Top Contenders Set for $200,000 U.S. Open Dressage Final

The inaugural $200,000 U.S. Open dressage final appears to have come down to a battle between three regulars on the Florida circuit--two Americans and a German--whose highest scores after 25 qualifiers over 10 months were separated by under a point.

The final at Thermal, California next week (Nov. 13-16) is down to 14 rider and horse combinations and not the 18 intended, as World Cup qualifying events in Mexico and Canada drained the pool of prospects.

Christian Simonson on Indian Rock, the top scoring duo of all at 81.405% for the deciding Grand Prix Freestyle, the highest for an American since 2023 when his coach, Adrienne Lyle on Salvino, and Steffen Peters on Suppenkasper, were higher.

Christian was already committed to a World Cup event in Ocala, Florida next month following a victory at TerraNova near Sarasota that puts him at the age of 25 on a path to becoming one of three North Americans to earn a start at the World Cup Final in Fort Worth, Texas next April.

The three remaining top scorers to enter the Thermal US Open are:

--Anna Marek of Dunnellen, Florida on Fayvel (78.785%), the 15-year-old gelding that was her 2024 World Cup championship mount;

--Felicitas Hendricks, of Hagen, Germany on the 14-year-old gelding Drombusch OLD (78.200%), a partnership that is a regular on Wellington's winter circuit and was European Under-25 champion in 2023, and

--Benjamin Ebeling based in Wellington and also at the 2024 World Cup Final, on Bellena (78.055%), 15-year-old mare that he took over from his Olympic team rider father at the beginning of this year.

The lineup (in alphabetical order) for the Open final to be decided by the Grand Prix Freestyle

Adriane Alvord USA & Selfmade

Laine Ashker USA & Zeppelin

Laura DeCesari USA & Rossi

Ben Ebeling USA & Bellena

Jan Ebeling USA & Jubi's Tenacity

Kristina Harrison Antell USA & Finley

Felicitas Hendricks Germany & Drombusch OLD

Charlotte Jorst USA & Zhaplin Langholt

Karen Lipp USA & Infinity

Anna Marek USA & Fayvel

Nadine Schwartsman USA & Royal Flash R

Günter Seidel USA & Jack

Brittney Simpson Canada & Kartsevo Goldfinch

Geñay Vaughn USA & Gino

Photo: Anna Marek on Fayvel competing at Wellington’s Global Dressage Festival. © 2025 Ken Braddick