Morven Park CCI4*-L 2026: commentary notes

Angle. One rail cost him this title last year. Every number in the MGG says he starts as the one to beat.

At Morven and in the numbers

• Holds the Morven Park dressage record: 25.1 in 2025. Led after cross-country, had one rail and finished 2nd on 29.1, 0.4 behind Boyd.
• Will is 3/3 XC clear here and 2/3 inside the time, the best inside-time record in this field.

Background

• Won the Aachen CCIO4*-S in 2021, the first US combination to do it, and the Kentucky CCI4*-S in April 2025.
• Will's 2026: won the Kentucky CCI5* on Diabolo, 7th at Burghley on Very Dignified, 3rd in the Series.
• Off The Record is the top rated US horse on EquiRatings Elo and the second-highest rated US horse ever, behind only Mai Baum.
• In 2025 Will made the XC time on both his rides (Off The Record and Very Dignified), the first rider to make it twice in a Morven CCI4*-L. He finished 2nd and 3rd.
• Joint Prediction Center favorite with Miks Master C on 19% last year.

Owners Off The Record Syndicate

Horse 17yo · Irish Sporthorse · Arkansas VDL x Drumagoland Bay (Ard Ohio)

Angle. The defending champion brings his most reliable show jumper back from colic surgery. The XC clock is the one soft spot.

At Morven and in the numbers

• Defending champion. Boyd has won two of the last three here (Commando 3 in 2023, Miks Master C in 2025) and is 3/3 SJ clear inside the time at Morven.
• 4/4 SJ jumping clears at 4*-L and 5*.

Background

• Came back from colic surgery and a long rehab to win The Fork CCI4*-S in September on 40.3, his first international win since the New Jersey CCI4*-L in 2021.
• At The Fork on September 11, his first run of 2026, Boyd led the dressage on 26.7 and jumped clear inside the time. Nobody made the XC time; Luke added 13.6 and won on 40.3, just ahead of HSH Double Sixteen.
• Started out with Malin Petersen in Sweden. Top 10 at Luhmühlen 2023 and Kentucky 2025.
• Boyd won both the 2025 Series and the 2025 Final.
• Luke 140 is No.10 US on Elo. His two CCI4*-L wins came at Galway Downs in 2020 and the Horse Park of New Jersey in 2021.
• Boyd leads the world for CCI4*-L wins: 11 from 57 runs (19%). Shane Rose and Tim Price are next on 10. His entries went in late on Tuesday night, just before the list closed.

Owners Luke 140 Syndicate

Horse 15yo · Holsteiner · Landos I x Omega VI (Limbus)

Angle. Should lead or sit close after dressage. The question is whether he can hold it through two jumping days.

At Morven and in the numbers

• Tamie won here in 2022 on Solaguayre California (29.7).
• Danito has 1 SJ jumping clear from 4 starts at 4*-L and 5*.

Background

• Tamie won the 2026 Series with a record 265 points. Two of her counting wins came on Danito, at Tryon and Twin Rivers.
• Their 19.5 at the Tryon CCI4*-S in May set a Series dressage record and was the best international test at any level in 2026.
• Danito's Tryon win in May finished on 27.9 with an HPR of 98. He won again at Twin Rivers in September on 46.3.
• Stands about 15.3hh.
• 2nd at the Maryland CCI5* in 2022, the year Tamie won here. That Morven win was her second CCI4*-L title, seven years after Fair Hill on Mai Baum. Her 2026 entry went in on Monday night.

Owners Ruth Bley

Horse 17yo · Hanoverian · Dancier x Wie Musik (Wolkenstein II)

Angle. Near the top on the flat, quick across country, and has never had a jumping fault here.

At Morven and in the numbers

• Perfect Morven record: 2/2 XC clear and 2/2 SJ clear. 4th in 2023, 2nd in 2024 on 35.5.

Background

• Lucienne switched to ride for the USA in late 2025. She won eight internationals that year.
• Bought from Dirk Schrade in 2021. After a Kentucky CCI5* in 2025 that went wrong, she dropped him down the levels and rebuilt to five straight FEI wins.
• Five Morven runs at any level since 2021 and never outside the top five: 2nd CCI2*-S (2021), 1st CCI3*-S (2022), 4th CCI4*-L (2023), 2nd CCI4*-L (2024), 1st CCI3*-S (2025). Clear in both jumping phases every time.
• Top points earner in the 2026 Series. Qualifier wins at Bouckaert (October 2025, 41.0) and Stable View (April 2026, 27.7).
• 4th at the Stable View CCI4*-S in September 2026 on 43.4, the last qualifier of the Series.

