Darnell Claims CDI3* Grand Prix Freestyle Victory in Ocala
Batchelder Triumphs in the Grand Prix Special
Ocala, USA – High-level sport took center stage on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at the World Equestrian Center – Ocala during the WEC March Dressage CDI3* presented by Hampton Green Farms. The highlight classes of the day crowned Claire Darnell in the Grand Prix Freestyle CDI3* and Nora Batchelder in the Grand Prix Special CDI3*, delivering performances of outstanding technical and artistic quality.
Darnell and Harrold S Shine in the Grand Prix Freestyle
With a score of 74.315%, American rider Claire Darnell aboard Harrold S secured her second consecutive victory of the show, taking top honors in the Grand Prix Freestyle.
The performance was particularly notable as the rider presented a newly revised choreography with an increased level of difficulty, despite not having ridden the routine all the way through at home beforehand.
“I hadn’t even practiced it all the way through at home,” Darnell admitted. “I created my own music, so I know it extremely well and exactly where I should be at any point. I listened to it a couple of times on the drive up and visualized the test in the arena today.”
The freestyle was performed to music from the “The Hunger Games” film score, a choice designed to highlight both the power and elegance of her horse, a 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Vivaldi out of Fidermark.
“He is such a powerful horse and the music really enhances that quality,” explained Darnell. “At the same time it is elegant, so it really brings out his highlights and suits him perfectly.”
Second place went to Argentina’s Leonardo Antonio Godoy with Marques Do Lis, a 10-year-old Lusitano stallion, scoring 70.390%.
Third place was claimed by Great Britain’s Charlotte Osborne aboard Frühlingszauber, an 18-year-old Austrian Warmblood gelding, with 70.340%.
The freestyle class also served as a qualifier for the 2026 US Open of Dressage, now in its second season, with the final scheduled for November in California.
Batchelder and Nova Win the Grand Prix Special
In the Grand Prix Special CDI3*, American rider Nora Batchelder and Nova delivered a winning performance with a personal best score of 68.255%.
The result marked a clear improvement from their second-place finish in Friday’s Grand Prix class, when the mare had been unsettled in her stall due to an approaching storm.
“Tonight she felt calm and relaxed,” Batchelder said of the 10-year-old Oldenburg mare by Grand Galaxy Win T out of Blue Hors Romanov. “I really felt like I could ride her in the ring. She has a gorgeous piaffe, and we’re only scratching the surface of what she can do. She’s an incredibly talented horse with enormous potential.”
Because of the length and endurance required for the Special, Batchelder opted for a shorter warm-up, focusing on preserving energy for the test. One of the pair’s key challenges has been executing the one- and two-tempi flying changes, which they successfully delivered in the show ring.
Batchelder lives in Williston, Florida, just a short distance from the World Equestrian Center.
“We feel incredibly fortunate to have WEC practically in our backyard,” she said. “The climate-controlled indoor arenas are fantastic. In winter they protect us from the cold, and in warmer weather they allow horses to show their athleticism without overheating. It’s also wonderful to have a CDI every month so we can assess our progress, go home, regroup, and come back stronger.”
Second place in the Grand Prix Special went to Ellesse Gundersen with Quintessential 4 (67.894%), while Jodie Kelly-Baxley and Grayton Beach finished third with 66.723%.
Howington Extends Winning Streak in the Intermediate I
In the Intermediate I CDI1*, Jessica Howington continued her winning streak, taking first place with Finesse Langholt DWB, a nine-year-old Danish Warmblood mare, scoring 68.353%.
Second place went to Kassandra Barteau with Blue Skies (65.588%), a personal best for the pair, while Eliza Sanders and Cadillac 60 completed the podium with 65.530%, also a personal best.
The March CDI at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala once again confirmed its status as one of the most important fixtures on the U.S. dressage calendar, offering riders regular opportunities to compete at the highest international level.
Intermediate 1 Results
Full Show Results and Ride Times
Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography
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