Bortuzzo and Nichols Win Small Tour and Under 25 Title at 2026 U.S. Dressage Championships

Shows

2026 U.S. Dressage Championships

-- USEF press release, edited by Eurodressage - Photos © US Equestrian

Elizabeth Bortuzzo and Erin Nichols became the winners of the small tour and Under 25 titles at the 2026 U.S. Dressage Championships held at Lamplight equestrian centre in Wayne, ILL, on 24 - 30 August 2026.

While the small tour saw a very disappointing number of just six riders show up to the Festival of Championships, the field of Under 25 Grand Prix riders was better stacked with 12 pairs. Interestingly the winning horses in the two divisions were both bred by the same breeder, Wim Plaizier, in The Netherlands.

The small tour championships featured three rounds (PSG, Inter I, Inter I Kur) just like the Under 25 Championship (Inter II, Short Grand Prix, Kur).

Small Tour: Bortuzzo On Top

East coast rider Elizabeth Bortuzzo and Next Pleasure, a 2018 KWPN gelding (by Secret x Bretton Woods), co-owned by Bortuzzo and Mark Paul, earned the champion title in the Small Tour Championship after producing three winning rounds with 70.323% in the Prix St Georges, 69.912% in the Intermediaire I, and 71.880% in the Inter I Kur to Music.

“I’m thrilled; it’s quite an unbelievable feeling to sit on such a fantastic, talented, and powerful horse,” Bortuzzo said. “We’re excited to be here at this lovely venue. It’s a great atmosphere that allowed us to shine like this. He’s a complete sweetheart and a total snuggle bug,” she said of the gelding who stands impressively over 18 hands. “He’s a pleasure to ride; he wants to come out and work and loves doing his job. It makes it such a fantastic partnership because I love working too.”

After dominating the competition from start to finish, Bortuzzo pointed out that it wasn’t just one movement that made the pair shine but the horse as a whole.

"It’s a horse showing that he has figured out what he needs to do,” she said. “It’s also the support of my whole team here and at home. My coaches, vets, and staff who allow us to come here and dance.”

Speaking highly of her supporters and sideline cheerleaders, Bortuzzo emphasized her gratitude for the people who make up that special team, including her business partner, Mark Paul, and John Hopwood, her farrier.

Taking home the reserve champion title was Akiko Yamazaki (Los Altos Hills, Calif.) and Grey C Carrus, a 2014 Oldenburg gelding (Gray Flannell x Krack C), owned by Four Winds Farm, who earned an average score of 67.917% over three rounds. The Oldenburg joined Akiko's string of horses in 2022 and was first shown by her daughter Miki Yang at young riders level in 2023 before Yamazaki took over the ride.

Rounding out the podium was Adam Steffens-Smienk (Jupiter, Fla.) and Scala, a 2015 Hanoverian mare (by St. Schufro x Belissimo), owned by Wendy Petrik of Candoit farm. The combination was second in the PSG ( 67.176% ), third in the Inter I (66.294%) and fourth in the Kur (69.640%). Steffens took over the ride on Scala from Kevin Kohmann.

Under 25: Erin Nichols Wins Brentina Cup

After three days of competition Erin Nichols and Kind Pleasure, a 2015 gelding owned by Premiere Sport Horses, were crowned the winners of the "Brentina Cup" Under 25 Championship. Leading the field from the very beginning, the pair ended on a high note with a combined average score of 71.476%.

Nichols and her 11-year old Governor x Zack offspring won the Inter II with 69.441%, the short Grand Prix with 71.385%, and the Kur with 73.955%.

“I’m on cloud nine. What more can you ask for from him? He gave me amazing tests all three days, and we’re really growing as a team,” said Nichols of the gelding she’s been riding for only two years. She trains with Christoph Koschel.

In their budding partnership, the pair has since claimed six national wins in a row, with their most recent gold medal success coming from their time at the 2026 North American Youth Championships, earning three gold medals in the U25 division.

Nichols described the KWPN gelding as a shy, quiet horse with a good soul. The gelding lives up to his name and is a “pleasure to be around.” While he may be introverted in the barn, he truly shines the moment he trots down the centerline.

As the days went on, the pair’s scores got higher, with Nichols crediting their canter and pirouette work as highlights of their tests. “He’s good at home, but going in the ring I have to remind him that he can actually do it,” she said. “I think the more we do, the more he gets used to the atmosphere; he’ll realize that it’s cool.”

With another win in hand, the pair is looking towards a slow and steady move up to the CDI Grand Prix classes.

Earning reserve champion, Allison Nemeth (Flemington, N.J.) held second place aboard her own Leviathan, a 2016 KWPN gelding (Desperado x Apache) with a final score of 69.962% after a set of consistent scores across the board. Nemeth was second in the Inter II and short Grand Prix (68,882% and 70,436%) and fifth in the Kur (70,665%).

Rounding out the podium was Miki Yang (Los Altos Hills, Calif.) and Fürst Fabelhaft UZN, a 2014 Rhinelander gelding (by All At Once x Fidermark) owned by Four Winds Farm, on a final score of 68.078% Yang was fourth in the Inter II (67,323%), sixth in the short Grand Prix (65,513%) and move to third place in the Kur (71,950%). The chestnut was previously competed by Turkish-American Lina Uzunhasan in Europe before selling to Yamazaki in December 2025.

Sabine Schut-Kery and Jojoba de Massa Win 2025 U.S. Small Tour Championship
Sabine Schut-Kery Wins 2024 U.S. Small Tour Championship
Christian Simonson Wins the 2023 U.S. Small Tour Championships
Graves and Sensation HW Maintain Lead in 2022 U.S. Small Tour Championship
Chris Hickey U.S. Small Tour Champion, Steffen Peters Grand Prix Champion
Christina Vinios Wins 2015 U.S. Small Tour Championship
Cesar Parra Makes it Count and Wins 2010 U.S. Small Tour Championship
Michelle Gibson Wins 2008 U.S. Small Tour Dressage Championship