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<p dir="ltr">With just three qualifiers left before the inaugural US Open of Dressage Final, each venue on the calendar becomes part of the unfolding story. From the historic charm of Devon to the modern beauty of TerraNova and the scale of North Carolina&rsquo;s Tryon International, every stop in this final stretch has its own unique magic and offers riders a distinct opportunity. In the latest US Equestrian Open podcast, announcer Noah Rattner joined us to give a venue-by-venue preview of what makes this stretch of the calendar unforgettable.</p>
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<p><iframe style="border: none;" title="Embed Player" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/38048160/height/192/theme/modern/size/large/thumbnail/yes/custom-color/4c414c/time-start/00:00:00/hide-playlist/yes/download/yes/font-color/ffffff" width="100%" height="192" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
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<h2>Dressage at Devon</h2>
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<p dir="ltr">If you&rsquo;ve never been to <strong>Dressage at Devon</strong>, this is the year to go. Celebrating its 50th anniversary, this US Equestrian Heritage Competition is part elite sporting event, part time capsule. Held at the iconic Devon Horse Show Grounds &mdash; complete with the storied Dixon Oval and charming grandstands tucked into the Philadelphia suburbs &mdash; Devon is where history meets horsepower. The week begins with the world&rsquo;s largest open breed show, then transitions midweek to high-stakes FEI competition. This year, it kicks off the North American League for the 2026 World Cup and serves as a US Open qualifier. With legendary footing upgrades, packed crowds, and freestyles under the lights, Devon is the soul of American dressage.</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">TerraNova Equestrian Center</h2>
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<p>TerraNova Equestrian Center is one of the newest and most visually striking venues in the sport. Tucked into the palm-lined outskirts of Sarasota, this Florida facility is a purpose-built oasis: six all-weather arenas, horse-first infrastructure, lakeside competition rings, and a modern pavilion that spans the Grand Prix arenas. TerraNova is breathtakingly beautiful. Its layout mirrors many elements of the Final&rsquo;s venue in California, giving riders a chance to fine-tune in familiar surroundings. With top-tier accommodations and a production team among the best in the sport, it&rsquo;s more than a tune-up show. As the penultimate qualifier, it&rsquo;s a critical stop for those navigating the late-season schedule with intent and precision.</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">Tryon International Equestrian Center</h2>
<p><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/e74e2fcd-a95c-4ba1-8f7d-f2fc064edbea.jpg?width=1080&amp;height=652" alt="" is=""></p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Tryon International Equestrian Center </strong>is no stranger to big moments. It hosted the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games and remains one of the most versatile venues in U.S. equestrian sport. With 1,200 stalls, 12 arenas, and a stadium that lights up the Northern Carolina foothills,Tryon delivers scale, polish, and atmosphere. Dressage riders entering the final qualifier here will feel like they&rsquo;re already on a world stage. Tryon has built a reputation as a finely tuned machine that delivers on logistics and spectacle alike. For riders seeking last-minute points, this is the last opportunity to make the cut. The venue is built to run like a championship, and for athletes who haven&rsquo;t yet competed on a world-stage-sized platform, this is a crucial step. Expect a deep field, tight margins, and a sense of urgency in every performance.</p>
<h3 dir="ltr">Desert International Horse Park</h3>
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<p dir="ltr">And then &mdash; <em>it&rsquo;s California. </em></p>
<p dir="ltr">The <strong>Desert International Horse Park</strong> in Thermal will host the first-ever US Equestrian Open of Dressage Final, and it&rsquo;s hard to imagine a more fitting stage. Nestled between the San Bernardino and San Jacinto Mountains, this massive equestrian complex just outside Palm Springs rises from the desert with Olympic-caliber arenas, luxury infrastructure, and a skyline of mountains and palms. Known as the West Coast capital of show jumping, DIHP has in recent years embraced dressage, and this fall the discipline takes center stage. With $200,000 in prize money on the line and hospitality that feels more like a five-star resort than a horse show, the Final promises both competition and celebration.&nbsp;</p>
<h1 dir="ltr">Let the Final Chapter Begin</h1>
<p dir="ltr">We&rsquo;ve followed riders all year through triumphs, setbacks, strategy shifts, and musical reinventions and now we&rsquo;re headed into the most exciting stretch yet. It all begins at Dressage at Devon on September 23rd. Whether you&rsquo;re a die-hard fan or a newcomer drawn in by freestyle soundtracks and world-class sport, now is the time to tune in.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Join us at Devon. Pack your bags for Thermal. The road to the Final starts here.</p>
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<p dir="ltr"><em>For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>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;</em></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.</em></p>

