Simonson Secures Ticket to 2026 World Cup Final with 2026 CDI-W Wellington Kur Win

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2026 CDI-W Wellington

-- GDF press release, edited by Eurodressage - Photos © Lily Forado

At just 23 years old Christian Simonson is still well inside the eligibility window for under-25 competition. However, he blasted to the top of the leaderboard during the first Friday night freestyle evening at the 2026 Global Dressage Festival in Wellington, FL.

With a new personal best in the CDI-W Kur to Music he also booked his place to the World Cup Final, set for April in Fort Worth, Texas.

Relying on Experience

He and the powerhouse Indian Rock danced their way to a dazzling 81.445% victory in front of packed grandstands and sold out International Club during Lloyd Landkamer Memorial week, the first week of the 12-week GDF circuit.

Simonson only began his international show career with the experienced former Dutch team horse (by Apache x Vivaldi), debuting in May 2025, and they remain unbeaten in eight starts together. Indian Rock competed for The Netherlands at the 2023 European Championships and 2024 Olympic Games with Emmelie Scholtens before selling to Heidi Humphries in January 2025.

It was an all-American podium, with Geñay Vaughn and her mother Michelle Vaughn’s 15-year-old Bretton Woods gelding, Gino — last to go in the starting line-up of eight — claiming second place with 75.79%. It was a night for personal bests, with Ashley Holzer pulling off another for her 75.01% performance on her own and Diane Fellows’ 14-year-old San Amour mare, Hawtins San Floriana.

The class doubled as a qualifier for the US Equestrian Open of Dressage, now in its second season. This year it features 24 qualifiers—seven of which are held at AGDF—before the final in California in November. Simonson now sits atop the standings with 40 points, and Vaughn is second with 30.

Dream Fulfilled

For Simonson the chance to ride under the lights to his Joost Peters music medley from the Rocky films, was a dream fulfilled.

“At the end of the test I was shaking my head in absolute disbelief,” said Simonson, who trains with three-time U.S. Olympian Adrienne Lyle. “Since I started riding, I’ve been coming to this show and always hoped that one day I could do Friday Night Stars because it’s the epitome of amazing dressage freestyles in Florida. So, on that last centre line, I was just thinking, ‘Whoa, this is me doing this with the Indian Rock. I can’t believe it.’ It’s weird having a childhood dream come true in real time; this whole show has been surreal.”

North American League

Three riders can qualify in the North American League for the 2026 World Cup Finals.

The three best results achieved at a CDI-W competition count for the NAL ranking and the three highest ranking pairs on the NAL standing qualify for the Finals. With three victories, the maximum amount of points (60) is achieved.

The FEI rule (Art 16.9) reads that, "it will be the responsibility of the relevant NF to determine which three (3) Athletes to send to the FEI Dressage World CupTM Final in the event of more than three (3) Athletes qualifying from any one (1) NF as a result of participation in their own or another League or other use of Extra Starting places."

Vaughn Chasing

Vaughn’s trip from her California base proved fruitful, with more valuable World Cup and US Open points accrued with Gino. Like Simonson, she was also riding in her first freestyle at the CDI Wellington

“We drove for four days and arrived on Christmas,” she said. “The atmosphere here is amazing and I was really thankful that I got to take Gino down centre line at Friday Night Stars and experience this. I always have fun with my freestyle music. I used Donna Summers, the Ohio Players, and my dad’s favourite song, Never Too Much by Luther Vandross. It really embodies who I am and the music I grew up on.”

Holzer also used punchy music, this time with a patriotic theme, to secure her podium finish on Hawtins San Floriana.

“I’m an immigrant,” explained Holzer, who rode for Canada at four Olympics before switching codes. “I’m appreciative to be an American, and I think the Neil Diamond music suits her. It felt pretty amazing to feel everything come together in the test and have her trust me a bit more. She’s a hot mare with a lot of energy, and I was happy to feel her joyful in the ring.”

Shining Knight

In Friday’s daytime CDI 1* Intermediate I Canada’s Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu triumphed on her friend and compatriot Jill Irving’s 11-year-old, Knight. The Zack x Krack C gelding earned the blue ribbon with an impressive 71.294% performance. They also won the Prix St Georges on Thursday.

Chinese rider Zhanzhao Gu coaxed a personal best of 69% out of Xiao Weilin’s 16-year-old Sancisco gelding Shakespeare 82 for second place. Susan Dutta (USA) completed the trio of nations on the podium, securing third on Flying D Equine Company’s Diamond Royal DC (Diamond Hit x Royal Classic) with 67.324%.