Christian Simonson and Indian Rock Score New Personal Best in World Cup™ Grand Prix to Open 2026 Adequan® Global Dressage Festival
By Alice Collins for Wellington International
Wellington, Fla.–January 9, 2026—At just 23 years old, Christian Simonson is still well inside the eligibility window for under-25 competition. However, he blasted to the top of the leaderboard during the first Friday Night Stars evening of freestyle competition at the 2026 Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) in Wellington, FL. With a new personal best in the IDA Development FEI World Cup™ Grand Prix Freestyle, he also booked his place to the World Cup™ Final, set for April in Fort Worth, Texas
He and the powerhouse Indian Rock danced their way to a dazzling 81.445% victory in front of packed grandstands and sold out International Club during Lloyd Landkamer Memorial week, the first week of the 12-week AGDF circuit. Simonson only began his international career with the 13-year-old Apache x Vivaldi stallion owned by Heidi Humphries of Zen Elite Equestrian in May 2025, and they remain unbeaten in eight starts together.
It was an all-American podium, with Geñay Vaughn and her mother Michelle Vaughn’s 15-year-old Bretton Woods gelding, Gino—last to go in the starting line-up of eight—claiming second place with 75.79%. It was a night for personal bests, with Ashley Holzer pulling off another for her 75.01% performance on her own and Diane Fellows’ 14-year-old San Amour mare, Hawtins San Floriana.
Read more:
