The U.S. dressage riders for the World Equestrian Games in Aachen

Led by team manager and coach Christine Traurig and team captain Laura Roberts, the following dressage riders will now compete for the U.S. in the arena at the World Championships in Aachen:

• Ashley Holzer (62) with Hawtins San Floriana (12), a Hanoverian mare by San Amour-Florestan I, bred by: Hawtins Stud, GBR > Holzer has been riding for the U.S. only since 2017; previously, she competed for Canada, participating in four Olympic Games, including the 1988 Games in Seoul, when Canada won a historic bronze medal. She competed for the U.S. at the 2022 World Equestrian Games in Herning. Hawtin’s San Floriana previously belonged to Carl Hester and Charlotte Dujardin, who also trained her to Grand Prix level. The San Amour daughter made her international debut in 2024 under Holzer. This season, they were part of the winning U.S. Nations Cup team in Wellington.


• Jordan LaPlaca ( 38) with Gold Play ( 11), an Oldenburg gelding by Grey Flanell out of Sir Donnerhall, breeder: Janne Schäfer > Jordan LaPlaca is not only a dressage rider but has also competed as a show jumper, eventer, and driver. He discovered Gold Play (“GP”) as a four-year-old at Hof Kasselmann and trained him. This is their first “real” Grand Prix season. They were part of the winning Nations Cup team in Wellington in January—their team debut. In Hagen, they were the top U.S. pair. LaPlaca’s wife, Caitlin, is there as Gold Play’s groom. The couple also runs an award-winning beagle breeding program.


• Christian Simonson ( 23) with Fleau de Baian ( 16), a KWPN stallion by Jazz-Ulft (breeder: the Beyer family) > Simonson has already enjoyed great success at U.S. championships as a junior. Among other achievements, as a young rider he won a silver medal riding Rassolini FRH—the former Burg Cup winner—owned by Kathrin Meyer zu Strohen. In recent years, he has been a regular competitor at the Future Champions in Hagen and the Young Riders Tour in Aachen. He made the leap to elite-level competition riding Indian Rock—a horse he took over from Emmelie Scholtens—with whom he placed second in this year’s World Cup Final. After that, “Rocky” was given a break, and Simonson turned to his second Grand Prix horse, Fleau de Baian—trained by Adelinde Cornelissen. Together, they were part of the third-place team in the Nations Cup in Hagen.


• Geñay Vaughn ( 31) with Gino ( 15), a KWPN gelding by Bretton Woods out of Haarlem (breeder: M. F. M. Heynert-Hermans) > Geñay Vaughn lives in California, where she runs a training stable with her mother, Michele, who is also a co-owner of Gino. The gelding came into the family’s possession at age six, though he also spent several years in Germany, where Holga Finken trained him from Class S to Grand Prix. In 2020, Finken presented him in the Louisdor Prize. He then went to his owner, who has achieved several Grand Prix victories with him this year, scoring over 72 percent. They were also part of the U.S. Nations Cup team in Hagen and impressed with their harmonious performances.

Reservists

Kasey Perry-Glass ( 38) was selected as the first alternate, riding Heartbeat W.P. A student of Debbie McDonald, she was a member of the U.S. Olympic bronze medal team in 2016 and, two years later, the silver medal team at the World Championships in Tryon. She achieved all of those successes riding the Danish horse Goerklintgaards Dublet. After the birth of her daughter, Tru Lynn Glass, in 2021, she returned to competition with her current top horse, Heartbeat W.P. In 2024, the Charmeur-Ferro son, bred in the Netherlands, made his international debut. Most recently, they achieved a personal best of 71.341 percent in the Special class at the CDI Tour in Hagen.

The second reserve for the U.S. team is Meagan Davis ( 35) and Toronto Lightfoot, a 13-year-old Oldenburg by Totilas-Onassis. As a junior and young rider, Davis competed in numerous U.S. championships. However, her Grand Prix career did not begin until she partnered with Toronto Lightfoot, a son of Totilas born in Denmark. The pair enjoyed success on the international Small Tour circuit until 2024, when their Grand Prix career really took off. In their home state of Florida, they have repeatedly achieved scores of over 70 percent in Grand Prix and Special classes. Most recently, in Hagen, they competed in the Nations Cup, scoring 68.565 percent in the Grand Prix and 68.532 percent in the Special.