The US Equestrian Open Podcast

He swooped in late, stole the series, and left Phillip Dutton wondering where the prize money went. Now Boyd Martin rolls into Morven Park as the first ever US Open Eventing Series Champion, and he's not done yet.

Boyd joins Diarm Byrne and Annie Bishop to talk about winning the inaugural title, the pressure of leading into Morven, and why the US Open is shaking up American eventing for good.

Highlights

• Boyd on what it really felt like to take the series from Phillip Dutton at the last minute
• Managing risk, fitness, and MERs ahead of Morven Park
• Inside his rides: Mix Master C and Shanroe Cooley
• How the US Open is changing the game for U.S. riders
• From Aachen to Maryland, how America became the "promised land" for eventing

Guests

• Boyd Martin, US Open Series Champion
• Diarm Byrne, EquiRatings
• Annie Bishop, U.S. Equestrian Open podcast host 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.

Behind every great event horse is a team of owners who make the dream possible. In this episode, Annie sits down with longtime supporters of Phillip Dutton, David and Patricia Vos and Caroline Moran, to celebrate the stories the highs and lows and the unforgettable memories of ownership as we count down to the US Equestrian Open Final at Morven Park.

From first lessons to Olympic medals, syndicate dinners to Aachen silver, the owners share what has kept them passionate about the sport and why community, travel, and trust are at the heart of it all.

• Caroline Moran on her first leap into event horse ownership with Mr. Medicott and how eventing's culture differs from racing and hunters
• David and Patricia Vos on going "all in" from their first up down lessons to joining syndicates and traveling the world with Phillip's horses
• Reflections on ownership highs from Mighty Nice's Olympic bronze in Rio, to memorable trips to Aachen and Badminton
• How syndicates build community and why eventing's resilience makes the journey worthwhile, win or lose
• Looking ahead to Morven Park with Passant and Denim leading Phillip's string into the US Open Final

• Caroline Moran - Owner of multiple top event horses including Mr. Medicott, Denim and Zee
• David and Patricia Vos - Longtime owners and syndicate members with Phillip Dutton supporting horses including Mighty Nice and Passant

Stay Connected Check the latest standings and calendar on the US Equestrian Open hub. Join the conversation on Instagram and Facebook with #USEquestrianOpen.

Stable View confirmed the series podium with Boyd Martin, Phillip Dutton and Caroline Pamukcu leading the way, but it also gave us a glimpse of what's to come. Caroline and HSH Double Sixteen delivered one of only two clear rounds inside the time in the last five years at Stable View and that kind of speed changes the picture heading into Morven Park. Now attention shifts west as Woodside hosts the final qualifier where Tamie Smith brings Danito and Lillet 3, James Alliston lines up with HMR Rolan and Molly Duda returns from Europe with Disco Traveler and Carlingford's He's A Clover.

Highlights

• Stable View review including Caroline's breakout with Double Sixteen and Mary Bess Davis impressing with Imperio Magic
• Consistent form from Emily Hamel and Corvett plus mixed fortunes for Boyd Martin and Brooke Burchianti with Cooley Space Grey
• Woodside preview with Tamie Smith, James Alliston and Molly Duda headlining a strong West Coast field
• What these performances tell us about form and momentum heading into the Morven Park Final

Guests

• Diarm Byrne, EquiRatings
• Annie Bishop, U.S. Equestrian Open podcast host

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.

As one of the most respected course designers in eventing, Derek di Grazia has shaped some of the sport's most memorable tracks from Fair Hill to Burghley, Kentucky, and now Morven Park. With the US Open Final just around the corner, Annie and Diarm sit down with Derek to explore his journey from rider to designer and the philosophy behind the courses that challenge and educate horses while inspiring confidence in riders.

Derek reflects on his early days at Pebble Beach, his competition career on both coasts, and the transition into course building that has defined the past two decades of his life. He also shares what makes Morven Park such a special venue, why terrain and footing matter as much as fences, and how he balances risk and reward when setting the questions at the highest level.

Episode Highlights

• How Derek's background as a rider influences his approach to design
• Stories from Pebble Beach, and his first major events
• The evolution from competitor to course designer
• Why Morven Park is reemerging as a premier venue in the US
• What riders can expect at this year's US Open Final

Guests

• Derek di Grazia - former international event rider and one of the world's leading course designers

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.

He's a six-time Olympian, a multi-medalist for Team USA, and the rider who turned millions of new fans onto dressage with the viral "Rave Horse." In this episode, Annie is joined by Steffen Peters to revisit the story of Mopsy's freestyle, how a near mix-up in Tokyo almost kept it from happening, and why that performance still resonates today.

Steffen talks through building a freestyle that feels like a party, the atmosphere American crowds bring to big occasions, and the lessons he's learned about balancing pressure with empathy for the horse. From career-defining moments to advice for riders fine-tuning their own freestyles, this is a candid conversation with one of the sport's most admired figures.

Episode Highlights

• The Tokyo freestyle that almost didn't happen
• Mopsy's rise as the "Rave Horse" and what it meant for the sport
• How atmosphere and audience can lift a performance
• Emotional intelligence in training and competition prep
• Reflections on gratitude, teamwork, and what horses give back

Guests

• Steffen Peters — Six-time Olympian, US dressage legend, and rider of "Rave Horse" Mopsy
• Annie Bishop — Host, US Equestrian Open Podcast

Stay Connected Follow the US Equestrian Open for series updates, results, and highlights at usequestrianopen.org and on Instagram and Facebook.

