Thermal, California—Ben Ebeling (USA) and Bellena stole the show in the inaugural US Equestrian Open Dressage Final, hoisting the impressive trophy to conclude the first year of the finals across the three Olympic disciplines. The partnership earned a personal best score of 79.903% for their freestyle composition to a mix of iconic female pop artists to stand firmly atop the podium. Felicitas Hendricks (GER) and Drombusch OLD took second place on a final score of 78.260%, while Anna Marek (USA) and Fayvel finished in third on 77.830%. The competition, held from November 13 – 16, at Desert International Horse Park in Thermal, California, also marked the first-ever CDI5* hosted on the West Coast.

“Every time I ask this horse to come through for me, she is just so clutch. She’s an incredible competitor and I’m so lucky to have her by my side and in that arena. We’ve been working together for a year now and we’re just continuing to build this synergetic and symbiotic bond. I’m just so proud of her,” Ebeling, who’s based in Wellington, Florida, said. “As I’ve said, a rider is nothing without their horse, so really, thank you, Belle.”

He and Bellena, a 2010 Hanoverian mare (Belissimo NRW x Welser) owned by Vantage Equestrian Group II, LLC, were unstoppable in their freestyle, energizing the crowd and showcasing the best of their growing partnership together. Ebeling took over the ride from his father, Olympian Jan Ebeling, in late 2024, and the pair have continued to impress with Bellena’s growing consistency and can-do attitude.

“Our freestyle really highlights her personality as a diva mare and is a testament to strong powerful women,” the 26-year-old said of his musical selection. “The freestyle includes sections of songs from artists like Rihanna, Beyonce and Gwen Stefani, and honestly, I don’t think anyone can do it better than a mare and that’s been the inspiration behind this freestyle.”

Ebeling noted that the competition’s format and the opportunity to highlight the Grand Prix Freestyle was a positive push the sport needs to help connect with a broader audience.

“I think it’s such a great way to capture the hearts and minds of a wider audience. It’s an amazing opportunity for our sport and to show that we can make it fun and entertaining, while highlighting the incredible attributes of our horses,” he said. “Getting to have my name inked on this trophy with other greats, including two Olympians, it just motivates me more to keep going and keep pushing.”

Felicitas Hendricks Clinches Second; Ann Marek Takes Third

Hendricks and Drombusch OLD, her own 2011 Oldenburg gelding (Destano x DiMaggio), set the tone in the second half of the class, earning a 78.260% to put the pressure on both Ebeling and Marek to deliver. Hendricks, who earned her qualification during the Wellington season in her campaign last spring, competed in the desert for the first time and was thrilled with both her horse and the experience.

“I’ve been with this horse for a long, long time and he just never stops impressing me. I think today was one of the best feelings we’ve had together,” she said. “It’s special when you’ve been partners for as long as we have and you still feel like you’re continuing to grow and develop together—getting better with every ride. I’m so thankful for him and to be able to experience this together.”

Marek, of Dunnellon, Florida, and Fayvel, a 2010 KWPN gelding (Zizi Top x Houston) owned by Cynthia Davila, finished their week with a strong third-place finish in the final class of the week, capping an incredibly strong season for the pair, which included their overall series win, alongside their FEI Grand Prix CDI5* win on Friday evening.

“What’s really fun about showing this horse is that he’s uncomplicated to ride. He lets me really ride and not hold back. With Fayvel, I can really go for it and on a night like tonight, when the pressure is on, I know I’m going to fight for it and he’s going to be right there with me every step of the way and we don’t need to hold back,” Marek said. “It’s been an amazing week here for us in California, and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to compete here with him.”

Full Results

A total of 12 combinations moved forward to contest the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle CDI5* under the lights, with four different combinations earning personal bests, with competitors across the competition representing the U.S., Canada, and Germany. To view the full results, click here.