later extensions rather than back down. That balance of containment and boldness earned her the top score of the night. With the energy dialed in and Fayvel familiar with the arena, Marek will be free to ride boldly tomorrow.
Right on her heels, Ebeling and Bellena delivered one of the most technically sound tests of the evening. They led through most of the ride until a bobble in the one-tempis and a miscue in the final piaffe-passage line opened the door for a reshuffle. Still, they came second by just 0.282%. At this point in the season, there&rsquo;s no question of whether Ebeling can win. Based on how attentive the mare looked in the ring and how well they recovered from minor mistakes, they&rsquo;ve got everything they need to take the title.
Ge&ntilde;ay Vaughn and Gino were nearly the surprise winners of the Grand Prix, but a few communication errors in coefficient movements kept them from catching Marek. Nevertheless, the test showed a combination that&rsquo;s in sync and hungry for more. The ride was confident, the horse looked sharp, and Vaughn now has a clear read on what&rsquo;s underneath her. If they&rsquo;ve managed to raise their degree of difficulty since the spring, this is a pair with podium potential and then some.
Felicitas Hendricks took a different approach: steady, thoughtful, and just a touch reserved. Drombusch OLD didn&rsquo;t quite have his usual fire, but Hendricks didn&rsquo;t ask for it either. &ldquo;He might have been a little tired tonight,&rdquo; she said after the ride, &ldquo;but that&rsquo;s good because it means he&rsquo;ll have more spirit tomorrow.&rdquo; With one of the most technically difficult freestyles in the field and a proven record over 79%, Hendricks remains very much in the hunt.&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">Ready or Not, Here Comes the Final</h2>
Statistically, the average freestyle score trends 3&ndash;5 percentage points higher than the Grand Prix, meaning tomorrow&rsquo;s results will likely crest well into the mid-70s, if not higher. That leaves the door wide open for comebacks, breakthroughs, and title-defining performances.
No one&rsquo;s walking away with this one. And that&rsquo;s exactly how the first Final should end.
&nbsp;
<hr>
&nbsp;
Don&rsquo;t miss a moment of the US Equestrian Open Final. Watch live on <a href="https://www.usef.org/network" target="_blank" rel="noopener">USEF Network</a>, dive deeper with the complete <a href="https://usequestrianopen.info/dressagefinal2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fan Guide</a>, and follow along on <a href="instagram.com/usequestrianopen/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Facebook</a> for updates, results, and behind-the-scenes coverage.

Anna Marek and Fayvel stand in the rain under the lights at Desert International Horse Park after winning the Grand Prix at the US Equestrian Open Final. Fayvel wears a champion’s cooler and ribbon while Marek salutes during the national anthem.

Who's On Form for the Final?

The Final is here! Whether you're tuning in from the stands in Thermal or following along from home, there&rsquo;s no shortage of ways to stay in the loop. As thirteen of the season&rsquo;s top Grand Prix combinations step into the Desert International Horse Park for the inaugural US Equestrian Open Final, here&rsquo;s how to keep up with every result, storyline, and standout moment.
<h2 dir="ltr">Where to Follow Along</h2>
<h3 dir="ltr">1. Listen to the US Equestrian Open Preview Podcast</h3>
Get primed before Friday night with a full preview show breaking down matchups, form, and what&rsquo;s at stake. Ideal pre-Final listening.
▶ <a href="https://sites.libsyn.com/559710/dressage-us-equestrian-open-of-dressage-final-preview">Listen In</a>&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr">2. Follow the US Equestrian Open on Instagram and Facebook</h3>
Catch real-time results, ride times, backstage moments, and quick-hit updates straight from Thermal. This is the fastest way to follow along as the action unfolds.
▶ <a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen">https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen</a> ▶ <a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen">https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen</a>&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr">3. Read the Blog for in-depth coverage</h3>
From analytics to rider profiles to post-class recaps, the US Equestrian Open Blog houses every story shaping the Final field.
▶ <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org">Read Now</a>&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr">4. Watch the Livestream on USEF Network</h3>
Every ride, every score, every moment&mdash;from the Grand Prix to the Freestyle&mdash;stream it all live on USEF Network. Fan memberships are free, making this the easiest way to watch the entire Final from home. ▶ <a href="https://www.usef.org/network">Watch Live</a>&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr">5. Follow EquiRatings for stats, data, and metrics</h3>
If you want the numbers behind the performances&mdash;averages, trends, personal bests, matchup history&mdash;EquiRatings will be breaking it all down throughout the weekend. ▶ <a href="https://www.instagram.com/equiratings">Analyze the Data</a>&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr">6. Dive into the Fan Guide</h3>
The central hub for everything you need to know: rules, scoring, format, rider bios, past results, and Series context all in one place. ▶ <a href="https://usequestrianopen.info/dressagefinal2025">Dive In</a>&nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr">7. BONUS: The 2025 Freestyle Playlist on Spotify</h3>
Every song you&rsquo;ll hear in Thermal, all in one playlist. Perfect for getting into the spirit before riders trot down centerline. ▶ <a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5qg8w2tHudpgLYXNGSTVF3?si=0YFIVTmqQnqYYuZET-EYsQ&amp;pi=A8SMfyfIQO6Jj&amp;nd=1&amp;dlsi=025eadc3f2f44e63">Listen Now</a>
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A close-up of a braided dark bay dressage horse wearing a black bridle, photographed outdoors with palm trees and mountains softly blurred in the background. The US Equestrian Open Dressage logo appears in the top right corner.

