Morven Park’s Champions: A Look at the Hall of Fame

Morven Park's CCI4*-L has been running since 2021. Since then the venue has gained a fantastic reputation for being a strong competition which rewards excellence across all three phases. As we count down to this year's US Equestrian Open Final, here's how the last four winners claimed their place in the venue's hall of fame.

2021: Phillip Dutton & Quasi Cool - The Triple Crown Year

For Phillip Dutton and Quasi Cool, 2021 was the year. The pair had three wins together - their only three career wins as a combination: a CCI3*-S, a CC14*-S, ending with the pinnacle: their win at Morven Park’s four-star long.

They sat joint-second after dressage on 29.8, behind Buck Davidson and Cooley Candyman, who also return this year. But with Dutton's masterful cross-country riding, he added less time than Buck edging them ahead to victory with a final score of 34.2. 

Dutton returns with Denim and Possante, ready to add another chapter (and potentially even win) to his Morven Park story.

2022: Tamra Smith & Solaguayre California - The Seven Year Wait

The chestnut mare California was just 11 years old and tackling only her second CCI4*-L when she and Tamra Smith produced a near-perfect performance. Sitting second after dressage on 29.3, they added just 0.4 time penalties (one second) across the jumping phases to win on a score of 29.7.

The win was Smith's second at the four-star long level - a seven-year wait after her first, which came at Fair Hill with Mai Baum. The overnight leaders, Sharon White and Claus 63, were eliminated on cross-country, opening the door for California's triumph. Sharon White and Claus 63 are entered again this year.

Smith will returns to Morven Park this year with Kynan, a horse who has never finished outside the top 10 in his three runs at the CCI4*-L level.

2023: Boyd Martin & Commando 3 - Winning from the Front

In 2023, Boyd became the only winner of Morven to win from the front after dressage. Commando 3, one of Boyd's biggest stars, laid down a 26.2 dressage test and never looked back, adding just 3.2 cross-country time penalties to finish on final score of 29.4.

The win was Martin's 9th at the CCI4*-L level since 2008, adding his 10th earlier this year. No rider in the world has tallied more wins at this level - he shares the record of 10 with Australia's Shane Rose, but nobody beats him.

Commando 3 went on to finish 2nd at Kentucky CCI5* this year and returns to Maryland 5* in a few weeks. Boyd will return to Morven Park as the series winner and with two strong contenders: Miks Master C and Shanroe Cooley, both sitting high on the prediction center.

2024: Julie Wolfert & SSH Playboy - The Comeback Queen

Julie Wolfert pulled off the biggest winning climb of this competition, moving from 6th after dressage to claim victory by finishing on their dressage score - only the fifth combination to achieve this at the venue. Starting on 34.5, Wolfert and Ssh Playboy jumped double clear across both phases to move into the top spot. The victory marked Wolfert's third CCI4*-L start - all with SSH Playboy - and her first win at the level. 

In 10 days, we'll have another name to add to this prestigious list. Who will join Morven Park's hall of fame?

Don't Miss Out on Bragging Rights

With the US Eq. Open and Boekelo on the same weekend - it's the first double header weekend of Eventing Manager 2.0. To celebrate, YETI are gifting the overall combined winner a prize - read more here.

Play Eventing Manager 2.0 here.

Stay Connected with the US Equestrian Open

The final of the US Equestrian Open is running at Morven Park in Leesburg, Virginia from the 9th-12th of October. It is the culmination of the series that has been running at CCI4*-S competitions in the US over the past year. With $200,000 on the line in prize money, it is going to be an exciting and competitive competition.

If you want to know more about the US Equestrian Open:

• Follow the Instagram page: @usequestrianopen
• Listen to the podcast: The US Equestrian Open Podcast
• Check out the website: usequestrianopen.org