One Big Thing: Tamie Smith is the US Equestrian Open of Eventing Series Winner
With a win and second place in the CCI4*-S at Twin Rivers this past weekend, Tamie Smith has cemented an insurmountable points lead in the US Equestrian Open of Eventing series. There are still two qualifiers to come (Stable View Oktoberfest and Woodside), but Tamie’s 265 accumulated points — earned from the best six results of the qualifier season — won’t be able to be caught. She’ll thus take home the winner’s portion (50%) of a $50,000 cash prize — and that’s before we get to the actual Final competition, which is the CCI4*-L at Morven Park (October 8-11 in Leesburg, VA) that’s worth $200,000.
In 2025, Boyd Martin was the inaugural Series winner and Open Final champion, and it’s not a stretch to say that Tamie Smith has a strong shot to do the same this year. She’s not yet confirmed whether she’ll be traveling to Virginia next month with a horse or two, but if she does she’ll be collecting a minimum of one sizable check to make the trip a worthwhile one.
As of this week, the second- and third-place prizes in the Series will go to Will Coleman (215 points) and Boyd Martin (210 points). This week at Stable View Oktoberfest, both Caroline Pamukcu (210 points) and Lucienne Bellissimo (175 points) have a shot to secure a top-three finish for the season.
[View the full US Equestrian Open leaderboard]
[Read more about Tamie’s Series win roadmap]
[Plan your trip to the Final at Morven Park]
U.S. Events Opening Entries Today
Horse Trials at Majestic Oaks (FL); Fleur de Leap H.T. (LA); River Glen Fall H.T. (TN)
U.S. Events Closing Entries Today
Morven Park International & Fall H.T. (VA); Poplar Place Farm October H.T. (GA); Redefined Equestrian H.T. (CO); The Event at Isaacks Ranch (NM)
Links & Reading
- 2027 tickets for the Defender Kentucky Three-Day are on sale starting today! Kentucky will celebrate its 50th anniversary with a Spirit of ’78 ticket sale, today through September 30. Tickets here.
- USEA Podcast #422: Your Questions Answered with Ariel Grald
- Chinese equestrian Hua Tian looks beyond the Asian Games
- Why the Asian Games equestrian schedule was adjusted to postpone the start of eventing
- The Hay Shortage We’ve Been Warned About Is Here
- This week in Horse Girl History
- The Vercors on horseback, the “wow” effect hike
Sponsor Corner: Kentucky Performance Products
Is your horse at risk for laminitis this fall? Take a 3-5 minute quiz supported by Kentucky Performance Products to assess your risk.
Training Tip of the Day
The notion of control comes from behind the horse’s head. It’s easy to get stuck focusing on what we can see, but here’s a helpful reminder of the foundation concept that guides us as we progress in our riding:
Go Eventing
Thinking of competing in a Classic Three-Day this year? Come learn about the Steeplechase phase with Olympic event rider Stephen Bradley via the Waredaca Eventing Education Foundation! Participants will practice proper pace for Roads & Tracks as well as practice jumping the steeplechase brushes used for the Waredaca Classic Three-Day Event. Register on Strider.