A Podcast Tour of Devon, TerraNova, Tryon, and Desert International

<p dir="ltr"><em>Hello, silence, our old friend&hellip;</em>&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr">The summer stillness drags on as we head into late-August, with the leaderboard dormant and the Series on pause.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Eight of the top ten riders haven&rsquo;t competed in an international competition since May. That means current No. 1 Anna Marek, No. 2 Kristina Harrison-Antell, co-No. 2 Eline Eckroth, No. 5 Genay Vaughn, and others through the top ten haven&rsquo;t stepped foot into a CDI arena. Where have you gone, Anna Marek?</p>
<p dir="ltr">In fairness, FEI competitions on US soil all but vanish in the summer months. This leaves riders the option to stay home and train in their own arenas, travel locally for USEF shows, or fly abroad to test their mettle against international opponents.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Of course, downtime has its value: conditioning, fine-tuning, schooling, and perhaps most importantly, giving horses (and riders) a mental and physical break. Showing is exhausting, with its constant travel, early mornings, disrupted routines, and new atmospheres taxing both horse and human alike. So, save for a few restless travelers, most seem to be sitting on a sofa on a Sunday afternoon this summer.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr">But, not everyone has been on pause. Two of the top ten have kept themselves sharp abroad: <strong>Evelyn Eger and Denielle Gallagher.</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr">Eger &mdash; you&rsquo;ll remember she <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/qualifier-8-recap-when-the-numbers-dont-tell-the-whole-story">led the Series</a> through much of the spring &mdash; has returned to Europe and competed in 14 FEI classes since her last Wellington appearance in March. Her summer string has included younger horses, but most notably her freestyle mount, Tabledance 3. The pair came first in a CDI5* in Munich, where they earned a 76.855% &mdash; a score just shy of their PB (77.235%) and two and a half points above their career average of 74%. A month later, the pair again earned first with an above-average score, this time at a CDIO4* Nations Cup in Sweden, earning 75.335%.</p>
<p dir="ltr">It remains a mystery whether Eger and the 12-year-old mare will return to the US in the fall for the Equestrian Open Final, but if they do, it&rsquo;s clear they will pose a threat to the riders competing on home soil.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Gallagher has not been able to capitalize on the same summer success as Eger. She has competed in France twice since we last saw her in Ocala with her 13-year-old Lusitano gelding, Come Back De Massa. Both outings fell below her average of 71.290%. Still, international arena experience is international arena experience. So while her results may not sparkle on paper, every unfamiliar arena adds mileage. That mileage may pay off in November, when the Florida-based pair make their first trip to Thermal, CA, for the Finals.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Outside of the top ten, only a few competitors have ventured quietly into summer competition.</strong> Felicitas Hendricks (No. 11) has one freestyle under her belt &mdash; a very strong 79.340% &mdash; in an under-25 competition in Kronberg. A strong result, yes, but an age-restricted junior division. Devon Kane (No. 13) competed at Hagen&rsquo;s CDI3* in June, but scored well below her average due to an unfortunate <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/new-podcast-devon-kane-on-freestyle-magic-life-on-the-move-and-why-vamos-wasnt-for-sale-after-all">floor plan issue</a> that omitted a required element and resulted in zeroes for the movement.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The rest of the leaderboard has remained muted&hellip; with one inevitable outlier (because of course there&rsquo;s an outlier &mdash; would sport be any fun without one?).</p>
<p dir="ltr">The one outlying pair, singing in an otherwise quiet field, is <strong>Ben Ebeling and Bellena</strong>. Our nation turns its lonely eyes to him.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Since we last saw them in May, Ebeling and Bellena have competed in seven FEI classes, including three at the World Cup Finals in June. And while their freestyle score in Aachen was below their average, the pair scored a new combination best of 76.615% at the prestigious Achleiten CDI in Austria this July. It was also a new career-best score for Bellena. Their time has come to shine.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Ebeling and Bellena have a freestyle average of 75.310%, a number that has grown steadily throughout their season. They debuted as a freestyle pair back in April and have impressed from the very first halt salute. Their recent win in Austria, topping a field of 12, only reinforced their status as a threat abroad &mdash; and soon, back home, too. At 14th on the leaderboard, Ebeling currently holds a Finals ticket. If he stays above the cutoff for the last three qualifiers, he could walk out of Thermal with a very large check in hand.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr">The Final is still nearly three months away, with qualifiers on hold until the famed Dressage at Devon in late September. But when the Pennsylvania moon rises over an open field, <em>the silence of summer will finally break.</em></p>
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<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr"><strong>Follow the US Equestrian Open of Dressage</strong></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal">Stay updated on news and standings for the US Equestrian Open Series on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>&nbsp;and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Instagram.</a>&nbsp;Use #USEquestrianOpen to join the conversation.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/22433326-f7d7-4286-930b-62c3a1ba80f2.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Show calendar for the 2025 US Equestrian Open of Dressage"></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><em>For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.</em></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><em>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;</em></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><em>For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;</em></p>

The Sound of Silence

<p data-start="348" data-end="790">From riding bareback in the fields of South Texas to competing on international stages, Devon Kane&rsquo;s journey has been anything but ordinary. In this episode of the US Equestrian Open Podcast, she talks about the rise of her freestyle partner Vamos, what it feels like to represent the U.S., and the unique rituals she shares with her husband, fellow Grand Prix rider <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/a-cool-breeze-a-fiery-freestyle-kohmann-and-dnee-shine-in-wellington" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kevin Kohmann</a>, when either of them is about to step into a competition arena.</p>
<p data-start="792" data-end="845">🎧 <em data-start="609" data-end="648">Listen to the full conversation below</em></p>
<p><iframe style="border: none;" title="Embed Player" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/37806175/height/192/theme/modern/size/large/thumbnail/yes/custom-color/1787d4/time-start/00:00:00/hide-playlist/yes/download/yes/font-color/ffffff" width="100%" height="192" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
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<h3 data-start="852" data-end="893">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 data-start="593" data-end="651">From Backyard Quarter Horses to Grand Prix Freestyle</h3>
<p data-start="652" data-end="1062">Kane grew up in South Texas, where horses were part of daily life but dressage was still a world away.</p>
<p data-start="652" data-end="1062">&ldquo;I grew up riding in a halter bareback in the field,&rdquo; she recalled. &ldquo;Then my best friend started doing hunter-jumpers, and I thought it was the coolest thing.&rdquo; A bad fall ended her jumping career early, but it led her to a dressage barn and to the discipline that fit her &ldquo;Type A&rdquo; personality perfectly.</p>
<p data-start="1064" data-end="1225">Her career has since taken her to the biggest stages in the sport, including representing the U.S. in Nations Cups. She calls it &ldquo;a privilege, not a pressure.&rdquo;</p>
<p data-start="594" data-end="869" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node="">&nbsp;</p>
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<h3 data-start="1586" data-end="1634">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 data-start="1482" data-end="1525">A Partnership on Horseback and Beyond</h3>
<p data-start="1526" data-end="1887">Competing at the top level can be isolating, but Kane has the rare experience of sharing the journey with her husband. Kohmann is not only her partner in life but often her first line of support at the barn.&nbsp;</p>
<p data-start="1526" data-end="1887"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/30827512-7613-49ff-90b4-feb4dd8d37dd.PNG?width=1080&amp;height=1080" alt="&ldquo;One of our rituals is that as Kevin&rsquo;s getting on, I give the horse a sugar, the horse gets a kiss, Kevin gets a kiss, then he gets on,&rdquo; she explained."></p>
<p data-start="1889" data-end="2289">When both ride on the same team, that support system shifts. &ldquo;It was different, because I had to get ready, he had to get ready, and we couldn&rsquo;t always watch each other. That was tough, but it was also really special to be doing it together.&rdquo; It is a glimpse into how their relationship balances professional pressure with personal connection, and how that bond strengthens both riders in the ring.</p>
<p data-start="2028" data-end="2184">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h3 data-start="2191" data-end="2232">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 data-start="1568" data-end="1608">Vamos: The Horse Who Almost Wasn&rsquo;t</h3>
<p data-start="2234" data-end="2405">When Kane bought Vamos, she knew he was talented but not yet ready for the top tier.</p>
<p data-start="2234" data-end="2405">&ldquo;He was skinny and angular, and even Kevin [Kohmann, her husband] told me, &lsquo;I don&rsquo;t know if he has what it takes.&rsquo;&rdquo;</p>
<p data-start="2234" data-end="2405">She refused to sell, trusting the process. That faith paid off with a 75% freestyle in Wellington that ended the debate.&nbsp;</p>
<p data-start="2234" data-end="2405"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/d81b58e1-3a22-4b91-992e-ef1a8987fe46.PNG?width=1080&amp;height=1080" alt="&ldquo;Kevin came out crying and said, &lsquo;You were right. I was wrong. The horse is not for sale.&rsquo;&rdquo;"></p>
<hr>
<h3 data-start="2738" data-end="2780">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 data-start="2740" data-end="2762">Under the Lights</h3>
<p data-start="2782" data-end="3076">Freestyles are Kane&rsquo;s favorite class, and Vamos thrives on them, especially at night.</p>
<p data-start="2782" data-end="3076">&ldquo;He hears the music and the horse just [exhales],&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;Those are his most relaxed tests."</p>
<p data-start="2782" data-end="3076"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/d998f54c-57f5-49ad-a35b-312b8d3ac6d1.PNG?width=1080&amp;height=1080" alt="&ldquo;Kevin came out crying and said, &lsquo;You were right. I was wrong. The horse is not for sale.&rsquo;&rdquo;"></p>
<p data-start="2782" data-end="3076">Their newest freestyle blends Enrique Iglesias and&nbsp;<em data-start="3027" data-end="3038">Despacito</em>, a nod to Kane&rsquo;s South Texas roots.</p>
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<h3 data-start="2782" data-end="3076">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 data-start="3083" data-end="3113">Lessons from a Near Miss</h3>
<p data-start="3114" data-end="3357">In Hagen this summer, their debut with the new freestyle looked like a win until Kane learned she had accidentally omitted a required element. &ldquo;Two zeros took me from winning to last place,&rdquo; she said.&nbsp;</p>
<p data-start="3114" data-end="3357">&ldquo;Lesson learned. It won&rsquo;t happen again.&rdquo;</p>
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<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr"><strong>Follow the US Equestrian Open of Dressage</strong></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal">Stay updated on news and standings for the US Equestrian Open Series on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>&nbsp;and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Instagram.</a>&nbsp;Use #USEquestrianOpen to join the conversation.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/22433326-f7d7-4286-930b-62c3a1ba80f2.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Show calendar for the 2025 US Equestrian Open of Dressage"></p>
<div class="MsoNormal" align="center">
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%"></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><em>For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.</em></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><em>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;</em></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><em>For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;</em></p>

