U.S. Team Captures Dressage Nations Cup Gold In Wellington

The American squad edged out Germany and Canada in a tight competition at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 8:06pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the dynamic movements and energy of a dressage competition, with overlapping planes of color and form.The U.S. dressage team's gold medal triumph at the Wellington Nations Cup showcases the depth and talent of American riders on the international stage.Wellington Today

The U.S. dressage team, led by Chef d'Equipe Christine Traurig, captured gold in the Modon FEI Nations Cup competition at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival in Wellington, Florida. The victory came down to the final rider, with Anna Marek's mistake-free test tipping the scales in favor of the American squad. Germany had to settle for silver, while Canada took bronze in the tightly contested event.

Why it matters

The U.S. team's win in the Wellington Nations Cup leg, the only one held outside Europe, marks a historic achievement for the squad. It also showcases the depth of American dressage talent, with two riders making their senior team debuts and contributing to the victory.

The details

The U.S. team concluded on a total score of 205.631, narrowly edging out Germany (205.043) and Canada (204.196). Meagan Davis and Jordan LaPlaca, both making their senior team debuts, contributed to the American victory, while veteran riders Ashley Holzer and Anna Marek were late call-ups who delivered strong performances.

  • The Modon FEI Nations Cup contest took place on Thursday, March 19, opening day of Week 11 at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) in Wellington.
  • The last time the U.S. team won the Wellington Nations Cup leg was in 2020, when the format still allowed for a mixture of Grand Prix and small tour combinations.

The players

Christine Traurig

The Chef d'Equipe of the U.S. dressage team.

Anna Marek

The anchor rider for the U.S. team, whose mistake-free test secured the gold medal for the Americans.

Meagan Davis

A U.S. rider making her senior team debut, who placed fourth individually with a 68.544% ride on Toronto Lightfoot.

Jordan LaPlaca

A U.S. rider making his senior team debut, who contested just his fourth big tour CDI with the horse Gold Play.

Ashley Holzer

A veteran U.S. rider who received a late call-up and delivered a clean test with Hawtins San Floriana, something that had previously eluded them.

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What they’re saying

“Christine chose me to go last, which is always a big honor. In a team competition, there's even more added pressure because I want to have a good ride for my team. I didn't know what score I needed for gold and, honestly, it wouldn't have really mattered. I just went in there wanting to ride the best test I could.”

— Anna Marek

“I was a little nervous when a helicopter sounded like it was landing in the ring with us, but Toronto trusted me and never missed a beat. We lacked a little impulsion, but we did a clean test, so we did what we needed to do. There's only up to go from here with him.”

— Meagan Davis

“I have not done a clean test ever on this horse until today, so I'm thrilled. I love this horse so much, and she's a sensitive, hot tamale, so for her to be calm and quiet and respond to me is a very special feeling.”

— Ashley Holzer

“It's what you dream of. Honestly, each day riding him is a win. Being on a team that is so strong and to gain this experience was top-notch — you can't beat it. To have the camaraderie, teamwork and the spirit of being together makes it that much more fun, because dressage can be isolating.”

— Jordan LaPlaca

The takeaway

The U.S. dressage team's victory in the Wellington Nations Cup, the only leg of the FEI Dressage Nations Cup series held outside Europe, showcases the depth and talent of American riders. The team's success, with two debut performers contributing to the win, underscores the promising future of U.S. dressage on the international stage.