AACHEN, Germany, Aug. 12, 2026–Christian Simonson, team USA’s youngest rider at age 23, posted a personal best score on Fleau de Baian to secure eighth place for the country’s World Championships team competition.
Christian and the 16-year-old KWPN stallion that has been a backup to Indian Rock on which he was World Cup reserve champion in April, scored 71.304%.
The score was high enough for Christian and the Zen Elite Equestrian horse to finish in the top 30 and become the sole American to qualify for the Grand Prix Special Friday.
He had shown at this venue in youth divisions but in the more intimate dressage stadium in 2022 and 2023.
Kasey Perry-Glass, a 2018 World Equestrian Games silver medalist and 2016 Olympic bronze medalist on Dublet, rode Heartbeat W.P. to score 70.606% to miss out by one placing on the Special but will move up if there is a scratch.
Kasey and the 14-year-old KWPN gelding and Meagan Davis on the 13-year-old Toronto Lightfoot were two last-minute additions to the team after two combinations pulled out.
Ashley Holzer, the former Canadian Olympian and most experienced rider on the team, was the last of 91 horse and rider combinations in the two-day Grand Prix and on Hawtins San Floriana scored 68.711%.