New Podcast: Devon Kane on Freestyle Magic, Life on the Move, and Why Vamos Wasn’t for Sale After All

<p dir="ltr">The fans reading this article are already part of the fabric of the sport. You know the difference between passage and piaffe. You appreciate the harmony between rider and horse and the years of training distilled into a few minutes in the arena. But the Open isn&rsquo;t just for you&mdash;it's for everyone beyond the arena too.</p>
<h3 dir="ltr">Broadening the Circle</h3>
<p dir="ltr">The Open was designed not only to celebrate the sport we love, but to grow it. To offer a clear, exciting entry point for people who aren&rsquo;t already immersed in dressage&mdash;those who love horses but haven&rsquo;t yet followed the competitive circuit, or those with friends and family who do, and are looking for a way to understand and connect.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Dressage can be a complex world. &ldquo;Rhythm and relaxation&rdquo; might be fundamental, but they&rsquo;re not the easiest gateway for new viewers. A leaderboard, however, is. The concept of climbing the rankings or defending the top spot is universally understood. The Open takes something beautifully nuanced and packages it with structure and stakes&mdash;making it easier to access without diluting its depth.</p>
<h3 dir="ltr">Narrative First, Nuance Later</h3>
<p dir="ltr">We believe in starting with the narrative and growing into the nuance.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The intricacies of dressage&mdash;the half-halts, the straightness, the technical precision&mdash;are the sport&rsquo;s precious gems. But gems need to be discovered. What draws people in is the why. Why does this moment matter? What&rsquo;s at stake? Who&rsquo;s climbing the series leaderboard? Who&rsquo;s being chased? Who just made history?</p>
<p dir="ltr">If there's no broader story&mdash;no implication beyond a single win&mdash;it becomes harder to connect. But if we know that this win puts Marek back in the series lead, suddenly there&rsquo;s momentum. There&rsquo;s clarity. There&rsquo;s a hook.</p>
<h3 dir="ltr">Why Stories Matter</h3>
<p dir="ltr">We live in a world of finite attention. Every weekend, editors and producers make decisions about what stories get told and which athletes make headlines. &ldquo;Anna Marek wins today&rdquo; might not break through. But &ldquo;Marek&rsquo;s victory puts the US flag back on top of the leaderboard&rdquo; does.</p>
<p dir="ltr">That&rsquo;s what the US Equestrian Open brings: context, connection, and consequence. It gives our dressage athletes and their achievements a broader stage&mdash;one with emotional resonance and public relevance.</p>
<h3 dir="ltr">A Shared Vision</h3>
<p dir="ltr">USEF&rsquo;s mission is to bring the joy of horse sports to as many people as possible. The US Equestrian Open is a strategic initiative that serves this vision. It enhances the experience for our loyal fans&mdash;but more importantly, it opens the door to new ones. It gives sports editors a reason to feature our athletes. It gives casual viewers a reason to keep watching. And it gives all of us a shared story to tell.</p>
<p dir="ltr">As we prepare for the next leg in the Open series, let&rsquo;s not just look forward to who wins next. Let&rsquo;s remember why it matters that they do.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

