Top-level dressage competition returned in style to HITS Hudson Valley in Saugerties, New York, on September 18-21, 2025, with the Great American Insurance Group (GAIG)/United States Dressage Federation (USDF) Region 8 Championships and the HITS Open. The Regional Championships brought together some of the East Coast’s finest horses and riders, filling nine arenas with competition ranging from Training Level to Grand Prix. On Friday, September 19, the crowd erupted as Christina Morin-Graham (USA) and DSP Dauphin stole the spotlight, capturing the GAIG/USDF Grand Prix Freestyle Championship Adult Amateur title.
Set to the powerful soundtrack from Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter” album, Morin-Graham and Dauphin’s freestyle left a lasting impression on judges and spectators alike. The pair’s blue-ribbon performance finished with a final overall score of 75.113%. A mare known for her kind demeanor yet simultaneous ability to electrify the arena with energy, Dauphin earned consistent scores of 7.0 and 7.5 throughout their test from Judge at C Lilo Fore (USA) and Judge at B Cesar Torrente (COL).
“It’s got a lot of punch to it!” said Morin-Graham of her freestyle. “This floorplan and music really suits this horse. She’s a big and powerful horse with a lot of expression.”
Morin-Graham and Dauphin, affectionately nicknamed “the Queen,” have been competing together for about three years, with notable appearances including the CDI-W division during Dressage at Devon at the Devon Horse Show Grounds in Devon, Pennsylvania.
“She’s just an amazing horse,” enthused Morin-Graham of her seventeen-year-old German Sporthorse mare (Damon Hill NRW x Montezuma). “You pull her together and she just lights up and gives it her all.”
Showing a second horse in the class, Morin-Graham also piloted Mondlicht, her own 15-year-old Oldenburg mare (Tailormade Sarkozy x Ravallo), to the reserve championship title with a final score of 67.325%. Erina White (USA) and Daquiri, her own sixteen-year-old Oldenburg mare by Dacaprio=, completed the top three with a score of 66.512%.
From one thrilling performance to the next, the world-class HITS Hudson Valley facility showcased more of the sport’s notable riders and their talents. Renowned dressage athlete Benjamin Ebeling (USA), son of Olympic dressage rider Jan Ebeling, captured winning honors in the FEI Test of Choice I2/IA. Riding Frank Jacques, an eight-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Franklin x Blue Hors Don Schufro) owned by ACR Enterprises Inc., Ebeling secured the win with a final score of 66.765%.
“He’s always been a horse that I knew would make it to top sport,” shared Ebeling. “This was a really big weekend for him. It was his Intermediate II debut, and I had such a great feeling.”
Having trained “Frankie” from a young age, Ebeling was thrilled with the gelding’s accomplishment. While Judge at C Margaret Freeman (USA) and Judge at E Brenda Minor (CAN) offered varied marks throughout the test, both awarded a high score of 8.0 for the horse’s impressive pirouette to the left.
On Thursday, September 18, Ebeling also claimed a victory with Simba, a six-year-old Oldenburg gelding (Sezuan’s Donnerhall x Dev Niro 6) owned by Vantage Equestrian Group II, LLC. Competing in the USEF Fourth Level Test 1, Simba delivered an impressive test, earning a score of 73.158% from Judge Margaret Freeman. As this was Simba’s first trip down centerline, the partnership is still new and developing, making the result especially exciting for Ebeling, who looks forward to what the future holds for this promising young horse. In the meantime, the trip from the Ebelings’ Wellington, Florida, base was well worth it in a weekend full of high-quality rides.
“This is my first time back at HITS Hudson Valley since it has gone through improvements,” explained Ebeling. “It has really become such an incredible showgrounds. There were so many people this weekend. I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen so many people at a dressage show!”
As the 2025 dressage season at HITS Hudson Valley comes to a close, HITS looks forward to building on the successful season with even more excitement in 2026. The venue continues to host hunter/jumper competition in October, with the 2025 HITS Hudson Valley Fall Series kicking off on October 1. For complete results during the action-packed weekend, please click HERE.
