WELLINGTON, Fla.--There is a very exciting new, young star for American dressage, and it is Christian Simonson, who at just 23 years old has already risen to 15th on the World ranking.
Chistian Simonson on Indian Rock (Photo by Centre Line Media)On Friday, Jan. 9, during the first Friday Night Stars evening of freestyle competition at the 2026 Global Dressage Festival, Simonson on Indian Rock won the FEI World Cup Grand Prix Freestyle and qualified for the World Cup Final, set for April in Fort Worth, Texas.
Riding the powerful Indian Rock, Simonson scored a dazzling 81.445%, a new personal best, in front of packed grandstands and a sold out International Club.
Simonson only began his international career with the 13-year-old stallion owned by Heidi Humphries in May 2025, and they remain unbeaten in eight starts together.
Geñay Vaughn on, Gino, last to go in the starting line-up of eight, placed second with 75.79%, and Ashley Holzer on Hawtins San Floriana had a personal best of 75.01% to place third.
The class was a qualifier for the US Equestrian Open of Dressage, now in its second season.
This year it features 24 qualifiers—seven of which are held at AGDF—before the final in California in November., and Simonson now leads the standings with 40 points, and Vaughn is second with 30.
“AT THE END of the test I was shaking my head in absolute disbelief,” said Simonson, who trains with three-time U.S. Olympian Adrienne Lyle. “Since I started riding, I’ve been coming to this show and always hoped that one day I could do Friday Night Stars because it’s the epitome of amazing dressage freestyles in Florida. So, on that last centre line, I was just thinking, ‘Whoa, this is me doing this with the Indian Rock. I can’t believe it.’ It’s weird having a childhood dream come true in real time; this whole show has been surreal.”
Marcus Orlob on Jane (Photo by Centre Line Media)Simonson credits the “hours and hours a day” he spends with “Rocky” for the strong bond they have forged.
Their stellar performances have set them up nicely not only for the World Cup Final, but for a shot at a team spot at the FEI World Championships in Aachen, Germany, in August.
“I am so lucky to ride this special horse,” said Simonson." Rocky will have a rest now, because he really deserves it. Then, we’ll build up again.”
Vaughn’s trip from her California base gave her more valuable World Cup and US Open points accrued with Gino.
Like Simonson, she was also riding in her first Friday Night Stars.
“We drove for four days and arrived on Christmas,” she said. “The atmosphere here is amazing and I was really thankful that I got to take Gino down centre line at Friday Night Stars and experience this."
Marcus Orlob on Jane won for the second time in the first week of the Festival, scoring 74,681% to win the CDI3* Grand Prix Special Saturday after winning Thursday’s Grand Prix.
Orlob had one small mistake, a missed change on the diagonal of one-time changes.
Katherine Bateson Chandler on Haute Couture placed second with 67.808%,, and Spain’s Pablo Gómez Molina on Servus Ymas was third with a 67.298%.
Orlob has been working to build Jane’s confidence in the ring after a series of spooky rides and an unfortunate elimination at the Paris 2024 Olympics after a speck of blood was spotted on the mare’s leg.
Their 74.681% score is their second highest in the Special test, and their best score at the level since June 2024.
“Today I was actually shocked because she came in so good and then on the first extended trot diagonal she had her ears up and I said ‘Go!’ and then I thought, ‘Whoa, this is way too much engine.’ But she settled nicely,” said Orlob, who been training with Christine Traurig, the Chef d’Equipe of the US Dressage Team.
“It was Jane’s first time out since Aachen in July 2025 and she left all the craziness behind,” he said. “Unfortunately, we had a little bobble in the ones, but then the other ones on the center line were good. I’m happy for the horse to have a drama free test and hopefully it continues that way. I try to keep things really busy for her, and it’s slowly paying off. We don’t have a magic weapon, it’s just time, consistency and giving the horse trust.”
To combat Jane’s nerves, Orlob hacks her before training, takes her to other barns, rides around the equestrian community of White Fences, and takes her to the adjacent Winter Equestrian Festival jumper showground.
“Being here, with friends, amazing weather, and good competition is very nice," said Orlob. "There are so many shows at Global that you can pick and choose without overdoing it.”
