Ellesse Gundersen is the 2026 U.S. Grand Prix Champion

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2026 U.S Grand Prix Championships

-- USEF press release, expanded by Eurodressage - Photos © USEF / Andrew Ryback

Ellesse Gundersen and Quintessential were crowned winners of the 2026 U.S. Grand Prix Championship held at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Florida. The Nationals concluded with the third round - the Kur to Music - on Saturday 17 May 2026.

Gundersen finished atop the overall leaderboard following three days of competition. She achieved a combined championship score of 71.082%. Ashley Holzer and Hawtins San Floriana finished as Reserve Champions with an overall total of 70.350%, while Meagan Davis and Toronto Lightfoot rounded out the podium with overall third place.

The Underdog Shines

The 35-year old Ellesse Jordan Tolentino Tzinberg Gundersen began her international dressage career in Europe in the 2010s, based in Sweden with Rasmus and Charlotte Haid-Bondergaard. She began her international dressage career on Pavarotti (by Ferro x Saros) and Triviant (by Olivia x Saluut) with whom she represented The Philippines at the 2018 World Equestrian Games and World Cup Final in Paris.

Ellesse moved to Wellington, FL, USA and married Danish jumping horse dealer Hendrik Gundersen. She declared for the U.S.A. in December 2023 with an American father with Russian roots and a Philippine mom from Spanish descent. after the retirement of Triviant she briefly copmpeted Villery Nord in the winter of 2020-2021 but then mainly focused on horse sales. She returned to the international stage in 2023 on the home-bred Quintessential (by Quaterback x Cordoba).

After deliberately avoiding competing at the Global Dressage Festival in Wellington this winter and gaining trust in the arena on her sensitive Quintessential by showing him at the much more low-key CDI's in Ocala, Florida, Ellesse held on to a strategy that paid off. She exceeded all expectations with three very consistent rides at the Nationals, finishing second in the Grand Prix (70.348%), winning the Special (70.042%), and placing second in the freestyle (76.055%).

Her overall total put her on the gold medal step of the podium and the highly coveted national title. The overall champion was determined by a calculation of their scores throughout the week, with the Grand Prix counting for 45% of their overall total, 40% for the Grand Prix Special, and the Grand Prix Freestyle earning them the final 15% of their score.

The 2026 Nationals Marred by Drop-Outs and Absentees

The 2026 U.S. Championships were pushed from August to May to make them a mandatory selection event for the hopefuls for the U.S. Team short list that will be sent to Europe for team selection for the 2026 World Championships in Aachen

The 2026 Championship had 17 qualified pairs but World Cup finals duo Anna Marek and Fayvel dropped out right before the start. Olympic pairs Marcus Orlob/Jane and Ots/Bohemian withdrew beforehand, Adrienne Lyle and Helix did not qualify for the Nationals as they only competed in their first CDI in a year time at the CDI Ocala this weekend to a 72.2% score.

So 16 total combinations competed in the Championships at the beginning of the week, but by freestyle day a further three, who are all serious candidates for the short list, dropped out: Simonson on Indian Rock, Kasey Perry-Glass on Heartbeat WP, and Genay Vaughn on Gino.

For short list consideration the USEF rule (1.B.1) reads that, "athlete/horse combinations must complete the 2026 USEF Grand Prix Dressage National Championship (May 13-17, 2026, in Ocala, FL)." In Addition the rules say that for short list "Scores from the 2026 USEF Grand Prix Dressage National Championship, including the completion of the FEI Grand Prix, FEI Grand Prix Special, and FEI Grand Prix Freestyle."

Of course the rules leave a clear loop-hole: "In exceptional circumstances, additional applicant athlete/horse combinations may be added to the Short List (possibly exceeding eight (8) athletes) which have not completed the required qualifying events as outlined in Section I.B.1.a. These combinations may be invited to compete at the Observation Events if the scores are reflective of a combination that could assist in the overall Team performance."

Gundersen Wins but Not Up for Team Consideration

Ellesse Gundersen (Wellington, Fla.) and Quintessential have marked a career-defining week in Ocala. She bred and developed “Q” herself and was thrilled with their ability to produce consistency and precision throughout the week, which resulted in three personal best scores at the level.

“He showed, again, that he was reliable, and he was meant to be here,” said Gundersen. “I'm really over the moon about it. He really deserves it, and my entire team the last couple years deserves this more than anything as well, because they've been a huge part of it. I think we're going to enjoy it now, and then we are going to make smart decisions and look to the future for this horse.”

The pair has drawn positive attention from the judges, spectators, and their peers for their harmonious picture and poise throughout their performances. Their freestyle highlighted Q’s strengths, including his extended movements and fluidity of transition between collected and extended work.

“My music is named ‘Never Give Up,’” said Gundersen. “It really reminds us that we can't ever give up and we fight every day, no matter what, and we show up, and we're here for it. It's very special to us.”

