The US Equestrian Open Podcast

September is here and the US Equestrian Open is heading into the business end of the season.
Annie Bishop and Diarm Byrne look ahead to the return of the qualifiers, with Tryon next on the eventing calendar and the race for points beginning to tighten ahead of the $200,000 final at Morven Park. Plus, Burghley week is underway, and there is plenty of US interest to follow across the Atlantic, from Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Blake to Will Coleman and five-star debutant Very Dignified.
They also dig into a bigger question for the Open: should four results count towards qualification rather than six? With only the top five on the current eventing leaderboard holding six counting scores, could a change create more opportunity for riders with smaller strings while still rewarding the very best?
Highlights
The US combinations to watch at Burghley, including Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Blake, Will Coleman and Very Dignified, Cassie Sanger and Redfield Fyre, and Jennie Brannigan and FE Lifestyle
Why Very Dignified could be a serious Burghley horse
The return of the eventing qualifiers at Tryon and some exciting new combinations stepping up
Off The Record appears on the early Morven Park entry list, much to Annie's delight
How the eventing leaderboard is shaping up, with Tammy Smith, Will Coleman, Boyd Martin and Caroline Pamukcu in the mix
The case for reducing the number of counting qualification scores from six to four
Why getting riders, owners, grooms and the wider equestrian community invested is so important to the future of the Open
A look ahead to Dressage at Devon and the final stretch of the season

Aachen is over, and Annie Bishop and Diarmuid Byrne are looking back at a World Championships that delivered plenty to unpack.
They break down the jumping, where the US went into Friday night's team final in silver-medal position before things unravelled and they ultimately finished fourth. Derm brings us inside the atmosphere of a packed Aachen stadium, while he and Annie look at Laura Kraut and Baloutinue's week, McLain Ward and High Star Hero, and just how quickly the margins changed for the US team.
There's plenty to celebrate too, from Germany taking team gold on home soil to Steve Guerdat and Dynamix de Belheme delivering a brilliant individual title to complete an extraordinary championship record.
Then attention turns back to the US Equestrian Open. Qualifiers are about to get underway again, the finals are getting closer, Annie is still firmly aboard the Tamie Smith train, and the race through the final stretch of the season is starting to take shape.
Highlights
What Friday night at Aachen really felt like
How the US jumping medal challenge slipped away
Laura Kraut & Baloutinue and McLain Ward & High Star Hero
Germany's team gold on home soil
Steve Guerdat & Dynamix de Belheme complete the championship set
The US Equestrian Open returns and the race to the finals heats up

The World Championships roll on in Aachen, and the U.S. already has a medal on the board.
Annie and Diarmuid look back on a brilliant team bronze for the U.S. eventers, including three clear show jumping rounds on the final day and a huge championship performance from Will Coleman and Diabolo. They dig into what this result means for the U.S. program and why there is plenty to be excited about on the road to LA 2028.
Plus, Annie takes us inside her first Aachen experience, they catch up on the dressage, and attention turns to another massive week of World Championship sport. Jumping takes centre stage next, with Ireland among the favourites, a stacked U.S. team and a format where consistency could make all the difference.
Highlights
U.S. eventing celebrates World Championship team bronze
Will Coleman and Diabolo deliver a standout Aachen
What this result means looking ahead to LA 2028
Annie's first experience of Aachen
The dressage stories that caught their attention
How the World Championship jumping format works
The names and nations to watch as jumping gets underway
Plenty more U.S. medal chances still to come

World Championship week is here and the US Equestrian Open has arrived on the biggest stage of the season.
Diarm is joined by EquiRatings analyst Ali Barrett to look at the US combinations taking on Aachen across dressage and eventing, with some familiar names from the Open right at the heart of the action.
They look at Ashley Holzer's chances against a seriously strong European dressage field before turning to the eventers, where Open leader Tammy Smith heads to Aachen with Lilette alongside Will Coleman and Diabolo, Boyd Martin and Cooley Nutcracker, Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Blake, and Phillip Dutton and Denim.
Can the US stay close enough after dressage to put themselves into the medal conversation on Saturday? Who could deliver the biggest individual result? And with Olympic qualification already secured for LA 2028, could that give this team the freedom to really go for it?
Plus, Diarm and Ali look back on a huge US win in the 100th Aga Khan at Dublin and what that result says about the strength and momentum building across the US programme.
Highlights
• The US Equestrian Open leaders taking on Aachen
• Ashley Holzer's World Championship chances
• Tammy Smith and Lilette's route to a potential top five
• Why Will Coleman and Diabolo could be serious medal contenders
• The strength of the US eventing team
• Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Blake as ones to watch
• What Olympic qualification could mean for the US approach
• Team USA's huge Aga Khan win in Dublin

The horses are on their way to Aachen, but for the riders, grooms and support teams, the hardest part might already be behind them.
Annie Bishop is joined by Max Corcoran to pull back the curtain on everything that happens before a championship begins. From the pressure of keeping a horse healthy after selection to packing trunks, flying horses across the Atlantic and solving problems before riders even know they exist, Max shares what life is really like behind the scenes of a championship campaign. They also discuss the unique community among grooms, the logistics of traveling internationally with horses, and why simply making it to the start of a championship is an achievement in itself.
Highlights
What the final weeks before a championship are really like
Flying horses to Europe and the logistics behind the scenes
Packing for Aachen: trunks, tack and travel essentials
The role of a groom during championship week
Why making the team is only the beginning
Stories from Max's Olympic and World Championship experiences