Aachen, Germany – U.S. Para Dressage athletes made a strong showing in the FEI Para Grand Prix Test B for Grades I, II, and III on Friday during the first day of team competition at the 2026 FEI Para Dressage World Championships in Aachen, Germany, running through August 23, 2026. Cumulative scores currently have the U.S. Para Dressage Team sitting in medal contention overnight with one more team ride to come.
Topping the FEI Grand Prix Para Test B for Grade I on a personal best score of 76.375%, Marie Vonderheyden (Wellington, Fla.) and Karin Flint’s Fan Tastico H are taking aim at their second medal of the week after earning individual gold on Thursday. Fan Tastico H is a 2017 Oldenburg gelding (Furstenball OLD x Weltmeyer) cared for by Rafael Hernandez-Carillo.
Paralympian Fiona Howard (Boston, Mass.) and Diamond Dunes also danced to a win in the FEI Grand Prix Para Test B - Grade II on 79.300%. Diamond Dunes is a 2013 Hanoverian gelding (De L’Or x Wolkentanz), owned by Dressage Family LLC and Hof Kasselmann and cared for by Jacqueline Bohme.
Closing out the day, five-time U.S. Paralympian Rebecca Hart (Wellington, Fla.) tallied a 73.533% in the Grand Prix Test B for Grade III. She rode her Paralympic mount from Paris, Floratina, a 2008 Hanoverian mare (Fidertanz 2 x Rubin Royal OLD), owned by Rowan O’Riley and cared for by Mackenzie Young.
“We are very fortunate to have strong combinations across all Grades here in Aachen,” said Chef d’Equipe Michel Assouline. “Today’s tests proved that, with high marks across the board. We are looking forward to tomorrow and chasing a place on the medal podium, but overall, I could not be more pleased with the consistency that we have seen all week from our athletes.”
Grades IV and V will close out competition to determine team medals on Saturday, August 22, beginning at 8:30 a.m. GMT+2/2:30 a.m. EST.
Results
Grade I | Grade II | Grand III
Competition Information
The 2026 FEI Para Dressage World Championships will be a pinnacle of international para dressage competition this season and will be hosted during the second week of the FEI World Championships in Aachen, Germany.
Para dressage competition will conclude on Sunday, August 23, with all grades taking to the dressage court for their FEI Grand Prix Para Freestyles. Grade III will kick off the final day of individual medals at 8:15 a.m. GMT+2/2:15 a.m. EST, with Grade II to follow at 9:30 a.m. GMT+2/3:30 a.m. EST, and Grade I at 10:50 a.m. GMT+2/4:50 a.m. EST. Grade IV competition takes place at 1:30 p.m. GMT+2/7:30 a.m. EST, and Grade V will conclude the competition at 2:55 p.m. GMT+2/8:55 a.m. EST.
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