“Every time I ask this horse to come through for me, she is just so clutch. She’s just an incredible competitor and I’m so lucky to have her by my side and in that arena. We’ve been working together for a year now and we’re just continuing to build this synergetic and symbiotic bond,” said Ebeling. “I’m just so proud of her. As I’ve said, a rider is nothing without their horse, so really, thank you, Belle.”

“Our freestyle really highlights her personality as a diva mare and is a testament to strong powerful women. The freestyle includes sections of songs from artists like Rihanna, Beyonce, and Gwen Stefani, and honestly, I don’t think anyone can do it better than a mare and that’s been the inspiration behind this freestyle,” said Ebeling of his musical selection.

Of the evening and monumental achievement, Ebeling noted the format of the competition and the opportunity to highlight the Grand Prix Freestyle a positive push the sport needs to be able to connect with more people and attract a broader audience.

“I think it’s such a great way to capture the hearts and minds of a wider audience. It’s an amazing opportunity for our sport and to show that we can make it fun and entertaining, while highlighting the incredible attributes of our horses. Getting to have my name inked on this trophy with other greats, including two Olympians, it just motivates me more to keep going and keep pushing.”

With Drombusch OLD and her own 2011 Oldenburg gelding (Destano x DiMaggio), Felicitas Hendricks (GER) set the tone in the second half of the class, earning a 78.260% to put the pressure on both Ebeling and Marek to deliver. Hendricks, who earned her qualification during the Wellington season in her campaign last spring, competed in the desert for the first time and was thrilled with both her horse and the experience.

“I’ve been with this horse for a long, long time and he just never stops impressing me. I think today was one of the best feelings we’ve had together,” said Hendricks of her ride. “It’s special when you have been partners for as long as we have and you still feel like you’re continuing to grow and develop together – getting better with every ride. I’m so thankful for him and to be able to experience this together.”

Marek (Dunnellon, Fla.) and Fayvel, a 2010 KWPN gelding (Zizi Top x Houston) owned by Cynthia Davila, finished their week with a strong third-place finish in the final class of the week, capping an incredibly strong season for the pair, which included their overall series win, alongside their FEI Grand Prix CDI5* win on Friday evening.

“What’s really fun about showing this horse is that he’s uncomplicated to ride. He lets me really ride and not hold back. With Fayvel, I can really go for it and on a night like tonight, when the pressure is on, I know I’m going to fight for it and he’s going to be right there with me every step of the way and we don’t need to hold back,” explained Marek. “It’s been an amazing week here for us in California and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to compete here with him.”

A total of twelve combinations moved forward to contest the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle CDI5* under the lights, with four different combinations earning personal bests, with competitors across the competition representing the U.S., Canada, and Germany.

View the full results here.

— Edited Press Release | Source: US Equestrian

The post Ben Ebeling and Bellena Win Inaugural US Equestrian Open Dressage Final appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

“It’s an incredible feeling to win here,” said Martin. “This event has been so well organized, and Morven Park is one of the best venues in the world. For years, we’ve all seen the potential here. Morven Park has beautiful cross-country tracks, great rings, and a world-class facility. The US Equestrian Open has brought in amazing prize money and attracted the country’s best horses and riders and to win this inaugural event is a huge honor.”

Martin (Cochranville, Pa.) and the Miks Master C, a 2012 U.S.-bred Swedish Warmblood gelding (Mighty Magic x Qui Luma CBF), owned by Ocala Horse Properties, LLC., Deborah Palmer, and Rachael Isaacson, and cared for by Stephanie Simpson, completed the weekend on a final  combined score of 28.7 after producing a clear round int the main arena secure their win and take home the lion’s share of the $200,000 prize pot. Both Martin and Miks Master C’s names will now be added to the perpetual US Equestrian Open trophy, marking their place in history as the US Equestrian Open Eventing Final’s first-ever champions. Additionally, Martin was also awarded the MARS American Bred Talent Trophy which was award to the top-finishing U.S.-bred horse in the competition in the CCI4*-L division.

