Bigger Is Better for Darnell and Kelly-Baxley in Opening Day Victories at 2026 WEC March Dressage CDI3*
07 MAR 26 Ocala, FL
Ocala, FL – The World Equestrian Center (WEC) March Dressage CDI3* presented by Hampton Green Farms at WEC – Ocala opened on Friday, March 6, 2026, with two big winners – both horses stand well above 17 hands tall – at the grand prix level. Jodie Kelly-Baxley (USA) and her own Grayton Beach were victorious in the Grand Prix for Special CDI3*. Claire Darnell (USA) and her own Harrold S led the way in the Grand Prix for Freestyle CDI3*.
Darnell guided Harrold S to a score of 66.891% to win the Grand Prix for Freestyle CDI3*. This was their first international grand prix victory. Darnell found Harrold as a four-year-old, and he came to the U.S. in his five-year-old year.
“That makes my partnership with him really special,” said Darnell of the 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Vivaldi x Fidermark. “I know everything about him, and he can totally read my emotions too. I can tell how he’s going to be for the ride when I’m getting him ready in the stall. He’s my competition partner but also my favorite pet.”
The pair started at Training Level and moved up steadily. They won every class at Small and Medium Tour that they competed in before moving up to the grand prix level in November of 2022. Darnell, who is from Washington State, moved to California and competed there from late 2020 to the end of 2022. She made a move cross-country to Florida in 2023 and has stayed ever since.
“I didn’t really have goals or plans with him when I got him, except be the best we could be together,” said Darnell. “It took time to build confidence in the ring. I was never in a hurry with him, and everything happened on his time.”
Taking time paid off as Harrold S won the USEF Developing Grand Prix Dressage National Championship in 2022. After their international grand prix debut and two shows at the level in 2023, Darnell made coaching changes and brought Harrold back to the training ring to work on the basics and improve their piaffe. Since returning to the show ring in January of 2026, Darnell has been happy with their progress.
“I had to figure him out from a management perspective,” explained Darnell, who trains at home with David Marcus and had help from Ben Ebeling through Facetime for Friday’s test. “He’s so talented and has so much potential. I have to make him happy so he can go and play in the grand prix.”
For Friday’s test, Darnell was very pleased with the trot half-passes and pirouettes – “Those are always a highlight for him.” – as well as the piaffe/passage tour on the last center line. Darnell is excited to compete in Saturday night’s Grand Prix Freestyle CDI3*, and noted, “The freestyle always feels easier for me, and Harrold likes it too.”
Leonardo Antonio Godoy (ARG) and Marques Do Lis, a 10-year-old Lusitano stallion by Fabuloso Do Lis x Spartacus owned by Cristina Balcarce, placed second in the Grand Prix for Freestyle CDI3* with 66.370%. Charlotte Osborne (GBR) and Fruhlingszauber, an 18-year-old Austrian Warmblood gelding by Fortino x Rubinstein I owned by Lisa Carol, scored 64.348% for third place.
With a personal best score of 68.152%, Jodie Kelly-Baxley (USA) and her own Grayton Beach continued their upward winning trend in 2026. After taking time away from the competition arena in 2024, they returned with a renewed sense of partnership and confidence. Going into their 12th year together, the pair has placed in the top five in six of their last seven starts, which includes three victories. Standing over 18 hands tall, Grayton Beach, a KWPN gelding by Negro x UB-40, is now 15 years old.
Nora Batchelder (USA) and Nova, a 10-year-old Oldenburg mare by Grand Galaxy Win T x Blue Hors Romanov owned by Carol Glover, placed second with 67.283%. Ellesse Gundersen (USA) and Quintessential 4, an 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding by Quaterback x Cordoba owned by Gundersen, Henrik Gundersen, and Marcia Radosevich, were third with 66.435%.
In the Prix St. Georges CDI1* class, Jessica Howington (USA) and Finesse Langholt DWB, her own nine-year-old Danish Warmblood mare by Finest x Don Schufro, scored 67% for the win.
Grand Prix for Freestyle Results
Grand Prix for Special Results
Full Show Results and Ride Times
The WEC March Dressage CDI3* continues on Saturday, March 7, with individual tests for CDI Juniors and Young Riders, followed by the Intermediate I CDIAm and CDI1* classes. The Grand Prix Special CDI3* kicks off at 7:15pm, while the Grand Prix Freestyle CDI3* begins at 9:20pm.