Team PracIn this series, Jordan LaPlaca, a member of the U.S. Dressage Team for the 2026 FEI World Championships in Aachen, Germany, shares his journey to the major championship. The Ledyard, Connecticut, native will partner with Gold Play, an 11-year-old Oldenburg gelding (Grey Flanell x Shangra La, by Sir Donnerhall II) owned by Nancy Hutson and LaPlaca.
The journey started about seven years ago when I came over to Germany with my sponsor, Nancy Hutson. We went to Hof Kasselmann, which is where Gold Play and I are based right now for the summer. To make a very long story short, I was looking for a little bit older horse ready to hit at least the small tour in the CDI ring, but I ended up getting a 4-coming-5-year-old.
With Gold Play, or “GP,” it just was meant to be. It was one of those serendipitous things. I sat on him and felt like my soul was complete, and it was really, really cool to have that connection right off the bat. I’ve had him for seven years, and I took him from a walk-trot-canter horse to here we are ready to represent our country at Aachen.
Exuding Talent
As a young horse, Gold Play was very naturally gifted and talented. With the breeding these days, the horses are just naturally that way. It took a little time to get his mind and body to catch up with his ability. We had a lot of fun with keeping it simple and just doing our basics. He learned how to be a real horse with trail riding, hacking and all the things. I diversify the training for my horses because I think it’s always important.
I believe because of how naturally hot Gold Play is, taking that time really got his brain in the game and developed that trust that he and I have together. Because of the respect I had for his brain and his body, we never drilled things, so training and developing him was really special. And still to this day, it’s very special.
Gold Play aspires to be in the dressage ring. He likes it; it’s not like dragging his feet to go to the office. I worked really hard to keep ring time from being boring or a dreadful session. After every ride and training session with him, I always leave with a smile. And I think he leaves with an extra chip on his shoulder to be prouder for the next time.
He never struggled with any particular movement in his training. He actually picked up the changes and pirouettes very quickly, and he was practically born doing piaffe and passage as well.
What was tricky was decaffeinating this horse’s energy and getting him into basic quality gaits, not the brilliant gaits. That was our struggle for a long time because teaching him something was nothing. It was just almost cheating in a way because it was so easy. But I recognized early on that the gaits needed to be dialed down a little, and the transitions and quality of the basic work really needed to be solidified.
For example, if you have a 10 piaffe, but you cannot trot, then what is the point of the piaffe? It’s essentially a trot transition. For Gold Play, it was working on the regularity of the gaits, control of tempo, and keeping the balance. It’s wild because he was basically a Grand Prix horse at eight years old. The challenging movements weren’t the issue. It was now how do we keep him decaffeinated and not on the fiery side.
My Heart and Soul
Aside from his talent and brilliance, the best thing about Gold Play is that I never have a different horse at home or at a show. He is always himself. He is calm, but he’s also a showman. When it comes time to go down center line, he steps up to the plate. But at the end of the test, I drop the reins and he’s walking off with a long neck and droopy ears.
He’s a really solid character. We have this joke that I always have to force his ears forward for a photo because he’s asleep half the time. It sounds too good to be true, and it really is too good to be true.
In the barn, we have another running joke that we are simply staff in Gold Play’s world. He is very friendly, very outgoing, and he wants attention. He’s a delight to have in the barn because he just makes you smile. Though he’s also a little demanding. He likes what he likes and those who do not bring him offerings will pay the price. But he’s just overall got a super character, really well-behaved, and honestly, a true joy to be around.
I think the favorite thing about Gold Play is he is my heart and soul. There’s a part of me that is so complete that I’ve never felt before when I’m with him. He trusts me implicitly, and I feel that, and I trust him. And I think the best and my most favorite part about him is that relationship we have.
It’s not foofy. I’m not someone who’s like hocus-pocus-y, “Oh, my unicorn, blah, blah, blah.” It’s more of just my soul just feels a peace, settledness and connection with him. And that’s the gift he brings me.
An Upward Trajectory
This has been such a whirlwind of a year for me. It happened extremely quickly. I’m a very goal-oriented person, but the first and most important one is the care and well-being of my horse. Taking that into consideration, then the goals come, and my goal was simply to start the season with producing an international Grand Prix horse. That successfully happened in February, then we went to the next CDI, and it just got better and better. Now, I’ve had the privilege of representing the country in two Nations Cups: one in Wellington this winter and then one a few weeks ago here in Hagen, Germany. I medaled individually and as a team in Wellington with the team gold and then team bronze in Hagen with scores that keep trending upward.
Does it feel real? I haven’t really allowed myself to take it in yet. But being here in Germany has made it feel extremely relevant to what we’re doing. I feel like there’s a purpose now to why we’re doing all this.
It’s also really important for me to set an example in all that I do for everyone who has dreams of doing this. I wasn’t born with the privilege to do what I’m doing. I’ve had to work very hard to get here, and I know a lot of riders are in the same boat. They don’t have sponsors and aren’t handed fancy horses and things like this. I keep in my mind always being a good example for what can happen when you put your heart and soul into something.
Stay tuned for Part 2!
For More:
- See more FEI World Championships Aachen 2026 coverage here.
- View the event website here.
- Check out Jordan LaPlaca’s website here.
About Jordan LaPlaca
Jordan LaPlaca is an FEI Grand Prix trainer and competitor who has represented the U.S. on the international stage. In 2026, he won team and individual gold at the FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ USA in Wellington, Florida, and team bronze at the FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ Germany in Hagen, Germany, with his talented partner Gold Play. After a stellar year of top results, the pair was named to the U.S. Dressage Team for the FEI World Championships Aachen 2026, taking place in August in Germany.
In addition to being a USDF Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medalist with Distinction, Jordan is a well-rounded horseman with experience in a variety of disciplines, ranging from dressage to eventing to Western. He is also an FEI combined driver, who has competed in the U.S. and Canada. Jordan and his wife Caitlin run Maverick Hill Dressage LLC, their dressage training and sales business, out of Standing Stones Farm in Ledyard, Connecticut.