There was a surprise winner of the U.S. Equestrian Federation Grand Prix Dressage National Championship, and no one was more surprised than Ellesse Gundersen to find herself holding the sterling silver trophy.
An hour after she clinched the honor with her homebred Quintessential 4, she admitted that earning it hadn’t really sunk in yet. But she acknowledged, “I’m really over the moon about it, and he really deserves it, and my entire team the last couple years deserves this more than anything as well, because they’ve been a huge part of it.
“I think we’re going to enjoy it now, and then we are going to make smart decisions and look to the future for this horse.”
Elleesse Gundersen leaves the arena after her freestyle on Quintessential 4.
The title meet was a final test to determine which eight riders will be going to Europe to compete, prior to selection of a team for August’s world championships at Aachen. Ellesse isn’t a candidate for the championships, as she didn’t apply for them, feeling her horse wasn’t quite ready for a test of that magnitude.
I asked if she regretted not applying to ride in the world championships and she was firm in her answer.
“It’s very easy to for me to wish that I could go, but I think I stand behind the decision for my horse that it would have been a lot for him. I 100 percent believe in the athletes and combinations we have that are prepping for it,” she emphasized.
“I think maybe for me, even doing this is going to inspire other riders that thought they were too green, that actually this is how we could take that step towards being part of the team. I hope that I can also be that for the greener combinations coming.”
A Filipina who grew up in Malaysia and became an American three years ago, Ellesse explained why she chose the U.S. for her nationality. The 34-year-old rider said, ” I wanted to be in a team, or in a country, in a sport that really supported the riders, provided opportunities for the riders, and were excited for the riders.
“And, for example, there’s a national championship providing this opportunity and this stage and this atmosphere, it was never provided to me before. I think to become the best rider and the best team and have the best horses, these opportunities have to be part of it and that was a big factor for me when I made the switch. I knew I wanted to be better than I was, and I think the U.S. offers those opportunities.”
The evening was punctuated by thunderstorms that caused delays in the competition. Most affected was Meagan Davis and her Toronto Lightfoot, who had to be warmed up, put away warmed up, put away and finally warmed up to actually compete.
“I was not sure what was going to happen when I tacked him up the third time within a couple hours,” recounted Meagan, who finished third overall.
“But we walked to the warm-up ring, and he was like, ‘Okay, we can do this again.’ For a horse to warm up 20 minutes twice, and then to come out, warm up a third time, 20 minutes, and go in and do a test as well as he did just shows how much heart and stamina he has, and how he loves to perform. I was almost in tears at the end of my ride. It was the first time we’ve done that freestyle, so it was a lot of fun.
Everyone’s choice of music was interesting. Meagan rode to a medley of the Rolling Stones.
Meagan Davis and Toronto Lightfoot.
Ashley Holzer, reserve national champion on Hawtins San Floriana, chose “Coming to America,” thinking of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and the fact that she is an immigrant (from Canada). The 62-year-old Olympian was overjoyed with the performance of her mare. And the best part?
“That I’m still here doing it. It’s pretty special to me.”
Ellesse rode to dramatic music put together by Dressage & Music, who also arranged Meagan’s theme.
“For my music,” she said, “they named it, ‘Never Give Up.’ All the music had something special to myself, my husband, my family, and it really reminds about not giving up, both with the horse, but also my husband’s situation (he has been ill.
“It really reminds that we can’t ever give up and we fight every day, no matter what, and we show up, and we’re here for it. So it’s very special to us.”
Defending national Grand Prix champion Christian Simonson won the freestyle with his number two mount, Fleau de Baian, but it wasn’t enough for him to retain the title. He finished fourth in the championships after scratching Indian Rock, on whom he was second last month in the Zen Elite FEI World Cup Finals.
Christian Simonson and Fleau de Baian, winner of the freestyle
He and Rocky had a few mishaps, including a rider error, in the Grand Prix Special. His trainer, Adrienne Lyle, said the horse already had “done a number of freestyles this year. Our intention was that we needed to do a Special and then look forward to the future. It would have been selfish for us to say he’s got to go again because we had a little bobble here and there. He’s done enough this season.”
Click here for freestyle results Click this link for national championships results
