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The January CDI3* at Ocala&rsquo;s World Equestrian Center is perhaps not the flashiest stop on the Open calendar, but it has consistently appeared in the early-season plans of riders who go on to have meaningful years. It is also a venue the Series returns to often. This is the seventh Open qualifier held in Ocala across the 2025 and 2026 seasons, making it one of the most frequently used sites in the Series. Only Wellington appears more often.
This year&rsquo;s January competition draws just four combinations, which limits the points on offer. With fewer than five starters, the winner will earn 15 Open points, reflecting the Series&rsquo; lowest points allocation system.&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">A Proven Venue for Strong Seasons</h2>
Recent seasons have shown a clear pattern at this venue: riders who score well here tend to build from it. Last year&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/gallagher-and-eckroth-deliver-career-best-rides-at-qualifier-five" target="_blank" rel="noopener">January CDI3* </a>&nbsp;was won by Denielle Gallagher, who returned <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/us-open-of-dressage-a-three-way-tie-at-the-top" target="_blank" rel="noopener">two weeks later and won again</a>. Those results formed a substantial portion of her early-season scoring and contributed to a ninth-place finish on the 2025 Open leaderboard.
The venue has also featured prominently in campaigns that reached the top of the standings. Benjamin Ebeling and Bellena <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/bellena-dances-to-victory-but-the-leaderboard-holds-its-breath" target="_blank" rel="noopener">won two Open legs here in 2025</a>, using Ocala as an early scoring base before expanding their schedule elsewhere. More recently, Christian Simonson and Indian Rock won the <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/simonson-and-indian-rock-start-2026-on-top" target="_blank" rel="noopener">December CDI</a> at this venue, a result that counted toward the current season and marked the first stop on Simonson&rsquo;s World Cup Final qualification run.
<h2 dir="ltr">A Statistical Favorite in a Close Field</h2>
Claire Darnell and Harrold S enter the weekend with the strongest statistical profile in the field. The pair has four freestyle starts, averaging 73.569 percent, with a personal best of 77.015. That high score was earned in a class that included Steffen Peters and Anna Buffini, both of whom went on to score over 80 percent, placing Darnell third in what was, at the time, a top-end domestic field.
While that personal best stands well above the rest of this group, Darnell&rsquo;s average score places her closer to the pack than the headline number alone suggests. She arrives as the most proven combination, but not one insulated from pressure if others deliver clean tests.
<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-q0M6R" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Grand Prix Freestyle Stats: WEC - Ocala January CDI3*" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/q0M6R/1/" height="459" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Table" data-external="1"></iframe>
Behind her, the remaining three combinations are closely grouped on paper. Charlotte Osborne and Fr&uuml;hlingszauber, Jodie Kelly-Baxley with Grayton Beach, and Sylvia Gugler aboard Vulkano 14 all carry freestyle averages within roughly two points of one another. Osborne and Gugler will each be contesting only their second FEI freestyle with their current mounts.
In a four-horse field, any personal best from that trio would likely secure a podium finish, and a particularly clean test could challenge for the win.
<h2 dir="ltr">Tune In</h2>
The freestyle takes place Saturday, January 31 at 7:40 p.m. ET. Catch the action live on <a href="https://www.clipmyhorse.tv/en_US/events/18395/cdi3-wec-january-dressage-presented-by-hampton-green-farms">USEF Network</a>, and <a href="https://www.usef.org/membership/join-renew">sign up for free</a> as a fan to stream the action.
&nbsp;

A dressage rider in a navy tailcoat and white breeches rides a dark horse in collected work, shown from behind, with US Equestrian Open Dressage branding overlaid.

