US Dressage Open Series Scoring Changed in Bid to Level Qualifying

The $250,000 US Dressage Open scoring for 2026 has been changed dramatically with points earned based on number of starting combinations in the best four results in an effort to level opportunities. The series stars this week at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Florida.

Three different levels of competitions–1 to 5 will earn 15 points for the winner, 6 to 10 starters will have a maximum of 20 points while 11 to 15 can get up to 25 points.

The overhaul of the rules by the US Federation that launched the series of the three Olympic disciplines of dressage. eventing and jumping ahead of the 2028 Games in Los Angeles came after the first year that for dressage offered the same number of points for placings irrespective of the size of the field. Some regions typically fielded only four in the point-deciding Grand Prix Freestyles while other venues had starting lineups that were two to three times larger.

The new version changes that. Points now adjust to field size: small fields include 1–5 starters, medium 6–10, and large 11–15.

The new system, which follows the same principles used in the Eventing Open, rewards depth and showing up in competitive fields. Second place in a large field (20 points) is now equal to what winning used to earn across the board. In a large field, sixth place still earns 10 points, but unlike before, 7th–10th now receive fewer points—so finishing one place higher changes the season total. In large fields, points now extend through 15th place—five places deeper than before—allowing more riders to accumulate totals.

The top four results will count in 2026 instead of a rider’s top six results in 2025.

“Under the old structure,” the federation said in a statement, “consistency across a long schedule was rewarded, and riders based on the East Coast naturally benefited from having more Big Tour opportunities within easy reach. With only four results now counting, each ride carries more weight, but riders who compete more than four times still have the flexibility to replace low scores as the season progresses.

“This setup also softens the impact of an off weekend, but it also sharpens the value of every strong performance. Four mid-range scores won’t do the work that four competitive ones can, especially under a points system that rewards depth.”

Venues that offer multiple Grand Prix Freestyles in a single event will provide points only in the highest-star class offered unlike 2025 when both could count if there were two Big Tour musical performances. An exception will be a CDIO3* (or higher) and so far available only at Wellington, Florida’s Global Dressage Festival, riders may also earn points in the highest non-CDIO class.

The end-of-season timing remains the same in 2026, at least two weeks before the CDI5* final, set at Thermal Nov. 11 to 15.

The $50,000 season prize pool earned by the top 18 qualifiers and $200,000 purse for the final competition are unchanged.

Photo: Benjamin Ebeling on Bellena, winner of inaugural US Open