The U.S. team narrowly won the Modon FEI Nations Cup at the Adequan Global dressage Festival in Wellington on March 19, ending Germany’s five-year winning streak. Led by Chef d’Equipe Christine Traurig, the U.S. team—comprising Anna Marek, Meagan Davis, Jordan LaPlaca, and Ashley Holzer—secured victory with a total score of 205.631, just edging out Germany’s 205.043 and Canada’s 204.196. Marek’s flawless final test on Fayvel was pivotal in clinching the historic win, especially notable as two riders, Davis and LaPlaca, made their senior team debuts, while Holzer and Marek joined late due to withdrawals.

Germany’s team featured Olympic gold medalist Frederic Wandres, who won the individual class with 69.913%, supported by promising newcomers Lars Ligus and Emma Caecilia Lienert. Canada’s team was led by Olympian Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu, who placed second individually with 69.826%. The competition was fiercely close, with less than 1.5 percentage points separating the top three teams, highlighting the high level of talent and teamwork displayed across the nations in this opening leg of the 2026 FEI dressage Nations Cup series.