May 19, 2027
Eight rider and horse combinations were named to the United States short list to go to Europe ahead of the World Championships in three months, though the most noticeable pair not included was the newly crowned American Grand Prix championship pair of Ellesse Gundersen and her home-bred Quintessential 4.
Top ranked rider Christian Simonson aged just 23 will have two mounts on the squad, his World Cup reserve champion Indian Rock and Fleau de Baian.
Ellesse, still developing the 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding, did not register for qualification to go to Europe, as required by U.S. rules. The rules were reviewed to by selectors but prevented consideration under selection procedures though the duo could be considered for the team by going to Europe on their own and producing qualifying scores.
Centerpiece of the European tour will be the CDIO4* Nations Cup in Hagen, Germany the first week of July.
The short listed squad:
–Meagan Davis of Loxahatchee, Florida and Toronto Lightfoot, 13-year-old Oldenburg gelding, owned by Scott Durkin
–Ashley Holzer of Wellington and Hawtins San Floriana, 14-year-old British Hanoverian mare, owned by Diane Fellows & Ashley
–Jordan LaPlaca of Ledyard, Connecticut and Gold Play, 11-year-old Oldenburg gelding, owned by Nancy Hutson & Jordan
–Anna Marek of Dunnellen, Florida and Fayvel, 16-year-old KWPN gelding, owned by Cynthia Davila
–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
–Geñay Vaughn of Elk Grove, California and Gino, 15-year-old KWPN gelding, owned by Michele Vaughn
Jane, ridden by Marcus Orlob, was not competed in the national Grand Prix Championship because of an injury and so was not included on the short list.
Adrienne Lyle, a three-time Olympian and coach of Christian Simonson, did not nominate herself or any horse for the championship though on Helix, her Olympic and 2025 World Cup Final mount, won both the Grand Prix and the Special in the CDI3* held at the same time in Ocala. She intends to go to Europe separately.
Six teams in the World Championship will earn a start at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The United States as host nation automatically earns a start irrespective of the results at the Worlds in Aachen, Germany as long as the three team combinations attain qualifying scores.
