Ocala, FL – The highlight class of the January Dressage CDI3*, presented by Hampton Green Farms on Saturday, February 1, 2025, at World Equestrian Center – Ocala (WEC) was the Grand Prix Freestyle CDI3*. Repeating their win from the day before were Denielle Gallagher (CAN) and Come Back de Massa, owned by Gallagher and Ellen Lazarus.
It was a wonderful night for Gallagher and “Come Back,” who had only performed this freestyle at a CDI once in 2023 but had prepared at national shows leading up to this. Not only did Come Back give Gallagher a great feeling, but they scored a personal best 71.475% with all five judges scoring more than 70%.
“He was a beast, and it was great,” said Gallagher with a smile. “It feels like everything I’ve done and all of the training has led up to this point. There is so much more there I can keep going for. It’s what I’ve always dreamed of, that he felt happy, safe, not nervous, and looking to me for support. That’s what I’m so happy about. He felt confident.”
With Come Back feeling more at ease in the ring the second day, Gallagher mentioned that his piaffes improved and their canter half-pass to pirouette “felt really seamless.” She continued, “I was in the middle of my test thinking, ‘Wow, it feels really easy.’ I felt like I could have done the whole thing with one hand. At the end, I had to decide if I would do one-handed passage up centerline to finish. I had to take the risk and have some fun. The judge was smiling at me, and I was smiling at her. I think they enjoyed it as much as me.”
Gallagher, who moved to nearby Morriston, FL, from South Florida and built a farm in 2024, worked with longtime trainer Ashley Holzer on her freestyle choreography. Her music, which is from the soundtrack of the animated movie “Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron,” was designed by Boy De Winter of Music Motions.
“The ‘Spirit’ soundtrack is emotional,” said Gallagher. “I heard people in the crowd talking about crying when I started out. I either want people dancing in their seats or crying. I want to hit them emotionally.”
Gallagher has been working with the breeder Massa Horses for years, and they gave her her “first real glimpse into Spanish horses on an international level.” She now has multiple Spanish or Spanish-cross horses from Massa besides Come Back, who is a 13-year-old buckskin Lusitano gelding by Galopin de la Font x Quixote SDS.
“I just love them, and they are like a dream to ride,” she said. “They’re so much different to ride than warmbloods: their will, desire, bravery, sharpness. They were war horses. If you can establish a bond with them, they’ll go through fire for you. And, they’re comfortable!
“They are getting accepted and getting the respect and appreciation they’ve been missing for many years,” she noted of Iberian horses. “I’m really happy to be a part of that. It’s even cooler that Hampton Green Farms, who have been such huge supporters of Iberian horses in the United States, sponsored the class and an Iberian horse won it.”
As the winners of a 2025 US Equestrian Open of Dressage Qualifier Event, Denielle Gallagher and Come Back de Massa join the list of those who will compete to crown the inaugural US Equestrian Open of Dressage champions this November.
With another personal best in the class, Eline Eckroth (USA) and Daphne, a 14-year-old Oldenburg mare by Diamond Stud x De Niro owned by Connie Duff Wise, placed second on a score of 69.325%. Anna Merritt (USA) and Fox Creek’s Censational, a 12-year-old German Riding Pony stallion by Caramel x FS Don’t Worry owned by Dianna Orona, placed third with 66.710%.
Grand Prix Freestyle CDI3* Results
CDI competition concludes on Sunday, February 2, with the Intermediate II CDI2*. Dressage returns to WEC – Ocala on February 13-16 with CDI3* and USEF/USDF competition.