Qualifier 5 Preview: A Wide Open Field as Favorites Drop Out
With Marek Retired and Stevenson Eliminated, Qualifier 5 Is A Wide Open Field
The U.S. Open of Dressage has taken some unexpected turns this season, but Qualifier 5 may be the biggest shake-up yet. With Anna Marek retiring and Caroline Stevenson eliminated, two of the strongest contenders never made it past the Grand Prix qualifier. That leaves the Freestyle wide open—but two riders, Denielle Gallagher (CAN) and Nora Batchelder (USA), stand out as potentially the ones to watch.
Missing the Freestyle is a blow for Anna Marek who won last weekend at the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival on her Olympic shortlist mount, Fire Fly. She was due to ride the 14-year-old KWPN gelding Fayvel and was expected to make it back-to-back qualifier wins and return the US flag back on top of the leaderboard for the first time since Week 1. The main challenger, we expected was going to be Caroline Stevenson, a USDF Bronze, Silver, and Gold Medalist, riding Dee Clair—one of Marek’s former rides. An unfortunate elimination in the Grand Prix qualifier means others will get the opportunity to step into the limelight.
Two Top Contenders, But No Clear Favorite
Denielle Gallagher, riding 13-year-old gelding Come Back De Massa, brings the strongest credentials. She holds the highest personal best in the field (73.750%) and a solid average (70.377%). She also won today’s Grand Prix qualifier with a 65.739%, showing consistency at this venue.
Nora Batchelder enters the ring on Nova, a 10-year-old Oldenburg mare, with the highest freestyle average (71.775%)—but with a catch. That one Grand Prix Freestyle score is also their only one. Batchelder’s personal best (73.360%) came on another horse, FARO SQF, making her a bit of a wildcard in the field.
The Other Two Contenders Aren’t Far Behind
Eline Eckroth (Daphne) has a PB of 73.275% and an average of 70.246%, putting her right alongside Denielle in potential. However, her Grand Prix qualifier score this weekend (63.522%) was the lowest in the field.
Anna Merritt (Fox Creek’s Censational) has the lowest freestyle average (68.377%) but outscored Eline in the Grand Prix qualifier (64.087%).
With less than three and a half percentage points separating the competitors, the race for victory is anyone’s to claim.
Don't Miss the Action
Qualifier 5 takes place Saturday, 6 p.m. Eastern in the Indoor Arena at the World Equestrian Center. WEC, the largest equestrian complex in the US, was named one of TIME’s 2024 World’s Greatest Places, making it a fitting stage for the next chapter of this series.
With the top two riders bringing very different strengths—Denielle’s experience vs. Nora’s high-scoring potential—and the field separated by just a few points, the competition is wide open. Whoever delivers their best ride when it counts will take home the win.
The only things we can be sure of is that there will be first time Open winner and that Felicitas Hendricks will remain the series leader for another week.
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