Miks Master C is a newer mount for Martin, having previously been campaigned by fellow U.S. Eventing Team athlete Liz Halliday before joining Martin’s program just over a year ago. The partnership has now found its rhythm at the top levels of the sport, with Martin noting this victory holds special significance for him, personally, his team, and the supportive team behind Miks Master C. Martin reflected on the journey of taking over the ride following Halliday’s accident in 2024, and the growing partnership he’s developed with the talented gelding.

“I’m so grateful to the owners for trusting me with one of Liz’s top horses. Miks Master C is a legend. He was Liz’s top hopeful, and this whole year we’ve just been getting to know each other. He’s an incredible horse with the right mix of power, grit, and heart.”

Martin shared that though he was still getting to know “Mikki” this year, he has always admired him. “When Liz first bought him, I was extremely jealous,” he said with a laugh. “Mikki is totally my type of horse. He has a lot of Thoroughbred in him. He’s one of those horses that moves like a Warmblood, but thinks like Thoroughbred – a true three-day eventer with an amazing gallop.”

After a thrilling cross-country phase yesterday, which featured a traditionally challenging and technical Derek di Grazia (USA)-designed track, Will Coleman (Ocala, Fla.) and his veteran partner Off The Record entered Sunday’s jumping phase as the overnight leaders on their impressive dressage score of 25.1 However, one rail at B of the triple combination ultimately opened the door for Martin and Miks Master C to move to the top of the leaderboard.

Coleman’s strategic and polished riding across all three phases secured both second and third place aboard Off The Record, a 2009 Irish Sport Horse gelding (VDL Arkansas x Drumagoland Bay), owned by Off The Record Syndicate, and cared for by Erin Jarboe, and  Very Dignified, a 2015 Irish Sport Horse mare (Dignified Van’t Zorgvliet x Kateys Gem), owned by Jerome Broussard, Elizabeth Lendrum, and Gloria Callen, also cared for by Jarboe, respectively. Coleman piloted both horses to just two of the three clear rounds yesterday around the CCI4*-L track, keeping both horses competitively inline on the leaderboard. Ultimately, Off The Record would finish on a final three-phase score of 29.1, while Very Dignified, earned a 35.4, in the pair’s CCI4*-L debut together.

For the Virginia-native Coleman, the introduction of the US Equestrian Open concept to the already historic importance of the Morven Park venue in the region’s deep traditional connection to horses and horse sport, allowed the competitive atmosphere to be elevated while also offering the opportunity to showcase the sport at its best.

“It’s an awesome cross-country course on one of the best eventing-specific venues in the U.S.,” said Coleman. “Anyone who is curious about eventing or wants to see what eventing all is about; they got such an awesome taste of that here at Morven Park this weekend.”

Both riders commended course designer Chris Barnard’s (USA) track on the final day for its technical demands and tight time allowed, which kept the pressure of the moment palpable to the very last ride of the class.

“The course was good and very technical,” Martin noted. “You had to ride it almost like a jump-off. It rewarded forward, efficient riding and showed how beneficial it is to practice pure show jumping on the side.”

When asked about the future of the US Equestrian Open Eventing  Final and Series, and what the athletes hope to see as it continues to evolve and grow, Coleman shared his optimistic outlook.

“This is just the beginning,” he said. “What US Equestrian has built with this series is something that’s going to continue to grow, build more momentum, attract bigger crowds, and more prize money, which is really exciting for us as athletes, for our owners, and for our teams.”

View full US Equestrian Open Eventing Final results here.

