The US Equestrian Open Podcast

This week on the US Equestrian Open Podcast, Annie and Diarm look ahead to Maryland Horse Trials and what's at stake in the latest eventing qualifier as the leaderboard battle continues.
There's also discussion around Rotterdam and another major statement from Marilyn Little and La Contessa as selection conversations continue.
Plus, Annie catches up with Stephanie Goodman after becoming the first combination to win on their four-star Open debut at Aspen Farms. Stephanie reflects on building her program in Idaho, the horse that brought her back to the sport and why Elwenda keeps proving her wrong.
Highlights:
• Maryland Horse Trials preview
• Open leaderboard implications
• Rotterdam and jumping selection discussion
• Stephanie Goodman on her Aspen Farms win
• Elwenda's journey to four-star success

A record-breaking weekend at Aspen, Aachen conversations getting louder and a reminder of why freestyle remains one of the sport's biggest stages.
This week Annie and Diarm look back on Aspen Farms, where Stephanie Goodman and Elwenda DP made history by becoming the first combination to win on their four-star debut at the Open. There's discussion around what made the result so special, why Aspen continues to deliver moments people remember and how the series picture is starting to take shape.
Then attention turns to jumping, with Nations Cup season heating up and the pressure building as Aachen selection edges closer.
Plus, Annie sits down with current US Equestrian Open Dressage leaderboard leader Ashley Holzer for a conversation on partnership, building trust with Flo, the story behind her Neil Diamond freestyle and why she believes freestyle is one of the sport's most powerful ways to connect with fans.
Highlights
• Aspen's record-breaking four-star debut winner
• What the result means for the Open standings
• Aachen selection conversations begin
• Nations Cup storylines to watch
• Ashley Holzer on Flo and partnership
• The story behind her Neil Diamond freestyle
• Why freestyle matters

This week, Annie returns from Bromont with reflections from one of North America's most iconic venues and why places like Bromont continue to play such an important role in producing the next generation of championship and five-star horses.
There's discussion around standout performances across the weekend, exciting young horses coming through the levels, and what makes venues with terrain, history and progression opportunities so valuable to the future of the sport.
Plus, attention turns west to Aspen Farms and another important qualifier weekend, with leaderboard movement, rising combinations and valuable points on the line as the season continues to take shape.
Highlights
Looking back on a special weekend at Bromont
Why venues like Bromont and Morven remain so important
Exciting young horses and combinations to watch
The role of pathway programmes in developing future stars
Aspen Farms preview and key combinations
Leaderboard implications and qualification picture
One eye already turning towards championships and the final

From Rome to Bicton, championship conversations are getting louder.
Annie Bishop and Diarmuid Byrne look back on a huge weekend across the US Equestrian Open, where underdogs delivered, established names kept the pressure on, and a few horses may have changed the picture heading into the summer.
There's discussion around La Contessa's growing case for team selection, standout performances from the US eventing squad at Bicton, and why some of the sport's most exciting stories might just be coming through the pathway.
Plus, Noah Rattner joins the show to reflect on the Ginny Rattner Memorial Dressage CDI at DevonWood, and why creating memorable experiences around competition matters just as much as the sport itself.
Highlights:
Mexico's upset win in Rome
Why La Contessa is becoming impossible to ignore
A standout weekend for the US team at Bicton
The horses making names for themselves on the pathway
Aspen Farm storylines to watch
Noah Rattner on community, competition, and building for the future

Aachen delivered exactly what we hoped for, world-class sport, major championship clues, and a reminder that August is coming fast.
Annie Bishop and Diarmuid Byrne look back on a huge week in Germany, where Richard Vogel and United Touch S may have shifted the balance ahead of the World Championships. From Greya's growing rivalry with Europe's biggest stars to the US combinations making their case for Aachen selection, there is plenty to unpack as the summer picture starts to take shape.
Plus, Tommy Greengard heads to Bicton for Nations Cup action, Tamie Smith's summer plans take shape in Europe, and the US Equestrian Open storylines continue to build across jumping, eventing, and dressage.
Highlights:
Why Richard Vogel and United Touch S changed the conversation after Aachen
The growing rivalry between Greya and Europe's top combinations
Lillie Keenan's huge statement weekend in Germany
Tommy Greengard and That's Me Z heading to Bicton
Tamie Smith's European summer plans with Lilette
What the US Equestrian Open standings could look like through the summer