Christian Simonson secured a historic victory at the Global dressage Festival, riding Indian Rock to a personal best score of 81.445% in the Grand Prix Freestyle under lights. This win clinched his qualification for the World Cup Final in Fort Worth, Texas, making him likely the youngest North American rider ever to compete at this senior international championship. Coached by Olympic silver medalist Adrienne Lyle, Simonson expressed deep gratitude for his team and reflected on achieving a childhood dream, highlighting his consistent success since starting Big Tour in May 2025.

The competition featured strong performances from other top riders, including Geñay Vaughn and Ashley Holzer, who placed second and third respectively. Indian Rock, owned by Zen Elite Equestrian, was developed by Emmelie Scholtens and has a notable international competition history. The Global dressage Festival continues to be a key event in the dressage calendar, featuring World Cup qualifiers and masterclasses from leading equestrians, contributing to the growth of the sport in North America.