May 6, 2026
A lineup of 17 rider and horse combinations were named by the U.S. Federation Wednesday to compete in the national Grand Prix Championships next week as a key competition leading to selection of a World Championship team.
Geñay Vaughn of Elk Grove, California and her mother’s Gino that completed qualifiers to finish atop the standings were among the lineup invited to start at the national championships at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Florida.
Also included was the American partnership of Christian Simonson based in Wellington, Florida and Indian Rock that did not fulfill qualifying requirements but were selected as wild cards after becoming reserve champion at the World Cup Final last month. He also qualified on Fleau de Baian.
The Championship schedule is the Grand Prix next Wednesday, the Special Friday and the Freestyle Saturday.
A squad of riders and horses will be selected after the championships to go to Europe where competitions will be the CDIO4* Nations Cup at Hagen, Germany the first week of July and CDIO5* Nations Cup at Falsterbo, Sweden the following week.
The team will then be selected for the World Championships in Aachen, Germany Aug. 10-23.
The lineup for Ocala as announced by US Equestrian:
Genay Vaughn of Elk Grove, California and Gino, 15-year-old KWPN gelding, owned by Michele Vaughn
Kasey Perry-Glass of Wellington, Florida and Heartbeat W.P., 14-year-old KWPN gelding, owned by Diane Perry
Christian Simonson of Wellington and Fleau de Baian, 16-year-old KWPN stallion, owned by Heidi Humphries, and
Indian Rock, 13-year-old KWPN stallion, owned by Zen Elite Equestrian Center
Jordan LaPlaca of Ledyard, Connecticut and Gold Play, 11-year-old Oldenburg gelding, owned by Nancy Hutson and Jordan
Meagan Davis of Loxahatchee, Florida and Toronto Lightfoot, 13-year-old Oldenburg gelding, owned by Scott Durkin
Anna Marek of Dunnellen, Florida and Fayvel, 16-year-old KWPN gelding, owned by Cynthia Davila
Ashley Holzer of Wellington and Hawtins San Floriana, 14-year-old British Hanoverian mare, owned by Diane Fellows & Ashley
Jennifer Williams of Wellington and Joppe K, 12-year-old KWPN gelding, owned by Joppe Partners LLC
Ellesse Gundersen of Wellington and Quintessential 4, 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding, owned by Ellesse & Henrik Gundersen & Marcia Radosevich
Sarah Tubman of Wellington and Dow Jones I, 17-year-old Hanoverian gelding, owned by Christopher Palabe
Katherine Bateson Chandler of Wellington and Haute Couture, 14-year-old KWPN mare, owned by Jennifer Huber & Katherine
Jodie Kelly-Baxley of Destin, Florida and Grayton Beach, 15-year-old KWPN gelding, owned by Jodie
Nora Batchelder of Williston, Florida and Nova, 11-year-old Oldenburg mare, owned by Carol Glover
Kevin Kohmann of Wellington and Famous, 15-year-old Hanoverian gelding, owned by Equine Law Group
Tina Konyot of Wellington and Grover, 12-year-old KWPN gelding owned by Earle I. Mack LLC & Tina
Jaclyn Pepper-Millard of Santa Rosa, California and Limited Edition, U.S.-bred 10-year-old mare, owned by Jaclyn
Marcus Orlob and Jane were among the most notable absence, having withdrawn after an injury to the horse. Endel Ots on Zen Elite’s Bohemian, team reserve at the 2024 Paris Olympics, and Steffen Peters, a six-time Olympian who plans to seek higher scores in CDIs on Blue Hors Zirrus also pulled out.
