Hagen, Germany – The Dutta Corp. U.S. Dressage Team earned bronze at the FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ Hagen CDIO4*, at the Covalliero Dressage Days hosted at Hof Kasselmann in Hagen, Germany, giving the U.S. a podium finish to celebrate heading into Independence Day weekend. Competing against a deep field including host country Germany, Belgium, Sweden, Finland, Austria, and Spain, the U.S. team closed out the team competition with a combined final score of 210.957. Germany claimed the top of the podium with a 230.834, while Spain took silver with a score of 212.892.
The young team of up-and-coming talent for the U.S. were consistent and poised in what marked a majority of the combination’s first-ever competition appearance for the U.S. Dressage Team in Europe. The Covalliero Dressage Days CDIO4* at Hof Kasselmann serves as an important observation event for the Dutta Corp. U.S. Dressage Team ahead of the 2026 FEI Dressage World Championships, set to take place in Aachen, Germany, from August 11-23, 2026.
Chef d'Equipe and Technical Advisor, Christine Traurig, guided the team. "We came here with a young team with minimal experience in international competition in Europe up to this point, and for them to step right into a Nations Cup and finish in third means we are moving in the right direction. There is always room for continued improvement, but this week has shown our USEF pathway programs are progressing in the right direction.” Traurig said.
Making their European team debut, Christian Simonson (Ventura, Calif.) and Fleau de Baian, a 2010 KWPN stallion (Jazz x Ulft) owned by Zen Elite Equestrian Center, and cared for by Georgia Morgan, opened the U.S. effort with a solid score of 70.478%, earning strong marks for the collected work at both the trot and canter. Their score also marked a new personal best in the Grand Prix for the partnership.
Jordan LaPlaca (Ledyard, Conn.) and Gold Play, a 2015 Oldenburg gelding (Grey Flannell x Sir Donnerhall II) co-owned by LaPlaca and Nancy Hutson and cared for by Caitlin LaPlaca, delivered the team's highest score of the day with a new personal best of 70.631%, earning strong marks from the judges for the pair's harmony and quality of piaffe and passage.
Meagan Davis (Loxahatchee, Fla.) and Toronto Lightfoot, a 2013 Oldenburg gelding (Totilas x Onassis) owned by Scott Durkin and cared for by Bill Davis, went third in the team rotation and finished with a score of 68.656%.
Geñay Vaughn (Elk Grove, Calif.) and Gino also made their senior team debut in the main stadium at Hoff Kasselmann. Vaughn and Gino, a 2011 KWPN gelding (Bretton Woods x Haarlem) owned by Michele Vaughn, and cared for by Anna Lena Rother, anchored the team to close out the day with a score of 69.848% to help secure the team’s podium finish in Germany.
USA Dressage also saw encouraging performances in the Grand Prix this week from Short Listed combinations, Kasey Perry-Glass and Heartbeat W.P., and Ashley Holzer and Hawtins San Floriana.
Kasey Perry-Glass (Wellington, Fla.) and Heartbeat W.P., a 2012 KWPN gelding (Charmeur x Olympic Ferro), owned by Diane Perry and cared for by Meghan Laffin, competed as individuals in the Hagen CDI4* and earned a score of 69.848%, displaying a positive trend in scoring.
Ashley Holzer (Wellington, Fla.) and Hawtins San Floriana, a 2012 Hanoverian mare (San Amour I x Florestan I) co-owned by Holzer and Diane Fellow and cared for by Ali Conti, competed in the Hartpury CDI3* showing improvement and producing a combination best score of 71.957%.
Competition Information
Competition at Hof Kasselmann continues tomorrow, July 4, for individual honors with the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle CDIO4*-NC, beginning at 1:30 p.m. GMT+2/7:30 a.m. ET. The Covalliero Dressage Days come to a close on Sunday, July 5, with the FEI Grand Prix Special CDIO4*-NC, beginning at 7:30 a.m. GMT+2/1:30 a.m. ET.
Event Website | Schedule | Results
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