The Top 10 US Scores From 2024 and What It Means For the U.S. Equestrian Open

The US Equestrian Open of Eventing is three events in. Once we get to Bouckaert in March, we begin a run of six events over a two month period. The series is in its opening season and at the heart of the project is helping fans find and follow the superstars of the sport. As an early guide, we took a look back at some of the stand-out scores from CCI4*-S (every qualifier is at this level) and CCI4*-L (the final at Morven is a long format). 

Top of the list was that score from Liz Halliday at Carolina with Miks Master C. Liz was injured in a fall later in the season and her recovery continues. No doubt we will see some of her stars on show over the course of the series. 

Lilet 3 to shine for Tamie?

Mai Baum, ridden by Tamie Smith, returns to competition on home soil. They've historically started strong, with a 23.0 dressage score last year and a 22.2 the year before, often securing victories. Notably, Mai Baum retired as the highest-rated U.S. event horse since 2010, being the only one to surpass the 800 mark.

If Mai Baum competes at the CCI4*-S level, they're likely to earn points. Otherwise, Tamie will focus on Lilet 3, who won the CCI3*-L at the same venue in late October.

Dancing with Diabolo 

In our simulation of the U.S. Equestrian Open based on the previous season, Will Coleman emerged as the clear winner. With a string of horses including Off The Record, Chin Tonic, and Diabolo, he dominated the CCI4S level in the first half of last year. In April, Diabolo and Coleman clinched first place at the Cosequin Lexington CCI4-S in Kentucky, finishing on their dressage score of 29.9. This achievement marked them as only the second pair in the event's history to finish on their dressage score.

Looking ahead to 2025, we anticipate Diabolo's continued success, with promising prospects like Box Como and Fahrenheit Addict also in the mix.

The Next Olympic Champion?

In early 2024, a titanic battle unfolded between Liz Halliday with Miks Master C and Caroline Pamukcu with HSH Blake. Blake had previously beaten Miks and won the Pan-Ams in late 2023. They met again at the Carolina CCI4*-S in March, where Miks Master C emerged victorious, finishing on their dressage score of 22.5. They faced off once more in Kentucky, where Blake delivered a standout performance—fast, controlled, and visually impressive—which arguably secured their spot for Paris.

However, Paris didn't go as planned for Blake due to an unfortunate error as the U.S. Pathfinder. Subsequently, Liz Halliday was also present at Paris, but with Cooley Nutcracker. We remain huge fans of HSH Blake at EquiRatings, and if ratings are anything to go by, we expect to see them as contenders again in LA.

Commando 3 to star

The Kentucky CCI4*-S class was full of stories. Will Coleman and Boyd Martin shared the first four places, with Diabolo winning—but not from the front. Three seconds cross-country (1.2 time penalties) cost Commando 3 and Boyd the win, despite a better dressage score (28.9). They are now well-established at the upper levels of the sport and made a CCI5* debut at Maryland in October.

Commando 3 starts strong (always in the twenties in their last six internationals), has an almost perfect cross-country record, and has had only one rail in their last eight internationals. Commando 3 is poised to be a star in 2025.

Cute Girl Performing Well in Europe

Cute Girl (Hallie Coon) arrived in the US with a big reputation, having won the Seven-Year-Old World Championship at Le Lion d'Angers in 2021 with Australian rider Kevin McNab. They had two significant CCI4*-S wins in the Netherlands in 2024 at Oudkarspel and Kronenberg before a podium finish at Boekelo. That Boekelo score is the only one in the list achieved by a US rider in Europe. Time will tell if we see her at the Open but a contender at Morven for the final if she goes.

Mama’s Magic Way Making a Play

Will Faudree's Tryon performance with Mama's Magic Way at the end of the year was huge and another one of only three in the list achieved in the long format. One of their best-ever dressage tests, fast, and they kept the rails up. It was a brilliant finish to the season and it is enough to put them on all of our radars again for the Open Championship. 

Looking Ahead

The U.S. Equestrian Open series runs at CCI4*-S level until the final—a $200k prize pot at Morven in October. We are three events in and look forward to following some of the superstars—and watching new ones emerge. We will get going again in March at Bouckaert.

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Don’t miss a moment of the action as the U.S. Equestrian Open unfolds across its 2024-2025 season. We will follow these riders and horses between now and when we get going again in March.

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For media inquiries: Contact Carly Weilminster at cweilminster@usef.org
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The journey to the final at Morven Park CCI4*-L in October 2025 is just beginning—be sure to follow along as the series continues to deliver high-stakes excitement and unforgettable moments!