Claire Darnell Enters as Favorite at WEC Ocala CDI3*

The Open Weekly: Results and Early Signals from the Winter Circuits

The Wellington CDI5* qualifier is a notable date on the North American Dressage calendar. Outside of the newly created <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/dressage-us-equestrian-open-quick-guide">US Equestrian Open of Dressage Final</a>, it remains the only CDI5* held in the region&mdash;a status it has carried since the Global Dressage Festival launched in 2009. This year&rsquo;s edition draws an internationally experienced freestyle field, with six Olympians contesting Thursday&rsquo;s Grand Prix to qualify for either the Special or the Freestyle later in the weekend.
With none of the current top three on the Open leaderboard entered, the points picture focuses squarely on opportunity through the middle of the field. Riders sitting between fourth and fifteenth have ample room to shuffle positions.
<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-ZIIjN" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Grand Prix Freestyle Stats: AGDF 3" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/ZIIjN/1/" height="693" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Table" data-external="1"></iframe>
<h2 dir="ltr">Susan Pape and a Statistical Edge</h2>
On paper, Great Britain&rsquo;s Susan Pape arrives with the strongest freestyle numbers in the field. Pape and Harmony&rsquo;s Giulilanta have contested just two FEI Grand Prix Freestyles together, producing an average of 79.048% and a personal best of 79.805%.
The limited sample size is worth noting, but those scores still stand apart from the rest of the field. If Pape delivers something close to her established range, she positions herself clearly at the top of the class. This weekend also marks the first appearance by a British rider in the US Equestrian Open of Dressage, adding a new flag to the Series.
<h2 dir="ltr">Anna Marek Returns to the Freestyle Ring</h2>
Anna Marek returns to the freestyle ring for the first time this season with Fayvel. Their last freestyle appearance came at the Open Final last year, where they finished third on a 77.830%, behind Felicitas Hendricks and <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/ben-and-bellena-save-their-best-for-last">Ben Ebeling</a>.
Their FEI freestyle average currently sits at 75.966%, with a personal best of 78.995%. Those numbers keep them firmly in podium range, particularly in a field without the Open&rsquo;s current leaders. The primary question this week is simply how quickly they settle back into freestyle competition after a break from the test.
<h2 dir="ltr">Caroline Darcourt and the Mid-70s Conversation</h2>
Caroline Darcourt and Lord Django sit just behind Marek on paper, but their numbers reinforce how tight that grouping is. Their freestyle average of 75.333% trails Fayvel&rsquo;s by a narrow margin, and their personal best of 78.170% sits just below Marek&rsquo;s top score.
They were last seen at <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/qualifier-3-preview-get-used-to-hearing-about-indian-rock">AGDF 1</a>, finishing fourth on a 75.695%. That score aligns closely with their established range and reflects the kind of consistent mid-70s performance that often keeps the combination competitive when others make mistakes.
<h2 dir="ltr">Frederic Wandres with Championship Credentials&nbsp;</h2>
Frederic Wandres enters the freestyle with significant championship credentials despite piloting a mount with some of the least amount of experience. Verrenberg, the nine-year-old Oldenburg gelding, has only two FEI Grand Prix Freestyles to his name, but he is ridden by a member of Germany&rsquo;s 2024 Olympic gold medal team.&nbsp;
The pair arrive off a strong showing at last week&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/down-the-road-from-wellington">Gold Coast Opener</a>, where Wandres won the Grand Prix on a 71.326% and returned the following day to win the Grand Prix Special on a higher 72.298%. Scoring higher in the Special than the Grand Prix is notable and points to the technical accuracy we&rsquo;ve come to expect from the Germans. In theory, that should translate well to the freestyle that builds upon a strong technical base with artistry and musicality.&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">Experience Lower Down the Order</h2>
Ashley Holzer and Hawtins San Floriana round out the group of realistic contenders. The mare has steadily improved her freestyle marks, most recently earning a personal best of 75.010% at AGDF 1, placing them squarely within the mid-70s range occupied by several podium threats.
Holzer, a three-time Olympian, joins fellow Canadian Olympian Chris von Martels in adding depth and experience to Friday&rsquo;s freestyle lineup.
<h2 dir="ltr">What to Watch</h2>
Friday&rsquo;s freestyle brings together a mix of proven international riders and developing freestyle partnerships in a prestigious CDI5* setting. Catch the action live on <a href="https://www.clipmyhorse.tv/en_US/events/18391/adequan-global-dressage-festival-iii">USEF Network</a> starting at 7:15 p.m. ET. <a href="https://www.usef.org/membership/join-renew">Sign up for free</a> as a fan to stream the action.
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Close-up of a dressage horse wearing a crystal-trimmed ear bonnet during competition

Wellington CDI5* Draws International Freestyle Field

The Open Weekly graphic featuring an image of Boyd Martin on his horse. 

