Simonson Shakes the Series at TerraNova
A storybook freestyle and an 81.405% debut reshape the US Equestrian Open landscape.
Every once in a while, a horse and rider come along and completely rewrite the established narrative. This weekend at TerraNova, 23-year-old Christian Simonson and Indian Rock did just that.
Their Grand Prix Freestyle score? 81.405%.
Eighty. One. Percent.
In a field of eight, the young American and his new partner not only won their first CDI-W together but did it with the highest score ever recorded in the US Equestrian Open of Dressage.
A Storybook Debut
Simonson’s freestyle debut with Indian Rock felt like something out of a storybook, each chapter unfolding with drama and delight.
TerraNova marked Simonson’s first CDI-W appearance with Zen Elite Equestrian Center’s 12-year-old stallion, Indian Rock (Apache x Vivaldi). Previously campaigned by the Netherlands’ Emmelie Scholtens — who rode him at the 2024 Paris Olympics, finishing 11th with an 81.750% — Simonson took over the ride less than a year ago. Typically, partnerships need time to settle before scores rise again. But Christian and “Rocky” are clearly on their own timeline.
“To compete in my first CDI-W, let alone have the placing and score that we did today, was just a dream come true,” Simonson said. “He’s kind of my best friend. He and I are real bros. We spend so much time together grazing and hanging out... He’s such a cool character.”
Their test was bold yet precise, with artistry peaking at 87.600% and technical marks reaching 79.500%. The piaffe–passage work and canter pirouettes earned some of the highest marks of the season, and Rocky’s elasticity allowed for a 9.5 degree of difficulty, a score on par with fellow rising star Felicitas Hendricks.
It was the first time since Adrienne Lyle’s 80%+ freestyles on Helix — Indian Rock’s half-brother — that a rider crossed the 80 percent barrier in the Series. The symmetry is hard to miss. Both horses share Apache bloodlines and are owned by Zen Elite Equestrian Center, and while Helix is piloted by Lyle herself, Indian Rock is now ridden by her student.
While Simonson has only two qualifying starts this season, his timing might be better than it looks on paper. If he competes in Tryon this weekend and repeats anything close to this form, he has a real shot at qualifying for the Final in Thermal this year, a twist that could upend even the most well-calculated Final predictions.
The Contenders Close In
Behind Simonson’s record-breaking ride, two familiar names continued their steady climb. Benjamin Ebeling rode Bellena to a new personal best of 78.055% for the mare, reinforcing his position as one of the most consistent performers of the season. His balance of athletic precision and composure under pressure has kept him firmly in the title race, inching closer to Anna Marek’s long-standing lead.
Just behind him, Kevin Kohmann and Dünensee delivered a polished, expressive test for 77.17%. The score pushes Kohmann into a three-way tie for third on the overall Series standings — though his confirmation that he’ll skip the Final in favor of a World Cup event in Mexico leaves podium predictions tantalizingly open.
The Leaderboard Shockwave
When the dust settled at TerraNova, the leaderboard told a very different story than it had on Friday morning.
Anna Marek still holds the lead on 105 points, but her once-comfortable margin is shrinking. Ebeling’s latest result vaults him solidly into second with 94 points, while Kohmann’s performance locks him in a three-way tie for third with Kristina Harrison-Antell and Eline Eckroth, each sitting on 86 points. Jennifer Williams, on her debut with Babylon Berlin, climbs into the top 15 which is a promising development for a combination just finding its rhythm.
If Ebeling makes the trip to Tryon and continues his current trajectory, Marek’s six-month grip on first could finally be in jeopardy.
The Next Chapter Begins
Simonson’s breakthrough performance underscores why the Open was created. It offers a stage for rising riders to prove they can shine under pressure and to compete on a large stage.
The United States has a decade-defining stretch ahead: the World Cup Finals in Fort Worth in 2026, then the LA Olympics in 2028. If this weekend was any indication, Simonson embodies what’s next for US dressage: polish, poise, and ambition.
Even if Simonson doesn’t make the trip to Thermal this year, his name is now firmly in the conversation. And with Open qualifiers for the 2026 season right around the corner, it won’t be the last time we hear it.
