Sharon White and Claus 63 Capture the Win in the US Equestrian Open Final CCI4*-L, White Becomes First Woman to Win the Title

The second edition of the $200,000 US Equestrian Open Eventing Final concluded at Morven Park International Equestrian Center with Sharon White (Summit Point, W.V.) and Claus 63 delivering a standout performance in the final jumping phase to capture the win.

“Decades of hard work” paid off for Sharon White as she won the US Equestrian Eventing Open on Sunday, moving up from third after cross-country. Aboard Claus 63, she took the title in the $200,000 test with a clean show jumping round in the relentless rain.

You don’t do this sport for money – thankfully, because there isn’t much to be made, at least not in competition. You’re selling horses, training people and horses, courting owners who will help you out, teaching clinics, filming Cameos to eke out a living. You just show up. Because you love the horses, and you enjoy the process – winning or no winning.

White became the first woman to win a US Equestrian Open Final, with four previous winners across jumping, eventing, and dressage.

The fan favorite, based in Summit Point, WV, aboard her Holsteiner gelding Claus 63, put in a double-clear performance to jump from third place to the top of the leaderboard. The victory came with a $60,000 prize.

Sharon White & Claus 63 won the US Equestrian Open Eventing Final at Morven Park on a 30.8. The pair were third after cross-country after adding just 4.8 cross-country time penalties to their 26.0 dressage score. Then, on Sunday, they were the only pair of the overnight top three to leave all the rails up. By earning victory, Sharon is the first woman to win a US Equestrian Open Final in any of the three disciplines.