Alexis Troutman and Mondo ‘L’ Take Overall Championship in Florida Youth Dressage Championships, Presented by Discover Dressage at WEC April Dressage CDI4*

26 APR 26 Ocala, FL

A rider in formal equestrian attire guides a brown horse through a dressage routine on a sandy arena with white fencing and a building in the background.

April 26, 2026 – Ocala, FL – The Florida Youth Dressage Championships (FYDC) presented by Discover Dressage held their awards presentations on Sunday, April 26, 2026, following three days of competition during the World Equestrian Center (WEC) April Dressage CDI4* at WEC – Ocala in Ocala, FL. Alexis Troutman (17) of Gainesville, GA, and her horse Mondo ‘L’ were named the Overall Champions of the championships.

A person in formal riding attire performs dressage on a bay horse in an outdoor arena with flowers and white railings.
Alexis Troutman and Mondo ‘L’ won the Junior and Overall Division championships. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography

FYDC moved to WEC – Ocala in 2022 as a national-level event, but the championships returned to Fédération Equestre International (FEI) competition in 2026. Over the years, FYDC has played a key role in guiding riders through the FEI youth pathway, helping develop athletes who now represent their countries at major championships such as the European Championships, Pan American Games, and Olympic Games.

In addition to competition, the event also included the FEI horse inspection; media conference; and a Meet & Greet with U.S. Olympic team silver medalist Adrienne Lyle, 2026 FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final reserve champion Christian Simonson, and FEI 4* Judge Cesar Torrente; along with a pizza social for the youth riders to get to know each other.

Troutman and Mondo ‘L’, her own nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Don Tango x Obelisk, scored a personal best of 68.515% to win the Junior Team class on Friday, a 66.676% to win the Junior Individual on Saturday, and then sealed the division and overall championship with a personal best score of 72.045% in the Junior Freestyle on Sunday.

Troutman said that the canter half-passes were a highlight and continued about her tests, “I think the whole test, I was just jaw-dropped with how he was feeling and how he was willing and working with me.”

It was a great birthday present for the now-17-year-old Troutman, who had a birthday on April 21. A senior in high school, she is graduating a year early to take a gap year and focus specifically on riding her horse and being at the barn.

Troutman has owned “Mondo” for just over a year and they have moved up to the FEI Junior division. Mondo was trained to a green Third Level, and she has been training to the Young Rider and Prix St. Georges level at home.

This was Troutman’s third time competing at FYDC, but it was her first time in the Junior division and her first big win.

A young equestrian in riding attire and helmet holds a trophy and ribbon while standing next to a smiling woman in sunglasses and a black dress outdoors.
Alexis Troutman was honored as the Junior division winner by Kim Crook of Hampton Green Farm, one of the founders of FYDC. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography

“Mondo is new to this level of competition, so I was super happy and proud of him and how he handled this atmosphere the whole week,” she expressed. “He has taken such a step forward in his mentality, and he’s wowed me every single moment of this week with how mature he’s gotten. The partnership has really come together, and I’m so impressed with how he’s handled himself. It was like watching him go from middle school to high school. I watched him graduate.”

Troutman was excited to return to FYDC to see her friends that she made in previous years. She added, “I really love it because I’m able to go see my friends and also meet new people. I think it’s an amazing event, because it’s how I was introduced to most of my friends that I have now. The activities are really fun. We had a pizza social event earlier this week, and I got to sit down with the few of the Junior and the Young Riders that I’ve not met yet. We bonded and talked all about our horses and the level we’re doing.”

A smiling equestrian in formal riding attire and helmet holds a large trophy and a blue ribbon, standing outdoors in front of a building.
Alexis Troutman holds the overall champion trophy for the 2026 FYDC. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography

Of her win, she remarked, “I was actually really surprised, because I didn’t keep track of the scores in my head. To be able to accomplish that with Mondo was amazing. It’s tough competition there, and everyone is pulling such great scores, and they’re having such great tests, so to be the champion was fantastic.”

Equestrian rider in a maroon jacket and black helmet guides a dark horse in a dressage arena, with white railings and spectators in the background.
The Young Rider division championship went to Bailey Armbrecht and Night’N Dale. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography

The Young Rider division championship went to Bailey Armbrecht (USA) and Night’N Dale, her eight-year-old KWPN mare by Everdale x Kevekko, a horse bred in the United States by Sharyl Hilliard. They scored a personal best of 66.500% for second place in the Team class, 61.706% for third place in the Individual class, and the win in the Young Rider Freestyle with a score of 67.750% pushed them to the head of the division.

A person in formal riding attire sits on a brown horse performing a dressage routine in an outdoor arena with white fencing and classical architecture in the background.
Austin Hermann and Genevieve HF won the Children’s division championship. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography

Austin Hermann won the Children’s division with Genevieve HF, a 15-year-old KWPN mare by Pernod P x Oscar, owned by Hermann. They scored 68.393% in the Preliminary Competition B class and 66.250% in the Team class.

A rider in formal dressage attire performs on a dark horse in an outdoor arena, with spectators and a judge’s booth in the background.
Natalia Bacariza Danguillecourt and Valerius Ymas competed in the Under 25 division. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography

In the CDIU25 division, Natalia Bacariza Danguillecourt (ESP) and Valerius Ymas, an 11-year-old Westphalian stallion by Vitalis x Dancier owned by Yeguada De Ymas S.L. and Cristina Danguillecourt, scored 63.949% in the Grand Prix CDIU25 as well as 68.353% in the Intermediate II CDIU25 in their first international competition together.

Five equestrians in riding attire stand in front of a large horse statue and plaque, holding rosettes, with flags and a building in the background.
The champions and reserve champions of the 2026 FYDC: Bailey Armbrecht, Lark Heckman, Alexis Troutman, Camila Tossas, and Austin Hermann. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography

Created in 2013 by Lendon Gray and Hampton Green Farm, the Florida Youth Dressage Championships provide a vital platform for developing young talent and shaping the future of the sport.

Over the years, FYDC has showcased many of dressage’s rising stars, including Christian Simonson, Naima Moreira, Juan Matute, Diana Porsche, Camille Carier Bergeron, Pablo Gomez, Genay Vaughn, Mathilde Blais Tetreault, and Codi Harrison.

For updates and event information, follow the championships on Facebook at Florida International Youth Dressage Championships and on Instagram at @floridayouthchampionship.

Dressage continues at WEC – Ocala on May 12-17 with CDI3* competition as well as the prestigious USEF Grand Prix Dressage National Championships. For the full dressage schedule, please click HERE.