The US Equestrian Open Podcast

Friday night dressage under the lights. A packed Wellington crowd. And the first five-star Grand Prix of the season setting the tone.
Annie Bishop reports back from WEF with what it actually felt like to be there, from the atmosphere at Global to the buzz around Saturday night's Fidelity Investments Five Star. Together with Diarm Byrne, they break down the standout dressage moments, the pressure points in the Grand Prix, and what the result tells us about the road to the US Equestrian Open Final.
With Ocala next on the calendar and early eventing entries starting to land, the storylines are beginning to take shape across dressage, jumping, and eventing.
Highlights
Friday night dressage at Global, atmosphere and standout performances
The first five-star Grand Prix of the WEF season
What the result means for the US Equestrian Open race
Ocala dressage preview and Valentine's weekend ahead
Early Bouckaert eventing entries and fan favourites to watch
Hosts
Annie Bishop
Diarmuid Byrne

It's Super Bowl week, and we couldn't resist bringing sport and fandom together. Annie is joined by a panel of die-hard Seahawks and Patriots supporters from across the equestrian world for a lively, opinionated, and occasionally ruthless debate. Expect strong loyalties, big predictions, and a reminder of why sport pulls us in long before kickoff.
Highlights
Seahawks vs Patriots, broken down by people who care a lot
Predictions, point spreads, and zero agreement
Dynasty talk, underdogs, and playoff pressure
What the Super Bowl gets right about fandom, storytelling, and spectacle
Why sport pulls us in long before kickoff
Guests
Annie Bishop – US Equestrian Open host and analyst.
Diarmuid Byrne – EquiRatings co-founder
Max Corcoran – International groom and industry pro
Jonathan Elliott – Event organizer and course designer
Morgan Rowsell – Event organizer and selector
Joanie Morris– U.S. event owner and long-time supporter of American eventing

Personal bests in Dressage, a returning star in Eventing, and early clues from Wellington as Jumping inches toward its first five-star week. Susan Pape resets the Open benchmark, Jaguars Duende reminds everyone she's still here, and Lillie Keenan's depth becomes impossible to ignore nine weeks from the Final.
Highlights
Giulilanta goes top of the Open leaderboard
Jaguar Duende returns with a win
The 3* pipeline: why it keeps predicting future 5* horses
Week 5 WEF preview: who arrives and why it matter
Guests
Diarm Byrne, EquiRatings co-founder
Hosted by Annie Bishop

The new season is taking shape. With dressage already scoring, nine weeks to the first jumping final, and six weeks to the first four-star short, Annie Bishop and Diarm Byrne break down the early movers, the storyline shifts and the names establishing momentum across the Open's three Olympic disciplines.
From new partnerships winning straight out of the gate to returning eventers and a strengthening dressage field, it's the first real read on 2026 form and how the year may unfold.
Highlights
Lillie Keenan & Highway make an immediate statement in Florida
Scott Brash vs Kent Farrington vs string strength
Eventing entries resurface: Jaguars Duende, Possante, Cooley Candyman
Boyd Martin named International Rider of the Year and what that signals for 2026
Dressage heats up: Marek & Fayvel debut, leaderboard context, scheduling dynamics
The Open ecosystem: points, invitations, depth, and how pathways evolve
Guests
Diarm Byrne, EquiRatings co-founder
Hosted by Annie Bishop

The US Equestrian Open is back for 2026. With the new season underway and ten weeks to the first jumping final, Annie Bishop catches up with Diarm Byrne to unpack where the Open stands one year on, how the mission is evolving, and why the off-season thinking matters just as much as in-season competition. From unified storytelling across dressage, jumping and eventing to the early movers, breakout names and pathway shifts already shaping the year ahead, it's a state-of-play conversation to kick off the season.
Highlights
A 2025 debrief and what the Open learned in year one
The calendar: ten weeks to the Jumping Final, dressage wall-to-wall, and eventing six weeks out
Early jumping storylines: Lilli Keenan's string, Richard Vogel's choices, Vogel vs Farrington vs Brash
Dressage shake-ups: Indian Rock's record run, scoring changes, and Genay Vaughn's coast-to-coast trip
Eventing preview: Lucienne Bellissimo out early, Coleman's depth, and a rising U25 generation
What fans should watch next and why the season starts now
Guests • Diarm Byrne, EquiRatings co-founder • Hosted by Annie Bishop