Horse Holsteiner · by Diarado

Background

• Caroline's 2026 (from the HSH Double Sixteen profile): 2nd at the Kentucky CCI5* and 3rd at Burghley on HSH Blake, 2nd in the Series on 220 points.

Angle. Top two after dressage at Morven twice, led it once. Has never converted it.

At Morven and in the numbers

• Second-best dressage in Morven history: 25.2 in 2025, 2nd after dressage behind Off The Record, then finished 10th. Led after dressage in 2022 (29.0) and was eliminated across country.
• Morven CCI4*-L record: eliminated 2021, eliminated 2022 after leading the dressage, 10th 2025. 0/3 XC jumping clear here; last year he picked up 20 on course from 2nd after dressage.

Background

• Sourced in Germany through Dirk Schröder.
• Led the MARS Bromont CCI4*-L after dressage in June on 31.4, then withdrew on cross-country morning. No reason was given.
• Sharon skipped the Kentucky CCI5* this year, saying she was working on some things with him.

Owners Sharon White

Horse 14yo · Holsteiner · Catoo x Tina II (Levisto)

Angle. Tryon CCI4*-L winner on a horse raised just up the road. Show jumping decides whether she makes the top three.

At Morven and in the numbers

• Mia was 3rd here in 2022 on Phelps (34.4), clear inside the time across country and clear in the show jumping.
• 9 of his last 10 XC rounds jumping clear.

Background

• Won the Tryon CCI4*-L in May 2026 on 41.1, Mia's first win at the level.
• Karen O'Connor bred and raised him in Middleburg, Virginia. His dam, Sunset Paradise, is an off-track Thoroughbred Karen evented herself.
• Mia started working with show jumping coach Peter Wylde in late 2025, alongside David O'Connor.
• Joint No.1 US 10-year-old on Elo. Two previous Morven runs: 6th in the CCI2*-S in 2022 and 4th in the CCI4*-S in 2024.

Owners Karen O'Connor

Horse 10yo · Warmblood · Diarado x Sunset Paradise (Unbridled Jet)

Angle. Kim Severson on a first-time four-long horse who has been winning all year.

At Morven and in the numbers

• CCI4*-L debut for the horse. 8 clears from his last 10 XC rounds.

Background

• The grey won the 7-year-old USEF Developing Horse Series in 2024.
• Won the Virginia Horse Center CCI3*-S in May and the Bouckaert CCI4*-S in August on 41.3. 12th at The Fork CCI4*-S in September.
• Kim won Kentucky three times in four years with Winsome Adante.
• No.1 US 9-year-old on Elo.

Owners Ros & Bill Johnson

Horse 9yo · Irish Sporthorse · Diamond Roller x Seoladh

Angle. Top numbers on the flat and in the ring. If she finds the pace across country, she's a podium contender.

Background

• 2nd in the Rebecca Farm CCI4*-L in July 2026. Led after dressage on 28.3 and added only 0.8 time.
• Alyssa has named the 2027 Pan Ams as a target.
• 5th at the Stable View CCI4*-S in September on 43.4.

Owners Alyssa & Julie Phillips

Horse 11yo · Holsteiner · Rock Forever I x Dery A Mona

Angle. Close to top-ten numbers on the flat and in the ring. The cross-country record is the whole question.

Background

• Imported from Germany in 2022.
• Won the 2025 Maryland 5 Star CCI3*-L wire to wire on 24.8. Isabelle received the USET Foundation's 2026 Connaught Grant.
• 6th in the Kentucky CCI4*-S in April 2026 on 44.8.

Owners Karen Martin

Horse 9yo · Oldenburg · by Casiro

Angle. One of the fastest horses here. A clear inside the time on cross-country day moves him a long way up. Show jumping is the flag.

Background

• The only horse to make the XC time at Series Qualifier 2 at TerraNova in November 2025. Finished 3rd, his first four-star completion.
• Bred by James Hickey. Previously named Haw Minister.
• Made the time again at Stable View this September, then had three rails: 7th on 48.9. 5th at The Fork the week before.

Horse 11yo · My O My x Salt Lake City

Angle. One of the best show jumpers in the field. Get round clear on cross-country day and she climbs on the final day.

At Morven and in the numbers

• 4/4 SJ clears inside the time at 4*-L and 5*, the only one in the field with that record.

