Six new champions were crowned on Saturday at the U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions, highlighting a full day of competition at HITS Chicago Lamplight Equestrian Center. The title awarded in the Neue Schule/USEF Grand Prix Dressage National Championship went to Christian Simonson and Indian Rock.

Photo – Christian Simonson and Indian Rock, winners of the Neue Schule/USEF Grand Prix Dressage National Championship (©Isabelle Whitside/US Equestrian)

Neue Schule/USEF Grand Prix Dressage National Championship

A new national champion was crowned today in the Neue Schule/USEF Grand Prix Dressage National Championship as Christian Simonson (Ventura, Calif.) and Indian Rock, a 2013 KWPN stallion (Apache x Crisjena), owned by Zen Elite Equestrian Center delivered a winning FEI Grand Prix Freestyle performance with a score of 79.430%, winning the overall championship with an average score of 74.393%.

For Simonson, the moment was nothing short of surreal. “It’s been amazing, and like a true childhood dream come true,” he shared. “I think I’ve watched this show for I don’t even know how many years now and being able to compete here, with him of all horses, at a senior championship, I just have to pinch myself. To be given this opportunity from Zen Elite Equestrian Center is just unbelievable. I’m so grateful to them.”

Simonson also credited the people behind the scenes who helped make the win possible. “It feels amazing. I think it’s a real reflection of my team, especially Adrienne Lyle, my trainer. Not only her, but also Marina, Hugo, and all the grooms we have back home that make this happen. I just get to sit on the horse and do the riding part, but they’re really the reason why.”

The partnership between Simonson and Indian Rock, known around the barn as “Rocky,” is still relatively new, which makes this victory even more meaningful. “To come here with him, and to already feel this kind of connection in the ring, it’s something really special,” he said.

Major Milestone

Meagan Davis and Toronto LightfootMeagan Davis (Loxahatchee, Fla.) and Toronto Lightfoot, a 2013 Oldenburg gelding (Totilas x Okima Lightfoot), owned by Scott Durkin, captured the Reserve Champion title with a score of 68.711%, marking a major milestone in their partnership. “It was a huge goal of mine. Last year at this time we did our fifth Grand Prix ever,” Davis said. “It was just a huge accomplishment to get here at this point a year later, and then to win Reserve Champion was icing on the cake.” Davis shared that the highlight of their freestyle came during the one-tempis: “The second line of one-tempis, I got all 15 in, and I was like, ‘Okay, now we’re ready to roll.’”

At home, Toronto Lightfoot, fondly called “TT,” has just as much charm as he does talent. “Toronto is a sweetheart. He loves bananas, so I actually have banana keychains on things, it’s a running theme,” she said with a smile. “He tries super hard, and we got him three years ago when he was in Prix St. Georges. We moved him up to I-2 and then bumped him up to Grand Prix. I just think that shows his talent and willingness to be a partner.”

Rounding Out

Karen Lipp and InfinityKaren Lipp (Ball Ground, Ga.) guided Infinity, her own 2013 KWPN gelding (Dream Boy x Ultraster) to round out the top three with a score of 68.064%. In addition to her top three finish, Lipp was honored with the Soft Hands Award, presented by Neue Schule, which recognizes exceptional harmony and lightness in the rider’s contact. She was presented with a sash and a Neue Schule saddle pad in celebration of her achievement.

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