With a field spanning seasoned championship horse and exciting young prospects under the bright lights of Texas, the 2026 Zen Elite FEI Dressage World Cup Final Grand Prix was an exciting class to watch.
Julio Mendoza and Jewel’s Goldstrike
The first rider out was Ecuador’s Julio Mendoza Loor and the fifteen-year-old gelding Jewel’s Goldstrike (Bretton Woods x Scandic), who was purchased for $20 as an eight-year-old. Based in the US, the crowd was very excited to see them enter the arena. The combination presented a consistent connection with a really light forehand and expressive moments through the trot tour. In the canter, Jewel’s Goldstrike got a little tight in the back a times, however showed real strength for the collected work and an ability to compress. The final halt could have had more balance, but it was a practically fault-free test to start. Mendoza really went for it and was crying happy tears leaving the arena. A final score 72.000% for fourth.
“It’s almost a fairytale.” Mendoza shared after his test. “He always is willing to do more and more and more. That is a Grand Prix horse.”
Morgan Barbançon and Sir Donnerhall II OLD
Sir Donnerhall II OLD (Sandro Hit x Donnerhall) is 20 years old, making him the oldest horse in the field. Age is definitely not slowing him down, with a massive front end – however, at times he was losing engagement. An unfortunate loss of balance in the second extended trot brought down the scores. The canter is really where this combination shines, with superb tempi changes. A very elegant combination, just lacking the consistent balance on the back end, with such an expressive front end. It’s always incredible to see a horse still competing at the highest level at 20 years old, and Sir Donnerhall jumping around at the end of the test with the cheers shows that he is still feeling good! A final score 68.956% for eighth for the French combination.
Kevin Johman and Duenensee
This 17-year-old gelding (Dancier x Davignon I) has lovely cadence and energy through the trot work, however was a little short in the neck. They lost their straightness in the rein-back and the first piaffe could have had more energy. The second piaffe started better, but tended to fade as well. Extra changes in the one tempis brought that mark down as well. Duenensee seeming a little bit overwhelmed in the atmosphere, showing up in some inconsistencies in the mouth and tending to suck into the rider with the neck – and with already a shorter neck, tension can be a little more obvious. A final score 68.674% for ninth for the American duo.
Benjamin Ebeling and Bellena
Bellena (Belissimo M x Welser) is a very elegant 16-year-old chestnut mare. The American combination produced really balanced half passes with forward thinking energy. In the rein-back, they also lost the straightness; Bellena accidentally touched the railing, which spooked the mare a little. More balance is needed in the piaffe passage transitions, but the individual movements themselves were executed fairly well. This horse has showed a very expressive canter transition with expressive two-tempis, but could have had more ground cover in the one-tempis and sit in the pirouettes. A very open and consistent frame throughout the test, just tending to travel in the piaffe and roll over onto the front with – and then with a miscommunication in transitions on the final centreline. The judging showed varied scores of 64.457% to 70.435%, for a final score of 67.717% for thirteenth.
Justina Vanagaite-Samuile and Nabab
The 13-year-old gelding (Sir Donovan x Krack C) is a powerhouse! Unfortunately, today some tension and mistakes really affected the marks, with the Nabab tending to get behind Justina in the movements requiring sitting. There were also mistakes in the tempis. Justina, from Lithuania, will be looking forward to Saturday to showcase the work they can do. A final score of 66.000% for fourteenth.
Bettina Kendlbacher and Broadmoars Don Alfredo AWO
Riding for Austria, this is the combination’s first World Cup Final. The 13-year-old gelding is by Destano (Simone Pearce’s Grand Prix Olympic mount) by a His Highness mare. A very compact mount with very correct movement, the combination showed clear sit in the piaffe and passage but lost the diagonal stepping in the piaffe. Walk showed tension, but an active transition into the passage. Superb canter extension and a very harmonious combination. This is an exciting combination to watch and with more strength in the piaffe and relaxation in the arena, this is a very promising combination for the future. A final score of 68.196% for eleventh.
Alexa Fairchild and Fairplay
This15-year-old gelding is by Delatio out of a Krack C mare. He is not the most talented horse conformationally, but Alexa rides for every mark. The pair had mistakes in the rein-back, but Alexa recovered well, following up with a big extended trot. Fairplay showed a lovely big over-track in the walk, though some tension in the mouth. A very accurate and forward-thinking transition to the passage with good engagement in the piaffe, but tending to lose the impulsion in the piaffe. The canter work was correct. A final score of 69.978% for seventh for the Belgian combination.
Moritz Treffinger and Fiderdance
Whilst Fiderdance (Fidertanz x Don Schufro) is no stranger to the World Cup Final stage, previously being ridden by Aussie Simone Pearce at the 2023 event, his rider Moritz Treffinger of Germany is only 22 years old and riding in his first ever World Cup Final. Fiderdance is very expressive and energetic in the trot but could show more lift in the piaffe. At 17 years old, Fiderdance is very comfortable in the arena and shows great relaxation in the extended walk. He c ould at times be softer over the back, but producing a very correct test. Very harmoniously ridden by Moritz; the pair really shone on the final centreline, producing the best piaffe and passage of the test. A final score of 71.109% for sixth.
Christian Simonson and Indian Rock
The 13-year-old stallion by Apache x Vivaldi is one of the most promising combinations coming into Fort Worth. Unfortunately, a step back in the first halt saw them starting on 46%. Indian Rock shows great elasticity in the paces, and by the rein back they are already back trending at 70%. This combination easily showed the best piaffe of the class, with massive passage to pair with it. Beautiful transition from the walk to passage and once again phenomenal piaffe showing a lot of sit and engagement. The canter tour was correct, with Indian Rock and his American rider really going for everything they could. Perhaps more balance in the half pass zig zag was needed, but a pleasure to watch. A final score of 75.143% for second.
