-- WEC press release
The World Equestrian Center (WEC) April Dressage CDI4 * opened on Thursday, April 23, 2026, with three international class winners. Jordan LaPlaca (USA) and Gold Play, owned by the rider and Nancy Hutson, scored a personal best to win the Grand Prix CDI 4*. Riding Premiere Sport Horses’ Elian Royale, Erin Nichols (USA) took the top spot in the Grand Prix CDI 3*. In the Prix St. Georges CDI1*, Katie Duerrhammer (USA) and Kylee Lourie’s Rosebank VH were victorious.
Gold Course
LaPlaca and Gold Play have been together for six years and had their Small Tour debut in January 2023. Following that, they took two years off from the international ring to “make sure the time was put in for fitness and produce a good presentation,” said LaPlaca, before coming back with a bang this past winter in the Large Tour. This marks their eighth top-five finish at grand prix out of nine starts.
LaPlaca, of Ledyard, CT, and his sponsor, Nancy Hutson, found “GP” at Hof Kasselmann in Germany, and it was an electric partnership from the start. “Our bond is really strong. He trusts me implicitly,” he said of the 11-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Grey Flanell x Sir Donnerhall II.
“We’ve had the privilege of time together. I have the luxury of not being pressured by an owner to produce, but rather to be in like-mindedness of sustainable riding for the future,” said LaPlaca, who competed at FEI level in driving and had a diverse equestrian background in jumpers, eventing, and reining as well. “I hope to be doing this with GP for many more years. I don’t want to be a one-hit wonder.”
This marked the pair’s fourth win, and it came with a personal best score of 69.935%.
“It was a really good test for him but also a really good test of a new venue,” said LaPlaca, who was competing at WEC – Ocala for the first time in preparation for next month’s USEF Grand Prix Dressage National Championships, which is also an observation event for riders aiming to be on the U.S. dressage team for the FEI World Championships in Aachen, Germany, in August.
“The fact that it is so different from what he has been doing and that he stayed his normal self – and even improved a little bit more – for that alone I’m over the moon. He stayed very much with me. Our mistakes were unfortunate, but I’m a human. It was fantastic that he didn’t get unsettled and stayed on the money the whole ride.”
Kasey Perry-Glass (USA) and Heartbeat W.P., a 14-year-old KWPN gelding by Charmeur x Ferro owned by Diane Perry, scored 69.674% for second place. Riding her and Dr. Diane Fellows’s 14-year-old Hanoverian mare, Hawtins San Floriana (San Amour x Floriana Elite), Ashley Holzer (USA) placed third with a score of 69.152%.
Nichols Enjoys the Journey
Erin Nichols, who is based in Wellington, FL, in the winter and Bahama, NC, in the summer, and Elian Royale also notched a personal best score of 69.870% to win the Grand Prix CDI3*.
Nichols appreciated that show management set up the dressage arena in a positive and welcoming way. “It was amazing,” she said of her experience in the WEC Grand Arena. “Going into that arena for the first time here was so, so cool. I had chills!”
Nichols and Elian Royale will return to the ring on Saturday for the Grand Prix Special 3*. “It’s our favorite test,” noted Nichols. “We always seem to enjoy ourselves and it’s really technical with transitions, so we will focus on making those clean. He’s 17, so I’m trying to enjoy the journey with him.”
Second place went to Meagan Davis (USA) and Toronto Lightfoot, a 13-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Totilas x Onassis owned by Scott Durkin. They scored 69.043%. With a score of 68.804%, Katherine Bateson Chandler (USA) and Haute Couture, a 14-year-old KWPN mare by Connaisseur x Krack C owned by Bateson Chandler and Jennifer Huber, finished third.
Related Link
Scores: 2026 CDI Ocala