On Sunday, November 2, 2025, the 2025 US Dressage Finals wrapped up at the World Equestrian Center (WEC) in Wilmington, OH, where a final string of titles was to be won across the levels.
Eurodressage focuses on the final FEI level titles:
Sixth Blue for Morin-Graham
Christina Morin-Graham was completely unbeatable in her three championship tests on her Jazz mare Ici De La Vigne. On Sunday, the 12-year-old scooped her third title of the show by taking the Prix St. Georges AA Championship — the sixth blue sash for her rider. Their score of 70.098% was the only one to break the 70% barrier in the class.
Kristin Wasemiller-Knutson Wins Open Grand Prix Freestyle
On Saturday evening, November 1 Kristin Wasemiller-Knutson danced her way to the champion’s blanket in the Open Grand Prix Freestyle with a fabulous ride on Vashti which garnered 72.25% and the nod from all three judges.
The pair finished as runners up in the previous evening’s Grand Prix but pulled out all the stops to land the freestyle title 24 hours later. The US Dressage Finals at World Equestrian Center (WEC) in Wilmington, OH, runs October 30 to November 2, 2025, and offers a prize fund of $125,000.
There was a sense of déjà vu as the same duo also won this class in 2021, so their names will once again be engraved on the Jazzman Perpetual Trophy, presented by Donna Richardson. Jennifer Roth clinched the reserve sash with a last-minute decision to contest the class after another competitor scratched. She piloted Barbara Lightner’s 12-year-old Lusitano Imperador DR to 71.258%. The 24-year-old Josefine Parada, who was jetting off on her honeymoon the following morning, filled third place with 71.125% on her own 14-year-old Floriscount gelding, Floyd.
“I could not have been happier with my ride; I didn’t care what the score was,” enthused Wasemiller-Knutson, who rode to a Bugs Bunny operetta compilation she edited herself as well as designing the complex floorplan. “I wanted to use that music, and it took me years to try to get it the way I wanted it.”
Wasemiller is a 1998 North American Young Riders Championships' alumni. She rode Gulliver at the NAYRC in Parker, CO In 2021 she won the small tour freestyle title on Vashti at the USDF Finals.
Vashti, who is by the pinto Friesian Sporthorse Nico — also sire of Adiah HP — was bred by Sherry Koella. She was at Finals to witness the cherished 17-year-old mare’s victory. Koella likes to breed for color, and when Vashti came out bay and soon became an orphan, Wasemiller-Knutson and her mother Dede Wasemiller took her in.
“We have been second several times in this class, so it was our goal to come back and win it,” added Wasemiller-Knutson, who trains mostly with her mom and is based four miles away from her farm in Oklahoma City.
Roth’s last-minute decision to ride in the Grand Prix Freestyle brought her total tally of Finals rides to 11. She was “off the charts pumped” with the result.
“I wasn’t even supposed to be in this class,” she explained. “The horse is an absolute machine and Kathy Rizzoni made him such a fun, upbeat freestyle. I was up there just dancing and singing, and when I hit that last line of ones, I thought, ‘Okay, I’ve done 15, let’s see how many more I can fit in.’ He was right there for me. That's probably the most fun I’ve ever had doing dressage.”
Roth partially attributed her great performance to help from long-time coach Sharon Ridge and warm-up help from Jim Koford, and partly to her brand new tailcoat bought on the day.
“It must be good luck; I’m never taking it off,” laughed Roth, who has been riding the Lusitano only since the spring of 2025. “I was given the ride to just play around, and here we are. Jim’s been convincing me that it’s okay to be fancy. I tend to go with the safe seven, and he’s helping me figure out that I can go for more. It’s pretty cool.”
Koch Wins Prix St. Georges Junior/YR Championship Title
Ryleigh Koch clocked up a 67.696% on Ruben D4K to claim the small tour sash in the rix St. Georges Junior/YR Championship. Koch attended the Dressage 4 Kids summer intensive program with Lendon Gray in Maine in 2020.
Koch initially acquired Ruben D4K, a 15-year-old gelding by Rubinero, through the Dressage 4 Kids program, and after three years was able to buy him in 2025.
“He had some behavior issues, but he has pushed through and become really special for us,” said the 19-year-old from Eastern Pennsylvania who trains with Cara Klothe. “He’s taught me a lot, and this win is a huge marker for us. To be at Finals and able to ride in a FEI class is awesome. Ruben has taught me to pick the underdog and take risks on horses.”
An 18hh Saint
Two young riders, Ava Noone and Eila Fisk, bagged their first titles of the 2025 Finals on the last day of competition. In the weeks leading up to the show, Noone’s horse Gucci, who stands at almost 18hh, had two abscesses and she did not know if he would be able to compete. Just in time, he came sound, and they traveled from Pittsburgh, PA, to WEC, where they hoisted the Intermediate I Junior/YR Championship title with 61.618%.
“The test was certainly not our best, but it was clean, which is what I was looking for seeing as he’s been on a bit of a break since Regionals,” said Noone of the 14-year-old Dutch gelding. “I was thrilled just to be able to come, so to catch this win is pretty special.”
The 18-year-old rider has owned the son of Briljant for three years after finding him through Franziska Seidl in Florida. Despite his stature, he has the temperament of “a big teddy bear.” He lives out with a group of friends in the field for 20 hours a day.
“I’ve met so many upper-level horses that are fresh and hot and difficult to take care of at home,” said Noone, who trains with her mother, Krista Tycho Noone. “He lives outside, I’ve thrown three-year-old children on him for their first riding lesson, and people have done their first change on him. He’s a saint.”
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