The Open Weekly: This Week’s Results, Leaderboard Moves, and What’s Next

Qualifier 4 of the US Equestrian Open of Dressage takes place this weekend at the Gold Coast Opener, held at Jim Brandon Equestrian Center&mdash;just fifteen minutes down the road from Wellington International and the Adequan&reg; Global Dressage Festival. The drive is short, but the atmosphere is entirely different. Where Wellington delivers international stars and polished spectacle, Gold Coast is run by the Gold Coast Dressage Association, an organization focused on education and the development of amateur sport.
The show offers a notably more relaxed environment to contest an FEI freestyle, particularly for horses still establishing themselves at the level. This season&rsquo;s Open Series also requires only four qualifying freestyle runs rather than six, making low-pressure starts like this quite useful, even if the immediate stakes remain modest with 20 points available to the winner in a field of seven.
<h2 dir="ltr">The Known Quantities</h2>
Charlotte Jorst returns to a venue that has treated her exceptionally well. The top amateur rider in the United States, Jorst has represented the US on championship teams and finished seventh at last year&rsquo;s Open Final in a competitive field. She won this leg a year ago with Zhaplin Langholt, posting a 73.985 percent&mdash;one of the strongest scores of her career and just shy of the pair&rsquo;s personal best. Gold Coast has historically suited them, and in a field like this, Jorst enters as the clear favorite. A new personal best is not out of the question.
Ellesse Gundersen is the only other rider in the field who has already logged a Series start this season, and that first result is worth a closer look. Gundersen and Quintessential 4 made their FEI freestyle debut in December at Ocala, opening the 2026 season with a fourth-place finish in a field of eight. That alone is a solid start for a debut international freestyle.
But look at who they finished ahead of. Their 72.350 percent beat <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/ben-and-bellena-save-their-best-for-last" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reigning Equestrian Open champions</a> Benjamin Ebeling and Bellena. Now, were Ben and Bellena operating at full capacity? No, probably not. They'd just won a $200,000 championship and had nothing to prove. But it is still an achievement worth noting for Gunderson. That single score also sits above Jorst&rsquo;s current 11-run FEI freestyle average. Yes, it is a sample size of one, making it futile to draw any statistically meaningful conclusions. Still, expect Gundersen near the top of this class. She may even give the favorite a real run for her money.
<h2 dir="ltr">Different Kinds of Firsts</h2>
Beyond the favorites, several combinations here are riding their first freestyle of one kind or another.
Sylvia Gugler and Vulkano 14 headline that group with the horse&rsquo;s first freestyle appearance of his career. Gold Coast offers a sensible setting for that step, and the emphasis this weekend is undoubtedly on completing the test.&nbsp;
Caleb Scroggins and Villanelle follow in a similar vein, though with a slightly different kind of first. While the pair have competed nationally, this marks Villanelle&rsquo;s first FEI freestyle, making the class an opportunity to gain experience at the international level.&nbsp;
Finally, Frederic Wandres brings a third variation. Zara K 2 will contest only his second freestyle overall, and the first with Wandres in the tack.&nbsp;
This week&rsquo;s field is typical Gold Coast. It&rsquo;s a place where established combinations can return to familiar footing, newer partnerships can test a freestyle for the first time, and the class itself is allowed to unfold without much pretense attached.
&nbsp;
<hr>
For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at <a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.
For media inquiries about the US Equestrian Open Series, please contact Carly Weilminster at <a href="mailto:cweilminster@usef.org">cweilminster@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;
For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;

