Ocala, FL – Personal best scores were the flavor of the evening during the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle CDI3* on Saturday, February 15, at the World Equestrian Center (WEC) February Dressage show presented by Hampton Green Farms at WEC – Ocala. Both the winner, Canada’s Denielle Gallagher, and the second-placed athlete, Eline Eckroth (USA), posted new high scores with their horses.
Gallagher now has an unbroken string of four international winning starts in 2025 with Come Back de Massa, a striking buckskin 13-year-old Lusitano gelding by Galopin De La Font. When her score of 72.94% flashed up on the screen, Gallagher whooped and jumped for joy. Her previous top score of 71.475% was set at WEC – Ocala’s January CDI, underscoring the pair’s upward trajectory. Their new personal best score was boosted by the nine they received for their statuesque halts from judge at H, Mercedes Campdera Alatorre (MEX).
Eckroth rode Connie Duff Wise’s 14-year-old mare Daphne, by Diamond Stud, into second with 71.055%, the first time the duo has cracked the 70% barrier in international company. James Koford (USA) had a much-improved ride from the Grand Prix, rising up the leaderboard to clinch third place from first draw riding Christina Morin-Graham’s 13-year-old KWPN gelding Hatsjie B, by Charmeur.
“I’ve been dreaming of trying to get up and over that 70% hump, and I felt that today I got there,” said Gallagher, who co-owns the horse with Ellen Lazarus. “I was trying to really be on my music, not chase it and take my time. He was listening to the music, and my piaffe and canter pirouettes felt great. My technical difficulty in the test is quite hard — everything is back-to-back combos, so I can’t miss them.”
Gallagher’s floorplan included flying changes on circles and extended trot into piaffe pirouettes. She rode to music from the “Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron” movie, a film about a valiant wild buckskin stallion. Gallagher admitted that she fights back emotion each time she rides it.
Since moving to Ocala from Wellington in South Florida in 2024, Gallagher has had help with “Come Back” from local trainer Tina Konyot, whose father imported Lusitanos to the United States on a boat, so she is well-versed with the breed.
“Tina’s been helping me to polish things up,” said Gallagher, who worked as a groom for Ashley Holzer for many years. “The last year of building has been amazing, and now I’m fine-tuning for that extra point or half point.”
Saturday’s class was also a qualifier for the new US Equestrian Open of Dressage, which features 23 qualifiers ahead of the final in California in November. Gallagher is now tied at the top of the leaderboard alongside Germany’s Evelyn Eger and home rider Geñay Vaughn.
“I can’t believe that — it’s surreal,” exclaimed Gallagher, who was delighted to have her family as well as Lazarus in attendance on Saturday. “The Open is in November, which is great as I plan to go to Europe this summer, then we’ll come back and have a break, then hopefully gear him back up for November.”
In the Intermediate I CDI1*, Jessica Howington (USA) leapfrogged the two riders that finished above her in the previous day’s Prix St. Georges to secure the win. She rode her own MW Marcario to 65.236%. Dutch rider Jaron Verheij secured second on Myra Flanagan’s nine-year-old Silberschmied gelding Sixtus MK with 63.323%, and Benjamin Albright (USA) slotted into third with a 62.677% on The DSPD Group’s 13-year-old Diamond Hit stallion DSP Dominy.
Howington bought the U.S.-bred MW Marcario 18 months ago from his breeder Jennifer Vanover and was riding the eight-year-old Morricone gelding at his first CDI.
“I’m really proud of him,” said Howington. “We’re still a fairly new partnership and learning together. He’s tense and nervous, but he stayed with me. I just wanted a good, happy, flowing ride and for this to be a good experience for him. I think we accomplished that.”
Howington is based just four miles from WEC – Ocala on a farm with a menagerie of animals.
“This facility is absolutely phenomenal,” she enthused. “The arenas, the footing and the stabling are all excellent. We’re so lucky to have WEC. Marcario has shown here three times, and now I’ll take my time and slowly develop him toward the grand prix. At home, he loves going out in the field. He’s terrified of the donkeys but loves pigs and will lie in the stall with the pig — it’s bizarre! He has a heart of gold and he’s always trying, which is my favorite thing about him.”
Full start lists and results from WEC – Ocala’s February show can be found HERE. International competition returns to WEC – Ocala next month with a CDI4* show (March 5-9) offering $50,000 in prize money alongside a USEF/USDF national Level 5 competition and the Florida Youth Dressage Championships (FYDC).