Bellena Dances to Victory, but the Leaderboard Holds Its Breath

In their Grand Prix Freestyle debut as a pair, Benjamin Ebeling and the 14-year-old Hanoverian mare Bellena delivered a winning performance under the lights at the April CDI4* in Ocala. Their bold, girl-power-themed freestyle scored 75.740%—just 0.365 percentage points shy of the mare’s personal best, earned with Benjamin’s father, Jan Ebeling, in 2022.

Bellena’s Breakout Win

Despite only receiving the music two days prior, Ebeling and Bellena looked at home in the arena. Clapping erupted as they trotted down the final centerline to “Femininomenon” by Chappell Roan, closing a clean, high-energy ride that also featured “Rich Girl” by Gwen Stefani and “Maneater” by Nelly Furtado.

“I think that was my best ride ever,” Ebeling beamed after the test. “The mare is such a powerhouse."

"I think this girl really loves to dance.”

In the four months since their debut in Wellington, Ebeling and Bellena have placed in the top five in every start. With the second half of the season underway and only three Florida qualifiers remaining, the pair still have the scoring power—and the opportunity—to make a serious run at the Finals. Even with three fifth-place finishes, they’d be sitting on 65 points—enough to stay in the hunt for a Finals berth. Sixty-five points wouldn’t guarantee a Finals berth, but with the top 18 advancing—and many contenders opting to skip qualifiers outside their home regions—it’s a realistic benchmark. Ebeling, based in Wellington, is also strategically positioned to capitalize as the series begins to stretch across the country.

But geography isn’t their only edge—their advantage also lies in technical brilliance and high execution. Friday’s test had a single 6.0, with all other marks 6.5 or higher. One judge even awarded a rare 9.0 for their extended trot—a mark that speaks to the pair’s polish, power, and precision. And if this is what they can do with a freestyle they’ve ridden only once, imagine what’s possible when they’ve had time to refine it.

Another Top Finish for Gallagher

Denielle Gallagher and her Lusitano gelding, Come Back de Massa, continued their strong run in Ocala, securing second place with a score of 72.685%. The pair have been a consistent force at the WEC dressage shows this season, finishing in the top three in all of their 2025 appearances. This performance nearly eclipsed their personal best—just 0.255 percentage points shy of the score they posted in February at this same venue. Their freestyle, set to the nostalgic Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron soundtrack, continues to be a crowd favorite and a signature of Gallagher’s expressive style.

This latest result cements Gallagher firmly inside the top five on the US Equestrian Open leaderboard, despite having competed in just four qualifiers. With two wins, a second, and a third to her name, her record now rivals that of current leader Anna Marek, who holds 88 points from five qualifiers.

Lipp’s Strategic Climb

Karen Lipp successfully defended her third-place position in the overall standings, finishing third in the class with a score of 71.345%. The result allowed her to drop a previous 10-point finish in favor of this 17-point placing—netting an additional 7 points and tightening the leaderboard race.

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