The US Equestrian Open Podcast

• Eventing: Where Patience Meets Potential with Kate Sand

  There is something special about talking to a rider who has brought a horse all the way up the levels. The patience, the instinct, the thousand quiet decisions that shape a partnership long before the big results ever appear on a scoreboard. And for Kate Sand, 2024 was the year all those years came into focus. From the three-year-old off the track with no real record to speak of, to a second place finish at Bouckaert, and a rise into the top four of the US Equestrian Open standings. This is a story built on feel, faith, and a horse who keeps proving he is more than anyone expected. A once in a lifetime type, even if he has not quite figured that out himself. Highlights The Facebook ad that started it all  How a self described kick ride rewrote Kate's idea of what she wanted in a horse Training with Ali Knowles and the early hints from Karen O'Connor that this might be a top level horse The first step up to four star, what went wrong, and how the pair rebuilt with more confidence Bouckaert, the test tweaks, the show jumping accuracy, and the cross country run that put them second fastest of the day The plan for 2025, intermediate to advanced in Aiken, a likely return to Carolina, aiming at long formats, and why Morven, Bromont, and Rebecca Farm are each on the table A look at Kate's small Kentucky program, her love of developing horses, and why keeping it manageable matters Guests Kate Sand, US Equestrian Open rider, joined by host Annie Bishop. Stay Connected For the most up-to-date series calendar and latest standings, visit the official US Equestrian Open Series hub at usequestrianopen.org. Engage with us on Instagram and Facebook — and use #USEquestrianOpen to join the conversation.

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• Eventing: Thanksgiving Special with Jon Holling

  It's Thanksgiving Eve and we've dragged Jon Holling away from his turkeys, his Packers jersey and his very detailed holiday schedule. Between Bloody Mary debates, and the yearly "do we have enough food" panic, we get a real glimpse into Jon's world. We talk horses stepping up, young ones learning the ropes, the long road to making them competitive, and what it actually feels like to build your own string from the ground up.  A Thanksgiving special with all the good bits. Highlights Thanksgiving in the Holling house, from two turkeys to 25 guests Why Zelda feels like the horse who changes everything Producing horses from scratch and the long game behind it The emotional whiplash between "I love this" and "why do I do this" Friends, loyalty, and the people who keep you sane in this sport What Jon would be doing if he hadn't ended up an eventer Guests Jon Holling - rider, coach, host of the John & Rick Show, professional Thanksgiving over-caterer and currently two horses deep into building his next top string.   Stay Connected For the most up-to-date series calendar and latest standings, visit the official US Equestrian Open Series hub at usequestrianopen.org. Engage with us on Instagram and Facebook — and use #USEquestrianOpen to join the conversation.

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• Eventing: TerraNova Review Show

  TerraNova gave us blue skies, big movement and a four star that absolutely shaped the conversation. Annie was there watching it unfold. Diarmuid was in the desert watching the Dressage Final under very un-California weather. And between the two weekends we learned a lot. About form. About depth. And about who is heading into the winter with momentum. Settle in. There's plenty to talk about. Highlights What TerraNova told us about the depth in the four star short How the Dressage Final played out and why the result mattered Who delivered at the right time and who signalled big things for 2026 The young guns making serious moves and why that matters for the US and Canada Time penalties, tough show jumping and the class dynamics you might have missed What the winter break means for big names and big ambitions Guests Annie Bishop with all the key details from on the ground at TerraNova Diarmuid Byrne with the view from the Dressage Final in the desert Stay Connected For the most up-to-date series calendar and latest standings, visit the official US Equestrian Open Series hub at usequestrianopen.org. Engage with us on Instagram and Facebook — and use #USEquestrianOpen to join the conversation.

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• Dressage: US Equestrian Open of Dressage Final Preview

  Big week ahead. The very first US Equestrian Open Dressage Final lands in Thermal and it already feels like a proper championship moment. Annie is with Noah Rattner and DiarmByrne to size up the field, the atmosphere and the storylines building as fourteen combinations head for the desert. This one has everything. Top Americans hitting form at the right time. Felicitas Hendricks back on US soil. Jan and Ben Ebeling lining up together. Riders still tweaking floorplans, pushing their degree of difficulty and deciding where to take the risks. And a venue that gives you that big-stage feeling the minute you walk in. Highlights Why Thermal delivers a true championship atmosphere The degree of difficulty choices that can swing the result Joker lines, late edits and the tactics behind a winning freestyle The combinations bringing serious momentum How this final feeds into Aachen 2026 and LA 2028 Music, pressure and the feel of a first-ever title on the line Guests Noah Rattner, international dressage commentator Stay Connected For the most up-to-date series calendar and latest standings, visit the official US Equestrian Open Series hub at usequestrianopen.org. Engage with us on Instagram and Facebook — and use #USEquestrianOpen to join the conversation.

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• Eventing: Terranova Preview Show

  It is Terranova week and there is a lot on the line. Annie and Diarm look ahead to a field stacked with returning stars, big step-ups, and the last chance to score crucial Open points before the winter break. From Diabolo's long-awaited comeback, to Dyri's red-hot momentum, to the rise of Meg Pellegrini and the next wave of US riders, this is a weekend with stories everywhere you turn. They break down the Prediction Centre, the tactics at play, the form horses, and the key combinations shaping the early 2026 landscape. Plus, a quick look at the four-long, where qualifications are on the line. Highlights Why Terranova is the most influential late-season qualifier Diabolo's return and what Will Coleman needs heading into 2026 Dyri's surge toward series leadership Meg Pellegrini's three-horse step-up and what it signals for the under-25 landscape Who could shake up the standings and who needs a result Tactical reads from the Prediction Centre and the form horses to watch A four-long with championship implications Guests: Hosted by Annie Bishop and Diarm Byrne Stay Connected For the most up-to-date series calendar and latest standings, visit the official US Equestrian Open Series hub at usequestrianopen.org. Engage with us on Instagram and Facebook — and use #USEquestrianOpen to join the conversation.

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