In their personal best ride together, Benjamin Ebeling and Bellena were the only plus-70% score in a 12-horse field for the Grand Prix for Freestyle CDI3* at the May Dressage CDI3* presented by Hampton Green Farm at World Equestrian Center – Ocala (WEC). Ebeling felt it was “that first piaffe coming off the left” in the test that contributed to a top score of 70.435%. Four out of five judges agreed, scoring that piaffe an eight, their top-scoring movement of the test.

Photo – Benjamin Ebeling and Bellena shone in the Grand Prix for Freestyle CDI3* presented by The Fix Aesthetic Clinic. (Andrew Ryback Photography)

“I just felt like I had nothing in the hand; it was like a perfect picture of unity and harmony in my mind,” he described. “She could have stayed there forever. That really was a special moment for me.”

Clean Goals

Ebeling said that Bellena has been growing in confidence through the grand prix test over the past few weeks and a lot came together for this test. “We’re working to be asymptotic where we get closer and closer to our end goal of having a really clean test,” he said, “and I really feel like this is a 75% horse. I think she’s the best horse that I’ve ever ridden.”

Anna Marek, Benjamin Ebeling, Christian Simonson, Roni Rumminia of WEC – Ocala and judge at C Mike Osinski. (Photo: Andrew Ryback Photography)

Ebeling took over the ride on Bellena from his father Jan, who has ridden and trained the 15-year-old Hanoverian mare (Belissimo M x Welser) since it was six years old.

“My dad keeps telling me, ‘She’s going to trust you. You just have to wait, be patient, and take one step at a time through the training. Focus on the training and not the competition,’” said Ebeling. “He’s right. We are slowly growing together, and I can feel that trust coming. She’s really coming to the party, so it’s a cool feeling.”

Second place in the Grand Prix for Freestyle CDI3* with a score of 69.717% went to Anna Marek (USA) riding Fayvel, a 15-year-old KWPN gelding by Zizi Top x Houston owned by Cynthia Davila. Christian Simonson (USA) and Fleau de Baian, a 15-year-old KWPN stallion by Jazz x Ulft owned by Heidi Humphries, scored 67.500% in their international debut for third place.

Victorious Times Two

Earlier in the day, Benjamin Ebeling was also victorious in the Prix St. Georges CDI1* on Pestano van de Kampert, a 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding by Destano x Laudabilis owned by Amy Roberts Ebeling. They scored 69.559% for the win. With a personal best of 67.402%, Jaron Verheij (NED) and Sixtus MK, a nine-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Silberschmied x Quaterback) owned by Myra Flanagan, finished second. Benjamin Albright (USA) and DSP Dominy, a 13-year-old Bavarian Warmblood stallion (Diamond Hit x Pour Plaisir) owned by The DSPD Group, were third with a score of 66.519%.

Grand Prix for Freestyle Results

Full Show Results and Ride Times

The May Dressage CDI3* continues on Saturday, May 24, with classes for Young Riders, Junior, Children’s, and Amateurs, along with the Intermediate I CDI1*. The highlight classes will run under the lights again, with the Grand Prix Freestyle CDI3* presented by The Fix Aesthetic Clinic at 6 p.m. and the Grand Prix Special CDI3* presented by The Fix Aesthetic Clinic at 8:30 p.m.