Eight Riders Set Early Season Benchmark at 2026 CPEDI Wellington

-- USEF press release, edited by Eurodressage

U.S. para dressage riders delivered a strong and consistent performance at the 2026 Wellington CPEDI3*, hosted at the Global Dressage Festival (GDF) in Wellington, FL, on 22 - 25 January 2026. 

With just eight combinations in total from two nations (USA - Canada) competing across four grades, the CPEDI was a rather small but mighty event. The competition was highlighted by a personal best performance and creative freestyle rides to close out the competition on Sunday. 

Early Season Benchmark

The Wellington CPEDI3* served as an important early-season benchmark for the U.S. Para Dressage Team as athletes continue building toward major international competitions later in the 2026 season such as the 2026 FEI Para Dressage World Championships hosted in Aachen, Germany, later this summer. 

The team opened competition on Thursday in the FEI Grand Prix Test A with solid results across the board. Marie Vonderheyden (Wellington, Fla.) led the way in a competitive Grade I division aboard Fan Tastico H, earning a 71.528%. Cynthia Screnci (Wellington, Fla.) followed closely with a 70.641% in Grade V aboard For Memory 4, her own 2017 Hanoverian gelding (For Dance x Destano).  
 

In the FEI Grade IV, Kate Shoemaker (Wellington, Fla.) and Vianne scored a 69.398%, while Hannah Kingsley (Ft. White, Fla.) guided her own Eragon VF, a 2009 KWPN gelding (Don Romantic x Fidermark), to a 67.000% in Grade III competition. 

Second Day

Momentum continued to build on the second day of competition during the FEI Grand Prix Test B. Vonderheyden once again topped the U.S. results with Fan Tastico H, a 2017 Oldenburg gelding (Fürstenball x Weltmeyer) owned by Karin Flint, earning a 74.722%. Shoemaker and Vianne, her own 2016 Hanoverian mare (Vitalis x Ramiro’s Bube), delivered an improved performance from day one, finishing their test with a score of 74.685%. Screnci and For Memory 4 earned a new personal best score from the judging panel, securing a 72.281% and marking a highlight of the weekend for the combination. Kingsley and Eragon VF continued to gain valuable international experience, earning a 65.055% for the Grand Prix Test B.  

Freestyle Sunday

The competition concluded on Sunday afternoon with the FEI Grand Prix Freestyles, where the U.S. Para Dressage Team delivered expressive performances that earned praise from the judging panels across multiple technical and artistic components. Shoemaker and Vianne led the team in the FEI Grade IV Freestyle with a score of 78.892%, receiving high marks for their music and interpretation, as well as the accuracy and clarity of movements. 

Vonderheyden and Fan Tastico H were awarded a 75.089% in the FEI Grade I Freestyle, earning particularly strong scores for their harmonious display of partnership. Screnci and For Memory 4 finished their weekend with a 74.442% in the FEI Grade V Freestyle, excelling in choreography and demonstrating continued improvement throughout the weekend. Kingsley capped off her weekend, earning a 70.145% in the FEI Grade III Freestyle aboard Eragon VF.  

Coaching

The U.S. riders were led by Chef d’Equipe Michel Assouline and Team Leader Laureen Johnson.

"What a pleasure to see U.S. para athletes functioning so well as a squad with such good unity and support,” said Chef d’Equipe and Technical Advisor, Michel Assouline. “Congratulations to a fairly new group of coaches achieving noticeable progress with their riders, including Kasey Perry-Glass, Chris Warner, Annie Cizadlo and Amy Lyn Jones. The results and progression speak for itself over the three days of competition and I'm very pleased with the first outing of the year."  

Photo © Devyn Ivy - Centre Line Media

Related Link
Scores: 2026 CPEDI Wellington