Gundersen did not declare her intent to be considered for US Team selection for the 2026 World Championships (the deadone was 2 March 2026) and can therefore not be considered to be short-listed and sent to Europe for the selection trials.

"Yes, it’s true that I didn’t declare for the 2026 World Championships, so I’m not eligible for Aachen or the short list this year," Ellesse told Eurodressage. "A lot of thought went into this decision, but it felt like the right one for me and for the horse at the time. For me, my team behind us, and Christine Traurig, doing what is best for the horse is always the number one priority, because that’s how you build a true superstar for the future. We will be looking to the future like the Pan Americans and of course, Los Angeles."

She will be heading to Europe though but on her own account for experience. "Europe is and has been part of the plan to continue building Q up, so I will be aiming to be in Europe this summer," she said.

Ellesse trains with Ali Brock, Caroline Roffman, and has her husband Henrik as eyes on the ground.

"They’re all such different personalities, but somehow they complement each other so well. It’s actually really cool seeing them all put their heads together and think about what’s best for Q and me," she said. "Ali has been such a massive part of this journey. We’ve been working together for about two years now, and honestly her knowledge — both as a trainer and competitor — is incredible. She’s helped change my mindset a lot and made me mentally so much stronger. Especially at shows, she just has this ability to pull exactly what’s needed out of me in the moment. It’s really special, and a huge reason why I think she’s one of the best people I’ve ever worked with."

Silver for Routinier Holzer

Canadian born Olympian Ashley Holzer (Wellington, Fla.) and Hawtins San Floriana, a 2012 British Hanoverian mare (by San Amour I x Florestan I) owned by Diane Fellows, earned a 75.355% from the judging panel in their freestyle, to ultimately take reserve champion honours. They were fourth in the Grand Prix with 69.957% and fourth in the Special with 68.915%

The silver mark another milestone step in the pair’s partnership together. “She's worked very hard,” commented Holzer. “We knew that I had to get her acclimated to events that had a lot of atmosphere. She just kept improving, and now she walks to the ring, happy as a clam. I pick up the reins, she knows it's her job, and she goes off and does it. I've had a lot of horses in my life, and I know when they want to go down that centerline and do the job for you. It is remarkable, and we have to cherish that.”

Holzer noted that it has taken time to build trust with Hawtins San Floriana, but they’ve continued to form a stronger bond this season, which is reflecting in their performances in the ring.

“It was a very tricky adjustment for me,” acknowledged Holzer. “I had a very difficult time when I first had her, and we just spent a lot of time becoming partners. It's an amazing feeling to have a horse that you know is always going to be dependable. When you win over that trust, they really want to do it for you. I think that has been more and more obvious to me during this entire season.”

Holzer has a whole pipeline of horses coming up for Grand Prix, but her 2024 Paris Olympics' hopeful, Hansel (by Don Olymbrio), has been missing in action since his last start in Rotterdam in June 2024. The horse stayed at Carl Hester's for a while for further training but has not been seen since. San Floriana has now taken over the number one spot in the barn and is Ashley's hope for Aachen.

Bronze for Newbie Meagan Davis

Aboard Toronto Lightfoot Meagan Davis (Loxahatchee, Fla.) rounded out the top three combinations in the overall standings after a solid freestyle pushed them just ahead of Simonson and Fleau de Baian. The duo received a 74.390% from the panel for their freestyle. After a 70.065% in the Grand Prix (3rd) and 68.319% in the Special (7th), they earned a final total championship score of 70.016% for bronze.

Davis ended up going last in the class due to rain delays, but she took it all in stride, as did her horse. “To go in and do a test as well as he did just shows how much heart and stamina he has, and how he loves to perform,” she said of the 2013 Oldenburg gelding (Totilas x Onassis) owned by Scott Durkin and cared for by Bill Davis.

Simonson and LaPlace Round Out Top Five

Christian Simonson (Ventura, Calif.) and Fleau de Baian, a 2010 KWPN stallion (Broere Jazz x Ulft) owned by Zen Elite Equestrian Center, won the Grand Prix Freestyle with an impressive score of 76.240%. A ninth place in the Grand Prix (67.804%) and second in the Special (69.808%) produced on overall total score that ranked them fourth in the Championship.

“I was almost in tears at the end of my ride," said Simonson. "It was the first time we've done that freestyle, so it was a lot of fun,” she expressed.

Jordan LaPlaca (Ledyard, Conn.) and Gold Play, a 2015 Oldenburg gelding (Grey Flanell x Sir Donnerhall II) owned by Nancy Hutson, earned fifth place, just ahead of Jodie Kelly-Baxley (Destin, Fla.) and Grayton Beach, a 2011 KWPN gelding (by Negro x UB 40), who rounded out the top six finishers in the 2026 USEF Grand Prix Dressage National Championship.