6 Ways to Follow the US Equestrian Open Final

The inaugural US Equestrian Open of Dressage Final opens Friday night in Thermal with the Grand Prix. It is the first of two tests that will decide this year's champion. The Grand Prix won't crown the winner outright (that's Saturday's freestyle), but it will tell us everything we need to know about who showed up ready.
Who's settled into the desert atmosphere? Who's scoring above their norm&hellip; or cracking under pressure? And which combinations look like they're about to have the weekend of their lives?
With Series leaders, World Cup finalists, rising stars, and West Coast heavyweights all converging at Desert International Horse Park&rsquo;s main arena, this is the most competitive field of the season.&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">The Grand Prix: Your First Real Read</h2>
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The Grand Prix isn't a perfect predictor of the freestyle, but it's a clear signal for what&rsquo;s to come. Because it&rsquo;s a purely technical test, with no music, no degree of difficulty bonuses, and no choreography multipliers, it shows you exactly where each pair stands before artistry enters the equation. Plus, when a pair performs well on Friday, especially relative to their FEI averages, they almost always carry that confidence into Saturday. When a horse scores several points below its season norm, something's off: tension, travel fatigue, or the atmosphere itself.
The strongest GP performers this season are clear. <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/four-to-follow-at-the-us-equestrian-open-final-felicitas-hendricks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Felicitas Hendricks</a> and Drombusch OLD lead the field with a 74.256% personal best and the highest Grand Prix average (70.708%). <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/four-to-follow-at-the-us-equestrian-open-final-anna-marek" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Anna Marek</a> and Fayvel follow closely with a 73.131% PB and a 70.148% average. They&rsquo;re the only Finalists who have cracked 73% in a Grand Prix.
The Grand Prix reveals the foundation riders must build on in the freestyle. Strong technical horses tend to remain strong once the music starts. And riders who struggle in the GP rarely find enough artistic points the next night to cover gaps in basic execution.&nbsp;
That&rsquo;s why Friday matters.
Still, some combinations reliably climb when the music turns on. Karen Lipp and Infinity often sit in the high-60s on Friday, then jump several points in the freestyle. Charlotte Jorst and Zhaplin Langholt show a similar pattern with solid technical work that blossoms once music, harmony, and choreography are factored in. These are the types of riders whose Grand Prix scores undersell their freestyle potential.
Friday will show us exactly what each pair has under the hood. Saturday tells us what they can build on top of it.
<h2 dir="ltr">The Gap Between the Tests</h2>
Across the season, the field trends three to five percentage points higher in Freestyles because the scoring system rewards more than execution: music, degree of difficulty, harmony, and choreography all carry 4x multipliers.
For some riders, that artistic boost is transformative. <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/four-to-follow-at-the-us-equestrian-open-final-ben-ebeling" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Benjamin Ebeling</a> and Bellena average around 69% in the Grand Prix, but clear 75% in the freestyle. Bellena&rsquo;s musicality and the pair&rsquo;s overall harmony give them one of the biggest Grand Prix-to-Freestyle jumps of the field. G&uuml;nter Seidel and Equirelle tell a similar story. The freestyle&rsquo;s choreography lets Equirelle settle into a rhythm, so technical work like changes and passage smooth out, and the artistic multipliers lift the whole picture in a way the Grand Prix can&rsquo;t.
So while Friday can give you a preview of what's to come, it can also mislead you. A mid-60s Grand Prix can turn into a low- or mid-70s freestyle if the technical base is solid. Strong Grand Prix rides almost always lead to strong freestyles. And riders who struggle a bit on Friday can still earn back marks on Saturday, but only to a point.
The real red flag is when a pair finishes well below their usual Grand Prix average. Horses do sometimes settle overnight, but heading into a championship test, a shaky Grand Prix rarely inspires confidence.
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Don&rsquo;t miss a moment of the US Equestrian Open Final. Watch live on <a href="https://www.usef.org/network" target="_blank" rel="noopener">USEF Network</a>, dive deeper with the complete <a href="https://usequestrianopen.info/dressagefinal2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fan Guide</a>, and follow along on <a href="instagram.com/usequestrianopen/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Facebook</a> for updates, results, and behind-the-scenes coverage.
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A rider wearing a white button-down dress and tall brown boots jogs a chestnut horse during the veterinary inspection at the US Equestrian Open of Dressage in Thermal. Palm trees and desert mountains blur in the background beneath the event’s logo.

