Darnell Dances to Grand Prix Freestyle CDI3* Win, Batchelder and Nova Are Super in Special at 2026 WEC March Dressage CDI3*
08 MAR 26 Ocala, FL
March 7, 2026 – Ocala, FL – Highlight classes on Saturday, March 7, 2026, of the World Equestrian Center (WEC) March Dressage CDI3* presented by Hampton Green Farms at WEC – Ocala included the Grand Prix Special CDI3*, captured by Nora Batchelder (USA) and Nova, owned by Carol Glover, and the Grand Prix Freestyle CDI3*, won by Claire Darnell (USA) and her own Harrold S.
With a score of 74.315%, Darnell and Harrold S scored two wins in a row. Darnell was pleased with her performance in the freestyle despite it being the first time she has ridden it all the way through after making changes to the choreography to increase the degree of difficulty.
“I didn’t even practice it at home,” she admitted. “I made my own music, so I know it very well and exactly where I should be at any point. I listened to it a couple times on the drive up and today, visualizing where I should be in the ring. It doesn’t bother him to be asked something new; he’s good with change.”
Darnell and Harrold danced to music from “The Hunger Games” movie score, which begins with the statement of “May the odds be ever in your favor,” which informs judges who may not recognize the music of its source.
“He’s so powerful that the music really enhances that,” said Darnell of the 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Vivaldi x Fidermark. “For as powerful as the music is, it’s also quite elegant. It brings out the highlights and is a good fit for him.”
Second place with 70.390% were Leonardo Antonio Godoy (ARG) and Marques Do Lis, a 10-year-old Lusitano stallion by Fabuloso Do Lis x Spartacus owned by Cristina Balcarce. With a third score over 70%, Charlotte Osborne (GBR) and Fruhlingszauber, an 18-year-old Austrian Warmblood gelding by Fortino x Rubinstein I owned by Lisa Carol, finished third on 70.340%.
The freestyle was a qualifier for the US Open of Dressage, which is in its second season. The final takes place in November in California.
Nova Is Super in the Special
Nora Batchelder (USA) and Nova scored a personal best of 68.255% to win the Grand Prix Special CDI3*. It was an improvement on their second-place finish in Friday’s Grand Prix class, which Batchelder felt was solid despite Nova being worried in her stall prior to the class due to a storm rolling in.
“Tonight though, she felt chill and relaxed,” said Batchelder of the 10-year-old Oldenburg mare by Grand Galaxy Win T x Blue Hors Romanov. “I felt like I could really ride her in the ring. She has a gorgeous piaffe, and we’re just scratching the surface in the test. She’s such a talented horse and has such a high ceiling. She’s getting stronger and more confident with grand prix work. It was very exciting.”
Batchelder had a shorter warm-up for the Special due to the length of the test and the endurance needed. One of the pair’s sticking points has been nailing the tempi changes, so Batchelder was thrilled when they accomplished the one- and two-tempis in the show ring.
Batchelder lives locally in Williston, FL, and feels “lucky to have WEC right in our backyard.” She added, “We are so blessed to have these climate-controlled indoor arenas. It was so cold in January and now it’s perfect when it’s warmer too, so they can show their athleticism without getting overheated. It’s also great to have a CDI once a month so we can see where we’re at, go home and take a break, and then return to a show.”
Ellesse Gundersen (USA) and Quintessential 4, an 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding by Quaterback x Cordoba owned by Gundersen, Henrik Gundersen, and Marcia Radosevich, finished in second place with 67.894%. In third place with a score of 66.723% were Jodie Kelly-Baxley (USA) and her own Grayton Beach, a 15-year-old KWPN gelding by Negro x UB-40.
Jessica Howington (USA) and Finesse Langholt DWB, her own nine-year-old Danish Warmblood mare by Finest x Don Schufro, continued their winning streak by taking the top place in the Intermediate 1 with a score of 68.353%. Kassandra Barteau (USA) and Blue Skies, her 12-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Follow Me x Johnson, had a personal best of 65.588% for second place. Eliza Sanders (USA) and Cadillac 60, a 13-year-old Hanoverian gelding by Contendro I x Ginsberg owned by Julie Smith, finished third with 65.530%.
Full Show Results and Ride Times
The WEC March Dressage CDI3* concludes on Sunday, March 8, with CDI Juniors and Young Riders freestyle tests, the Intermediate II CDI2*, and Intermediate I Freestyles for CDIAm and CDI1*.
Dressage continues at WEC – Ocala on April 22-26 with CDI4* and USEF/USDF nationally rated competition.