Christian Simonson delivered an impressive performance on Indian Rock to win the World Cup Grand Prix Freestyle at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Florida, marking a significant step toward qualifying for the World Cup Final in Fort Worth, Texas, in April 2026. Despite some scoring discrepancies, Simonson expressed satisfaction with the ride, highlighting the strong partnership with his 12-year-old stallion and the guidance of coach Adrienne Lyle. His score of 78.840% earned him top points in the inaugural event of the 2026 US Open series, moving him into third place in the North American League standings.
Runner-up Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu, riding the 11-year-old gelding Jaccardo, scored 75.115% and remains in contention for one of the three North American spots at the Final, potentially becoming the first Canadian competitor since 2013. Erin Nichols placed third, while Kevin Kohmann and Benjamin Ebeling lead the North American League standings. With five qualifiers remaining, the rankings are still fluid, as riders aim to secure their best scores to qualify for the prestigious championship in Fort Worth.
