OCALA, Fla.--Benjamin Ebeling on Bellena won the Grand Prix Freestyle on Friday, April 11 in the April Dressage CDI4* at the World Equestrian Center – Ocala
Ben Ebeling on Bellena (Photo by Andrew Ryback)It was Ebeling's first freestyle on Bellena, and he had never ridden the floorplan or ridden to the music.
Ebeling received his music from Karen Robinson two days earlier, and it included the songs “Femininomenon” by Chappell Roan, “Rich Girl” by Gwen Stefani, and “Maneater” by Nelly Furtado.
“I really love the music,” said the 25-year-old Ebeling. “Karen Robinson is a good friend of mine, and we just work so well together. We’ve been working together for 10 years now, since I was a junior rider. This music was also a little bit of a nod to my former mount, Indeed, also a very strong mare. It’s all very female inspired for Bellena.”
“I think that was my best ride ever,” said Ebeling. “It was just incredible feedback. The mare is such a powerhouse, and I think she really settled into this environment. She definitely feeds on an audience. I think this girl really loves to dance.”
Ebeling has only ridden Bellena for four months.
“This is really, for me, just an opportunity to train my horse,” he said. “It may look like a great, finished product, but I know there’s still a lot to work on. When my horse and I are acting in unity and as one, like we did tonight, I know that I’m on the right path, and that’s good enough for me. I contribute having a great, mistake-free test tonight to all of the work that we’ve put in training and couldn’t be happier with my horse.”
DENIELLE GALLAGHER of Canada on Come Back de Massa was second.
Andrea Woodard on Roxette (Photo by Andrew Ryback)Her freestyle performed to the soundtrack from the movie “Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron,” scored 72.685%.
Karen Lipp on InfinityI was third with a score of 71.345%, and she also had music designed by Karen Robinson that included an instrumental version of Rihanna’s “Diamonds.” Lipp and her trainer, Charlotte Bredahl, put together the choreography.
The Grand Prix Freestyle was also a qualifier for the new US Equestrian Open of Dressage, which features 23 qualifiers ahead of the final in California in November.
In her quest to qualify for the US Festival of Champions this summer, Andrea Woodard on Roxette entered their first internationally rated competition.
Woodard had a 70.176% to take win the Prix St. Georges CDI1*.
Second place went to Charlotte Jorst on Atterupgaards Botticelli with a score of 69.824%, and Adam Steffens-Smienk was third and fourth with Candoit’s Boston Strong OLD and Candoit’s Bentayga, with scores of 66.853% and 66.471%.
“I feel her trying to understand what's coming and what I’m asking,” said Woodard. “She's very willing to be right there, but it’s still a demanding test for a younger horse. We still don't know each other that well, so there's a lot of layers that go into it. The fact that she stayed with me and she really tried throughout the entire test to do what I was asking her to do and was attentive, that was the strongest part of it.”
Woodard, who was born in New York and grew up in Denmark, returned to the U.S. in 2015 to start a new training business.
It has grown over the past 10 years to incorporate training success at the international level as well as fulfillment with developing young horses.
Woodard is likely a familiar face to those who have followed para dressage at recent Paralympic Games and World Championships, as she trained gold medalist Roxanne Trunnell on Dolton.
Woodard is training para riders Ellie Brimmer – the 2024 USEF Para Dressage National Champion – and Marie Vonderheyden, who has represented the U.S. para dressage team.
“It’s been an incredible journey for me to get experience at the highest level of the sport,” she said. “I really feel passionate about helping the para riders. It takes a ton of preparation, and you have to really think out of the box sometimes. It's such a team effort and a rewarding journey. I'm so proud of them.”