— Edited Press Release

The post Boyd Martin Makes History as First-Ever US Equestrian Open Eventing Final CCI4*-L Champion Aboard Miks Master C appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

“It is exciting to see the support and collaboration from the U.S. Eventing CCI4*-S Organizers around the country, and we thank them for their participation in the US Equestrian Open Eventing Series,” said USEF Managing Director of Eventing, Amber Braun. “This is a great opportunity to showcase the top of our sport to a broader audience. The Open also marks an unprecedented amount of prize money available to athletes in the U.S. competing at the CCI4* level, which shows further investment into the future of our sport. Morven Park and their team share our vision and excitement for the potential of this series and the venue offers a world-class CCI4*-L cross-country course to create an exciting finals experience.”

The following locations will host qualifying events for the US Equestrian Open of Eventing. This list may be subject to updates throughout the Qualifying Period.
*Pending final confirmation. 

2024 Competitions:

◆ Morven Park International & Fall Horse Trials CCI-4*-S: October 10-13

◆ Bouckaert Equestrian Horse Trials International CCI4*-S: October 25-27

◆ The Event at Terranova CCI4*-S: November 11-13

2025 Competitions:

◆ Bouckaert Equestrian Horse Trials International CCI4*-S: March 6-9

◆ Carolina International CCI4*-S: March 13-16

◆ The Event at Terranova CCI4*-S: March 27-30

◆ Stable View Spring  CCI4*-S: April 4-6

◆ Twin Rivers Spring International CCI4*-S: April 10-13

◆ Ocala International Festival of Eventing CCI4*: April 17- 20

◆ *Cosequin Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI4*-S: April 23-27

◆ Tryon International Three-Day Event CCI4*-S: May 7-11

◆ Aspen Farm Horse Trials CCI4*-S: June 12-15

◆ The Maryland International CCI4*-S: July 3- July7

◆ The Event at Rebecca Farm CCI4*-S: July 16-20

◆ Bouckaert Equestrian Horse Trials International CCI4*-S: August 29-31

◆ The Fork at Tryon CCI4*: September 11-14

◆ Plantation Field International CCI4*-S: September 18-21

◆ Twin Rivers Fall International CCI4*-S: September 19-21

◆ Stable View Oktoberfest CCI4*S: September 24-28

◆ Woodside Fall International CCI4*-S: October 3-5

◆ US Equestrian Open of Eventing FINAL – Morven Park International & Fall Horse Trials CCI4*-L: October 9-12

The US Equestrian Open of Eventing Series will award $50,000 in prize money to the three-highest placed combinations following the conclusion of the qualifying period.  $200,000 in prize money will be distributed at the US Equestrian Open of Eventing Final in 2025.

To learn more about the US Equestrian Open of Eventing specifications and qualifying requirements, click here.

— Edited Press Release | Source: US Equestrian

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Lexington, Ky. – US Equestrian is pleased to announce the official launch of a branded competition series – the US Equestrian Open – which will feature the three Olympic equestrian disciplines of dressage, eventing, and jumping. Each discipline’s series will consist of qualifying events that lead up to a final that ultimately names a US Equestrian Open champion. The US Equestrian Open aims to build towards the excitement of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games and support the growing momentum around the sport amongst mainstream audiences. The prize money will total more than $1mm across the series finals with each discipline final hosted at three different premier venues across the country. US Equestrian will elevate the presence and visibility of equestrian sport within the United States and globally by broadcasting all three finals on ESPN.

In July 2023, the US Equestrian Board made a commitment to invest in equestrian sport to grow awareness, exposure, and engagement. Out of that commitment came the US Equestrian Open concept, which after a year of initial planning, saw FEI Board of Directors approval in June 2024 for the dressage and eventing series (the Jumping event did not require FEI approval). The US Equestrian Open series will officially commence with the first qualifying event in the discipline of eventing during fall 2024.