Close up of chestnut horse's head and neck in a dressage double bridle

Charlotte Jorst Is the Favorite at Gold Coast

Qualifier 3 of the US Equestrian Open of Dressage concluded Friday night in Wellington with a result that felt both <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/qualifier-3-preview-get-used-to-hearing-about-indian-rock" target="_blank" rel="noopener">expected</a>, yet historic. Christian Simonson and Indian Rock delivered an 81.445 percent Grand Prix Freestyle, setting a new personal best for the pair and the highest score recorded in Open Series history to date.
The win marked Simonson&rsquo;s second victory of the season and extended an eight-start winning streak that now spans multiple venues and levels. While Indian Rock has scored higher in the past with his previous rider, Emmelie Scholtens, Friday&rsquo;s test represented a new high point for this partnership, one that continues to progress at a notable pace.
From the opening line, the freestyle had a sense of ease that carried through the test. That impression was reflected across the panel, with all five judges placing the combination first and awarding marks that reinforced both the technical quality and overall impression. The final score edged past Simonson and Indian Rock&rsquo;s previous Open Series record of 81.405 percent, set last season.
A day earlier, Simonson and Indian Rock scored 76.043 percent in the Grand Prix, the highest mark by an American rider at that level since Adrienne Lyle and Salvino posted 77 percent on the same grounds three years ago. Together, the two scores place Simonson and Indian Rock atop a small but growing group of younger American riders now producing internationally competitive numbers with increasing regularity.
The result also carried practical consequences. With the win, Simonson and Indian Rock clinched their qualification for the FEI Dressage World Cup Final in Fort Worth, Texas this spring, becoming the first American combination to do so this season. It is another milestone in what has been a rapid ascent for the 23-year-old rider, who climbed from No. 151 to No. 15 in the world rankings this month, now the highest-ranked American rider globally.
&ldquo;At the end of the test I was shaking my head in absolute disbelief,&rdquo; Simonson said.
<blockquote>
&ldquo;Since I started riding, I&rsquo;ve been coming to this show and always hoped that one day I could do Friday Night Stars because it&rsquo;s the epitome of amazing dressage freestyles in Florida. So, on that last centre line, I was just thinking, &lsquo;Whoa, this is me doing this with the Indian Rock. I can&rsquo;t believe it.&rsquo;&rdquo;
</blockquote>
Behind the winners, Ge&ntilde;ay Vaughn and Gino finished second on 75.790 percent, backing up their December win in California with a solid result in a deeper field. Ashley Holzer and Hawtins San Floriana took third on 75.010 percent, narrowly ahead of Caroline Darcourt and Lord Django, who posted a 74.695 percent freestyle at the venue where they once set their career high.
With three qualifiers now complete, the Open Series leaderboard has begun to take shape. Simonson leads with 40 points, followed by Vaughn on 30, while the remaining positions reflect a mix of single starts and early-season exploration.
&nbsp;
<hr>
For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at <a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.
For media inquiries about the US Equestrian Open Series, please contact Carly Weilminster at <a href="mailto:cweilminster@usef.org">cweilminster@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;
For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;

Christian Simonson on Indian Rock in the trot in Wellington Florida

We Warned You About Indian Rock

Qualifier 3 of the US Equestrian Open of Dressage takes place this week in Wellington, with nine combinations set to contest the freestyle. The field includes the winners from both December qualifiers, bringing Christian Simonson and Indian Rock together with Ge&ntilde;ay Vaughn and Gino in the same class. The points available are modest, but the field is strong enough to make this a useful early-season reference.
This is the first Wellington qualifier of the 2026 season. The calendar says &ldquo;Qualifier 3,&rdquo; but the context feels closer to that of an opening weekend. The Adequan Global Dressage Festival is where winter campaigns actually begin, and the scores posted here hold their relevance longer than anyone plans for at the start of January.
<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-dPK15" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Grand Prix Freestyle Stats: AGDF 1" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/dPK15/1/" height="831" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Table" data-external="1"></iframe>
<h2 dir="ltr">Indian Rock Sets the Bar (Again)</h2>
Christian Simonson and Indian Rock enter as the clear statistical leader. Winners of Qualifier 1, they also hold the highest freestyle average in the field at 79.871 percent, supported by a personal best of 82.095.
That makes the framing simple: Qualifier 3 is Simonson&rsquo;s to lose. Another test in the low 80s would also lift Indian Rock&rsquo;s career freestyle average to 80 percent, a mark no other Series horse has reached. The pair is only eight months into their partnership, but they&rsquo;ve clicked quickly. Many riders struggle to access a horse&rsquo;s previous peak; Simonson appears to have found it almost immediately.
The field size this weekend caps the points for a win at twenty, but it would make Simonson the Series&rsquo; first two-leg winner of 2026. As long as he continues to perform at this level, Indian Rock remains very good at making life inconvenient for everyone else.
<h2 dir="ltr">Gino Steps Back Into the Florida Conversation</h2>
Ge&ntilde;ay Vaughn&rsquo;s return to Florida is one of the more telling developments this week. She and Gino arrive off a win at Qualifier 2 in California, where they set a new personal best of 76.415 percent. That score raised their freestyle average to 74.053 percent.
Vaughn has wintered in Florida before, but she skipped the circuit last season. Being back now reads as a clear intention for the season&mdash;she&rsquo;s gunning for something big. Instead of easing into the year regionally, she&rsquo;s opting to line up against the strongest domestic combinations right away.
A solid mid-70s score here would suggest the California result was not simply a product of geography, which is often the unspoken question.
<h2 dir="ltr">Lord Django&rsquo;s Question of Form</h2>
Caroline Darcourt and Lord Django remain the obvious wildcard. They hold the second-highest freestyle average in the field at 75.382 percent and the second-highest personal best at 78.170.
That personal best came at this venue in 2023, in Lord Django&rsquo;s Grand Prix Freestyle debut, but he has not returned to that scoring potential since. Results since then have been more uneven, though recent form suggests some upward movement. Their most recent freestyle, a 75.135 percent in Stockholm last November, points to a combination working its way back toward that earlier standard.
It&rsquo;s the kind of record that invites pause. The ability is clearly there. But whether Wellington in 2026 becomes the place where Lord Django reconnects with his peak&mdash;or simply confirms steady upward progress&mdash;will be one of the more interesting threads to follow this weekend.
<h2 dir="ltr">Filling Out the Class</h2>
Several experienced combinations round out the field. Chloe Gasiorowski and Sam Donnerhall bring a freestyle average of 73.372 percent with a personal best of 77.160, suggesting both range and variability. Ashley Holzer and Hawtins San Floriana sit at a 72.571 percent average from a smaller sample, which at this stage mostly means &ldquo;still defining the baseline.&rdquo;
Susan Dutta and Don Design DC arrive with one of the deeper records in the class, logging 13 freestyle starts and a 71.611 percent average. Tiago Ernesto and Hobbit Interargo are earlier in that process, with limited FEI freestyle data but a personal best of 70.575 percent that at least puts a number on the board.
Michael Klimke&rsquo;s start aboard Harmony&rsquo;s Fado marks the horse&rsquo;s FEI debut. The goal here is experience, not heroics. Everyone involved would likely settle happily for &ldquo;uneventful and informative.&rdquo;
<h2 dir="ltr">What This Weekend Is (and Isn&rsquo;t)</h2>
With nine competitors, Qualifier 3 is not a points bonanza. Anyone with real leaderboard ambitions will still need repeat appearances later in the season.
What Wellington does offer is clarity. It gives early comparisons, sets reference scores, and starts answering questions that will come up again in March, April, and beyond. For an early January stop, that&rsquo;s doing its job.
<hr>
For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at <a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.
For media inquiries about the US Equestrian Open Series, please contact Carly Weilminster at <a href="mailto:cweilminster@usef.org">cweilminster@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;
For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;