The Final Begins: What Friday's Grand Prix Will Reveal — and What It Won't

Perhaps the most anticipated freestyle of the weekend belongs to Series leader Anna Marek and her partner Fayvel, a 15-year-old KWPN gelding by Zizi Top. The pair have been one of the most consistent duos of the season, always scoring in the upper 70s, always placing in the top three. This weekend, they trade lush Florida palms for California desert palms as they step into a US Equestrian Open arena, one more time.&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">The Journey to Now</h2>
Fayvel wasn&rsquo;t originally meant to be Marek&rsquo;s mount. He came into her program as an amateur&rsquo;s horse, owned and ridden by Cynthia Davila. But when Davila was sidelined by injury, Marek took over the ride. The fit wasn&rsquo;t immediate. Fayvel had been brought along with someone else in mind, but over time, the partnership clicked into place.
Today, they&rsquo;ve become reliably dominant, only finishing outside the top three once in their last 10 FEI freestyles. That one exception? The 2024 World Cup Final, where they finished 8th, the highest-ranked US pair at the championship.&nbsp;
For the 2025 US Equestrian Open season, Marek split her Series campaign between Fayvel and Fire Fly. That strategy worked. She finished the regular season with 105 points, topping the leaderboard and becoming the only rider to break the 100-point mark. But it also forced a tough decision. Which horse would travel to the Final?
Fire Fly delivered Marek&rsquo;s only qualifier win of the season. But Fayvel brought more consistency and higher marks. Ultimately, she chose Fayvel.
Now the question is: did she choose right?
<h2 dir="ltr">The Season of Almost</h2>
On paper, Fayvel looks strong. Among the horses entered in the Final, he has both the highest Series average (76.840%) and the highest Series score (78.765%). When you expand the lens to broader FEI results, he still ranks near the top, second only to Drombusch OLD in career personal best and career average among Final entries.&nbsp;
And yet, for all his scoring power, he hasn&rsquo;t won a single qualifier. Marek&rsquo;s only Series victory came aboard Fire Fly, the horse she ultimately chose not to bring. Fayvel has come close again and again. At WEC, he missed the win by just 0.040%, the narrowest margin in Series history.
He hasn&rsquo;t won an FEI freestyle since February 2024, just before the World Cup Final. That&rsquo;s not a knock&mdash; it&rsquo;s a testament to how consistently, albeit heartbreakingly, close they&rsquo;ve been. Marek has more second-place finishes than any other rider this season.
Statistically, he&rsquo;s one of the best horses in the Series. But this weekend, metrics won&rsquo;t win the class. Can Fayvel finally turn second into first?
<h2 dir="ltr">The Final Wait</h2>
Marek is one of the most experienced riders in the field. She&rsquo;s brought with her a horse peaking in power, expression, and precision. One who is capable of breaking the 80% barrier.&nbsp;
She tops the leaderboard, and in nearly every metric, the data is on her side. She just hasn&rsquo;t had a win on this horse in over a year.&nbsp;
On Saturday night, as she exits the arena and the judges calculate the final score, we&rsquo;ll hold our breath with her, because it might be the moment she finally breaks free of second place.&nbsp;
Catch every ride of the US Equestrian Open Final live on the <a href="https://www.clipmyhorse.tv/en_US/usef">USEF Network</a>. Sign up for a free fan membership at <a href="https://www.usef.org/network">usef.org</a> to access the full broadcast from Thermal.
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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 <a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.

Anna Marek smiles and waves to the crowd aboard Fayvel after completing their freestyle at the 2024 FEI World Cup Final.

Four to Follow at the US Equestrian Open Final: Anna Marek

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.
Catch every ride of the US Equestrian Open Final live on the <a href="https://www.clipmyhorse.tv/en_US/usef">USEF Network</a>. Sign up for a free fan membership at <a href="https://www.usef.org/network">usef.org</a> to access the full broadcast from Thermal.
&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 <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.

Dressage