Philippines' Ellesse Tzinberg Gundersen Declares for the U.S.A.

Dressage

U.S.A.

Ellesse Tzinberg Gundersen, a Wellington, Florida based dressage rider who competed for the Philippines, has declared for the U.S.A. Her flag changed in the FEI database on 1 December 2023.

Globe Trotter

The 32-year old Ellesse Jordan Tolentino Tzinberg Gundersen is a globetrotter. She has an American father with Russian roots, while her Philippine mom is from Spanish descent. She began her international equestrian career in 2006 as a show jumping rider. In 2012 she suffered a very severe car accident in which she injured her spine and neck making riding very painful and returned to riding through dressage and to competitive jumping in California in 2013.

In 2013 she moved to Sweden and worked with Rasmus and Charlotte Haid-Bondergaard. She began her international dressage career on schoolmaster Pavarotti, a then 18-year old KWPN gelding by Ferro x Saros),which she bought from German Victoria Michalke, and then Triviant (by Olivia x Saluut) followed with whom she represented The Philippines at the 2018 World Equestrian Games and World Cup Final in Paris.

By that time Ellesse had moved to Florida, where she met her husband Hendrik Gundersen, a Danish show jumping horse dealer whom she married in 2019. Ellesse returned to CDI competition two years after the retirement of Triviant. In 2020 she competed Villeroy Nord (by Vivaldi x Sandro Hit) at small tour level through February 2021. This year she presented the home-bred Quintessential (by Quaterback x Cordoba) at medium and big tour level.

Declares for the U.S.A.

Ellesse rode her first CDI with the American flag on her saddle pad this weekend at the CDI-W Ocala

"I have always felt very American with an American father and living now in the states for over 13 years, with a short time of a couple years in Europe," Ellesse told Eurodressage. "My family is here now, my son is building a life here and our business Horse Gym USA is very exciting here. Additionally my top GP horse is co-owned by a wonderful American lady who has always supported my vision and passion for the horses, so I feel excited for her that she co owns a very competitive horse for top level that could potentially be very successful for the US. We like to dream big."

With Triviant at the 2018 World Cup Finals

Ellesse credits former U.S. Developing Team Trainer Charlotte Bredahl for giving her the push to change.

"Charlotte bredahl has actually been a big help in this decision and over the last year she has been such a supportive helping hand through the process and decision making period," said Ellesse. "I think I always knew what I wanted but she made the extra effort to talk with me and she guided me to believe in my decision and feel good about it."

When asked if she believes she more chances to make it to championships riding for the U.S.A. instead of being one of just two Philippine CDI riders, at the moment, in the world, Ellesse replied, "I already went to a WEG and also a World Cup final, even though I need to redeem myself after that. So it’s not so much about getting to qualify for championships. I want to go to championships, of course, but I believe this is also possible for me for the US. It all depends on if you have the right horse the right timing the right everything. It was very hard to be the “only” rider because actually qualifying as an individual for example like for the Olympics is really tough and also really expensive and I had to personally fund every single thing."

Tzinberg added that, "my goal every day and every week is to be a better rider a better trainer and to do better for my horses and I hope that in time by going on this path it will result in opportunities to represent the U.S. I hope that riders from Asia and around the world still reach out to me for any advice, help, or guidance they might need to navigate the sport and I hope they know I will always do what I can to support young riders and the development of horsemen and women regardless of where you come from."