Erin Nichols and Kevin Kohmann Are In For the Win at the 2026 CDI-W Wellington

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2026 CDI-W Wellington

-- GDF press release, edited by Eurodressage - Photos © Centre Line Media & Eurodressage

Two Grand Prix classes featured 24 big tour horses down centerline on the first day of Week 10 at the 2026 Global Dressage Festival (GDF) in Wellington, FL, with U.S. riders emerging victorious in both. Kevin Kohmann headed up the World Cup Grand Prix, riding Dünensee to 70.022%. Erin Nichols and Elian Royale claimed the blue ribbon with a new personal best in a tight contest in the CDI3* Grand Prix.

Nichols Makes Bridle Switch For the Win

In the 15-strong CDI3* Grand Prix, “a really cool journey” bore fruit for Erin Nichols (USA), who served up a personal best of 69.609% on her own Elian Royale, by Johnson. She presented the 17-year-old gelding in a snaffle for the first time and was rewarded with a relaxed, attentive ride.

“I’m a little speechless,” admitted the 23-year-old, who has been riding Elian for four years, during which time they have traveled the world to compete. “We came wanting to get more experience. Elian has taught me so much over the levels, from Young Riders, then U25 and now senior grand prix.

“Now he’s 17, and we’re going with the flow and enjoying the time we have together,” added Nichols, who is originally from California and now spends winter seasons in Wellington training with Cristoph Koschel. “We’ve been on a really cool journey and, clearly, it’s not over yet. Elian is such a character of a horse that even just riding him at home, going on hacks is super special.”

The idea to tackle the test in a snaffle bridle only materialized a week before the show, and Nichols decided to “just take a shot at it. And I really like the feeling.” Nichols plans to contest a couple more CDIs before making definite plans for the rest of 2026.

Nichols spearheaded a U.S. one-two-three-four in the class. Just 0.08 percentage points separated Endel Ots and Jordan LaPlaca in the remaining podium spots. Ots came out on top on the leaderboard, though three of the five judges placed LaPlaca ahead of him.

Graves on Java Dulce in February in the national ring

In their second show back following an international break of more than 18 months, Ots guided Zen Elite’s Bohemian to 68.674% with pleasing piaffe and passage, but mistakes in the one-time changes—which carry a doubling coefficient—were awarded fours from all five judges. Ots and the 16-year-old Bohemian (Bordeaux x Samarant) were the reserves for the U.S. team for the Paris 2024 Olympics.

In contrast, LaPlaca’s horse, Gold Play, is only just beginning his journey at international grand prix. This marks the 11-year-old Grey Flanell gelding’s third big tour CDI. A jumbled start to the zig-zag in an otherwise clean test cost LaPlaca valuable marks in another movement that also counts for double. They finished on 68.587%.

Laura Graves, who is now based in Wellington, made a welcome return to the CDI grand prix ring after an absence of almost seven years, having last competed at the level at the 2019 World Cup™ Final on Verdades. Graves is now back in action with Leslie Waterman’s Java Dulce. The 15-year-old Jazz gelding wobbled enthusiastically around the test for 65.913% and ninth place.

Kohmann On a Mission to Qualify for the World Cup Final

This week, Kohmann is on a mission to qualify for his third straight FEI World Cup™ Final on the 17-year-old Dancier gelding Dünensee, and winning the qualifying grand prix puts him in pole position. Friday evening’s freestyle is the last FEI World Cup™ qualifier of the North American League. Three riders qualify through to the Final in Texas in April, and Kohmann currently lies in fourth.

To move into third above Geñay Vaughn and clinch qualification, he must finish as the top North American rider with a score above 73.85%, which is well within reach. U.S. athlete Christian Simonson on Indian Rock and Canadian rider Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu on Jaccardo have already qualified for the final.

Kohmann and Dünensee in the CDI-W in February 2026

“I just wanted to go clean, so there was lots of conservative riding in there,” explained Kohmann. “Tomorrow we have the freestyle, and we’re good in that. I’m really looking forward to it. It’s kind of important this time, so we better pull it together. But I can rely on this horse, and I think we have a good chance of making it for the third time, which would be amazing.”

The trip to Texas would carry special meaning, as Kohmann rides Dünensee for Diamante Farms, which is owned by his wife, Devon Kane, and her family, who hailed from Texas before relocating to Florida.

Kohmann has a solid, trusting partnership with the horse, but the big occasions can still occasionally provide challenges. He shared that when “Dunee” gets tense he becomes strong in the hand, and Kohmann has to fight the instinct to pull back.

“When he pulls and I pull, it just becomes a pulling contest,” he revealed. “It sounds stupid, but it’s true. So, I pet him a lot. That’s how I make myself let go, and when I do that, he relaxes. You’ll see that tomorrow.

The top four riders in the class represented four different countries, with German Olympic team gold medalist Frederic Wandres coming in second of the nine starters. He rode the youngest horse in the field, Hof Kasselmann’s 10-year-old gelding Verrenberg (Vilancio x Johnson), to 69.478%.

Caroline Darcourt (SWE) scooped third with her 67.565% ride on class sponsor Lövsta Stuteri’s 16-year-old Stalypso gelding, Lord Django. In an unusual result, Spain’s Pablo Gómez Molino and Ashley Holzer (USA) tied for fourth, both scoring 67.065%.