WELLINGTON, Fla.--Erin Nichols, 22. on Elian Royale scored 70.617% to win the CDI3* Grand Prix Special on Saturday, March 14 at the Global Dressage Festival.
Erin Nichols on Elian Royale (Photo by Centre Line MediaNichols also won Thursday’s qualifying class.
Jordan LaPlaca on Gold Play, who had been third Friday, placed second on 69.894%.
This was Gold Play's third CDI Special, and two judges had LaPlaca as winner with over 70% despite errors in the one-time changes on the diagonal, thanks to the quality of the piaffe/passage.
Endel Ots on Bohemian was third with 68.596% after breaking to a canter in the trot work.
OTIIS AND Bohemian, who were traveling reserves for the U.S. team at the Paris 2024 Olympics, recently returned to the competition ring after an 18-month absence.
Although Nichols is still eligible for U25, she and her coach Christoph Koschel opted to make the step up to senior ranks with Elian Royale to give her more ring mileage.
“It was surreal out there; you could hear the entire crowd get quiet and I was so in the moment on the last centerline,” said Nichols, who is originally from California but now bases herself in Wellington for winters and Durham, N.C., in the summer.
“I was so proud of Elian,” said Nichols. “This is our first CDI of 2026, so we weren’t sure what to expect. We were just going to see what Elian would give us, and I’m a little speechless about the amazing result."
“These grand prix tests really suit him, and today he seemed to enjoy himself, which makes me so happy," said Nichols. "This was a special weekend, that’s for sure. Now that he’s 17, I’m making the most of every ride with him. We’ve become such great partners. It’s amazing to think of where we started and where we are now.”
Elian Royale was 13 and Nichols a teenager when they began competing in Young Riders.
“I hadn’t shown a Special in almost a year because we were doing freestyles all last summer, so I had to remember how to ride it,” she said. “But I know that if I forget, Elian will know. Today, when I got on him, he was in a good mood, and that always gives me confidence.”
“What we wanted to show today was a very good example of harmonious, classical riding,"said Koschel. "Elian has a lot of power but can also be shy in the ring and a little spooky. Today, Erin gave him the confidence to perform in the test like he does in the training, and that gets rewarded.”
