Combinations Announced for 2026 U.S. Grand Prix Championships and WEG Team Selection Trial

Dressage

U.S.A.

The United States Equestrian Federation has announced the 17 combinations have qualified and been invited to compete in the 2026 U.S. Grand Prix Championships which serve as a team selection trial for the 2026 World Championships in Aachen.

The U.S. Grand Prix Championship will take place at World Equestrian Center (WEC) in Ocala, Fla., on 13 - 17 May.

Selection Event for Euro Tour

The national championships are annually hosted in Wayne, ILL, but this year U.S team captain Christine Traurig chose for a different set up. "It is essential we see the top combinations on the same field of play with the same panel of judges in a comparable setting to what our experience will feel like in Aachen," Traurig stated last year in August.

To qualify for the Nationals riders were required to earn scores at CDI events to qualify for this Championship between 1 September 2025 and 4 May 2026. Combinations had to achieve a minimum overall average of 67% on the final ranking list in order to receive an invitation to this Championship.

Up to 15 athletes will be invited to the Championship, but USEF retained the option for three Wild Card invitations.

Based on the results at the Nationals as well as "proven ability" up to eight (8) athletes will be named to a Short List for the Euro tour. Short-listed U.S riders will compete at least at one of the designated shows in Europe (Rotterdam, Hagen, Falsterbo) after which the U.S. team for the 2026 World Championships will be announced

17 Invited

Fifteen combinations in total have qualified and two extra have been invited with a wild card to the National Championships. They are:

1 Genay Vaughn - Gino - 71.364
2 Kasey Perry-Glass - Heartbeat W.P. - 70.493
3 Christian Simonson - Fleau de Baian - 69.531
4 Jordan LaPlaca - Gold Play - 69.511
5 Meagan Davis - Toronto Lightfoot - 69.333
6. Anna Marek - Fayvel - 69.105
7. Ashley Holzer - Hawtins San Floriana Ocala - 68.883
8. Jennifer Williams - Joppe K - 68.669
9. Ellesse Gundersen - Quintessential - 68.248
10. Sarah Tubman - Dow Jones - 67.861
11. Katherine Bateson Chandler - Haute Couture - 67.790
12. Jodie Kelly-Baxley - Grayton Beach - 67.770
13. Nora Batchelder - Nova - 67.649
14. Kevin Kohmann - Famous - 67.589
15. Tina Konyot - Grover - 67.365 (pictured on top)

Wild Card invitations

Christian Simonson - Indian Rock - 75.420
Jaclyn Pepper-Millard - Limited Edition - 66.287 66.367

Alternates

16 Lars Petersen - Sang Real - 67.172
17 Kristina Harrison-Antell - Finley - 67.158

The Absentees

Christian Simonson trotting up Fleau de Baian

Striking absentees are the list leader, Marcus Orlob with his Paris Olympic mare Jane. They had a qualification score of 73.910% but the mare has been injured and is rehabilitating.

Paris Olympic team reserve pair - Endel Ots and Bohemian - have also withdrawn. After a busy Wellington season, the pair had a score of 69.053% (which would have ranked them 7th).

Come back "kid" Steffen Peters ranked 10th with his catch ride, Christina Vinios' Blue Hors Zirrus, on an average score of 68.099% but declined to go to Ocala.

There are several more prominent U.S Grand Prix riders who did not meet the qualifying requirements

Long-time U.S. team rider and Olympian Adrienne Lyle only recently made her come back on Paris Olympic mount Helix and did not have any qualification scores for the Nationals. Her second international Grand Prix horse, Lars van de Hoenderheide, last showed internationally in June 2024.

Others who are not qualified are World Cup finals pair Kevin Kohmann on Dunensee (average score 69.796%), Katie Duerhammer on Vividus QRE (70.236%), Devon Kane on Vamos (66.912%) and Laura Graves on J

Complete ranking list.