A dressage rider pats his horse’s neck after a freestyle test at WEC Ocala in December, wearing a black tailcoat and helmet as the horse lowers its head in the arena.

Qualifier 3 Preview: Get Used to Hearing About Indian Rock

The 2026 US Equestrian Open of Dressage continues this weekend at Desert Dressage III, with the Grand Prix Freestyle set for Saturday, December 20, at 5:00 p.m. PT. As the second qualifier of the season, this marks the first opportunity for West Coast combinations to put points on the board.
The field is compact at just five entries, which places a natural ceiling on points. With five starters, the winner can earn a maximum of 15 points, highlighting the disadvantage smaller West Coast fields will have this season.
Many of these horses were last seen at this same venue just a month ago during the <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/the-freestyle-finale-your-usual-suspects" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2025 Final</a>, giving the weekend a familiar feel despite the calendar turning over to a new season.
<h2 dir="ltr">A Polishing Phase for Gino</h2>
Ge&ntilde;ay Vaughn and Gino enter the freestyle with the strongest average in the field, carrying a 73.758% across eight FEI Grand Prix Freestyles, alongside a personal best of 75.875%. The pair debuted a new freestyle floorplan at the Final last month, and while the performance lacked the polish they may have hoped for, the foundation is clearly there.
This weekend is one of refinement. With a new season underway and no pressure to chase big points early, Desert Dressage offers a low-stakes setting to continue smoothing out the details and letting the choreography settle.
<h2 dir="ltr">Momentum Watch: Jorst and Zhapplin</h2>
Charlotte Jorst and Zhapplin Langholt come in off a <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/whos-on-form-for-the-final" target="_blank" rel="noopener">strong showing</a> at the 2025 Final at this same venue, where they scored 73.305%, nearly two points above their career average. Though they&rsquo;re often associated with the Florida circuit, the pair has remained on the West Coast since Thermal, where they are based in Reno, Nevada when not in Florida. If they bring that same form back to the ring this weekend, they have a real path to the top in this five-horse field.
<h2 dir="ltr">Familiar Names</h2>
Brittney Simpson and Kartsevo Goldfinch bring a freestyle personal best of 72.010% into the weekend, though their average sits slightly lower at 68.613%. With nine freestyle starts behind them, this pair has enough mileage to make gains if things align.
Meanwhile, Patty Mayer and Pio are likely to catch some eyes &mdash; especially for those who remember seeing Pio&rsquo;s name last month. That appearance, however, came in a different discipline entirely, as Pio competed in the FEI Para Grand Prix test at Thermal. This weekend marks a return to the conventional Grand Prix freestyle stage for the horse, with this being his second FEI freestyle.
<h2 dir="ltr">Series Implications</h2>
With just five combinations, the points on offer this weekend are limited, and any real movement will require repeat appearances later in the season. Desert Dressage marks the first opportunity for West Coast riders to get on the board and establish a baseline, while offering an early look at how the new points system shapes Series positioning.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/472b60ac-2918-4b5b-b370-f6699e0cbf6b.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Dressageopensched2026">
<hr>
For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at <a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.
For media inquiries about the US Equestrian Open Series, please contact Carly Weilminster at <a href="mailto:cweilminster@usef.org">cweilminster@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;
For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;

