Ellesse Gundersen and Quintessential 4 showcased their potential again this week, topping the FEI Grand Prix Special Test on Friday, May 15, 2026, as part of the US Equestrian (USEF) Grand Prix Dressage National Championship, earning a 70.042% from the judging panel. Christian Simonson and Fleau de Baian took second with a score of 69.808%. Jodie Kelly-Baxley and Grayton Beach finished in third place overall with a 69.234%. The USEF Grand Prix Dressage National Championship will conclude tomorrow evening, highlighting the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle under the lights in the Grand Arena at World Equestrian Center – Ocala (WEC).

Photo – Ellesse Gundersen and Quintessential 4 rose to the top of the Grand Prix Special in the 2026 USEF Grand Prix Dressage National Championship. (US Equestrian/Avery Wallace)

“I felt like I had the same horse as I did the first day, which is what we’ve been aiming for, to have consistent rides and clean rides,” said Gundersen. “We know we can turn up this horse when we need to. That’s not the problem. I think now he’s showing that he’s very consistent, and we know what we’re going to have when we go in the ring. It was a great feeling.”

Standout

A standout week for Gundersen (Wellington, Fla.) and Quintessential 4 has her feeling incredibly optimistic about what lies ahead for the young combination. The pair has steadily continued to build confidence in their partnership, with this week marking two consecutive personal best scores at the Large Tour level. With their sights set on gaining European experience this summer and potentially targeting the Pan American Games in 2027 and the Olympic Games in Los Angeles, Calif., in 2028, Gundersen feels the patient and dedicated approach to development is paying off.

“When the horse was nine years old doing the Grand Prix, Christine [Traurig] was a big part in helping me kind of shape the direction to take him. I’ve followed that very carefully for the last three years now, and she wasn’t wrong,” said Gundersen. “I trust her guidance completely, and like she said, you’re building the team for more than just one event. LA28 is really important. Pan Americans are very important. We need to have a strong presence in all championships.”

Overall, Gundersen is grateful for the continued support and guidance of the team behind her and Quintessential 4, a 2014 Hanoverian gelding (Quaterback x Cordoba) owned by Ellesse Gundersen, Marcia Radosevich, and Henrik Gundersen and cared for by Kelsi O’Hara, who continue to push and support them each day. With the reward of having produced him to Grand Prix herself, Gundersen is finally beginning to feel the gratification of her patience and poise in bringing him confidently and positively up through the levels.

“It’s been such a long journey, which is a privilege to be able to have it be so long with this horse. So many people have been part of it, and there’s no way I can say that developing this horse was just me,” she added. “I think this has really been a team effort between me, my husband, Caroline [Roffman], Ali [Brock], the staff that have been caring for him; it really makes the horse. I’m honored that we’ve been able to be part of this horse’s life, and now it’s coming together, which is amazing, and all that patience really, really does pay off. I’m very happy.”

Solid

For Christian Simonson (Ventura, Calif.) and Fleau de Baian, another solid test in the Special helped push them to second place overall in the class. Simonson shared his pride for the work and trust displayed by Fleau de Baian, a 2010 KWPN stallion (Broere Jazz x Ulft) owned by Zen Elite Equestrian Center and cared for by Marina Lemay, in the arena, with their extensions coming as a highlight movement of the test for the pair.

“I was super proud of him. Throughout the whole test today, he was unbelievably honest. Every step, I felt like he was with me today,” he said. “The extensions were super fun. I saw his whole front leg during the extensions, and I was like, ‘Oh, cool!’ He was a super, super good horse, and I’m very proud of him and the whole team.”

While Simonson’s heavy-hitting mount, Indian Rock, a 2013 KWPN stallion (Apache x Vivaldi) owned by Zen Elite Equestrian Center and cared for by Marina Lemay, showcased some tension in the test, and a pilot error added a uncharacteristic penalty mark, Simonson was grateful for the opportunity to learn and grow from both rides. He acknowledged both horses are different in their approach to the show area, which has helped expand and also refine his own skills and confidence as a rider with each.

“I think in a world that’s ever more artificial, working with living beings and in a sport that’s this combination of two beings being together, I love it. I love also when things don’t go right or when they do go right, because for me, it’s very neutral. Is it bad or good if you’re just learning? To me, that’s the best part of it all. I’ve learned a lot already, so that for me is a huge win, and I’m actually very, very grateful for it,” explained Simonson. “I’ll go back and watch more and understand how I can improve. Being here is fun and the Special is a fun test. I’m grateful and happy that I’m learning a lot.”

Spring Goals

Early in the year, Jodie Kelly-Baxley (Destin, Fla.) identified qualifying for the USEF Grand Prix Dressage National Championship as a goal of her spring campaign with Grayton Beach, and the pair went one step above today and produced a relaxed, fluid test, which earned them a podium finish with a personal best score in the Grand Prix Special.

“Honestly, I can’t believe it, except that my horse is so honest and so trustworthy. He’s one of those that, when he genuinely understands what I’m asking him, I can count on him like the sun is going to rise tomorrow, which is really the most amazing feeling,” smiled Kelly-Baxley. “The mistakes that we’ve had in the past, and him getting a little bit stressed, I genuinely knew that he wasn’t understanding what I was asking him, and we’ve just really, really been working on that. That trust, that confidence, understanding, and what I was asking him – now, I feel like he’s got it.”

Kelly-Baxley has owned Grayton Beach, a 2011 KWPN gelding (Negro x UB 40) cared for by Sylvia Taylor, since he was a three-year-old and the journey to Grand Prix has been a rewarding one. With each competition the pair continue to build trust and confidence in one another, particularly in the collected work, which Kelly-Baxley felt was a huge highlight of the pair’s test this morning.

“For me, that’s everything. Every horse I’ve ever owned, I got as a baby. I love that bond that you start with, and I love that you know everything about them. I love that every button, for better or worse, I put on. The good, bad and the ugly – I did it,” she noted. “With every horse, you go through that phase of, ‘Let’s do it like this,’ or ‘Okay, that didn’t work for you. Let’s back up and try this path because this might work better for this horse.’ And I’ve been blessed that I brought a couple of young horses all the way through the Grand Prix, and I have a little more experience under my belt now. I wouldn’t have it any other way. I really love it.”

Important Championship

U.S. Dressage Chef d’Equipe Christine Traurig stressed the importance of having a standalone national championship for grand prix and that WEC is the venue to host it.

“I think it’s really, really important for the athletes to be at the same venue, the same competition – being together, competing with each other – but also against each other,” she noted. “That is really something that adds a little bit of pressure, which we know leading up to championships is something our riders have to get used to and handle. The venue is fantastic, especially the stadium which creates an atmosphere that we will also have when we go to Europe and compete. The footing is great, the horses can go outside, they have the option also to train inside; it’s really accommodating the welfare of the horses.”

The national championship features three days of top competition and will conclude with the highlight FEI Grand Prix Freestyle starting at 7pm ET on Saturday evening under the lights in the WEC Grand Arena.

Event Website | Schedule | Results

Tune in to the action on USEF Network powered by ClipMyHorse.TV for live stream coverage of the 2026 USEF Grand Prix National Championship. Watch live for free with a USEF Fan account.