Why the US Equestrian Open of Dressage Matters

<p>By nearly every metric, <strong>Anna Marek</strong> wins the inaugural $200,000 US Equestrian Open of Dressage Finals.&nbsp;</p>
<p>And fortunately for her, Marek has options when it comes to vying for the title. She&rsquo;s the only rider in the Series with two serious Finals horses. That gives her a rare question: <strong>Who should she bring?</strong></p>
<p>Scores and stats matter, sure, but this decision goes beyond math &mdash; live sport doesn&rsquo;t always respect the numbers (which is why we love it, right?).</p>
<p>So the question is:</p>
<p><strong>Which horse gives Marek the best shot at top prize?</strong></p>
<p><strong><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/6c6461f5-1739-4197-b8d6-5f1c41714991.png?width=1380&amp;height=688" alt="C Ox Sa Anna Marek S Options Fire Fly Vs Fayvel"></strong></p>
<h2><strong>Fayvel &ndash; A Premium Ride with Predictable Returns</strong></h2>
<p>If <strong>Fayvel </strong>were a vehicle, he&rsquo;d be a Lexus RX. Utterly dependable. Subtly sophisticated. Always smooth. Always simple to handle. The ride may not blow your hair back, but it&rsquo;ll get you there in comfort and style, every time.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Fayvel has a strong record both in the series and out. When he trots into the arena, you know what you&rsquo;re going to get: 75-77 percent, clean, technical execution, and a fighting shot at a podium. He&rsquo;s even logged international mileage with a World Cup Finals appearance in 2024. He is probably the safest choice &mdash; but not the most dangerous. When you stack up the numbers, his personal best trails Fire Fly&rsquo;s, but his career average edges him out.&nbsp;</p>
<h2><strong>Fire Fly &ndash; A Turbo Engine with Temperamental Timing</strong></h2>
<p>If Fayvel is Anna&rsquo;s reliable premium ride, then <strong>Fire Fly</strong> is her Maserati GranTurismo &mdash; built for power, stunning to watch, but demanding to handle. When he&rsquo;s dialed in, he&rsquo;ll blow past anything. But if you miss a gear, he&rsquo;ll stutter along at a pedestrian pace.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Fire Fly holds the highest personal best of the two &mdash; an 81.305% earned at the 2023 Pan American Games. He also leads Fayvel in Series average, but his lower career mark reflects a volatility that still shadows him.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/new-podcast-anna-marek-on-passion-patience-and-performance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">As Marek explained earlier this year</a>, he didn&rsquo;t arrive in her barn as a finished Grand Prix horse. Despite his immense talent, he faced mental roadblocks &mdash; particularly in the piaffe, which happens to be the one movement where Fayvel scores higher. So Marek has had to adapt, finding a communication style that works specifically for him. As a sensitive horse, the atmosphere of the Final could work against Anna.&nbsp;</p>
<p>He&rsquo;s not a sure bet, but he does have the best scoring power. When he&rsquo;s on, he flies. When he&rsquo;s off, he falters.</p>
<h2><strong>Either Way, It&rsquo;s No Done Deal</strong></h2>
<p>Stats don&rsquo;t always hold. Predictions fall apart. <em>Especially </em>in horse sports. Challenging Marek will be the likes of Kevin Kohmann and D&uuml;nensee. Marek has a winning record against D&uuml;nensee with both her horses. But Fayvel is the more consistent scorer and he holds the stronger freestyle head-to-head. If the Final turns into a reliability contest, Fayvel may be the one who carries her to a win.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The last time Fayvel and D&uuml;nensee shared a Finals stage &mdash; at the 2024 World Cup &mdash; Marek placed 8th, Kohmann 13th.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Still, the strategy under this scenario is not without risk. Fayvel might not lay down a convincingly field-topping score while, if Fire Fly stays on the rails, he could not only win, but win big. His scoring power and proven ability to deliver under pressure could give him the edge.&nbsp;<br><br><strong>So for Marek, it comes down to this: Reliability or flash. Which will it be?</strong></p>

Anna Marek riding the dark bay horse Fire Fly during a dressage competition.

Reliability or Flash: Which Will Marek Choose?

<p dir="ltr">That&rsquo;s the case with the top 10 Grand Prix Freestyle scores of the 2025 Equestrian Open season so far. Look closely, and a pattern emerges&mdash;one that goes beyond individual performances and starts to show us something bigger.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Adrienne Lyle</strong>, <strong>Anna Marek</strong>, and <strong>Kevin Kohmann</strong> have delivered 8 of the 10 best freestyle scores of the year. Even more striking? All 10 of the top scores by American riders belong to them. These aren&rsquo;t just one-off wins. They&rsquo;re a data-backed show of dominance and a window into why these riders are leading the conversation as the US Equestrian Open of Dressage barrels toward its Final.</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">The Message Behind the 'Top Ten' Metric</h2>
<p dir="ltr">In sports, a <em>stat </em>tells you what happened. A <em>metric </em>tells you what matters.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The top 10 scores are a stat. Alone, they don&rsquo;t guarantee anything. But when we zoom out&mdash;looking at the names, the consistency, the progression&mdash;they begin to function like a performance metric. And the message they&rsquo;re sending is clear: when it comes to the biggest moments under the brightest lights, Lyle, Marek, and Kohmann are delivering the highest-level performances we&rsquo;ve seen on U.S. soil this season.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Take Adrienne Lyle and Helix. They own the top two scores, both breaking the 80% barrier. Lyle is the only American to do so this season. Her 80.600% at AGDF 10 wasn&rsquo;t just a combination best; it was a statement that her Paris Olympic mount is just getting started.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Marek and Kohmann, meanwhile, have carved out their own stretch of real estate on the leaderboard. Between them, they hold another six of the ten best scores, ranging from Kohmann&rsquo;s 79.240% at the Palm Beach Derby to Marek&rsquo;s 77.755% with Fire Fly back in January. These rides reflect more than isolated talent. They're part of a multi-show arc building toward bigger goals: World Cups, the US Equestrian Open Finals, LA 2028.</p>
<p><iframe id="datawrapper-chart-HSoyu" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Top Tests: 2025 US Equestrian Open of Dressage" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/HSoyu/1/" height="707" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Table" data-external="1"></iframe></p>
<h2 dir="ltr">Holding the Top Spot on Home Turf</h2>
<p dir="ltr">All ten of the highest-scoring American freestyles this season also belong to Lyle, Marek, or Kohmann. It&rsquo;s easy to overlook how rare that is, especially at a venue like Wellington, where every weekend sees Olympians and international stars take the stage.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Germany&rsquo;s Felicitas Hendricks and Evelyn Eger have reminded American riders that even on home soil, nothing is guaranteed. In Wellington, where the home crowd and familiar footing should offer an edge, they&rsquo;ve shown up and won anyway. Ecuador&rsquo;s Julio Mendoza Loor remains a wildcard threat with the ability to shake up any podium.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr">But what Lyle, Marek, and Kohmann have done is deliver repeatedly in those same fields, under that same pressure, and still emerged with the season&rsquo;s top scores.</p>
<p dir="ltr">It&rsquo;s a sign that American dressage is entering a new chapter&mdash;one that&rsquo;s penned with competitive intent and inked with momentum. These performances don&rsquo;t close the gap with Europe just yet, but they&rsquo;re proof that the U.S. is building a future that could. The road to LA 2028 starts here.</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">What It All Means</h2>
<p dir="ltr">With only a few qualifiers left, the leaderboard is crowded and unstable. One big ride can still vault a rider into the Final. One no-show could knock someone out. Kohmann sits in a precarious 17th. Lyle looks safe enough in 14th, probably. Marek is comfortably booked on a first-class seat to the Final.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/4fd42b30-420d-4f94-b8c6-317e3ddd7b44.png?width=492&amp;height=327" alt="Current leaderboard bubble: Riders ranked 14&ndash;23. Top 18 qualify for the Final."><br><em>Current leaderboard bubble: Riders ranked 14&ndash;23. Top 18 qualify for the Final.</em></p>
<p dir="ltr">That&rsquo;s what makes this top 10 so telling. A blockbuster ride&mdash;or even a collection of them&mdash;doesn&rsquo;t guarantee a spot in the Final. Brilliance matters. Consistent brilliance matters more. But the only real ticket is a mix of timing, strategy, and follow-through. And by those metrics, only one rider has nailed the formula:</p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>Anna Marek.</em></p>
<p dir="ltr">She looks poised to earn the $12,500 bonus for the leaderboard&rsquo;s top point-earner, but once she arrives in Thermal, the leaderboard is irrelevant. The $200,000 prize is based on one ride, one score, one shot. All that consistency? It gets you to the arena. But it won&rsquo;t win you the check.</p>
<h3 dir="ltr">Want to Dig Deeper?</h3>
<p dir="ltr">Watch the top rides from these three on USEF Network. Follow their progress toward the Final at<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/"> usequestrianopen.org</a>. And keep an eye on the leaderboard because when one of these three steps into the arena, history tends to follow.</p>

dressage horse graphic with black and white background and in color horse trotting away from camera

