-- WEC press release
The first international dressage competition of the 2026 show season at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Florida, began on Friday 30 January 2026.
Two grand prix classes were on the first day featuring six riders in total, three in each tour. Nora Batchelder and Nova topped the Grand Prix for Special, while Charlotte Osborne (GBR) and Fruhlingszauber, won the Grand Prix for Freestyle CDI3*.
Batchelder Wins GP for Special
Batchelder, of nearby Williston, FL, has ridden Nova for more than four years and has trained the horse from the Seven-Year-Old Young Horse classes to grand prix. Nova is one of 13 horses that Batchelder has brought to the grand prix level, and she knew from the start that Nova had the talent to reach the top.
“She's definitely the fanciest horse I've ever sat on,” she said of the 11-year-old Oldenburg mare by Grand Galaxy Win T x Romanov. “She's very powerful. Getting into the large tour is always a big jump, but I feel like every time we do it, we get more confident, and that's fun. I want everyone to see how amazing she is.”
This was their fifth show together in grand prix at the international level, and they had not shown in FEI competition since January 2025.
Batchelder and Nova scored 66.087% to win, while Marta Renilla (USA) and Olympic Star, an 11-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding (by Don Olymbrio L x Stedinger) owned by ISA-Rosal LLC, finished second. Coming in third were Jorge Rene Arauz (USA) and London Do Vouga, a 12-year-old Lusitano stallion (by D’Accord do Mito x Trinco) owned by Dulce Borjas.
Batchelder stated that Nova’s presence is her best attribute. “She’s a really beautiful horse,” she added, “and she has beautiful gaits. She loves being in the awards and showing off.”
In this grand prix test, Batchelder was pleased with their pirouettes and two-tempi changes. “Overall, I think the canter work was pretty good,” she said. “The trot work can be a real highlight, but we were a little tentative today. I feel like it can be so much better.”
Osborne Aces GP for Kur
Charlotte Osborne and Fruhlingszauber, an 18-year-old Austrian Warmblood gelding by Fortino x Rubinstein I, scored a personal best of 65.674% to win the Grand Prix for Freestyle CDI3* in only their fifth FEI Grand Prix class together.
After graduating college with a sports science equestrian degree – “It’s the biology of humans and horses, so you really learn how the body reacts to exercise and the biological processes that happen through that.” – she was given a working student position in the Netherlands, where she met her husband (who is not a horse person), and was then advised to come to the United States.
At the age of 24, Osborne and her husband, their two dogs, and their cat packed up and moved to the United States. After her husband realized he wasn’t a horse groom and started his own business, they had two children and have made their home in their adopted country for the past 10 years. Based in Canton, GA, Osborne trains horses and riders and imports horses from Europe, which is the main part of her business.
“We have the most wonderful set of clients,” she said. “Something I’ve learned is that you can ride, but it doesn't mean anything if you don't have the supportive owners, good grooms, vets, and farriers. The biggest key that I found to success is that you just absolutely cannot do it by yourself. It's 100% a team.”
“Ozzie” was sent to Osborne as a sale horse more than two years ago, and she sold him after a couple months of being able to show him in the national grand prix classes.
“I did my first grand prix with him and scored almost 70% at national and then two days later he sold,” explained Osborne.
His new owner, Lisa Carol, eventually called Osborne to bring Ozzie back into training with her. “Lisa has been incredibly kind,” said Osborne. “She's really taken a backseat in her training to let me ride him. The whole year has been unexpected, because I never really thought I would be able to do this level.”
At the November show at WEC, they won the Grand Prix Freestyle CDI3*, their first international victory. For Saturday’s test, Osborne isn’t necessarily aiming for the top of the podium.
“As long as we do a test that we're proud of, that's really all I care about,” she remarked. “We’ll put our best foot forward, and if that happens to do well, then amazing.”
Second place went to Claire Darnell (USA) riding her own Harrold S, a 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Vivaldi x Fidermark with 64.174%. Sylvia Gugler (USA) took third place on Vulkano 14, an 11-year-old Warmblood by Van Vivaldi I x Sir Donnerhall I, owned by Gugler and Gugler Sport Horses Gmbh & Co. with 63.935%
Related Link
Scores: 2026 CDI Ocala