Charlotte Jorst rides Zhapplin Langholt in collected trot during Grand Prix competition.

Desert Dressage Hosts the First West Coast Qualifier of 2026

As expected, Christian Simonson and Indian Rock opened the 2026 US Equestrian Open of Dressage with a win, topping the class on a 78.840%. It marks their second World Cup qualifier victory in the past three months and moves Simonson into third in the FEI World Cup standings&mdash;behind Benjamin Ebeling and Kevin Kohmann&mdash;as the race intensifies for one of North America&rsquo;s three qualifying spots for the World Cup Final in Fort Worth, Texas, four months from now.
<h2 dir="ltr">A Wide Spread on a Clean Test</h2>
While this weekend&rsquo;s score sits a few percentage points below the pair&rsquo;s debut earlier this fall, it remains a strong result. Still, a closer look at the score sheets reveals a striking judging spread.
Simonson and Indian Rock delivered what was, by any measure, a fault-free test. Yet the difference between the high and low marks totaled more than ten percentage points. Gabriela Valeri&aacute;nov&aacute; (H) awarded an 83.525%, while Brenda Minor (B) scored the ride at 73.225%.
Interestingly, the variation did not come from the individual movements themselves. Across the panel, most marks stayed within a reasonable range, rarely differing by more than a point and often not involving Minor at all.The divergence emerged almost entirely in the artistic scores, each carrying a 4x coefficient. While the rest of the judges rewarded the performance with consistent 8s and 9s, Minor stayed firmly in the 7 range, only reaching an 8.9 for degree of difficulty. The result was an unusually low overall score from a single judge, despite broad agreement elsewhere.
That lack of alignment extended down the leaderboard. While the final placings appeared relatively consistent, the scorecards revealed a different pattern. Overall totals from judge to judge were notably closer than in Simonson&rsquo;s case, but the individual movement marks showed significantly more variation. A canter pirouette might earn a 7 from one judge and a 4 from another. Two judges could award 7s for piaffe while a third landed at a 5. Notably, the lowest mark rarely came from the same judge, making it clear that the variation was not driven by a single consistently harsh scorer.
<h2 dir="ltr">A Quiet Start for the Defending Champion</h2>
Defending Series champion Benjamin Ebeling and Bellena finished fifth on a 71.790%&mdash;a result below their recent average, but not one that raises alarms. The pair have been remarkably consistent over the past season, and this performance reads more like a let-up on the gas than a red flag as they ease into the new year.
Instead of their usual run of 7.5s and 8s, the score sheet leaned heavily on 6.5s and 7s, and errors in the one-tempis proved costly. Those details made the difference this time, but unless they start to repeat, they are unlikely to be cause for concern. Ebeling remains a proven contender and is well positioned to make a World Cup run in Wellington early next season.
<h2 dir="ltr">Westward Bound</h2>
The Series heads west next weekend for the first West Coast qualifier of the 2026 season, which also doubles as a World Cup qualifier. Expect a smaller field but no shortage of quality.
It will also offer the first real look at the new points system in action. With historically leaner West Coast entries, next week&rsquo;s winner is unlikely to earn the same haul of points as Simonson did in Ocala, reflecting a system that now rewards how many riders you beat rather than simply where you place.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/c3546a81-b82e-4bd7-940c-bd104895ed19.png?width=1253&amp;height=794" alt="Screenshot showing the 2026 US Equestrian Open of Dressage standings after Ocala, with Christian Simonson leading the leaderboard.">

Close-up portrait of a dressage horse in bridle and crystal browband.