Background

• Won her first CCI4* at Stable View Oktoberfest on September 26 on 39.9, the only pair under 40. She called it a prep run for Morven. It counted as a 2026 Series qualifier.
• Mary Bess and her husband Mark bought him unseen in England in 2019. She had stepped away from the sport for nearly eight years to raise her two sons.
• Runner-up in the USEA Advanced Final at the AEC in August. Refused at 15A and fell at 17 at Kentucky in April.

Owners Mary Bess Davis

Horse 12yo · Anglo European Sporthorse · Cassander C x Khadija des Hayettes (Banboula du Thot)

Angle. Boyd's second ride, stepping up. The show jumping numbers say he finishes the job if he gets there.

At Morven and in the numbers

• CCI4*-L debut for the horse.

Background

• Aoife Clark found him in France as a five-year-old, and Laura Collett rode him while Aoife was injured. Sold to Boyd in December 2023.
• 2nd in the Bromont CCI4*-S in June. 13th at The Fork in September after XC jumping penalties.
• 7th at Bouckaert in March for 20 Series points. That score dropped out of Boyd's best six when Luke 140 won The Fork.

Horse 11yo

Angle. The ex-racehorse has been round here clean before. The show jumping has let him down since.

At Morven and in the numbers

• Buck has more Morven starts than anyone in the field (5) and is 4/4 XC jumping clear here. Sorocaima was 3rd in 2021 on 39.0, clear in both jumping phases.
• 2 SJ jumping clears from 9 starts at 4*-L and 5*.

Background

• Raced 43 times and once started at 147-1.
• Ran out at 12C and retired at the Kentucky CCI5* in April 2026.
• Listed as Bruce Davidson Jr. in the MGG. He competes as Buck.
• In that 2021 running Buck was also 2nd on Cooley Candyman, behind Phillip Dutton and Quasi Cool.

Owners Buck Davidson Jr. & Carl Segal

Horse 15yo · Thoroughbred · Rock Hard Ten x Sankobasi (Pulpit)

Angle. One of Caroline's three rides, three weeks after his five-star debut at Burghley ended on cross-country. Pace is the gap.

At Morven and in the numbers

• 0 SJ jumping clears from 3 starts at 4*-L and 5*.

Background

• A failed sale horse. Bought as a prospect in 2021, he went to three professionals and still didn't sell at about $20,000, so Caroline talked the investor into keeping him.
• Retired on cross-country at Burghley in September 2026.

Owners Tolan King Partnership

Horse 11yo · Irish Sporthorse · Tolan R x Kilmolash Clover Rhodes (Porter Rhodes)

Angle. Lucienne's second ride, and a top-five finisher here twelve months ago.

At Morven and in the numbers

• 5th here in 2025 on 37.5: 31.5 dressage, 2.0 XC time, one rail.

Background

• Bred by Helene Rydberg Larsson.
• 4th in the Tryon CCI4*-S in May 2026 on 39.2 and 4th in the Bromont CCI4*-S in June.

Owners Horse Scout Eventing LLC

Horse 10yo · Swedish Warmblood · Corporal VDL x Juicy Couture D (Hip Hop)

Angle. Waylon's second quick horse. Both his rides can make up places on cross-country day.

At Morven and in the numbers

• 9 of his last 10 XC rounds jumping clear.

Background

• Bred by Norma de Rose.
• 3rd in the CCI4*-S at The Fork in September. Won the CCI3*-S there in 2025 from 18th after dressage.

Owners Carol Wiley

Horse 14yo · Canadian Warmblood · Cabardino N x Play For Keeps (Dachstanz)

At Morven and in the numbers

• CCI4*-L debut for the horse.

Angle. Katie's lead ride, 5th at Bromont in June. Rails are the difference between top 10 and mid-table.

At Morven and in the numbers

• 9 of his last 10 XC rounds jumping clear. No SJ jumping clear yet at 4*-L or 5*.

Background

• Previously ridden by Tim Macdonagh and Jesse Campbell.
• 5th in the MARS Bromont CCI4*-L in June 2026 and 6th in the AEC Advanced Final in August.

Owners Katie Lichten

Horse 14yo · KWPN · Stakkato x Saleria M

Angle. Back for a second Final after sitting 2nd at the end of the first dressage day here last year.

At Morven and in the numbers

• 0 SJ jumping clears from 2 starts at 4*-L and 5*.

Background

• Bred by Patrick McLoughney.
• Scored 33.3 in the dressage at the 2025 Final and finished 21st on 89.3.
• Elisa was Reserve Champion at Road to the Horse in March 2026, starting an unbroken Quarter Horse filly.

