Ocala, FL – Two grand prix classes were held under the lights in the WEC Stadium on Friday, May 23, 2025, on the opening day of the May Dressage CDI3* presented by Hampton Green Farm at World Equestrian Center – Ocala (WEC). In the first class, the Grand Prix for Freestyle CDI3* presented by The Fix Aesthetic Clinic, the winner’s blanket was placed on Bellena, ridden by Benjamin Ebeling (USA) and owned by Vantage Equestrian Group. Rounding out the night was the Grand Prix for Special CDI3* presented by The Fix Aesthetic Clinic with Christian Simonson (USA) taking the win aboard Indian Rock, owned by Zen Elite Equestrian Center, in their international debut.
With a score of 70.543% in their first international Grand Prix test together, Simonson and Indian Rock, a 12-year-old KWPN stallion by Apache x Vivaldi, topped the Grand Prix for Special CDI3*. Just behind in second place with a score of 70.109% was Simonson’s 2023 Pan American Games gold medal teammate, Anna Marek, with Fire Fly, a 15-year-old KWPN gelding (Briar Junior x OO Seven) owned by Janet Simile. Katie Duerrhammer (USA) and Vividus QRE, a 10-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding (Zaladin MI x Don Charly) owned by Kylee Lourie, finished third with 68.304%.
Simonson started riding Indian Rock in January 2025 when the horse was brought to the U.S. from Holland, where it showed successfully with previous rider Emmelie Scholtens (NED), including at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Simonson and Indian Rock took some time to get accustomed with each other before competing at the national level in April. Simonson still communicates regularly with Scholtens to discuss Indian Rock so he can learn more about the horse.
“He and I spend a lot of time together, just hanging out and grazing, and I take care of him along with the team,” said Simonson of Indian Rock. “He is such a kind soul, and he’s so smart. Even for the little things in the barn, he just thinks through everything.
“And then, of course, riding him gives you the most amazing feeling,” he continued. “He feels like a freak under saddle. He can do the most amazing half passes, and his collection work is incredible, and so both of that together, it just feels like a really, really special horse to ride. He’s really incredible.”
Along with Fleau de Baian, another mount that placed third in the Grand Prix for Freestyle class, Simonson is one of the best-mounted dressage athletes in the U.S., and the future looks bright.
“To have a debut together, especially at this level, and at my age and everything, I’m just like, ‘Holy cow, how did I get here?’” said the 22-year-old. “Man, I’m a little speechless, honestly. It’s really special. Everyone at Zen Elite Equestrian Center are the ones that make it possible to have these opportunities. I like learning every day, and being with the horses is really what I enjoy the most. Then, having a day like this on top of that, just makes it really exciting.
“I have so much more to learn about the horses and training and more importantly, all the things in between – the care and things like that. I feel very grateful for these two amazing horses, their incredible owners Zen Elite, my trainer Adrienne Lyle, and the entire team we have back home. I’m just one part of an incredible group that makes everything happen.”
Ebeling Closes In On End Goal
In their personal best ride together, Benjamin Ebeling and Bellena were the only plus-70% score in a 12-horse field for the Grand Prix for Freestyle CDI3*.
Ebeling felt it was “that first piaffe coming off the left” in the test that contributed to a top score of 70.435%. Four out of five judges agreed, scoring that piaffe an eight, their top-scoring movement of the test.
“I just felt like I had nothing in the hand; it was like a perfect picture of unity and harmony in my mind,” he described. “She could have stayed there forever. That really was a special moment for me.”
Ebeling said that Bellena has been growing in confidence through the grand prix test over the past few weeks and a lot came together for this test. “We’re working to be asymptotic where we get closer and closer to our end goal of having a really clean test,” he said, “and I really feel like this is a 75% horse. I think she’s the best horse that I’ve ever ridden.”
Ebeling took over the ride on Bellena from his father Jan, who has ridden and trained the 15-year-old Hanoverian mare (Belissimo M x Welser) since she was six years old.
“My dad keeps telling me, ‘She’s going to trust you. You just have to wait, be patient, and take one step at a time through the training. Focus on the training and not the competition,’” said Ebeling. “He’s right. We are slowly growing together, and I can feel that trust coming. She’s really coming to the party, so it’s a cool feeling.”
Second place in the Grand Prix for Freestyle CDI3* with a score of 69.717% went to Anna Marek (USA) riding Fayvel, a 15-year-old KWPN gelding by Zizi Top x Houston owned by Cynthia Davila. Christian Simonson (USA) and Fleau de Baian, a 15-year-old KWPN stallion by Jazz x Ulft owned by Heidi Humphries, scored 67.500% in their international debut for third place.
Earlier in the day, Benjamin Ebeling was also victorious in the Prix St. Georges CDI1* on Pestano van de Kampert, a 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding by Destano x Laudabilis owned by Amy Roberts Ebeling. They scored 69.559% for the win. With a personal best of 67.402%, Jaron Verheij (NED) and Sixtus MK, a nine-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Silberschmied x Quaterback) owned by Myra Flanagan, finished second. Benjamin Albright (USA) and DSP Dominy, a 13-year-old Bavarian Warmblood stallion (Diamond Hit x Pour Plaisir) owned by The DSPD Group, were third with a score of 66.519%.
Grand Prix for Freestyle Results
Grand Prix for Special Results
Full Show Results and Ride Times
The May Dressage CDI3* continues on Saturday, May 24, with classes for Young Riders, Junior, Children’s, and Amateurs, along with the Intermediate I CDI1*. The highlight classes will run under the lights again, with the Grand Prix Freestyle CDI3* presented by The Fix Aesthetic Clinic at 6pm and the Grand Prix Special CDI3* presented by The Fix Aesthetic Clinic at 8:30pm.