May 3, 2025, Myakka City, Florida. Charlotte Jorst (USA) climbed from a second place finish in Friday’s qualifying grand prix to lead the STX USA CDI3* Grand Prix Freestyle from second draw on Saturday, May 3. She rode Kastel Denmark’s 12-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding Zhaplin Langholt to 74.085% with energy and harmony.
It was a US clean sweep of the podium, with Ben Ebeling slotting into second just 0.1 percentage points behind Jorst. He rode Ann Romney’s 15-year-old mare Bellena (by Belissimo M) to 73.985% in their second freestyle together. Devon Kane filled the third spot with 72.705% on Diamante Farms’ 13-year-old Vivaldi gelding, Vamos.
Jorst has produced Zhaplin Langholt, an imposing black gelding by Zonik NOP x Stedinger, from small tour level. She took the reins over from his previous owner Andreas Helgstand, who scooped the bronze medal at the Ermelo World Young Horse Championships in 2019, when Zhaplin Langholt was six.
“I was actually conscious of his power today,” said Jorst, who rode to an upbeat rock medley that matched the horse’s abundant energy and received a score of at least eight from each of the five judges. “I took a personality test with him earlier this week and I found out that he really likes routine. Last time I showed him he was wild, so I decided to really try to go back to the things he likes and knows. I tried to get in there and just ride around quietly, and it worked really well.
“I love this facility at TerraNova; it’s so beautiful, a feast for the eyes, and it rivals anything in Europe. Yesterday I went for a walk and I saw deer and other animals, like in a sanctuary. I want to be here and show here and win here as much as I can,” added the Danish-born Jorst, who owns the clothing company Kastel Denmark.
The Freestyle doubled as one of the two dozen qualifying events held around the country for the inaugural season of the US Equestrian Open of Dressage, with the final set for mid-November in California. Anna Marek (USA) currently sits atop the rankings with 88 points, with Germany’s Evelyn Eger just behind on 85 points, and US athlete Karen Lipp in third on 77. Jorst is now in 10th place with 55 points. Six qualifying events remain, including TerraNova’s CDI-W and CDI3* October 16-19. The top 18 will qualify for the final.
“The US Open is a great program,” enthused Jorst. “I plan on going if I’m lucky enough to be invited, but my daughter is pregnant and due at the same time, so we’ll see how it all pans out. I love the program, and I’ll go if I can.”
Jorst usually spends summers in Europe, but plans to remain home in Reno, NV, this year to support her daughter. She will pick up her competitive endeavors after the summer break with an eye to making the cut for the FEI Dressage World Cup Final which takes place in Fort Worth, TX, in April 2026.
Canada’s Naïma Moreira Laliberté, winner of Friday’s qualifying grand prix, had a tricky ride with Inspire, settling for fifth place. However, her fortunes were reversed in the CDI1* Intermediate I, which she won on Jaliska LD. Close scores continued to be the order of the day; Moreira Laliberté chalked up 71.353% on KML Inc’s 11-year-old All At Once mare, while Andrea Woodard (USA) was a fraction behind with a new combination best of 71.324% on Enter At A LLC’s eight-year-old mare Roxette (by Revolution). Jorst was once again on the podium, finishing third with 69.441% on Kastel Denmark’s 13-year-old Benneton Dream gelding Atterupgaards Botticelli.
Para Power
The US’s para talent continued to log high scores on the second and final day of the team competition of TerraNova’s inaugural CPEDI3* show.
Marie Vonderheyden, Fiona Howard, Kate Shoemaker and Rebecca Hart represented the US Para Dressage Team at TerraNova, and won the team element uncontested. They were led by Chef d’Equipe Michel Assouline and Team Leader Laureen Johnson.
One of the standout mid-70s para scores came in the Grade II division, with Howard of Boston, MS, logging a winning 75.222% on Hof Kasselmann’s 12-year-old Diamond Dunes in the CPEDI3* Para Grand Prix B. Howard, who earned triple gold with the De L’Or gelding at the 2024 Paris Paralympics, is currently number one on the FEI para dressage world individual rankings.
The 26-year-old was born and raised in England and competed on British FEI reining teams as a junior, before moving to the US in 2016. As a teenager she was diagnosed with dystonia, a condition that causes involuntary muscle spasms, tremors, and deformities, as well as affecting her grip and coordination. She subsequently took up para dressage in 2022.
Howard’s performance was bolstered by another personal best, their second in two days, from the emerging duo of Grade I rider Marie Vonderheyden and Fan Tastico H. Vonderheyden, who, along with her teammates Shoemaker and Hart, is from Wellington, FL, posted a new combination high score in the Para Grand Prix B test of 75.417% on Karin Flint’s eight-year-old Fürstenball gelding, who was formerly campaigned by Paralympian Roxanne Trunnell, including on the gold medal-winning US team at Paris 2024.
Howard’s coach and mentor Shoemaker and her own nine-year-old Vitalis mare Vianne, with whom she picked up Freestyle bronze at the Paris Paralympics, continued to impress, laying down a 74.55% in the Para Grand Brix B Grade IV test.
Hart brought out El Corona Texel to his first show in a year, topping the Grand Prix B Grade III test with 68.778%. Rowan O’Riley’s 16-year-old Wynton x Goodtimes gelding has been a faithful campaigner for Hart since they first stepped into the FEI ring in 2017, and their impressive resume includes Paralympic, World Championship and World Equestrian Games medals.
“It’s sort of an in between year for us because we don’t have a championships,” said Assouline, who has been instrumental in the US’s rise to dominance in para dressage. “It gives us a bit of a chance to experiment with new techniques and partnerships, like Marie and Fan Tastico. They’ve only been together since late January, so getting those high scores is very good.
“Fiona’s horse Diamond Dunes was a little affected by the heat, but that’s one of the challenges that they have to face, including for those horses that will be selected for LA 2028,” he continued.
“Kate’s horse Vianne is an absolutely magnificent mare. She has real quality in the collection, which is always hard in grade IV, but has to be shown. Kate’s only been riding her for a year or so and this was their best show so far. They showed great collection and super expression, yet together with relaxation and no tension.
“TerraNova is a fantastic place and very horse friendly,” concluded Assouline. “There’s so much space and lots of grass and places to walk the horses. The facilities are second to none, with great surfaces.”
Grade V individual US rider Cynthia Screnci clocked up 67.921% on her own For Memory 4 in the Grand Prix B Grade V. The eight-year-old by For Dance has been competing with Screnci since the fall of 2023.
Competition at TerraNova concludes on Sunday, May 4, and includes the CDI3* Grand Prix Special and para dressage Freestyles in all grades, as well as a full spectrum of USEF classes in the national rings.
Words by Alice Collins for TerraNova Equestrian Center