Owners Donna Biggs & Rosemarie Spillane

Horse 10yo · Irish Sporthorse · OBOS Quality 004 x Soolmoy Lucky (Lux Z)

Angle. A two-time Kentucky finisher who knows this track. Rails on show jumping day decide the placing.

At Morven and in the numbers

• 2/2 XC jumping clear at Morven (2023, 2024). Shannon has four starts here.
• 2 SJ clears from 6 starts at 4*-L and 5*.

Background

• Rode at the 2011 Pan Ams, then came back from a spinal injury doctors said would end her riding. Kentucky 2025 was her five-star debut (17th).
• Shannon bought him during Covid from JP Sheffield on Buck Davidson's advice.
• Three Morven runs at any level: 12th CCI2*-S (2022), 5th CCI4*-L (2023), 6th CCI4*-L (2024). 3/3 XC jumping clear here.
• 18th at Kentucky 2026. 7th in the Plantation Field CCI4*-S in September on 58.3.

Owners Shannon & Alex Lilley

Horse 12yo · Selle Français · Iowa 960 x Rose Rouge Garette (Manillon Rouge)

Angle. Coach and pupil in the same class: Lauren and Maya Clarkson.

At Morven and in the numbers

• 0 SJ jumping clears from 2 starts at 4*-L and 5*.

Background

• His five-star debut at Kentucky in 2025 ended early: a refusal, then Lauren pulled him up.
• Lauren rode Landmark's Jungle Gold for the US team at Boekelo the weekend before and finished 12th individually.

Owners Brandye Randermann

Horse 13yo · Latvian Warmblood · Gaultjers x Kameja (Kavalero)

Angle. A young rider with her five-star qualification already secured. Her coach is in the same class.

At Morven and in the numbers

• Two previous Morven runs: eliminated in the CCI4*-L in 2024, 16th in the CCI3*-S in 2025.

Background

• 2nd in the Tryon CCI4*-L in May on 41.1, which earned Maya her five-star qualification.
• 2025 Young Rider three-star champion. Grew up in California, found Maks while working for Shannon Lilley and now runs her own business in Middleburg.
• Coached by Lauren Nicholson, also in this field.

Angle. Strong numbers in the ring. The XC clock decides where she lands.

At Morven and in the numbers

• Allie has two top-20 dressage tests in Morven history (30.2 in 2021, 30.4 in 2022). Both rounds ended DNF.

Background

• 17th in the Lexington CCI4*-S in April and 2nd in the Advanced at Bouckaert in March.
• Based in Lexington, Kentucky. Completed her first five-star at Kentucky in 2016 on the Thoroughbred Sound Prospect.

Owners Katherine O'Brien

Horse 11yo · Belgian Sporthorse

Angle. Starts well down after dressage. Clear rounds are how she climbs.

At Morven and in the numbers

• 1/1 SJ clear inside the time at 4*-L and 5*. Arielle has two previous Morven starts, both on Dutch Times.

Background

• Arielle bought him in March 2024 after Dutch Times was injured. Wills Oakden had taken him to three-star in England.
• 3rd in the Tryon CCI4*-L in May on 51.1. Won the Millbrook Advanced in July from 8th after dressage.

Owners Arielle & Christina Aharoni, & Filly's Hope LLC

Horse Irish Sporthorse · Baltic VDL x HHS Cheerio

Angle. Jumps clean, needs more pace. Laine named this Final as the target back in June.

At Morven and in the numbers

• CCI4*-L debut. 9 of her last 10 XC rounds jumping clear.

Background

• Laine calls the black mare “my first proper warmblood”.
• Won the Maryland International (Loch Moy) CCI4*-S in June on 52.1, Laine's first career four-star win. It counted as a Series qualifier.
• 2nd at the Plantation Field CCI4*-S in September on 48.7.
• Laine rode in the US Equestrian Open Dressage Final at Desert Horse Park in November 2025, so she is the only rider to compete in both Finals.
• No.8 US 10-year-old on Elo.

Owners Lovedance LLC

Horse 10yo · KWPN · Quality Time x S-Nodence

Angle. The $1 racehorse at a $200,000 Final.

Background

• Florida-bred. A trainer friend gave him to Tracey for $1 at Delaware Park in 2019.
• 3rd in the MARS Bromont CCI4*-L in June on 57.9, Tracey's first CCI4*-L since 2014.
• Eliminated in the AEC Advanced Final in August.

Horse Thoroughbred · Mucho Macho Man x Shehaseyesforyou

Angle. Katie's second ride. Finished one place behind his stablemate at Bromont.

At Morven and in the numbers

• 9 of his last 10 XC rounds jumping clear.

