Analyzing Cross-Country Clear Rates at US Equestrian Open Venues
As the US Equestrian Open grows into one of the most exciting fixtures on the eventing calendar, cross-country performance remains at the heart of its appeal. Clear rates offer valuable insights into the challenges posed by each venue, helping to highlight trends and performance dynamics across the competition.
This analysis compares data from two perspectives: the 2024 data for venues selected for the 2025 US Equestrian Open and their performance over the past 10 years, including the length of time these venues have been part of the 4*-S calendars. The results reveal fascinating details about these premier locations.
Overall cross-country clear rates at CCI4*-S: How do the venues compare?
- US Open Venues (2024): 69%
- All US Venues (2024): 68%
- US Open Venues (Last 10 Years): 71%
- All US Venues (Last 10 Years): 70%
- All Venues Worldwide (Last 10 Years): 69%
Globally, at the CCI4*-S level over the last 10 years, the cross-country clear rate is 69%, meaning just shy of 7 in every 10 horses jump clear in this phase. This is exactly on par with how cross-country played out in the US Equestrian Open venues in 2024 and aligns closely with the 70% clear rate for all US venues over the past decade. These figures highlight that the US is in step with global trends at this level of competition.
So where does cross-country hold the most influence in the US Open?
The table below highlights cross-country clear rates at 4*-S competitions for the 2024 US Open venues.
Stable View (62%) and Tryon (56%) were the most notable influential cross-country courses of the US Equestrian Open in 2024, especially given the higher number of starters at each of those events.
Tryon was a stiff cross-country test of time too. Only two horses came home with single-figure time faults, Will Coleman and Off The Record (8.4) and Dan Kreitl and Carmango (9.6), the eventual first and second place finishers. We’ll do a deep dive into the toughest time-tests soon, but it highlights a day when brilliant cross-country horses truly relished the challenge.
Carolina (88%) stands out as the venue whose cross-country course had the least influence last season.
As a new addition to the calendar, and with a smaller number of starters, Aspen Farm (50%) is the one to watch in 2025 to see how the competition evolves, and how the clear rate might play out. The US Equestrian Open heads to Aspen Farm 12-15 June; one not to miss!
Last 10 Years: Trends Across All US Open Venues
The extended 10 year data set reveals a broader picture of performance across the US Open venues over the past decade at the CCI4*-S level.
Rather than rely on just a snapshot of data from one event in one year, we’ve looked back at the US Equestrian Open venues running at the CCI4*-S level over the last 10 years to see how they shaped up.
Bouckaert Farm and Stable View (both 70%) are the two most in line with the global average and have two of the strongest data sets to analyze given the number of horses to have run their since they started running at this level.
Rebecca Farm (61%) emerges as one to watch for the 2025 US Equestrian Open, as it historically poses a greater challenge in the cross-country phase.
Twin Rivers (79%), Tryon (78%), Carolina (75%) and TerraNova (74%) are the venues that have offered up higher than average clear rates in the cross-country phase over the past 10 years.
Final Thoughts
The 2024 US Equestrian Open venues offer a balanced mix of opportunity and challenge, and this reflects careful curation of locations that highlight the best of American eventing. As the competition grows, these trends will serve as a benchmark for understanding the dynamics of cross-country performance at the highest level.
Stay tuned as we dive deeper into venue-specific trends over the coming months, including the toughest time tests across the US Equestrian Open venues!
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