The first dressage competition of the 2026 show season began on Friday, January 30, at World Equestrian Center – Ocala (WEC). The WEC January Dressage CDI3*, presented by Hampton Green Farms hosted two grand prix classes on the first day. Nora Batchelder and Nova, owned by Carol Glover, topped the Grand Prix for Special CDI3*, while Charlotte Osborne (GBR) and Fruhlingszauber, owned by Lisa Carol, won the Grand Prix for Freestyle CDI3*.

Photo – Nora Batchelder and Nova – “the fanciest horse I’ve ever sat on” – came away with the win in the Grand Prix for Special CDI3*. (Andrew Ryback Photography)

Batchelder, of nearby Williston, FL, has ridden Nova for more than four years and has trained the horse from the Seven-Year-Old Young Horse classes to grand prix. Nova is one of 13 horses that Batchelder has brought to the grand prix level, and she knew from the start that Nova had the talent to reach the top.

Big Jump

“She’s definitely the fanciest horse I’ve ever sat on,” she said of the 11-year-old Oldenburg mare by Grand Galaxy Win T x Blue Hors Romanov. “She’s very powerful. Getting into the large tour is always a big jump, but I feel like every time we do it, we get more confident, and that’s fun. I want everyone to see how amazing she is.”

This was their fifth show together in grand prix at the international level, and they had not shown in FEI competition since January 2025.

Batchelder and Nova scored 66.087% to win, while Marta Renilla (USA) and Olympic Star, an 11-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding (Don Olymbrio L x Stedinger) owned by ISA-Rosal LLC, finished second. Coming in third were Jorge Rene Arauz (USA) and London Do Vouga, a 12-year-old Lusitano stallion (D’Accord do Mito x Trinco) owned by Dulce Borjas.

Best Attribute

Batchelder stated that Nova’s presence is her best attribute. “She’s a really beautiful horse,” she added, “and she has beautiful gaits. She loves being in the awards and showing off.”

In this grand prix test, Batchelder was pleased with their pirouettes and two-tempi changes. “Overall, I think the canter work was pretty good,” she said. “The trot work can be a real highlight, but we were a little tentative today. I feel like it can be so much better.”

Batchelder looks forward to Saturday’s Grand Prix Special CDI3* and the opportunity to practice their trot work more in the show arena.

Grand Prix for Special Results

Prix St. Georges Results

Full Show Results and Ride Times

The WEC January Dressage CDI3* continues on Saturday, January 31, with the CDI Young Riders Individual test, followed by the Intermediate I CDI1* at 5:40 p.m., the Grand Prix Special CDI3* at 6:30 p.m., and wrapping up with the Grand Prix Freestyle CDI3* at 7:40 p.m.