Four to Follow at the US Equestrian Open Final: Felicitas Hendricks

Germany’s Felicitas Hendricks is a staple on the Wellington podium, but for the first time in her already-storied career, she’s heading west. She’ll make her West Coast debut at the US Equestrian Open of Dressage Final in Thermal, CA.

In 15 career Grand Prix Freestyles together, Hendricks and Drombusch OLD (by Destano) have finished outside the top three only three times. In 2024, they went undefeated through their Wellington season. This year has been a quieter one, but even Hendricks’ so-called “off day” was a 75 — a score most riders would celebrate. 

Always in Rhythm

Across their four qualifier appearances, Hendricks and Drombusch OLD averaged a freestyle score of 76.533%. Their best outing came in January, when they won the first Adequan Global Dressage Festival qualifier with a 78.200%, dazzling judges with 20 one-tempis and an average degree of difficulty of 9.46. In just three months, they amassed 64 Series points before returning to Germany for the summer season.

“I feel like the sky really is the limit for this horse because he wants to do it, and I know he will," Hendricks said.

The Making of a Match

Trained by famed German coach Christoph Koschel, Hendricks has married classic schooling with contemporary flair. Her disco-inspired freestyle, set to music her mother danced to in the ’80s, is a crowd favorite. Drombusch himself lights up when the music comes over the loudspeakers.

“He’s such a big personality,” Hendricks laughed. “I really believe he knows his music. When the crowd starts clapping, it’s our favorite part.”

The pair has bonded over nearly a decade, and Hendricks says each competition season reveals new layers to his personality and ability. In addition to her recent senior success, she was the 2023 European Under-25 Grand Prix gold medalist and Freestyle silver medalist, helping Germany capture team gold at the U25 FEI European Championships. Now based in Hagen, Germany for the summer, she is making her first trip to the West Coast for the Final.

“I couldn’t wish for a better dance partner. Every day I think, I don’t want him to get older. I just want to freeze him and have him forever," Hendricks explained.

West of Wellington 

The Final in Thermal will be Hendricks’ first West Coast appearance and perhaps the biggest test of her career so far. Her record leaves little doubt about her ability, but this time she’ll be outside the familiarity of Wellington. If she can channel the same precision, composure, and trust that have defined her partnership with Drombusch, the path to the title may well run straight through her centerline.

For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at USEquestrianOpen@usef.org.

For media inquiries about the US Equestrian Open Series, please contact Carly Weilminster at cweilminster@usef.org. 

For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at lgriffin@usef.org.