Pilot error proves costly for USA’s Christian Simonson
By Diana De Rosa
Most dressage riders at one time or another have been startled mid-test at the ringing of the judge’s bell, informing them that they’ve ridden off course. The test might be salvageable, but the mistake is embarrassing and usually dashes any hope of winning.
Now try to imagine how you’d feel if you made this very human error on the world stage. That’s what happened today to the lone US dressage competitor to qualify to advance to the individual Grand Prix Special at the FEI Dressage World Championships Aachen 2026. “I made a mistake coming into the first [canter] half-pass, riding some changes,” said Christian Simonson, “but other than that, I’m, like, so happy with him and the team. It’s been an amazing journey.”
Simonson appears to have mixed up the Grand Prix and the GP Special canter tour in his mind; the GP’s canter work begins with two-tempi changes, and the Special begins with the half-pass “zigzag.” Unfortunately the mistake was a costly one, putting him in 29th place out of the 30 starters with a score of 68.456%.
Gracious and positive in front of reporters, he called the experience with mount Fleau de Baian “an opportunity to learn and grow” and reiterated his happiness at attaining what he called his childhood dream of competing at a World Championships.
Despite the error, Simonson will return home content with the knowledge that he attained a personal-best score with Zen Elite Equestrian Center’s 16-year-old KWPN stallion (Jazz x Ulft) in the Grand Prix. Their 71.304% was the best of the four US team members at Aachen 2026.
After earning team silver for Great Britain, defending World Champions Charlotte Fry and Glamourdale decisively reclaimed their title in Aachen. Fry and the 15-year-old KWPN stallion (Lord Leatherdale x Negro) finished third individually in the Grand Prix but roared back in the Special to take the gold on 82.295% over the GP individual winners, Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour on the 17-year-old Hanoverian mare Mount St. John Freestyle (Fidermark x Donnerhall). The Danish pair secured silver with 80.927%.
There was no way a German wasn’t going to make the top three after they’d won the team gold medal two days ago. Fifth individually in the Grand Prix, Katharina Hemmer got a bronze-medal podium finish in the Special on a score of 80.866% aboard the 14-year-old Oldenburg gelding Denoix PCH (Destano x Pik Noir).
The top 18 from the Grand Prix Special will move on to the big dressage finale, the Grand Prix Freestyle, which will be held tomorrow, August 15, beginning at 7:00 p.m. local time. The final starting order will be announced after tomorrow morning’s second dressage horse inspection, which begins at 8:00 a.m. local time. A total of 20 horses (the 18 qualifiers plus two reserve horses, one of whom is US-based Ecuadorian pair Julio Mendoza Loor on Jewel’s Goldstrike) are scheduled to “trot up.” If one or more qualifiers withdraws or fails to pass the jog, the reserves will sub in as needed.
Besides today’s medalists, the heavy hitters expected to contest the Freestyle include Britain’s Becky Moody on Jagerbomb, Sweden’s Patrik Kittel on Touchdown, Poland’s Sandra Sysojeva on Maxima Bella, Germany’s Frederic Wandres on Bluetooth OLD, and Belgium’s Justin Verboomen on Zonik Plus.
But first, during the day tomorrow, the eventers take center stage in Aachen with cross-country.
The order of go for the Grand Prix Freestyle will be finalized once the top 18 horses have been accepted by the Ground Jury following the second inspection.
