WEC Belongs to Ebeling
A 76.190 win in Ocala puts him in Finals contention and forces a recalculation at the top.
Benjamin Ebeling and Bellena closed out the WEC spring season with authority, scoring a 76.190—their best ride to date, and the mare’s all-time high. The win marked their second US Equestrian Open of Dressage victory, but this one felt different. The performance was bold, clean, and confident, set to a girl-power-themed freestyle featuring tracks like Femininomenon, Rich Girl, Maneater, and Perfect. The message was clear: this pair is Finals-ready.
This result solidifies Ebeling’s position inside the top 18. He now sits tied for 12th with 57 points, and with just four qualifiers remaining—and one of them (TerraNova) right in his Florida backyard—it would take a significant shake-up to knock him out of Finals contention. More importantly, the performance suggests he won’t just be making up the numbers in Thermal. He’s proving he can win big classes against full fields, and he’s done it twice this season. If this momentum carries into the fall, Ebeling could be a serious podium threat when the series wraps in California.
Ben Ebeling talks family, freestyle, and the future of US dressage in a new podcast—listen now.
Marek Crosses 100
Finishing second on the weekend with a score of 75.620, Anna Marek officially became the first—and so far, only—rider to break 100 points in the US Equestrian Open of Dressage. Her total now sits at 105, with all six of her qualifying rides complete. It’s a landmark number, one that reflects the consistency and composure she’s shown across multiple venues, multiple horses, and nearly every type of pressure.
This ride didn’t add a win to her tally, but it did reinforce Marek’s position as the most successful rider in the series to date. That said, the gap is beginning to narrow. Ebeling’s score this weekend topped hers, and while Marek remains the clear front-runner heading into the Finals, she’s no longer operating in a vacuum. With just one series win under her belt, the question becomes: can she log another when it counts? Are these second-place finishes part of a deliberate training strategy, or the first signs of pressure peeking through? There’s still every reason to believe Marek has what it takes to be the series’ inaugural champion, but for the first time, there’s reason to ask. She now has two world-class Grand Prix horses to choose from heading into Thermal—depth no other rider in the field can match. Even so, the path to the title feels a little less certain than it did a month ago.
A Debut Worth Watching
Christian Simonson and Fleau De Baian made their CDI freestyle debut this weekend and walked away with third on a score of 72.330%. Their test was composed and confident, especially impressive in a ten-rider field that included both seasoned competitors and emerging international talent. While several riders in the class were chasing Finals points, Simonson was riding to show he belongs in the conversation.
Already a decorated young rider with a European Tour bronze medal and mentorship under Adrienne Lyle, Simonson’s transition into senior-level CDI competition is clearly well underway. With a podium finish on debut, he and Fleau De Baian are a pair to watch in future Series stops, even if this year’s Finals are likely out of reach.
The Middle Gets Messy
Charlotte Jorst brought GPF’s S-Express into the Grand Prix Freestyle spotlight this weekend for the gelding’s debut at the level. The 10-year-old Westphalian gelding scored a 64.990. Not a headline-making number, but also not the point. Bringing a horse to the Grand Prix level and debuting a freestyle in a series of this caliber speaks to the depth of Jorst’s program. She remains in 7th overall with 65 points and will likely head to the Finals aboard Zhaplin Langholt, a more experienced partner who has carried her to podium positions before.
Eline Eckroth had a tougher weekend. After placing fifth in the Grand Prix, she dropped to 10th in the freestyle with a 62.535—her lowest score of the season. While shifts between the two phases are common, a five-place drop is unusual. Still, her leaderboard position is strong. She now sits in a tie for second with 86 points, a result of strategic entries in smaller fields earlier this season. Her leaderboard position reflects a season of smart scheduling and consistent entries, particularly in smaller fields. Whether that translates to success at the Finals is another question.
The Final Push Begins
The window for Finals qualification is closing. Nadine Schwartsman, Micaela Mabragana, and Brittney Simpson are locked in a three-way tie for 18th place, but with Schwartsman scheduled to ride in next week’s qualifier, she’s got the first shot to break from the pack. That Oregon qualifier marks the final stop before a long summer break, with the series resuming September 23 at Dressage at Devon.
Personal bests, photo finishes, and podium drama usually grab the headlines. But with limited chances left for anyone still chasing the cutoff, the narrative shifts. It’s not about who’s winning. It’s about who’s still in the fight.
