Ocala, FL – With the crowd clapping down the final centerline, Benjamin Ebeling (USA) and Bellena, owned by Vantage Equestrian Group, made a strong statement to win the Grand Prix Freestyle CDI4* presented by MARS Equestrian at the April Dressage CDI4* presented by Hampton Green Farm on Friday, April 11, 2025, at World Equestrian Center – Ocala (WEC).
In their first freestyle together and having never ridden the floorplan or to the music, Ebeling and Bellena impressed the judges – Agnieszka Majewska (POL), Dr. Sven-Günter Rothenberger (NED), Magnus Ringmark (SWE), Debbie Rodriguez (USA), and Peter Holler (GER) – who awarded them with a score of 75.740%.
Ebeling received his music from Karen Robinson two days ago, and it included the songs “Femininomenon” by Chappell Roan, “Rich Girl” by Gwen Stefani, and “Maneater” by Nelly Furtado.
“I really love the music,” said the 25-year-old Ebeling. “Karen Robinson is a good friend of mine, and we just work so well together. We’ve been working together for 10 years now, since I was a junior rider. This music was also a little bit of a nod to my former mount, Indeed, also a very strong mare. It’s all very female inspired for Bellena.”
Ebeling was ebullient about their test and what Bellena gave throughout. “I think that was my best ride ever,” beamed Ebeling following the class. “It was just incredible feedback. The mare is such a powerhouse, and I think she really settled into this environment. She definitely feeds on an audience. I think this girl really loves to dance.”
While the partnership between Ebeling and Bellena is only four months old, he trusted that they have developed and the time spent at home working on everything needed in the show ring. While victory was welcome, it was not the ultimate goal for Ebeling.
“This is really, for me, just an opportunity to train my horse,” he said. “It may look like a great, finished product, but I know there’s still a lot to work on. When my horse and I are acting in unity and as one, like we did tonight, I know that I’m on the right path, and that’s good enough for me. I contribute having a great, mistake-free test tonight to all of the work that we’ve put in training and couldn’t be happier with my horse.”
Second place in the Grand Prix Freestyle CDI4* presented by MARS Equestrian went to Denielle Gallagher (CAN) and Come Back de Massa, a 13-year-old Lusitano gelding (Galopin de la Font x Quixote SDS) owned by Gallagher and Ellen Lazarus. Their popular freestyle performed to the soundtrack from the movie “Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron,” garnered a 72.685%.
In third with a score of 71.345%, Karen Lipp (USA) and Infinity, her own 12-year-old KWPN gelding by Dream Boy x Freestyle, also had music designed by Karen Robinson that included an instrumental version of Rihanna’s “Diamonds.” Lipp and her trainer, Charlotte Bredahl, put together the choreography.
The Grand Prix Freestyle was also a qualifier for the new US Equestrian Open of Dressage, which features 23 qualifiers ahead of the final in California in November. The current leader is Anna Marek (USA) with 88 points.
Woodard and Roxette Earn Win at First CDI
In their quest to qualify for the US Festival of Champions this summer, Andrea Woodard (USA) and Roxette, owned by Enter At A LLC, entered their first internationally rated competition. While the young horse had shown nationally at WEC – Ocala last fall indoors, she stepped into the WEC Grand Arena with aplomb and set the winning score at 70.176% to take the top prize in the Prix St. Georges CDI1*.
Second place went to Charlotte Jorst (USA) on Atterupgaards Botticelli, a 13-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding (Benetton Dream x Caprimond) owned by Kastel Denmark, with a score of 69.824%. Adam Steffens-Smienk (USA) picked up third and fourth places with Candoit’s Boston Strong OLD and Candoit’s Bentayga, both owned by Candoit Stables. Candoit’s Boston Strong OLD, a 15-year-old Oldenburg gelding (Bordeaux NLD x Sandro Hit), scored 66.853%, while Candoit’s Bentayga, a nine-year-old Hanoverian mare (Belantis I x Carabas) received 66.471%.
Following the test, Woodard described what she felt were Roxette’s strengths in the class. “I feel her trying to understand what’s coming and what I’m asking,” she explained. “She’s very willing to be right there, but it’s still a demanding test for a younger horse. We still don’t know each other that well, so there’s a lot of layers that go into it. The fact that she stayed with me and she really tried throughout the entire test to do what I was asking her to do and was attentive, that was the strongest part of it.”
Woodard brought Roxette over from Europe in July 2024 and took her time developing the coming-eight-year-old Danish Warmblood mare (Revolution x Quite Easy I). Roxette “showed the changes but was kind of green” and needed polish, but her mind and ability to happily adjust to new circumstances was encouraging.
Woodard, who was born in New York and grew up in Denmark, returned to the U.S. in 2015 to start a new training business. It has grown over the past 10 years to incorporate training success at the international level as well as fulfillment with developing young horses. Woodard is likely a familiar face to those who have followed para dressage at recent Paralympic Games and World Championships, as she trained gold medalists Roxanne Trunnell and Dolton. Woodard is training para riders Ellie Brimmer – the 2024 USEF Para Dressage National Champion – and Marie Vonderheyden, who has represented the U.S. para dressage team.
“It’s been an incredible journey for me to get experience at the highest level of the sport,” she said. “I really feel passionate about helping the para riders. It takes a ton of preparation, and you have to really think out of the box sometimes. It’s such a team effort and a rewarding journey. I’m so proud of them.”
Woodard and Roxette will return to the WEC Grand Arena on Saturday for the Intermediate I CDI1* to hopefully earn a qualifying score for the U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions.
Prix St. Georges CDI1* Full Results
Grand Prix Freestyle CDI4* Full Results
Full Show Results and Ride Times
The April Dressage CDI4* continues on Saturday, April 12, with a full schedule of international classes, with highlights including the Grand Prix Special CDI4* at 11:30am, the Intermediate I CDI1* at 1pm, and the Grand Prix Special CDI3* at 3:30pm.