Week Four Brings Potential Shake-Up to the U.S. Equestrian Open Leaderboard

The Adequan® Global Dressage Festival is back this week, bringing familiar faces like Felicitas Hendricks and Tinne Vilhelmson Silfvén to the arena. For the first time in the series, we’re seeing repeat competitors, meaning the leaderboard could shift significantly as riders battle to move ahead in the standings. 

Global is bound to deliver excitement no matter how you slice it, but the real intrigue centers on who will lead the U.S. Open of Dressage after Friday night. A clear frontrunner could emerge, or we could see a four-way tie at the top of the leaderboard. With an undefeated freestyle competitor in Hendricks, a seven-time Olympian in Vilhelmson Silfvén, and two formidable Americans in Anna Marek and Kevin Kohmann, the stage is set for an unforgettable competition.

The Contenders

Felicitas Hendricks & Drombusch OLD

Undefeated in freestyle at Wellington, Florida’s Felicitas Hendricks leads the field with an impressive average score of 77.60% and a personal best of 79.11%. Known for her high degree of difficulty and consistent technical execution, Hendricks has proven to be a clear favorite. Another win this weekend would further solidify her as the one to beat.

Anna Marek & Fire Fly

Anna Marek and her Dutch Warmblood gelding, Fire Fly, have demonstrated remarkable growth, averaging 75.11% with a high score of 78.31%. The pair’s partnership helped the U.S. earn Pan American team gold. Marek, shortlisted for the Paris Olympics, could keep the U.S. Open leaderboard wide open by forcing a tie with a victory on Friday night.

Kevin Kohmann & Dünensee

Kevin Kohmann has steadily climbed the ranks with his Hanoverian gelding, Dünensee. The pair averages 74.65% in the freestyle, with a career-best score of 77.72% earned during their first freestyle victory in 2023 at the World Equestrian Center. Kohmann’s adaptability and Dünensee’s continued development make them strong contenders for a podium finish—and possibly a spot at the top of the leaderboard with a win.

Tinne Vilhelmson Silfvén & Devanto

The seven-time Olympian from Sweden brings a wealth of experience to the competition with her 16-year-old Holsteiner gelding, Devanto. Vilhelmson Silfvén averages 75.47% with a personal best of 78.08%, putting her among the top scorers in the competition. If she wins and Hendricks places second, their scores would tie at the top of the U.S. Open leaderboard, showcasing the unique dynamics of the series’ scoring system.

Charlotte Jorst & Zhaplin Langholt

While perhaps unlikely to win, Charlotte Jorst could still play a spoiler role in the leaderboard race. A surprise victory would catapult her into the lead on the U.S. Open of Dressage leaderboard, making her a wildcard to watch in Friday’s freestyle.

Scenarios and Stakes

The Series Standings after Qualifier 3 at the Gold Coast Opener:

See the full series standings, updated after each qualifier, here.

Currently, three riders share the lead on a congested leaderboard with 20 points each: Geñay Vaughn, Felicitas Hendricks, and Charlotte Jorst. Of the three riders tied at the top, Vaughn is the only one not competing this weekend.

The U.S. Open of Dressage awards 20 points for first place, 17 for second and third, 15 for fourth and fifth, and 10 for places six through ten. This scoring system allows for several intriguing scenarios.

The most likely outcome is that Hendricks’ pulls ahead with an undefeated freestyle record at Wellington. Another victory would establish her as the definitive frontrunner. If Vilhelmson Silfvén wins and Hendricks places second or third, the two would tie for the top spot. Marek and Kohmann are the main US contenders aiming to challenge at the top of the leaderboard this Friday, looking to join Vaughn on 20 points.

So, who will rise to the top of the U.S. Open leaderboard after Friday night? Can Hendricks maintain her undefeated streak? Could Vilhelmson Silfvén play spoiler?

Tune in to the USEF Network on Friday night to watch the Grand Prix Freestyle unfold live and see who emerges victorious.

Stay Connected

For the full calendar of events and standings updates, visit the official US Equestrian Open Series hub at usequestrianopen.org. Stay connected with the latest news and standings on Facebook and Instagram, and follow US Equestrian on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X (Twitter). Use #USEquestrianOpen to join the conversation.

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For media inquiries about the US Equestrian Open Series, please contact Carly Weilminster at cweilminster@usef.org. 

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