The Trio at the Top: What the Top 10 Freestyles Say About This Season

<p dir="ltr">To make this list, strong averages alone weren&rsquo;t enough. We also factored in leaderboard standing, qualification status, and whether a rider is realistically expected to attend. That means a few impressive combinations didn&rsquo;t make the cut due to international residency or uncertain participation (see &ldquo;Who&rsquo;s Missing and Why?&rdquo; below). These five, though? They&rsquo;ve proven themselves, they&rsquo;re eligible, and they&rsquo;re on track to deliver in Thermal.</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">1. Adrienne Lyle &amp; Helix</h2>
<p dir="ltr">No surprise here&mdash;Adrienne Lyle and Helix are leading nearly every statistical category. They&rsquo;ve posted the two highest scores of the season and average nearly 80%. Even their &ldquo;off day&rdquo; at the World Cup Finals landed them a 71.255%. To put that number in perspective, 71 percent is higher than the average scores for four of the riders in the top 18, and it&rsquo;s higher than the averages of 34 riders who have competed in at least one Series qualifier.</p>
<p dir="ltr">That said, Helix is a sensitive type, and all of his standout tests came at Wellington. The Final will be held at Thermal, a venue he&rsquo;s never seen. It&rsquo;s a small question mark for an otherwise dominant pair.<br><br></p>
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><strong>Series Avg</strong>: 79.402% |<strong> Series PB</strong>: 80.600%<br><br></li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><strong>Why she&rsquo;s in</strong>: Tied for 14th with 57 points, already qualified. World Cup Finals and Paris Olympic partnership.</li>
</ul>
<p><iframe id="datawrapper-chart-2YSPE" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Adrienne &amp;amp; Helix's Career Freestyle Scores" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/2YSPE/1/" height="423" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Interactive line chart" data-external="1"></iframe></p>
<h2 dir="ltr">2. Kevin Kohmann &amp; D&uuml;enensee</h2>
<p dir="ltr">Kohmann and the 16-year-old D&uuml;enensee have been a model of consistency all season, often going head-to-head with Anna Marek. They peaked at the Palm Beach Derby, posting a career-best 79.240% under pressure to clinch the final World Cup Finals ticket, where they went on to become the highest-placed American pair.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Their freestyle is creative and technically ambitious, including unexpected choreography like piaffe pirouettes during the walk section. They&rsquo;ll test their international mettle again next week as part of Team USA at CHIO Aachen.<br><br></p>
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><strong>Series Avg</strong>: 77.917% |<strong> Series PB</strong>: 79.240%<br><br></li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><strong>Why they&rsquo;re in</strong>: World Cup Finals appearances, top scores, and a record of peaking at the right time.</li>
</ul>
<p><iframe id="datawrapper-chart-gFfFi" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Kevin Kohmann &amp;amp; Duenensee's Career Freestyle Scores" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/gFfFi/1/" height="423" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Interactive line chart" data-external="1"></iframe></p>
<h2 dir="ltr">3. Anna Marek &amp; Fire Fly / Fayvel</h2>
<p dir="ltr">Anna Marek leads the series, and she&rsquo;s done it with two different horses. Between Fire Fly and Fayvel, she&rsquo;s consistently posted top-five scores and podium finishes. Her average across both horses ranks just behind Lyle and Kohmann, and both are individually capable of winning the Final.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The only question left: which one will she bring to Thermal?<br><br></p>
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><strong>Series Avg</strong> (across both horses): 77.130%<br><br></li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><strong>Fire Fly Series PB</strong>: 77.755%</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><strong>Fayvel Series PB</strong>: 78.785%<br><br></li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><strong>Why she&rsquo;s in</strong>: Series leader, multiple wins, and qualified on two different mounts.</li>
</ul>
<p><iframe id="datawrapper-chart-IjXn7" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Anna Marek's 2025 Freestyle Scores" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/IjXn7/1/" height="430" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Interactive line chart" data-external="1"></iframe></p>
<h3 dir="ltr">4. Benjamin Ebeling &amp; Bellena</h3>
<p dir="ltr">A late arrival to the series, Benjamin Ebeling and Bellena made an instant impression with a win on debut and a new personal best just six weeks later when they beat Series leader Marek in a head-to-head competition.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr">Still young and trending upward, Ebeling will join Team USA at CHIO Aachen next week in his first major international appearance with Bellena. It&rsquo;ll be an important pressure test ahead of November&rsquo;s Final.<br><br></p>
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><strong>Series Avg</strong>: 75.305% | <strong>Series PB</strong>: 76.190%<br><br></li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><strong>Why he&rsquo;s in</strong>: Three scores above 75%, rapid rise into contention, and confirmed qualification.</li>
</ul>
<p><iframe id="datawrapper-chart-MYm9P" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Benjamin Ebeling's Freestyle Scores" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/MYm9P/2/" height="423" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Interactive line chart" data-external="1"></iframe></p>
<h2 dir="ltr">5. Genay Vaughn &amp; Gino</h2>
<p dir="ltr">No rider has been more dominant on the West Coast than Genay Vaughn. With four wins in four outings, she&rsquo;s the only undefeated rider in the Series. Her lowest score? 73.765% earned at the World Cup Finals in Basel, where she made her debut on the international stage.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Gino, a 14-year-old KWPN gelding, has been with Vaughn since he was six. Their long partnership shows in their polish and trust. And with the Final taking place in their home state, this pair has both the record and the venue advantage.<br><br></p>
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><strong>Series Avg</strong>: 74.859% | <strong>Series PB</strong>: 75.875%<br><br></li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><strong>Why she&rsquo;s in</strong>: Four-time qualifier winner, confirmed for the Final, and has a homefield advantage.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<p><iframe id="datawrapper-chart-6sQB2" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Ge&ntilde;ay &amp;amp; Gino's Career Freestyle Scores" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/6sQB2/2/" height="424" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Interactive line chart" data-external="1"></iframe></p>
<h3 dir="ltr">Who&rsquo;s Missing and Why?</h3>
<p dir="ltr">Four series riders have higher averages than some on this list, but they&rsquo;ve been excluded due to to qualification or likelihood of attendance:<br><br></p>
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><strong>Julio Mendoza Loor &amp; Jewel&rsquo;s Goldstrike</strong> &ndash; Third by average (77.190%) but ranked just 25th on the leaderboard. Not currently qualified.<br><br></li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><strong>Felicitas Hendricks &amp; Drombusch OLD</strong> &ndash; 11th overall with a 76.533% average, but no confirmation that she&rsquo;ll return from Germany for the Final.<br><br></li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><strong>Kasey Perry-Glass &amp; Heartbeat W.P. </strong>&ndash; A brilliant pair with a strong PB, but sitting 27th in the standings. She&rsquo;d need two more appearances to break into the top 18 which is unlikely at this stage. They will, however, represent the US in Aachen next week.<br><br></li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><strong>Evelyn Eger &amp; Tabledance 3</strong> &ndash; 4th on the leaderboard and sixth by average, but like Hendricks, her status for the Final is unclear.</li>
</ul>
<h2 dir="ltr">Next Up: CHIO Aachen</h2>
<p dir="ltr">Next week, we&rsquo;ll preview CHIO Aachen. Although the competition won&rsquo;t affect the Series standings, all four of the American team members&mdash;Kevin Kohmann, Benjamin Ebeling, Kasey Perry-Glass, and Jennifer Williams&mdash;have made an impact on the US Equestrian Open. Their results next week may just predict how they&rsquo;re likely to perform on a Final&rsquo;s stage.</p>

