Christian Simonson (Ventura, Calif.) riding Fleau de Baian led The Dutta Corp. U.S. Dressage Team with a personal best FEI Grand Prix score of 71.304 percent to advance individually to the Grand Prix Special test at the 2026 FEI Dressage World Championships Aachen hosted in Aachen, Germany, from August 11-15, 2026.

Photo – Christian Simonson (Ventura, Calif.) riding Fleau de Baian (© US Equestrian)

Simonson, 23, piloted his 2010 KWPN stallion (Broere Jazz x Ulft), owned by Zen Elite Equestrian Center and cared for by Georgia Morgan. They handled the pressure of the charged atmosphere in the Aachen main stadium with harmony and poise, ending the second day of competition sitting 25th individually, and led the team to eighth place overall on a final total score of 210.621.

Reflecting on team competition at the FEI Dressage World Championships Aachen, Chef d’Equipe Christine Traurig concluded with an air of hope, saying, “This is the generation we now have to look to—we have greater depth in horses and riders when these athletes who need to get team experience are being chaperoned by the ones that have the experience, and I’m happy with that. It’s very encouraging and motivating—exactly what I was looking for.”

On the podium, Germany stormed to gold, Great Britain took silver, and Denmark finished with bronze.

No Worries

“It felt surreal—going in there and having an unbelievable test today is something I’ll never forget,” said Simonson in his world championship debut after a three-year partnership with ‘Felix.’ “I try to be incredibly present with him, and I know that I can do my best job if I don’t worry about anything else. To be here with him at a show like this after just doing the U25 last year is a testament to how amazing a horse he is.”

Simonson, who checked the box on a childhood goal this week, is trained by U.S. Olympic team silver medalist Adrienne Lyle. “I’m grateful that she has been mentoring me each step of the way, building me up as a rider and as a human,” continued Simonson, who returned to familiar territory after competing with success at CHIO Aachen in the Young Rider division in 2022 and 2023. “I give all the credit to [Adrienne] and the team for being so instrumental in helping me understand and grow.”

Adding to the overall U.S. tally as the final athlete to compete, Ashley Holzer (Wellington, Fla.) and Hawtins San Floriana, a 2012 Hanoverian mare (San Amour I x Florestan I), owned by Dr. Diane Fellows and Ashley Holzer and cared for by Allie Conti, posted a 68.711 percent.

Debut

Simonson and Holzer were preceded a day earlier with Meagan Davis (Loxahatchee, Fla.) in her championship debut aboard Toronto Lightfoot, a 2013 Oldenburg gelding (Totilas x Onassis), owned by Scott Durkin and cared for by Inka Kalberlah. Their 67.624 was followed by a 70.606 percent from U.S. Olympian Kasey Perry-Glass (Wellington, Fla.) and Heartbeat W.P., a 2011 KWPN gelding (Charmeur x Olympic Ferro), owned by Diane Perry and cared for by Meghan Laffin.

After a rest day on Thursday, Simonson and Fleau de Baian will face the individual Grand Prix Special on Friday with hopes to be within the top 18 who advance to Saturday’s FEI Dressage World Championship Individual Grand Prix Freestyle.

Results
Team | Individual