The US Equestrian Open Podcast

Christmas comes early as the first Aachen team is announced. Annie and Diarm react to the US jumping squad, discuss the biggest selection talking points, and look at what it means as World Championship teams begin to take shape. They also review the latest eventing action from Maryland, where Laine Ashker secured her first four-star victory, and discuss what the results could mean ahead of US team selection. Then Annie catches up with dressage rider Claire Darnell, currently third on the US Equestrian Open leaderboard. Claire reflects on the unexpected season she and Harold have enjoyed, why she nearly stepped away from the horse at the start of the year, the story behind her Hunger Games freestyle, and why an 80s soundtrack is next on the playlist. Highlights The US jumping team for Aachen is announced Maryland Horse Trials review and what it means for US eventing selection Claire Darnell on Harold, her breakout season and nearly taking a different path The story behind her Hunger Games freestyle and why it's changing this summer What makes a great freestyle, developing horses from young stock and life in Wellington Guest Claire Darnell - US Grand Prix dressage rider based in Wellington, Florida, currently third on the US Equestrian Open leaderboard with Harold

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

Championship season is starting to take shape. On this week's U.S. Equestrian Open Podcast, Annie Bishop and Diarmuid Byrne look ahead to a huge week at CHIO Aachen, as the U.S. jumping squad heads to one of the sport's biggest stages and the road to Aachen in August starts to come into focus. There's also reaction to the newly announced U.S. dressage long list, before Annie sits down with one of the most talked-about young riders in U.S. eventing, Isabelle Bosley. Fresh off an impressive Kentucky performance with Conner, Isabelle reflects on producing him from an unstarted five-year-old to four-star level, learning to trust the process, and why the bigger the atmosphere gets, the better he becomes. Highlights CHIO Aachen storylines across jumping and dressage The U.S. squad heading to Aachen U.S. dressage championship long list reactions Isabelle Bosley on Conner's rise to four-star Riding at Kentucky for the first time Producing horses slowly and patiently

Fresh off Mars Badminton Horse Trials, the focus shifts across the Atlantic, and the road to Aachen is starting to take shape. On this week's U.S. Equestrian Open Podcast, Annie Bishop and Diarmuid Byrne look back at a huge weekend for the U.S. eventing scene, as Will Coleman and Off The Record remind everyone exactly why great horses never go out of style, while Tamie Smith and Danito deliver a statement win at Tryon that could shape the rest of the Open season. There's also a look at the current series leaderboard, why Tamie may already hold the winning hand, and what the next few months could mean for the race to the final. Plus, in jumping, Kent Farrington is back at world number one, new nine-year-old stars are emerging, and with Rome, Aachen, and championship selections on the horizon, the summer is starting to get very interesting. Highlights Will Coleman and Off The Record return in style Tamie Smith and Danito lay down a serious marker at Tryon Why Diarm thinks Tamie wins the Open from here The next generation of U.S. jumping stars starts to emerge Kent Farrington back to world number one Aachen storylines building across eventing, jumping, and dressage

A busy stretch across the US Equestrian Open, and the picture is starting to take shape. In jumping, Kent Farrington's run continues, building momentum through the Major League season and bringing new horses into the spotlight alongside proven ones. The depth is growing, and so is the pressure around team selection heading into a championship summer. In eventing, Tryon delivers another strong four-star field, with established names, emerging combinations, and real questions around tactics, fitness, and timing as riders look ahead to what comes next. And in dressage, a shifting leaderboard after TerraNova sees new combinations stepping forward, with limited qualifiers left and every result starting to matter. Across all three disciplines, the same theme is emerging. Depth, momentum, and decisions that will shape the rest of the season. Highlights Kent Farrington's form and the emergence of new jumping stars Major League momentum and the race toward team selection Strong, competitive fields continuing at four-star level in eventing Tryon as a key checkpoint for horses and riders building toward summer goals A tightening dressage leaderboard with fewer chances to qualify The growing importance of each result across all disciplines

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