By KENNETH J. BRADDICK
HAGEN, Germany, July 2, 2026–The United States dressage team is experiencing mixed fortunes ahead of the start of the Nations Cup competition designed to select a squad for the World Championships next month.
A team of four riders and horses were picked from a lineup of 10 combinations that were entered in the three different CDI classes at this event. This show also includes a German team that will be vying for gold at the World Championships in Aachen, mid-August.
The Nations Cup team includes Fleau de Baian, 16-year-old stallion who passed the veterinary inspection Thursday, a day before the CDIO 4* Grand Prix to decide Nations Cup medals. Fleau has been a backup for Christian Simonson, based in Wellington, Florida. Indian Rock is his No 1 ride, but as described in a previous article, the owners, Zen Elite, felt it unnecessary for him to travel to Europe this year.
Toronto Lightfoot, a 13-year-old gelding ridden by Meagan Davis of Loxahatchee, Florida was also passed. Meagan has competed widely in the United States for two decades but not outside North America until this event.
However, Geñay Vaughn of Elk Grove, California and Gino were pulled from the CDI4* lineup a day before the veterinary inspection to replace Anna Marek after Fayvel was considered unfit to compete on the Nations Cup team.
Geñay and the 15-year-old KWPN gelding were recently added to the dressage pre-elite program after a year of rising scores that included earning a start in the 2025 World Cup Final and narrowly missing out on a start this year.
At the vet check Thursday, Gold Play, the 11-year-old Oldenburg gelding competed by Jordan LaPlaca of Ledyard, Connecticut was not passed. After several minutes in the “holding box”–a sectioned off part of a dressage arena–a decision was made to be re-inspected Friday morning, hours before the Nations Cup.
History indicates that horses re-inspected after 24 hours of recovery from what led to not passed are mostly declared fit to compete.
However, if Gold Play fails the re-inspection it will be too late for a replacement to be allowed so the team would have no drop score as three results are needed.
American combinations entered in the CDI3* are: Quinn Iverson and Gremlin 41, Adrienne Lyle and Helix and Ellesse Gundersen and Quintessential 4, all based in Wellington.
