Photo by Jessica Buehler Photography
Myakka City, FL – October 18, 2026 – Three 11-year-old horses ridden by U.S. lady riders occupied the three podium spots in the Akerman LLP CDI3* Grand Prix Special on the final day of competition at TerraNova Equestrian Center in Myakka City, Florida, on Sunday, October 18, 2026. Top honors went to Quinn Iverson and Gremlin 41 with 70.085%, whose two athletic and powerful tests handed them a clean sweep of the CDI3* division.
Nora Batchelder captured the red ribbon, riding Carol Glover’s Grand Galaxy Win T x Blue Hors Romanov mare Nova into second with 68.021%. Nova, whom Batchelder rode in a snaffle, was trending around 70% but changed behind coming out of the second canter pirouette, which was costly. Eline Eckroth from Ocala, Florida, rounded out the podium riding Connie Duff Wise’s KWPN gelding Key To B Fabulous, by Eye Catcher x Houston, to a combination personal best of 62.468% despite a stray plastic bag rolling across the arena mid-test.
Photo by Jessica Buehler Photography
The 28-year-old Iverson and Billie Davidson’s Gremlin recorded their third consecutive FEI win. She has produced the German-bred Oldenburg by Grey Flanell x Donnerschwee since he was five and the duo both made their FEI grand prix debuts in March 2026. They received a nine for their entry from the H judge Elke Ebert (GER) and their highest score — 71.809% — from the Colombian judge at B, Cesar Torrente.
“Today, our goal was to be a bit bolder than I was in the Grand Prix, and I’m so proud of how ‘Griffin’ came out — he was ready to go in both our tests,” said Iverson, who worked for U.S. Olympic team medalist Adrienne Lyle for 10 years and still trains with her. “Yesterday I got on him pretty early just to tack walk and keep his body moving and we got poured on. But it was actually kind of nice after Friday’s heat, and then we got this beautiful weather today.
“Adrienne has played not only a huge role in his development, but in my development,” she continued. “She helped me find Gremlin when he was five and she believed in him right away — she has such a great eye for that. From our first Third Level test to the developing Prix St. Georges, to developing Grand Prix, and now our senior tour, she’s been there every step of the way.
“The changes were quite tricky for a while,” recalled Iverson. “I bounced back and forth with how I rode them, but we have a really good system now. I’m very thankful to all the people who have made this happen, because if it was just me, it wouldn’t have happened.”
Photo by Jessica Buehler Photography
In the para classes, grade II athlete Ellie Brimmer from Wellington, Florida, had double cause for celebration. Not only was Sunday her birthday, but she also landed a personal best of 72.345% in the freestyle on her own 15-year old Danish mare, Langagers Krack I Love It, by Krack C. With a country music medley, they scored eights from all three judges for their music and interpretation. Brimmer, who has Cerebral Palsy, trains with Andrea Woodard and has come a very long way since being bucked off at her very first para FEI show in 2010.
Click here for full results from TerraNova’s October CDI.
Click here for full results from TerraNova’s rated national show.
Photo by Jessica Buehler Photography
Sunday’s action concluded TerraNova’s October CDI. Dressage competition returns October 29-November 1 with a United Dressage & Jumping Club show before the finals at the Gulf Coast venue in December. The next USDF rated show at TerraNova takes place January 22-24, 2027. International dressage returns to the facility in April 2027. Watch it all on the free TerraNova live stream. View the full events calendar here.
Words by Alice Collins for TerraNova Equestrian Center