The Fab Five: Who’s Realistically Headed to the US Equestrian Open of Dressage Final?

<p dir="ltr">The five highest-scoring tests of the US Equestrian Open of Dressage season all took place under the lights in Wellington, Florida, with top marks earned by Adrienne Lyle, Kevin Kohmann, Anna Marek and Julio Mendoza Loor. But with Mendoza Loor currently sitting 25th on the leaderboard and not yet qualified for the Final, this list focuses on the top-scoring American combinations we know are heading to Thermal. These freestyles showcased depth, difficulty, and the kind of creative ambition that has defined this year&rsquo;s Series. If this is what spring looked like, what might we see in November?</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">1. Adrienne Lyle &amp; Helix &ndash; 80.600%</h2>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Event</strong>: Adequan Global Dressage Festival 10<br><strong>Degree of Difficulty Average</strong>: 9.26</p>
<p dir="ltr">Adrienne Lyle&rsquo;s 80.600% at the only CDI5* on the US Equestrian Open calendar made history. It was the highest score of the season, <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/lyle-helix-soar-to-five-star-victory">her personal best with Helix</a>, and the first time since 2021 that an American topped the podium at the AGDF 5*.</p>
<p dir="ltr">From the opening halt, the freestyle rode with ease and fluidity. Helix&mdash;a chestnut gelding by Apache&mdash;moved through the test with such grace that judge William Warren praised the effortlessness of their performance. High-difficulty transitions&mdash;like piaffe to extended trot and canter pirouette to extended canter&mdash;helped deliver an average difficulty mark of 9.26.</p>
<p dir="ltr">&ldquo;It felt easy, which is exactly what I was hoping for,&rdquo; Lyle said after the test.&nbsp;</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">2. Adrienne Lyle &amp; Helix &ndash; 80.325%</h2>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Event</strong>: Global Dressage Festival 5<br><strong>Degree of Difficulty Average</strong>: 9.18</p>
<p dir="ltr">A month earlier, the same duo put the Series on notice with <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/lyle-marek-and-rizvi-deliver-a-thrilling-night-of-freestyle-dressage">their first 80% of the season</a>. Set to a nostalgic mix of <em>Stand By Me</em>, <em>Sweet Child O&rsquo; Mine</em>, and <em>The Way You Move</em>, the freestyle was polished, powerful, and technically demanding.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Their average difficulty score of 9.18 reflected that ambition, and one judge gave a rare perfect 10 for musical interpretation. Even more impressive? Coming off a January score of 77.280%, this three-point leap showed just how much potential is hovering just below the surface.&nbsp;</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">3. Kevin Kohmann &amp; D&uuml;nensee &ndash; 79.240%</h2>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Event</strong>: Palm Beach Dressage Derby<br><strong>Degree of Difficulty Average</strong>: 9.2</p>
<p dir="ltr">With the final World Cup ticket on the line, Kevin Kohmann and D&uuml;nensee delivered a career-best freestyle when it mattered most. Riding to Kygo&rsquo;s <em>Stole the Show</em> and Avicii&rsquo;s <em>Wake Me Up</em>, Kohmann opened with canter pirouettes directly from the halt and dropped a piaffe pirouette into the walk tour.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr">It was a freestyle that blended risk with rhythm, earning an 80% from the judge at B and an overall average difficulty of 9.2. <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/a-cool-breeze-a-fiery-freestyle-kohmann-and-dnee-shine-in-wellington">Under the lights</a>, it felt more like a quiet schooling session than a pressure ride. D&uuml;nensee looked relaxed, Kohmann composed. If they can stay above the cutoff line this fall, this pair will arrive in Thermal as both a crowd favorite and a serious threat.&nbsp;</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">4. Anna Marek &amp; Fayvel &ndash; 78.785%</h2>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Event</strong>: Global Dressage Festival 5<br><strong>Degree of Difficulty Average</strong>: 9.56</p>
<p dir="ltr">With an average difficulty score of 9.56, Anna Marek and Fayvel delivered one of the most <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/lyle-marek-and-rizvi-deliver-a-thrilling-night-of-freestyle-dressage">ambitious freestyles of the year</a>. It was bold, technical, and downright fun.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr">Choreographed to <em>BOOM</em> by X Ambassadors and <em>Coincidance</em> by Handsome Driver, the test featured technical risks: a half-circle of two-tempis straight into ones, followed by pirouettes into extended trot. A small mistake in their final extension likely kept them just shy of the 80% mark.</p>
<p dir="ltr">&ldquo;He&rsquo;s so easy to ride,&rdquo; Marek said after the test. &ldquo;I have to ride the brake a little bit and say, &lsquo;Not so much, buddy!&rsquo;&rdquo;</p>
<p dir="ltr">If Marek decides to bring Fayvel to Thermal, she may want to ease off that brake and let the gelding&rsquo;s explosive power shine through.&nbsp;</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">5. Anna Marek &amp; Fire Fly &ndash; 77.755%</h2>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Event</strong>: Global Dressage Festival 3<br><strong>Degree of Difficulty Average</strong>: 9.0</p>
<p dir="ltr">Rounding out the top five is a <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/us-riders-marek-and-kohmann-dominate-a-chilly-night-in-wellington">theatrical crowd favorite</a>. This Stranger Things-themed freestyle turned heads early in the season, and earned Marek her first Series win. Fire Fly&rsquo;s expressive gaits paired perfectly with a cinematic rendition of <em>Running Up That Hill</em>, and the routine scored as high as 80.075% from one judge.</p>
<p dir="ltr">&ldquo;This is my favorite freestyle venue,&rdquo; Marek said after the test. &ldquo;You can feel the atmosphere, and the horses get excited in a really good way.&rdquo;</p>
<p dir="ltr">The choreography walked the line between dramatic and disciplined, and for a horse that once struggled under pressure, this ride showed that Marek can now tap into his brilliance without the worry of him boiling over.</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">Looking Ahead</h2>
<p dir="ltr">These five rides were early markers of what the US Equestrian Open of Dressage is capable of delivering: high-level execution, creative risk, and scores that push into the 80s. They set the standard for the kind of riding it will take to win in Thermal.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Next week, we shift the spotlight from freestyles to the athletes themselves. Who&rsquo;s building the strongest case for the Series title? Who&rsquo;s averaging the highest scoring rides?&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr">Spoiler alert: every rider on this list will be there.</p>

