Mimi Gochman wins her first five-star 160 at WEC with Iron Maiden, the only double clear in a class that demanded everything. At 22, she adds five-star winner to a résumé already stacked with results and suddenly the season looks very different.

Diarmuid Byrne and Annie Bishop unpack what it takes to win at this level, why clear rates matter, and what this means for the U.S. team picture as the US Equestrian Open Final approaches.

Attention then turns to a heavyweight Dressage Freestyle qualifier at Global. Isabel Werth returns. Susan Pape brings the highest Open score of the season. The leaderboard could change again. As Devin Kane lines up this weekend, Annie and Diarm also revisit her competition mindset and what it is like to compete at the top level alongside her husband. You can revisit Annie's previous conversation with Devon Kane, here.

Plus, Annie sits down with West Coast event rider Megan McIver to talk long-term goals, building a system, and saying your ambitions out loud.

Highlights

• Mimi Gochman's first five-star 160 victory
• What this means for the U.S. team race
• Dressage leaderboard shake-up at Global
• Megan McIver on ambition and planning for the future

Guests

• Diarmuid Byrne – EquiRatings co-founder
• Annie Bishop – Co-host of the US Equestrian Open podcast
• Megan McIver – U.S. event rider and seventh-place finisher in the 2025 US Equestrian Open series