New Podcast: Ben Ebeling on Family, Freestyle, and the Future of US Dressage
What started as a borrowed pirouette from his father’s playbook has turned into one of the most exciting dressage careers in the US. This season, with a mare his father produced and freestyle music that turns head, Ben Ebeling is carving out his own place at the top.
Ben Ebeling is one of the brightest young stars in American dressage - but he didn’t always plan to be here. He started out in the show jumping world, doing his first Grand Prix over fences before he ever entered a Grand Prix dressage arena, and only truly pivoted because he asked his father to teach him how to do a pirouette.
His father was delighted when Ben asked to learn his first pirouette - finally, a sign he might be turning toward dressage. But Ebeling had other plans. He only wanted the movement to help him turn tighter in his jump offs, not yet realizing he'd just taken his first real step toward a new discipline. Although he misses the show jumping ring, Ben credits it with shaping key parts of his riding, especially his ability to handle hotter, more sensitive horses, a skill that’s served him well in the dressage arena.
This season, Ebeling is campaigning Bellena, a Grand Prix mare produced by his father, Jan Ebeling, and recently handed over to Ben. Their growing partnership has quickly become one of the most compelling stories on the US Equestrian Open of Dressage leaderboard.
Progress Over Podiums
Ben’s connection with Bellena is still new. They began competing together in Wellington, where they faced a few mistakes early on, simply because they didn’t know each other well yet. But now, with each competition, things are starting to come together and the pair is showing real progress.
However, Ben isn’t chasing ribbons. He is chasing progress. He finds just as much joy in the daily training as in the big competitions, saying he gets the same thrill from a young horse nailing its first flying change as he does riding down the centerline at Aachen.
Family Legacy and Traditions
Ben’s journey in dressage has been shaped by the quiet strength and experience of his father, Jan Ebeling. A respected competitor and coach, Jan has guided Ben from childhood through to Grand Prix level, offering a steady presence both in the arena and beyond it.
Their relationship balances high-performance ambition with a grounded, supportive dynamic and a few light hearted family traditions along the way. One of their long-running rituals is that the winner buys dinner and the loser buys ice cream. After years of buying ice cream, Ben finally bought dinner last week - a small moment that speaks volumes.
Ben and the US Equestrian Open of Dressage
Now, Ebeling has his eyes on the US Equestrian Open of Dressage final. With points already on the board and a big freestyle coming up at WEC, the road to Thermal is officially in motion.
He believes the series is pushing the sport in the right direction, offering a championship that feels fresh and fan-focused - something akin to a World Cup but rooted in the US circuit. His fan-focused perspective is exactly why this series exists.
🎧 Listen Now
Hear more on Ben's training, freestyles, and what makes the US Equestrian Open such an exciting step for dressage fans and riders alike.
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