Composite image of Anna Marek, Adrienne Lyle, and Kevin Kohmann

The Top Five Tests of the US Equestrian Open of Dressage (So Far) 

<p><em><strong>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s his world&mdash;I&rsquo;m just living in it.&rdquo;</strong></em></p>
<p>That&rsquo;s how <strong>Ge&ntilde;ay Vaughn </strong>describes her 14-year-old partner, <strong>Gino</strong>, a Dutch Warmblood gelding. While many top horses have separate grooms, riders, and managers, Gino has Ge&ntilde;ay. She&rsquo;s his groom, his chef, his travel companion, and his rider.</p>
<p>&ldquo;My world revolves around him,&rdquo; she says. And judging by the way he&rsquo;s danced through the 2025 US Equestrian Open of Dressage season, he&rsquo;s more than earned it. The undisputed powerhouse of the West Coast, Vaughn has four wins to her name and is the only rider in the series to remain <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/four-for-four-vaughns-streak-continues-at-devonwood" target="_blank" rel="noopener">undefeated</a>.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Prince of the Paddock&nbsp;</h2>
<p>Gino&rsquo;s personality shines from performance to paddock.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>&ldquo;He knows he&rsquo;s the man,&rdquo; Ge&ntilde;ay shared. &ldquo;He has such a unique personality.&rdquo;</p>
</blockquote>
<p><a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/new-podcast-genay-vaughn-lives-in-ginos-world" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Their partnership</a> began when he was only six years old. Ge&ntilde;ay&rsquo;s mom, Michele Vaughn, spotted Gino during a horse-shopping trip in Europe. With his striking dark bay coat and three white socks, she knew right away that he could be something special. Michele originally bought the horse for herself, but once her daughter got in the saddle, it was clear who he really belonged to.</p>
<p>The connection was instant. Before long, it was obvious that Gino might very well be the horse to carry Ge&ntilde;ay all the way.</p>
<p>Eight years later, he&rsquo;s well on his way. This spring, Ge&ntilde;ay qualified for her first World Cup Finals, finishing 14th overall with a score of 73.765%&mdash;a strong debut on a major international stage. With the 2028 LA Olympics just a few years away, the California-based pair are using the US Equestrian Open Series to fine-tune their partnership and push their freestyle even further.</p>
<p><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/2caeac96-4981-4b68-be6f-7bab8e48c3bb.jpeg?width=2048&amp;height=1365" alt="Ginny and Gino at the World Cup Finals trot up"></p>
<h2>A Soundtrack That Feels Like Home</h2>
<p>Ge&ntilde;ay and Gino&rsquo;s freestyle is set to a blend of Barry White, Luther Vandross, and Earth, Wind &amp; Fire. Their personalities shine through every transition and music cue, which makes sense since the soundtrack is a direct homage to Ge&ntilde;ay&rsquo;s identity.</p>
<p>&ldquo;I tried to stay true to who I am,&rdquo; she said.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>&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;</p>
</blockquote>
<p>That soundtrack has helped power a season of personal bests, beginning with a 75.150% at the inaugural US Equestrian Open Qualifier and building to a 75.875% at the Ginny Rattner Memorial Dressage Show just three weeks ago. Every time Gino steps into the arena, he hits or exceeds his average score. That consistency is why they&rsquo;re fifth on the overall series leaderboard, and why they&rsquo;re such a threat in Finals this November.</p>
<p><iframe id="datawrapper-chart-6sQB2" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Ge&ntilde;ay &amp;amp; Gino's Career Freestyle Scores" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/6sQB2/1/" height="422" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Interactive line chart" data-external="1"></iframe></p>
<p>Currently, the pair averages an 8.0 in Degree of Difficulty, but Ge&ntilde;ay plans to use the summer to make adjustments to the floor plan. The original freestyle was designed to be safe and confidence-building for both horse and rider. Now, with a more seasoned partnership, she&rsquo;s ready to showcase Gino&rsquo;s flashier talents. Small tweaks that push their difficulty score closer to 9.0 could significantly boost their overall marks especially since Degree of Difficulty carries a x4 multiplier as part of the artistic marks. Every tenth of a point matters in a Finals field that includes the likes of <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/after-the-drought-how-the-americans-took-back-the-leaderboard" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Anna Marek</a>, who regularly posts 9s on difficulty no matter which horse she&rsquo;s aboard.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<h2>A Family Affair</h2>
<p>Ge&ntilde;ay&rsquo;s family is her team. While many riders rely on broader support teams, Ge&ntilde;ay turns to the people who&rsquo;ve been in her corner since the beginning. Her mom is her trainer, and her dad, a former Major League Baseball player, brings the high-performance mindset.&nbsp;</p>
<blockquote>
<p>&ldquo;If you want to be above average, then you can't just do the average things,&rdquo; she said, quoting her dad. &ldquo;You&rsquo;ve got to put in more work than everybody else.&rdquo;</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Ge&ntilde;ay&rsquo;s love of horses arrived in the form of a tiny, muddy pony with a big personality. Flooding ravaged Northern California in the 90s, displacing people, pets, and horses. With a trailer in tow, Ge&ntilde;ay&rsquo;s mother drove around the community evacuating horses to safety. On one of these trips, she found a pony in a backyard garden shed and rescued him from the flooding. When the community was back on their feet, she tried to return him to his owners, but instead, they asked if she&rsquo;d like to keep him.</p>
<p>&ldquo;I was four, and I named him Rescue,&rdquo; Ge&ntilde;ay laughed.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Ge&ntilde;ay joined Pony Club as her passion deepened and she began to imagine a career that followed in her mother&rsquo;s footsteps. One of the pivotal horses in her development was the stallion Donnerweiss, with whom she was selected for the U25 European Tour. Competing at elite venues overseas, surrounded by the best young riders in the sport, opened her eyes to the scale of international dressage and lit a fire that&rsquo;s fueled her ever since.</p>
<p><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/b4763c29-5703-4e40-bce8-eae9106be94f.jpeg?width=5712&amp;height=4284" alt="Img 0813"></p>
<h2>A West Coast Climb</h2>
<p>Today, Ge&ntilde;ay has won five of her last six freestyle appearances with Gino, and she&rsquo;s done it outside of the Wellington &ldquo;machine.&rdquo; She sits fifth place on the leaderboard with 80 points and has the summer to perfect her freestyle before making the trip to Thermal this fall where the West Coast community will no doubt be watching and cheering her on.&nbsp;</p>
<p>&ldquo;Whenever we have a show in between the qualifiers, I have so many people coming up to me like, &lsquo;We&rsquo;ve watched your freestyle! We love it. We&rsquo;re rooting for you,&rdquo; Ge&ntilde;ay said. &ldquo;Everyone&rsquo;s so excited about the final, and what a great opportunity and a great thing for the sport of dressage honestly.&rdquo;</p>
<p>With the final qualifiers shifting entirely to the East Coast, Ge&ntilde;ay has completed her qualifying run. She now has five months to refine her freestyle, raise her degree of difficulty, and chase every tenth of a percentage point that could give her an edge in the Finals.</p>
<p>With a standout season behind her and the Finals on the horizon, Ge&ntilde;ay has proven she&rsquo;s a serious contender. Add in the long shadow of LA 2028, and one thing is clear: it&rsquo;s no longer just Ge&ntilde;ay living in Gino&rsquo;s world. The rest of us are, too.</p>

