In 2017, a young Ben Ebeling stepped atop the podium at the FEI North American Youth Championships, celebrating team gold alongside teammates Christian Simonson, Aleyna Dunn, and Ava Bingley. Nearly a decade later, Ebeling has established himself as a competitive professional U.S. dressage athlete, earning multiple victories at the international levels and making history as the inaugural US Equestrian Open Dressage Final Champion with Bellena.
Ebeling's history with the USEF Dressage Pathway began in 2016, where he intended to compete as a Region 7 Junior Team member with Descartes. An untimely injury prevented the pair from entering the arena, but it didn’t limit him from making the most of his first NAYC.
“Even though I didn’t compete, it was a great learning experience,” said Ebeling. “I learned what it was like to be on a team, have something go wrong, and then be surrounded by teammates who really picked you up.”
Ebeling returned in 2017, helping Region 7 earn a team gold medal with Behlinger, before competing again with the gelding in 2018 as a Young Rider. Looking back, he credits the championship with teaching lessons that extend far beyond the competition arena.
“NAYC is a great thing for young athletes because it shows you how to be on a team where everyone’s score counts,” said Ebeling. “It’s a little bit of pressure but being exposed to it at a young age sets the bar for later on when you are competing on the U.S. teams.”
The experience proved to be an important steppingstone in his development. Later that same year, Ebeling was selected for the USEF Dressage Young Rider European Tour, an opportunity he believes NAYC helped prepare him to navigate successfully.
“Competing at NAYC helped me make the most of my time in Europe,” he said. “They say pressure makes diamonds, and I believe events in the pathway like these have set us up to go through the Junior, Young Rider, and U25 pipeline and come out on the other side as senior team professionals.”
Ebeling isn’t the only athlete whose career has been shaped by the championship. Fellow NAYC alumni Genay Vaughn, Christian Simonson, and Meagan Davis also developed through the Junior and Young Riders ranks with appearances at NAYC. This year, Simonson and Vaughn will represent the United States as members of the Dutta Corp. U.S. Dressage Team at the 2026 FEI Dressage World Championships in Aachen, alongside Davis who was named as a reserve combination.
Simonson was also part of the 2017 Region 7 team. Without realizing it, he and Ebeling started a tradition there which followed them throughout their careers.
“The year we won gold, Christian and I got to the barns around the same time,” Ebeling said. “We both unloaded our tack trunks and they were exactly the same. Fast forward to this year in Fort Worth for the FEI World Cup Final, we ended up both using the exact same ones!”
Beyond the medals and the memories, one aspect of NAYC that has left a lasting impression on Ebeling was the chance to perform in front of some of the sport’s most respected officials.
“It’s a great opportunity for young athletes to ride in front of some of the top judges in the world,” he said. “It gives them such a great idea of where their riding is and what needs to improve. It's important for our sport to understand the perspective of the top judges and what they’re looking for.”
Years later, Ebeling found himself competing on what would become one of the nation’s biggest stages with Bellena, a 2010 Hanoverian mare owned by Vantage Equestrian Group II LLC, at the US Equestrian Open Dressage Final. There, he competed in front of one Michael Osinski, one of the very same judges who evaluated him during his Junior years at NAYC.
“It was an amazing experience to ride in front of Mike again,” he said. “He got to see the progression of both me and my skillset as an athlete. I think it must be cool for judges when this happens too, as they are as much a part of the sport as anyone. It just goes to prove their feedback is invaluable; you never know when you’ll get the opportunity to ride for them again.”
Looking back at NAYC, Ebeling admits he spent a lot of time focusing on results and not enough on enjoying the experience. Over the years, with the help of a sports psychologist and growing experience at the top levels of the sport, he has developed a healthier and more productive mindset.
“Back in the day, I was very stressed about the competition,” Ebeling said. “I remember if I didn’t like the score, I would be absolutely destroyed. I’ve completely changed my mental game. At the end of the day, if I have done a good job training my horse and can go into the arena and have a mistake-free test, the rest takes care of itself.”
Ebeling’s evolution from pressure-filled youth to a consistent senior team athlete, illustrates the lasting impact championships like NAYC have on athletes. Beyond developing skills in the saddle, the event helps prepare young athletes for the mental demands and expectations they will encounter throughout their careers.
“USEF has done a great job constructing the pipeline,” Ebeling said. “There have been so many judges, clinicians, and events that have been instrumental in developing a pathway for the next generation of top athletes. Participants get to understand how being on a team works which makes a huge difference when they go on to be on a senior team and they’re already familiar with the processes and inner workings. It’s so valuable.”
More than 69 U.S. dressage athletes are set to compete at the 2026 FEI North American Youth Championships presented by USDF in Traverse City, Mich., from July 27-August 2, 2026. Ebeling, along with many of the other former NAYC competitors and current senior team athletes, will watch closely as the next generation of talent takes center stage.
For Ebeling, the advice he would give this year’s competitors has little to do with scores or standings.
“Enjoy every moment,” he said. “It’s such a special experience that doesn’t come around very often. It’s been fun to watch not only myself grow from my experience, but also friends and future teammates. Those memories and relationships stay with you long after the competition is over.”
The USEF International High-Performance Programs and the USEF High-Performance Pathway Programs are generously supported by the USET Foundation, the philanthropic partner to USEF. High-Performance Program support is also provided by the USOPC and USEF sponsors and members.