On Saturday evening, November 1, at the 2025 US Dressage Finals presented by Adequan® Kristin Wasemiller-Knutson danced her way to the champion’s blanket in the Open Grand Prix Freestyle with a fabulous ride on Vashti which garnered 72.25% and the nod from all three judges.

The pair finished as runners-up in the previous evening’s Grand Prix but pulled out all the stops to land the freestyle title 24 hours later. The US Dressage Finals at World Equestrian Center (WEC) in Wilmington, OH, runs October 30 to November 2, 2025, and offers a prize fund of $125,000.

Photo – For the second time in their career, Kristin Wasemiller-Knutson and Vashti claimed the Open Grand Prix Freestyle, with a unanimous 72.25% win. (Sue Stickle Photography)

Déjà vu

There was a sense of déjà vu as the same duo also won this class in 2021, so their names will once again be engraved on the Jazzman Perpetual Trophy, presented by Donna Richardson. Jennifer Roth clinched the reserve sash with a last-minute decision to contest the class after another competitor scratched. She piloted Barbara Lightner’s 12-year-old Lusitano Imperador DR to 71.258%. The 24-year-old Josefine Parada, who was jetting off on her honeymoon the following morning, filled third place with 71.125% on her own 14-year-old Floriscount gelding, Floyd.

“I could not have been happier with my ride; I didn’t care what the score was,” enthused Wasemiller-Knutson, who rode to a Bugs Bunny operetta compilation she edited herself as well as designing the complex floorplan. “I wanted to use that music, and it took me years to try to get it the way I wanted it.”

Cherished Victory

Vashti, who is by the pinto Friesian Sporthorse Nico — also sire of Adiah HP — was bred by Sherry Koella. She was at Finals to witness the cherished 17-year-old mare’s victory. Koella likes to breed for color, and when Vashti came out bay and soon became an orphan, Wasemiller-Knutson and her mother Dede Wasemiller took her in.

“We have been second several times in this class, so it was our goal to come back and win it,” added Wasemiller-Knutson, who trains mostly with her mom and is based four miles away from her farm in Oklahoma City.

Roth’s last-minute decision to ride in the Grand Prix Freestyle brought her total tally of Finals rides to 11. She was “off the charts pumped” with the result.

“I wasn’t even supposed to be in this class,” she explained. “The horse is an absolute machine and Kathy Rizzoni made him such a fun, upbeat freestyle. I was up there just dancing and singing, and when I hit that last line of ones, I thought, ‘Okay, I’ve done 15, let’s see how many more I can fit in.’ He was right there for me. That’s probably the most fun I’ve ever had doing dressage.”

A Great Performance

Roth partially attributed her great performance to help from long-time coach Sharon Ridge and warm-up help from Jim Koford, and partly to her brand new tailcoat bought on the day.

“It must be good luck; I’m never taking it off,” laughed Roth, who has been riding the Lusitano only since the spring of 2025. “I was given the ride to just play around, and here we are. Jim’s been convincing me that it’s okay to be fancy. I tend to go with the safe seven, and he’s helping me figure out that I can go for more. It’s pretty cool.”

Competition concludes on Sunday, November 2, with the last 10 titles to be decided on the closing day. Check out the latest coverage of the 2025 Finals, including behind-the-scenes photos and daily releases here. Live results and start times can be found here.