The US Equestrian Open Podcast

Kentucky reshapes the US Equestrian Open.
Annie Bishop and Diarmuid Byrne break down a weekend that delivered across all fronts, with Tamie Smith and Lillet 3 taking the four-star win and making a major move in the standings as the series passes halfway.
From a dressage phase that ran higher than expected, to a cross-country test where time became decisive, to a final day that proved costly, this was a competition that kept building. Lillet answers the biggest questions, while others show both promise and pressure at the level.
Beyond eventing, the weekend also delivered in jumping and dressage, with Kent Farrington taking a major win in a stacked field, and Ashley Holzer moving into the lead in the dressage standings.
Highlights
Tamie Smith and Lillet 3 take the four-star win and maximum Open points
How Kentucky reshapes the Open leaderboard
Dressage trends, scoring higher than expected
Cross-country time as the key influence on the result
Standout performances from rising combinations
Kent Farrington wins in a top-level jumping field
Ashley Holzer moves into the lead in the dressage standings

From Greya rising to the top of the Elo rankings to a wide-open Kentucky ahead, this is the moment the U.S. Equestrian Open starts to take shape.
The four-star short takes centre stage as one of the most competitive qualifiers of the series, while the five-star arrives without its usual repeat winners, leaving the door open for a new name to step forward. Across dressage and jumping, recent results continue to shift the leaderboard and build momentum toward the final.
Highlights
Greya becomes the highest-rated horse on Elo in the U.S.
Why Kentucky is a defining week in the Open calendar
A deep, unpredictable four-star short field
A five-star set for a new winner
Leaderboard movement across all three disciplines

A World Cup final on home soil, and Kent Farrington gets it done with Greya the Great.
They lead from day one and see it through, while Katie Dinan works her way onto the podium and the US field shows just how much depth there is right now.
From there, attention turns to Kentucky, with final prep runs at Ocala and Fair Hill and plenty still to take shape.
Highlights
Kent Farrington and Greya win the World Cup Final
Why leading after day one continues to matter
Katie Dinan's podium finish
Strength in depth across the US field
Kentucky prep runs at Ocala and Fair Hill

It's been one of those weekends where the leaderboard didn't just hold… it shifted.
At Stable View, Lucienne Bellissimo went out and did exactly what she said she would, win. A finish on her dressage score, which we know is very hard to do in this series, and suddenly the gap at the top feels a lot tighter.
Now the focus turns to Fort Worth and the World Cup Finals. A different kind of pressure, a championship format, and a chance to see how some familiar Open names stack up on a bigger stage.
Plus, we chat with Tommy Greengard, who's season is off to a strong start. From time spent in the UK to the way he's producing his horses now, this is a conversation about building confidence, gaining experience, and putting the pieces in place for what comes next.
Highlights
Lucienne Bellissimo wins at Stable View, finishing on her dressage score in a rare FOD
Major leaderboard shake-up as the Open race tightens heading into spring
World Cup Finals preview, format, key contenders, and what to expect in Fort Worth
Tommy Greengard on his early-season form, UK experience, and producing horses for the top level
Guests
Charlotte Smet - EquiRatings Jumping Analyst & Podcast Host
Ali Barrett - EquiRatings AI & Sports Media Analyst
Tommy Greengard - West Coast event rider producing top-level horses

It came down to the final fence.
The U.S. Equestrian Open Final delivered exactly what the sport hopes for, a packed crowd, real atmosphere, and a finish that could have gone either way. In the end, it stayed at home, with Kent Farrington and Greya taking the title in front of a crowd that felt every stride.
This episode looks back at what made Wellington work, from fan engagement to the feeling of a true showpiece event, and why moments like this matter for the sport. There's also a look ahead, following the key combinations as the season builds towards Aachen, and checking in on the Open standings across eventing and dressage.
Highlights
Kent Farrington and Greya's win under pressure
The jump-off that came down to one moment
Why Wellington feels different and why it works
The next challengers, and where the season goes from here
Updates from eventing and dressage Open divisions