USA’s Christian Simonson and Sweden’s Patrik Kittel round out the podium

With 13 countries represented in the field, the Zen Elite FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final kicked off Thursday evening with the Grand Prix. Sixteen horse-and-rider combinations cantered down centerline at the Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. Becky Moody (GBR) and Jagerbomb stole the show, winning the Grand Prix with an impressive 76.761 percent. In his FEI World Cup™ Final debut, Christian Simonson (USA) followed closely behind on a score of 75.413 percent with Indian Rock, while 2024 FEI World Cup™ Final champions Patrick Kittel (SWE) and Touchdown rounded out the top three with 72.869 percent.

Photo –  Great Britain’s Becky Moody and Jagerbomb. (Winslow Photography)

With the Split Rock Jumping Tour (SRJT) as event organizer, the City of Fort Worth and the Fort Worth Sports Commission are hosting the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final and Zen Elite FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final at Dickies Arena, April 8-12, 2026. The Ground Jury for Thursday’s Grand Prix consisted of Alice Schwab (AUT) at E, Francis Verbeek‑van Rooy (NED) at H, William Warren (USA) at C, Magnus Ringmark (SWE) at M, and Christof Umbach (LUX) at B.

Harmonious

First place finisher Moody rode her 2024 Olympic team bronze medal-winning partner, Jagerbomb, to the top of the leaderboard after a harmonious performance. The 12-year-old KWPN gelding owned by Moody and Jo Cooper has been with Moody since birth. A homebred sired by Dante Weltino and out of Moody’s Udysee, a mare she had trained up to Grand Prix, Jagerbomb’s rise to high performance has been special.

“When you’ve bred them yourself, it just adds an extra layer that makes the journey super special – working together, developing together, making mistakes together and getting better together,” Moody said. “I don’t have children; he’s my pride and joy. He is the sweetest of sweethearts. Ever since we backed him as a three‑and‑a‑half‑year‑old, he was super straightforward and very trainable — maybe a little lazy and not super exciting.”

Riding in Fort Worth certainly brought out the best in him with the atmosphere adding an extra layer of pizzazz.

Nice Balance

“He’s a joy to ride in an arena like that. [Tonight] I had that nice balance of energy and relaxation. He’s not exceptional at anything, but he’s just really good at everything,” Moody continued. “And the better the crowd, the more he loves it. It was really hard to stay focused going around the edge because the crowd was so enthusiastic. I heard, ‘We love your outfit, Becky!’ and I was thinking, ‘Concentrate, concentrate.’ They’re such a knowledgeable crowd too — you can hear the communal intake of breath when someone has a little glitch. You really feel they’re behind you, which is so lovely.”

The trip across the Atlantic was a first for Jagerbomb and Moody feels the long journey was certainly well worth it.

“He’s only ever competed in Europe, so flying him here was the most stressful part for me. I’d never flown a horse before, and he’d never flown either, but he coped really well,” she explained.”This was an amazing opportunity — a fantastic show, an amazing crowd, and a completely different equine culture. I wanted the experience for both of us, and I’m really glad I came.”

Final Debut

Currently the highest-placed U.S. rider in the FEI World Rankings at No. 12, Simonson made his FEI World Cup™ Final debut on Zen Elite Equestrian Center’s Indian Rock, a 13-year-old KWPN stallion. For the 21‑year‑old rider, simply being on this stage felt dreamlike.

“It still feels surreal to say I’m here at a World Cup™ Final and to get to ride in the same arena as people I’ve admired for so long,” Simonson said. “Even before I came down the centerline, I could hear the crowd shouting ‘Go get ’em, Rocky!’ That’s so fun for the sport, and it’s an honor to represent my country here. To feel that kind of energy from the crowd here in Texas was very special.”

Simonson picked up the ride on Indian Rock in January 2025 and he’s worked hard on developing their partnership over the past 14 months.

“My partnership with him is my favorite part,” he continued. “I spend a lot of time with him just grazing, hand‑walking, and sitting with him in the field. Indian Rock is an amazing horse, and he teaches me so much. I’ve also learned so much from [my coach] Adrienne Lyle. Every step I’m thinking, ‘What would Adrienne say here? What would she do?’ I try to learn one percent every day. I’m constantly humbled by how much there is to learn, and that pursuit is what keeps me going.”

Reflecting on the test that earned the pair second place, he highlighted the confidence they built throughout the ride.

“I was really happy with the piaffe, passage, and the pirouettes, but most of all with the trust we had throughout the test. We kept building confidence together. I just love him — he’s a really special horse.”

Kittel, a four‑time Olympian for Sweden, finished in third place on Touchdown, Sommarkvarn AB’s 14-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding. With more than a decade of FEI World Cup™ Finals behind him, Kittel spoke with the perspective of a rider who has seen the sport evolve yet still finds joy when he enters the arena.

The Best Feeling

“My wonderful horse, Touchdown, felt amazing in there and was a pleasure to ride,” Kittel said. “It was such a fun crowd. We want to present the horses we work with, love and train every day, for an audience. When they take in what we give, that’s the best feeling. The horses enjoy it so much — you can really feel it. It fills me with joy every time.”

Having produced the gelding since he was seven, Kittel spoke about the long partnership which has carried him to yet another global championship stage.

“He’s amazing to ride and train,” Kittel continued. “What he doesn’t bring by nature, he brings with his head. He has the sweetest, most kind soul you can imagine. He never lets you down. He always does his best.”

Dressage competition concludes on Saturday, April 11 with the Dressage Freestyle to Music, which will determine the champion of the 2026 Zen Elite FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final. The scores from the Grand Prix do not carry forward.

Tickets are still available and single-session tickets start at $35. Special pricing and packages are available for groups of just nine or more; those interested should reach out to Sydney at GroupSales@DickiesArena.com. Full ticket information is available online at https://www.fortworth2026.com/tickets, or tickets can be ordered at the following link: FEI World Cup Finals 2026 Tickets. VIP tables can be reserved online at VIP Reservations.

Watch the Winning Ride Here!