“The launch of the US Equestrian Open series has been a priority for us. There’s a purpose-driven need for equestrian sport to produce a more commercially significant and identifiable championship model within the United States, particularly focused around the Olympic disciplines,” said David O’Connor, US Equestrian’s Chief of Sport. “We’ve seen new and creative branded series introduced across other mainstream sports, such as golf and tennis, which have experienced tremendous success, both from an athlete and spectator perspective. As an organization, we felt strongly we needed to move the needle forward in our sport by providing access to significant prize money and standing behind a unique model for each discipline, which encourages participation at the highest levels.”

Commercial Opportunities, Fan Engagement & Mainstream Broadcasts

US Equestrian has worked diligently with competition organizers to offer new commercial opportunities through a championship model set to enhance an already growing schedule of top-level equestrian events across the country. A dedicated microsite, live leaderboard tracking, publicly accessible and enhanced horse and rider information, as well as significant mainstream airtime on major sports broadcasting platform, ESPN, alongside live coverage via USEFNetwork powered by ClipMyHorseTV, will aim to generate increased media value and public recognition of athletes, horses, horse owners, and organizers.

Eventing

The US Equestrian Open of Eventing will include multiple qualifying events throughout the year, with the US Equestrian Open of Eventing Final taking place at Morven Park in the CCI4*-L in 2025. US Equestrian will award $200,000 in total prize money at the final, and competitors will qualify through results at the CCI4*-S level. Qualifying competitions will include CCI4*-S events around the country, eliminating geographical restrictions for participation, and providing a more structured championship model at the CCI4* level for international eventing athletes in the United States. A $50,000 series award will be distributed based on rankings across the qualifiers leading up to the final.

“Morven Park is thrilled to welcome the US Equestrian Open to our grounds,” said Stacey Metcalfe, Executive Director/CEO of Westmoreland Davis Memorial Foundation, Inc./Morven Park. “For over 50 years, our cross-country courses have maintained a legacy of eventing excellence at all levels of the sport, and as one of five venues in the United States to host a 4*-L we welcome the opportunity to continue this legacy into the future as part of the US Equestrian Open.”

Dressage

The US Equestrian Open of Dressage will be formatted based on points accumulated through qualification via the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle test at the CDI level, with the top athletes in the overall standings moving forward to contest the US Equestrian Open Dressage Final with qualifying events taking place throughout 2025. The Final will be hosted at Desert International Horse Park in Thermal, California, with $200,000 in prize money set to be distributed to participating combinations and a $50,000 high point series incentive across the qualifiers. Athletes must complete a minimum of two Grand Prix Freestyles at designated US Open series qualifying CDIs within the U.S. during 2025 to be eligible for the series final.

“We are excited to be a part of this new US Equestrian initiative, which supports and enhances the top of all three disciplines,” said Steve Hankin, President and CEO, Desert Circuit International Horse Park. “We are proud to have been selected as one of the premier venues to host such a prestigious event and we look forward to welcoming athletes to our horse park. It has been an important priority for us to help rebuild the sport of dressage on the West Coast, and we see this is another positive step forward.”

Jumping

Enhancing one of the most prestigious and longstanding CSI5* events in the U.S., US Equestrian and the organizers of Wellington International will commit $250,000 in additional prize money to establish the US Equestrian Open of Jumping Final, which will take place during the final week of the 2025 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). The FEI Invitation system will be used leading into two qualifying events during the final week of CSI5* competition culminating with the $750,000 Rolex US Equestrian Open Grand Prix, a Rolex Series event.

“We are thrilled to be a part of this groundbreaking initiative that aligns with our commitment to elevating equestrian sport across the world. The US Equestrian Open Jumping Final, hosted during the Rolex Finale Week of the Winter Equestrian Festival, not only celebrates the incredible Olympic-level talent within our sport but also showcases it on a global stage. This series is a testament to the growing momentum and mainstream appeal of equestrian disciplines, and we are proud to play a pivotal role in its success,” says Michael Stone, President of Wellington International.

The full calendar of qualifying events will be available in the coming weeks.

— Edited Press Release | Source: US Equestrian

Thanks to CareCredit for our spring and summer equestrian coverage.

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