Background

• Allison Springer rode him at some events in 2025.

Owners Katie Lichten

Horse 10yo · Irish Sporthorse · by Tolan R

Angle. Quick across country on a first long four-star for both. Rails on the final day decide it.

At Morven and in the numbers

• CCI4*-L debut for horse and rider.

Background

• Chestnut mare.
• Sara Beth has run the young-horse program for Phil and Melissa Town since 2015. Previously groomed for Leslie Law and Becky Holder.
• Won the Advanced at Bouckaert in August 2026. 7th in the Maryland International CCI4*-S in June.

Owners Melissa Town

Horse 11yo · Flexible x Sienna

Angle. A 17-year-old ex-racehorse who started at Beginner Novice in 2021.

Background

• Kentucky-bred. Raced four times for Harbor View Farm. Ali's pink kit honors the farm's silks.
• Owner John Crowell offered him to Ali in June 2021 when she was thinking about quitting.
• 26th in the Kentucky CCI4*-S in April. Completed the Bromont CCI4*-L in June.

Owners John Crowell

Horse 17yo · Thoroughbred · by Malibu Moon

Angle. Jumped round clean here last year. Speed is what lifts him out of mid-table.

At Morven and in the numbers

• XC jumping clear here in 2025, finished 14th. Morven runs at any level: 7th CCI4*-S (2022), 4th CCI3*-S (2023), 14th CCI4*-L (2025). 3/3 XC jumping clear here, 0/3 show jumping clear.

Background

• A hoof injury kept him out of Morven in 2024.
• Led the Tryon CCI4*-L after dressage in May 2025 and finished 7th.
• 4th in the Bouckaert CCI4*-S in August 2026.

Owners Manderly LLC

Horse 13yo · Zangersheide

Angle. Good in the ring. Vandyke's XC form needs a day like No May Moon had here in 2024.

At Morven and in the numbers

• Allison went clear inside the time here in 2024 on No May Moon. Vandyke's Morven runs: withdrew CCI3*-S 2022, retired CCI4*-L 2023.

Background

• Bought from Karen Dixon in Northern Ireland.
• USEA 6-Year-Old Horse of the Year in 2020, a season that included 2nd in the Preliminary at Morven Park.
• 5th in the Advanced at The Fork in September 2026.

Owners Rico Syndicate LLC

Horse 12yo · Irish Sporthorse · Vancouver x Shannondale Willow (Touchdown)

At Morven and in the numbers

• CCI4*-L debut for horse and rider.

Angle. A five-star finisher this spring, back on a track they've jumped clean.

At Morven and in the numbers

• XC jumping clear here in 2025.

Background

• Gabby grew up in the Outer Banks, left home at 12 to work for Kim Severson and trained with Nicola Wilson at 17. Now based in Gordonsville, Virginia.
• Five-star debut at Kentucky 2026: 22nd, with a refusal at 19B.

Owners Rolan Millican

Horse 12yo · Irish Sporthorse · Killinick Bouncer x Church Lady (Snurge)

Angle. 9th in the Bromont CCI4*-L in June is the best recent evidence. A completion here is a good weekend.

Background

• Bay mare.
• Natalia is from Park City, Utah, and worked for Hawley Bennet and Buck Davidson before setting up in Ocala.
• 10th in the Ocala International CCI4*-S in April. 9th in the Bromont CCI4*-L in June.

Horse 11yo · Celtic Lion x Jam

Angle. An amateur rider in a $200,000 Final.

At Morven and in the numbers

• 9 of his last 10 XC rounds jumping clear.

Background

• Bred by Serdar Henky Vatanperver. 3rd in the Preliminary Amateur at the 2021 AEC.
• Michelle is a South Carolina-based amateur.
• 8th in the Tryon CCI4*-L in May 2026. 9th in the CCI4*-S at The Fork in September.

Owners Michelle & John Koppin

Horse 13yo · Holsteiner · Caress 9 x Z-Whitney (Cassini II)

Angle. One of the most reliable jumpers here and the slowest. Clear with time is his ceiling.

At Morven and in the numbers

• Third Morven start. Morven runs: 8th CCI2*-S (2021), 12th CCI4*-L in both 2024 and 2025.

Background

• Bred by Marion Nissen in Germany.
• Five-star debut at Kentucky in April 2026: clear across country with 39.2 time, finished 21st.
• 9th in the AEC Advanced Championship in August.

Owners Nelson Warnell

Horse 11yo · Holsteiner · Cash and Carry x Up To Date 15 (Almoretto)