Christian Simonson brings US dressage rider back into the world's top ten

US dressage riders on their way back to the top of the world rankings

Dressage 03.02.2026

from Dominique Wehrmann

Christian Simonson and Indian Rock received several nines from the judges at their last Wellington start, including for the right pirouette. Photo: Wellington International/Centre Line Media

After the Olympic Games in Paris, which were disappointing for the silver medal winners from Tokyo, the US Equestrian Federation did not fill the elite dressage squad because no pair met the criteria. That is now different. What's more, Christian Simonson is the first US rider to be among the top ten in the world rankings again.

Christian Simonson took over the KWPN stallion Indian Rock from Emmelie Scholtens after the 2024 Olympic Games. He also rides Fleau de Baian, trained by Adelinde Cornelissen (with whom he retired at their last start, however, because the Parzival full brother bit his lower lip). With Indian Rock, Simonson won the World Cup qualifier in Wellingtonin January and thus secured a starting place at the final in Fort Worth, Texas. This and other successes earned Simonson so many points that he is now number nine in the world rankings.

New squad composition

And the results from Wellington have now also meant that there is once again an elite squad of US dressage riders. In addition to Simonson and Indian Rock, it also includes Marcus Orlob and Jane, who competed for the USA in Paris in 2024 but were unable to complete their test because the mare injured her leg. To be listed here, the pairs must have scores of 74 percent or better in Grand Prix and/or Grand Prix Special.

In order to be accepted into the “Pre-Elite” squad, the equivalent of the German perspective squad, you have to have achieved 71% or more in Grand Prix and Special in the USA. This now also applies to the Olympic bronze and World Championship silver medal winner from 2016 and 2018, Kasey Perry-Glass with the 14-year-old KWPN gelding Heartbeat W.P. by Charmeur. They had received over 71 percent in the Special for the first time in Aachen in July and confirmed this result with 72.022 percent in the CDI3* Grand Prix of Wellington, but this time they did not get over 68.553 percent in the Special. Nevertheless, this was enough to be listed alongside Anna Marek with Fayvel and Christian Simonson’s stablemate at the Zen Elite Equestrian Center, Endel Ots with Bohemian.

Here is an overview of all the members of the USA squad.

Christine Traurig, Chef d’Equipe and Technical Advisor, commented: “The fact that two of our pairs meet the criteria for the elite squad is testament to the work, training and collaboration that has been so inspiring over the last few months and I am very excited about what lies ahead.”

The top of the world rankings – a few changes

Apart from the fact that there is now a US rider in the top ten again, there have also been some other changes in the world’s top dressage riders. Although Justin Verboomen is still at the top of the riders’ rankings, Isabell Werth has moved back up from third to second place. Great Britain’s Becky Moody, who was previously second, is now fourth. Between them is her compatriot Charlotte Fry, who was previously fourth.

Carl Hester (GBR) is still in fifth place. As in the previous month, Frederic Wandres is in sixth place. Behind him, Patrik Kittel (SWE) has moved up two places. Isabel Freese (NOR) is eighth ahead of Simonson and Sweden’s Maria von Essen rounds off the top ten.