MYAKKA CITY, Fla.--Charlotte Jorst on  Zhaplin Langholt moved up from second in Friday’s qualifying grand prix to win the CDI3* Grand Prix Freestyle on Saturday, May 3 at TerraNova.

Charlotte Jorst on Zhopin Langholt (Photo by Jessica Buehler) She scored 74.085% to just beat Ben Ebeling on Bellena, who was just 0.1 percentage points back on 73.985% in their second freestyle together.

Devon Kane was third with 72.705% on Vamos.

Jorst has produced Zhaplin Langholt, an imposing black gelding, from the small tour level.

She took over the ride  from his previous owner Andreas Helgstand, who had won the bronze medal at the World Young Horse Championships in 2019, when Zhaplin Langholt was 6.

“I was actually conscious of his power today,” said Jorst, who rode to an upbeat rock medley that matched the horse’s abundant energy. “I took a personality test with him earlier this week and I found out that he really likes routine. Last time I showed him he was wild, so I decided to really try to go back to the things he likes and knows. I tried to get in there and just ride around quietly, and it worked really well."

“I love this facility at TerraNova; it’s so beautiful, a feast for the eyes , and it rivals anything in Europe. Yesterday I went for a walk and I saw deer and other animals, like in a sanctuary. I want to be here and show here and win here as much as I can,” said the Danish-born Jorst, who owns the clothing company Kastel Denmark.

 

THE FREESTYLE was one of the two dozen qualifying events held around the country for the inaugural season of the US Equestrian Open of Dressage, with the final set for mid-November in California.

Anna Marek leads the rankings with 88 points, with Germany’s Evelyn Eger just behind on 85 points, and Karen Lipp is third on 77.

Jorst is now in 10th place with 55 points.

Six qualifying events remain, including TerraNova’s CDI-W and CDI3* on Oct. 16-19.

The top 18 will qualify for the final.

“The US Open is a great program,” said Jorst. “I plan on going if I’m lucky enough to be invited, but my daughter is pregnant and due at the same time, so we’ll see how it all pans out. I love the program, and I’ll go if I can.”

Canada’s Naïma Moreira Laliberté, winner of Friday’s qualifying grand prix on Inspire, was fifth.

 Fiona Howard on Diamond Dunes (Photo by Jessica Buehler)The US’s para riders continued to get high scores on the second and final day of the team competition of TerraNova’s inaugural CPEDI3* show.

Marie Vonderheyden, Fiona Howard, Kate Shoemaker and Rebecca Hart represented the US Para Dressage Team at TerraNova, and won the team element uncontested.

They were led by Chef d’Equipe Michel Assouline and Team Leader Laureen Johnson.

One of the standout mid-70s para scores came in the Grade II division, with Howard of Boston, Mass., scoring a winning 75.222% on Diamond Dunes in the CPEDI3* Para Grand Prix B.

Howard, who earned triple gold with the De L’Or gelding at the 2024 Paris Paralympics, is currently number one on the FEI para dressage world individual rankings.

The 26-year-old was born and raised in England and competed on British FEI reining teams as a junior, before moving to the US in 2016.

As a teenager she was diagnosed with dystonia, a condition that causes involuntary muscle spasms, tremors, and deformities, as well as affecting her grip and coordination.

She subsequently took up para dressage in 2022.

Grade I rider Marie Vonderheyden on Fan Tastico H. Vonderheyden scored a new personal best high score in the Para Grand Prix B test of 75.417%.

Fan Tastico was formerly campaigned by Paralympian Roxanne Trunnell, including on the gold medal-winning US team at Paris 2024.

Howard’s coach and mentor Shoemaker on Vianne, with whom she won the Freestyle bronze at the Paris Paralympics , scored 74.55% in the Para Grand Brix B Grade IV test.

Hart brought El Corona Texel to his first show in a year, winning the Grand Prix B Grade III test with 68.778%.

Hart on El Corona Tezel first competed in FEI competitons in 2017, and their impressive resume includes Paralympic, World Championship and World Equestrian Games medals.

“It’s sort of an in between year for us because we don’t have a championships,” said Assouline, who has been instrumental in the US’s rise to dominance in para dressage. “It gives us a bit of a chance to experiment with new techniques and partnerships, like Marie and Fan Tastico. They’ve only been together since late January, so getting those high scores is very good."

“Fiona’s horse Diamond Dunes was a little affected by the heat, but that’s one of the challenges that they have to face — including for those horses that will be selected for LA 2028,” he said.

“Kate’s horse Vianne is an absolutely magnificent mare," he said. "She has real quality in the collection, which is always hard in grade IV, but has to be shown. Kate’s only been riding her for a year or so and this was their best show so far. They showed great collection and super expression, yet together with relaxation and no tension.

Grade V individual Cynthia Screnci scored 67.921% on For Memory 4 in the Grand Prix B Grade V.