Gino’s World

<p data-start="348" data-end="790">As the US Equestrian Open of Dressage breaks ahead of its final stretch, one of the season&rsquo;s most captivating partnerships sits in the top five: Genay Vaughn and her partner, Gino. With four wins from four starts, a freestyle rooted in the music of her childhood, and a leaderboard surge that has her closing in on the top, Vaughn's season so far has blended personal expression with elite performance.</p>
<p data-start="792" data-end="845"><em data-start="488" data-end="559" data-is-last-node="">Tune in to hear Genay in her own words or catch the highlights below.</em><br><br></p>
<p><iframe style="border: none;" title="Embed Player" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/36950420/height/192/theme/modern/size/large/thumbnail/yes/custom-color/000a80/time-start/00:00:00/hide-playlist/yes/download/yes/font-color/ffffff" width="100%" height="192" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p data-start="792" data-end="845">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h3 data-start="852" data-end="893">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 data-start="852" data-end="893"><strong data-start="859" data-end="893">Gino: The Star of His Own Show</strong></h3>
<p data-start="112" data-end="377">The bond between Genay and Gino isn&rsquo;t just strong, it&rsquo;s the foundation of everything. Their connection goes far beyond training sessions or test scores. It&rsquo;s the rhythm of their everyday life that builds the deep understanding you see every time they enter the ring.</p>
<p data-start="112" data-end="377"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/9e942aaf-0d5c-4393-9208-ec328865b8bb.png?width=1080&amp;height=875" alt="Us Blog Quote Graphics"></p>
<p data-start="594" data-end="869" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node="">Since bringing Gino home as a six-year-old, Genay has built their partnership with patience and care. Their original freestyle was designed to keep things comfortable, but with Gino now stronger and more confident, they&rsquo;re ready to push the boundaries heading into the final.</p>
<p data-start="594" data-end="869" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node="">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h3 data-start="1586" data-end="1634">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 data-start="1586" data-end="1634"><strong data-start="1599" data-end="1634">High Performance Starts at Home</strong></h3>
<p data-start="1636" data-end="1852">Genay&rsquo;s team isn&rsquo;t made up of the usual coaches and grooms - it is her family. Her mom is her trainer, which although it is intense to train, work, and live together, Genay says she wouldn't want it any other way. Her dad, a former Major League Baseball player, brings the high-performance mindset and support to the table. The entire family farm is built on a shared ambition and a relentless drive for success.</p>
<p data-start="1636" data-end="1852"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/0f01eb7c-01dc-4ef8-80ed-7ff94978dc3f.png?width=1080&amp;height=870" alt="Us Blog Quote Graphics (4)"></p>
<p data-start="2028" data-end="2184">It&rsquo;s a rare dynamic: personal trust mixed with professional expectation. There&rsquo;s no hiding in a family of competitors and no shortage of motivation, either.</p>
<p data-start="2028" data-end="2184">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h3 data-start="2191" data-end="2232">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 data-start="2191" data-end="2232"><strong data-start="2198" data-end="2232">Freestyle with a Personal Beat</strong></h3>
<p data-start="2234" data-end="2405">One of the most talked-about freestyles on the circuit this season? Genay and Gino&rsquo;s. Freestyle dressage is all about self-expression, and Genay has mastered that art. Their freestyle music feels as bold and distinctive as the rider herself. The scores speak for themselves - it&rsquo;s clearly striking a chord with both judges and fans alike.</p>
<p data-start="2234" data-end="2405"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/42164377-dc19-43f0-abb0-6cfc9406bee3.png?width=1080&amp;height=864" alt="Us Blog Quote Graphics (3)"></p>
<p data-start="2607" data-end="2731">&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h3 data-start="2738" data-end="2780">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 data-start="2738" data-end="2780"><strong data-start="2745" data-end="2780">The Leaderboard</strong></h3>
<p data-start="2782" data-end="3076">With <strong data-start="2787" data-end="2800">80 points</strong>, Genay Vaughn currently sits in <strong data-start="2833" data-end="2846">5th place</strong> on the US Equestrian Open leaderboard, just behind Evelyn Eger and tied contenders in second. Anna Marek leads with 105 points, but it isn&rsquo;t over yet. If Genay continues her form, the Desert Final could see major movement.</p>
<p data-start="2782" data-end="3076">&nbsp;</p>
<p data-start="2782" data-end="3076"><a href="https://equestrian-hub-usef.pages.dev/us-equestrian-open" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/0b2ea0c7-e18b-4f83-a7c1-dc7cbd2f442f.png?width=733&amp;height=1032" alt="Screenshot 2025 06 11 123623"></a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h3 data-start="2782" data-end="3076">&nbsp;</h3>
<h3 data-start="2782" data-end="3076"><strong data-start="3423" data-end="3464">Want to hear from the leader herself?</strong></h3>
<p>Check out our podcast with Anna Marek on passion, patience and performance.</p>
<p><iframe style="border: none;" title="Embed Player" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/35371080/height/192/theme/modern/size/large/thumbnail/yes/custom-color/002580/time-start/00:00:00/hide-playlist/yes/download/yes/font-color/ffffff" width="100%" height="192" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><br><br></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr>
<h2 dir="ltr">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 dir="ltr"><strong>Follow the US Equestrian Open of Dressage</strong></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal">Stay updated on news and standings for the US Equestrian Open Series on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>&nbsp;and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Instagram.</a>&nbsp;Use #USEquestrianOpen to join the conversation.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/22433326-f7d7-4286-930b-62c3a1ba80f2.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Show calendar for the 2025 US Equestrian Open of Dressage"></p>
<div class="MsoNormal" align="center">
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%"></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><em>For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.</em></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><em>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;</em></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><em>For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;</em></p>

Dressage