OCALA, Florida, May 16, 2026–Ellesse Gundersen and her home-bred Quintessential 4 became the United States Grand Champion Saturday night, three years after switching to ride for America instead of her native Philippines.
Ellesse claimed the title on a combined score of 71.082% after placing second in the Grand Prix Freestyle following a victory in the Grand Prix Special and second in the Grand Prix.
Ashley Holzer on Hawtins San Floriana was reserve champion on 70.350% with Meagan Davis on Toronto Lightfoot 3rd on 70.016%. Ellesse and Ashley are based in Wellington and Meagan in neighboring Loxahatchee.
The Freestyle was the finale of the event of the three Grand Prix classes that stood alone from other championship levels.
But it was minus the top two championship qualifiers, No. 1 Geñay Vaughn of Elk Grove, California and Gino, and No. 2 Kasey Perry-Glass based in Wellington and Heartbeat W.P. Both had performed below expectations and were ranked 10th and 14th, respectively after two of the three rounds that began three days earlier with 16 rider and horse combinations
They joined Christian Simonson and Indian Rock, also based in Wellington and top scoring, who also pulled out after the second round of the championships citing musical performances earlier in the year that included reserve champion at the World Cup Final in Fort Worth, Texas a month ago.
Christian and Fleau de Baian that he continued competing after Indian Rock was withdrawn placed fourth on 69.871%.
The freestyle was delayed for almost two hours by lightning with rain that required Meagan to begin warmups of her horse three times.
Results:
| Rank | Competitor | Score | E | H | C | M | B |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. |
Christian Simonson (USA)
Fleau de Baian
|
76.240% | 77.475 | 75.700 | 77.100 | 75.400 | 75.525 |
| 2. |
Ellesse Gundersen (USA)
Quintessential 4
|
76.055% | 76.300 | 76.850 | 77.800 | 73.650 | 75.675 |
| 3. |
Ashley Holzer (USA)
Hawtins San Floriana
|
75.355% | 76.500 | 74.725 | 76.075 | 74.425 | 75.050 |
| 4. |
Jordan LaPlaca (USA)
Gold Play
|
75.260% | 74.300 | 76.500 | 76.875 | 74.825 | 73.800 |
| 5. |
Meagan Davis (USA)
Toronto Lightfoot
|
74.390% | 77.050 | 70.625 | 74.000 | 75.325 | 74.950 |
| 6. |
Jennifer Williams (USA)
Joppe K
|
72.870% | 72.725 | 74.000 | 72.375 | 73.975 | 71.275 |
| 7. |
Jodie Kelly-Baxley (USA)
Grayton Beach
|
72.645% | 71.925 | 71.900 | 73.525 | 72.175 | 73.700 |
| 8. |
Kevin Kohmann (USA)
Famous
|
70.695% | 70.625 | 72.050 | 71.750 | 69.025 | 70.025 |
| 9. |
Jaclyn Pepper-Millard (USA)
Limited Edition
|
70.240% | 72.550 | 71.300 | 70.600 | 69.375 | 67.375 |
| 10. |
Katherine Bateson Chandler (USA)
Haute Couture
|
69.955% | 70.850 | 71.575 | 67.700 | 70.500 | 69.150 |
| 11. |
Nora Batchelder (USA)
Nova
|
68.810% | 67.550 | 67.800 | 68.500 | 72.050 | 68.150 |
| 12. |
Sarah Tubman (USA)
Dow Jones 1
|
63.830% | 62.750 | 64.500 | 63.900 | 63.050 | 64.950 |