Simonson and Indian Rock Start 2026 on Top

The first freestyle of the 2026 US Equestrian Open of Dressage kicks off tomorrow in Ocala, and it&rsquo;s nothing short of a proper season opener. A deep field, the reigning Finals champion, and the highest-scoring pair of 2025 all converge, giving us an early look at the storylines that may shape the months ahead.&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">Indian Rock&rsquo;s New Era</h2>
Few combinations in the world enter 2026 with more intrigue than Christian Simonson and Indian Rock. Simonson took over the ride on the Dutch stallion last May, taking the reins of a horse with Olympic mileage, an 82.095% personal best under Emmelie Scholtens, and an 81.750% finish at the Paris Games. It&rsquo;s a major inheritance for any rider, let alone one who is only 23.
But from the moment Simonson swung a leg over, the results spoke for themselves. Their first Grand Prix together was a 70.543%, followed by a 74.277% Grand Prix Special, the sport&rsquo;s most demanding and unforgiving test. Then in October, they debuted their freestyle: 81.405%, the <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/simonson-shakes-the-series-at-terranova" target="_blank" rel="noopener">highest score recorded</a> in the entire 2025 Open season.
Transitions like this don&rsquo;t often come together so quickly. Many riders never access a horse&rsquo;s previous peak, yet Simonson already has. Tomorrow&rsquo;s freestyle offers the next glimpse of where this young partnership is headed&mdash;and a chance for spectators to simply enjoy two genuinely exciting performers do their thing.&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">The Champion Returns</h2>
The last time Ben Ebeling and Bellena rode under a spotlight, they walked out of the arena as the inaugural <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/ben-and-bellena-save-their-best-for-last">US Equestrian Open Final champions</a> with a personal best of 79.930%. It was the culmination of a year in which they built their entire Grand Prix career inside the Series: from their freestyle debut in April to that electric November finish, they grew sharper, braver, and more expressive with every start.
Bellena originally competed under Ebeling&rsquo;s father, Jan, before Ben took the reins in early 2025. Their very first freestyle together was a 75.740%, and the rise since then has been unmistakable. They broke their personal best four times in six months, won three qualifiers, and ended the year as Final champions&mdash; all before the partnership reached its first anniversary.
After the season they had, they don&rsquo;t need another career-defining ride tomorrow. This weekend just gives us a sense of how they&rsquo;re carrying that momentum into 2026.&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">The Watch List</h2>
Behind the two headliners sits a group of combinations worth watching for very different reasons.
Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu and Jaccardo arrive with limited freestyle mileage but meaningful promise. Their two FEI freestyles averaged 76.823%, with a 77.520% personal best, and they were poised for a strong showing at Devon before an elimination took them out of contention. With so few data points, Ocala might give us the first real sense of where this pair fits in the broader 2026 picture.
For Erin Nichols and Elian Royale, the numbers are fuller: a 72.266% average and a 75.975% PB, plus a consistent trend upward throughout last season. Elian Royale is a horse who tends to shine in freestyles, and Nichols has shown she can coax quality out of high-energy environments. If they open the season in the mid-70s, that would signal a continuation rather than a reset.
And then there&rsquo;s Jennifer Williams with Babylon Berlin, a horse she seriously considered taking to the Final last year. With just one FEI freestyle on the record &mdash; a 74.005% &mdash; Babylon Berlin is still developing, but Williams clearly believes in his future. He reads like championship material once the strength and polish come together, and this weekend might tell us whether that maturity is arriving early in 2026 or building more gradually. Either way, it&rsquo;s always compelling to watch an experienced rider guide a young Grand Prix horse into his next stage.
<h2 dir="ltr">Opening Bars of 2026</h2>
It&rsquo;s only Qualifier One, and no one is crowning a champion this early. The fun of early-season qualifiers is getting these combinations back in the ring, checking in on familiar faces, and seeing the first hints of what 2026 might hold. Between a world-class young rider on a world-class horse, a Finals champion on a sharp rise, and the middle of the pack with genuine potential, Ocala offers a strong opening frame for the season.
Good horses, good riders, and good music. Hard to argue with that.&nbsp;

Christian Simonson smiles while riding Indian Rock in competition at the US Equestrian Open of Dressage.

Dressage