Only two qualifiers left in the US Equestrian Open of Eventing and Stable View is shaping up to be one of the most interesting yet. Boyd Martin doesn't need the points but he's still here with Cooley Nutcracker. Hot Bobo is back on the Canadian bench. And a string of up and comers from Kimmy Cecere and OS Hermitage to Sara Beth Anton with Go Go are ready to make things lively.

Diarm and Annie dig into who's climbing, who's coming back after time off, and why a few of the outsiders could make this weekend very fun to watch.

Episode Highlights

• Boyd Martin: Cooley Nutcracker stepping in while Federman B sits this one out
• Canadian comeback: Hot Bobo returns to the four star stage
• Dark horses: OS Hermitage, Go Go, and a few that could surprise
• Veteran stars: Corvette and Emily Hamel keeping Maryland in sight
• First phase shuffles: who can actually lead the dressage in this field
• Time matters: why Stable View rarely sees clears inside the time

Guests • Annie Bishop – USEA Podcast Host • Diarmuid Byrne – EquiRatings Co Founder

Stay Connected Check the latest standings and calendar on the US Equestrian Open hub. Join the conversation on Instagram and Facebook with #USEquestrianOpen.

What a weekend. Between Twin Rivers, Plantation Field, and trying to keep half an eye on the Europeans, there was no shortage of storylines. James Alliston did what James does at Twin, made the time when nobody else could and added another win to his California record. Tamie Smith and Kynan had a 20, not in the plan, but still plenty to talk about ahead of Morven. Out East, Phillip Dutton and Possante led from the front at Plantation, Commando 3 and Boyd Martin looked sharp, and Caroline Pamukcu's HSH Blake gave one of his best runs of the year.

Annie and Diarm catch up on the hours of action, who climbed the leaderboard, who might be kicking themselves, and why the final stretch of the Open is going to be fascinating.

Episode Highlights

• James Alliston, the only one to make time at Twin, tightening up the series race
• Tamie Smith and Kynan, a cross-country 20 that wasn't in the plan, but all eyes now Morven
• Plantation takeaways, Possante's clear, Boyd's Commando 3, and Blake looking back to his speedy best
• Movers on the table, how Jess Phoenix and James Alliston are tied up behind Boyd and Phillip
• West Coast notes, Megan McIver and Igor B stepping up, Molly Duda right in the mix
• East Coast sparks, Monica Spencer's Marvel and Sydney Elliott's QC Diamantaire adding depth to the picture

Guests

• Annie Bishop, reporting from Plantation with first-hand impressions
• Diarmuid Byrne, pulling up the leaderboards and putting results into series context

Stay Connected Check the latest standings and calendar on the US Equestrian Open hub. Join the conversation on Instagram and Facebook with #USEquestrianOpen.

It's a doubleheader on the US Equestrian Open of Eventing calendar with Twin Rivers out West and Plantation Field on the East Coast. Boyd Martin still looks every inch the series leader, but there's plenty going on behind him. James Alliston knows how to win at Twin, Tamie Smith is fine-tuning Kynan on the road to Morven, and Molly Duda is stepping up with Carlingfords Hes a Clover. At Plantation, Commando 3, HSH Blake, Deniro Z, Artist and more are using the weekend to show where they're at before the final push.

Annie and Diarm talk who's chasing points, who's keeping horses in hand, and what these runs will tell us with Morven Park just around the corner.

• Twin talk: James Alliston's record here, Tamie's Kynan prep, and Molly Duda stepping up.
• Series picture: how points from Twin could change the table behind Boyd.
• Plantation preview: Commando 3, HSH Blake, Deniro Z, Artist and plenty more on show.
• Prep runs vs. big efforts: who's going for it and who's saving legs.
• Ground matters: why the conditions could shape both weekends.
• Podium picks coast to coast.

• Annie Bishop
• Diarmuid 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.

The US Equestrian Open of Eventing rolled into Tryon, and the series leaderboard has a new name at the top. Boyd Martin put three horses in the top four to edge past Philip Dutton, while Lindsay Traisnel and Bacyrouge kept their hot streak alive with a second four-star short win in a month.

Annie and Diarm unpack how Boyd built his lead, why Lindsay's consistency matters for Canada, and what the latest results mean heading into the final stretch toward Morven Park.

• Boyd takes over: Three horses in the top four push him past Philip in the standings.
• Canadian spotlight: Lindsay Traisnel and Bacyrouge's consistency and speed make them ones to watch.
• Form check: Who climbed the leaderboard at Tryon, and why show jumping stayed influential.
• Series outlook: What the shake-up means heading into Plantation, Twin Rivers, and ultimately the $200,000 Morven Park Final.

• Annie Bishop
• Diarmuid Byrne

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.

We're back with the US Equestrian Open of Eventing qualifiers at The Fork @ Tryon, where the series picture could be starting to shift. Philip Dutton is still holding the lead, but Boyd Martin brings Miks Master C and Shanroe Cooley, with Will Coleman and Very Dignified, and Sydney Elliott and QC Diamantaire also in the mix. With big points on offer, the leaderboard could look very different by the end of the weekend.

Annie and Diarm unpack the key entries, what the Prediction Center is showing, and why history says you don't have to lead after dressage—but you do need to be close.

Episode Highlights

• Series tension: Philip still on top, but the door is open for Boyd to close the gap.
• Big entries: Miks Master C, Shanroe Cooley, Very Dignified, and QC Diamantaire headline the field.
• Form guide: Which horses bring speed, consistency, and ratings that matter.
• Course history: Why time penalties play a big role and what type of horse suits Tryon.
• Looking ahead: How this weekend could set the tone for the $100,000 Morven Park Final.

Guests Annie Bishop Diarmuid 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.