“It feels a bit surreal to even say that I’m here at a World Cup Final, [let alone] be here with two people I really admire and have watched for so long,” he gushed. “’Rocky’ was amazing tonight. He is a horse that is just so dependable. I love him so much, and I think he and I have such a good bond together.”
Serena Ireland and Royalty R
Australian-bred Royalty R, known as Rusty (Regardez Moi x Jive Magic) is looking phenomenal and coping really well in the biggest environment this combination has ever faced – especially considering he has travelled further than any other horse to contest this FEI World Cup Final.
The World Cup Final debutants showed great cadence and energy in the half passes, however they lost the flow at times in the piaffe and passage. Great relaxation was present in the extended walk. The canter work had a costly mistake in the two-tempis, but the one-tempis were superb! The canter tour showed great engagement and balance, with the half pass zig zag executed well. Serena and Rusty produced a massive final extension, but unfortunately a miscommunication in the final piaffe line further affected the score. Despite this, the performance was a credit to their partnership, with Rusty looking unfazed in the biggest atmosphere he would have ever been exposed to. A final score of 64.087% for sixteenth.
“This is just the beginning or us. It wasn’t about coming down and winning here today, it was about the experience,” said Serena following her test. “And flying the flag for something more at heart; it’s not about the ribbons here for me, it’s about the journey and showing people’s what’s possible. That showing up again and again, and being present and being prepared to just have a go is really what’s put me here today.”
Sandra Sysojeva and Maxima Bella
Maxima Bella is the youngest in the class at ten years old and came onto the scene very strongly. By Millennium out of a Christ mare, Maxima Bella is known for her impressive front end and energetic way of going. The work they produced was really lovely and harmonious, however several mistakes throughout the test affected the score. A final score of 71.696% for fifth.
Yessin Rahmouni and Kind of Magic
The 11-year-old gelding (All At Once x Jazz) is another massive mover. This chestnut gives a really lovely impression. He could have more suppleness and be more parallel in the half passes. Tension was present throughout the test however you can see this horse really wants to go; it’s not easy in this sort of environment. Costly mistakes in the first piaffe, but a good second piaffe where Rahmouni of Morocco rode a bit more forward to help with confidence and really used the extended walk to take a deep breath. Once again tension crept into the extended canter, with changes occurring within the first few strides followed by some mistakes in the one-tempis. This horse is another one which has a lot of promise but looks like he just needs more relaxation and miles. The final centreline was a real highlight, and without mistakes they could certainly achieve a much higher score. A final score of 64.130% for fifteenth place.
Patrik Kittel and Touchdown
The 14-year-old gelding has previously won the FEI World Cup Final in 2024. This combination is another crowd favourite. Very light in the forehand, with an expressive and cadenced front end. Kittel, having ridden and trained so many Grand Prix tests, shows incredible ringcraft. Showing well balanced halts into the rein-back and accurate transitions; they did not miss a beat. The hind engagement in the piaffe could be more consistent, but well balanced in the passage. Very organised half pass zig zag and lovely flowing tempis. A final score of 72.869% for third.
Becky Moody and Jagerbomb
Jagerbomb is another horse that needs no introduction. He is a 12-year-old gelding by Dante Weltino x Jazz, who is just incredibly correct and harmonious. The combination produced really stunning half passes into a perfect square halt, with a prompt departure from the rein-back. Whilst not as expressive in the piaffe and passage as Indian Rock, these movements are incredibly correct for Jagerbomb. The canter work was phenomenal, and this was another test that was a joy to watch. The British combination finished with a 10 for their final halt and a great score of 76.761% to win.
“He felt really good today. I had that nice balance of energy, but with relaxation as well,” Moody said. “I always say, he’s not exceptional at anything, but he is just really good at everything. So he’s just a joy to ride in an arena like that, and it was an amazing crowd.”
“I had never flown a horse before, and he had never flown before, so that was a factor in my decision making [to come here],” Moody shared. “I wanted that experience, and for him to have that experience, and I’m really glad that I did, because we definitely learned things. This is just an amazing opportunity to come to such a fantastic place, and it’s so cool to be surrounded by such a strong equine culture [in Texas] that is completely different to anything I’ve experienced before.”
Thamar Zweistra and Kingsdale
Dutch rider Thamar campaigned two horses in the World Cup series and elected to go with Kingsdale (Everdale x Negro), the eleven-year-old gelding that she has only recently been partnered with. The trot tour lacked the cadence shown by previous combinations, but the passage was a real highlight. The piaffe lost balance at times and a counting mistake in the canter half pass zig zag affected scores. Kingsdale can certainly move though, showing great expression in the one-tempis. A final score of 68.348% for tenth.
Raphael Netz and DSP Dieudonne
By Dante Weltino, this thirteen-year-old stallion is very similar to his sire, showing a gorgeous canter with a very active hind end. More balance was needed coming into the first halt, but the combination continued producing an expressive extended trot. Dieudonne had some tension in the arena shown with contact issues, but as the test progressed the stallion relaxed more. The canter tour was elegant and tactfully ridden by Raphael. A final score of 67.891% for twelfth.
Stage set for the freestyle final
All combinations will be competing in the Grand Prix Freestyle final, as all achieved over 60%. The draw is in the reverse order, meaning Serena and Rusty will be the first down the centreline at 7.01pm Saturday CDT (local time) – which is 10am Sunday AEST for Australian viewers.
View the Grand Prix Freestyle startlist here.
Spectators will watch with great interest as to who will come out on top, with the top six combinations all above 70% and all showing promise, it will surely be one to watch. Tune into ClipMyHorse.TV for all the action.
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