Simonson Rocks Grand Prix Freestyle Victory at WEC December Dressage CDI-W

Christian Simonson (USA) and Indian Rock, owned by Zen Elite Equestrian Center, led the way to victory in the Grand Prix Freestyle CDI-W, presented by MARS Equestrian, taking the win at World Equestrian Center – Ocala (WEC). The WEC December Dressage CDI-W, presented by Hampton Green Farms, is the final dressage competition of the year, and the highlight class was held Friday evening, December 12, 2025. Competition continues through Sunday, December 14.

Simonson and Indian Rock received an overall score of 78.840% with a high score of 83.525% from the judge at H, Gabriela Valerianova. The judging panel also included Sandra Hotz, Magnus Ringmark, Peter Storr, and Brenda Minor. Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu (CAN) and Jill Irving’s Jaccardo placed second with 75.115%, while Erin Nichols (USA) and Elian Royale, owned by Premiere Sport Horses, were third with 73.795%.

From the moment Simonson raised his hand and headed down centerline for his freestyle test, he felt Indian Rock ready to perform. “He felt amazing tonight,” said Simonson of the 12-year-old KWPN stallion by Apache x Vivaldi. “I think this was one of the larger crowds, maybe not that he's experienced, but I think that he and I have experienced together. Seeing everyone in the stands was special in and of itself, but he is just so dependable. It all kind of clicked in his head. He was like, ‘Okay, I know my job, and I'll do it for you.’ From there, it was a really, really fun feeling throughout the whole freestyle.”

This was only the second time that Simonson has ridden his freestyle – with music by Joost Peters and choreography by Peters, Simonson, and his trainer Adrienne Lyle – and they made the decision to lower the degree of difficulty in order to achieve nine one-tempis instead of 15.

“Adrienne's kind of a mastermind when it comes to choreography,” said Simonson. “It was a decision made ahead of time for the test to get the distance of the curve right and then see how many one-tempis could fit after that, to kind of play around with that. Now we can have a good visual to watch back and see how we can fit things.”

Having won a previous World Cup competition a month ago, Simonson is making a strong bid toward qualifying for the 2026 FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final in Fort Worth, TX, in April. He said that if he does qualify, he would attend if it fits the plan for his horse.

“That's wild,” said the 23-year-old. “It would be a real honor to be there in Fort Worth. Having it be a home World Cup Final makes it extra special and to be there to represent the USA would be an amazing experience.”

Frasier-Beaulieu is also coming off a World Cup win, which she accomplished with Jaccardo at the Royal Horse Show in Toronto in November. Their two-year partnership is solidifying with each show, and the Canadian Olympian was pleased with their performance in their third competition at the grand prix level.

“We’ve come a long way,” said Fraser-Beaulieu. “I'm here to get experience and to understand how he travels, how he copes in an indoor. Our partnership is so new that I'm looking to see how the rideability is.

“He's a very hot and sensitive horse,” she said of the 11-year-old KWPN gelding (Desperado x Jazz), “but he shows so much potential in the ring. He's an incredible horse to ride, and I feel so fortunate to be able to ride such an animal. This weekend I had a little bit of green mistakes here and there, but I also have to figure out my aids on such a hot horse as well as how to read him in the ring. The more I show, the more confidence I'll have to be able to go clean.”

The pair’s freestyle is designed by Tom Hunt, and if they continue on their “upward trend,” it could help them be the first Canadians to qualify for the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final since 2013. “I don’t have any set plans in mind,” she admitted, “but I would go if the cards align. He’s surprised me so much in the past six months. I want to keep that positivity and willingness to show. I’m taking it day by day.”

Erin Nichols (22) is another talented, up-and-coming U.S. dressage athlete, and she has moved up the levels with Elian Royale from the Young Rider division to Under 25 to Grand Prix.

“I'm so proud of him,” she expressed about the 16-year-old KWPN gelding (Johnson x Amidou). “We have such a good relationship that now he goes in the ring, he understands me, he trusts me, and he's like, ‘I got it. I can do this.’ That's cool to have, even in our first time indoors.

“I want to keep it super positive for him this year and just keep slowly introducing him to bigger atmospheres and seeing what he does,” said Nichols, who was riding her U25 freestyle designed by Karen Robinson. “I always want it to be a good experience because he's really starting to trust me in the ring, and that's the most important.”

The Grand Prix Freestyle CDI-W, along with rewarding points for World Cup, is the first qualifier as well for the 2026 U.S. Open of Dressage Final. Competition at WEC December Dressage continues on Saturday, December 13, with the Grand Prix Special CDI3* at 9 a.m.