Strong Growth in Championship Participation at 2026 US Dressage Finals

From October 29 to November 1, the 2026 US Dressage (USDF) Finals presented by Adequan® will bring together one of the strongest and deepest championship fields in recent years, with championship entries at World Equestrian Center (WEC) – Wilmington, up about 8% from 2025.

A total of 635 championship class entries have been recorded for the 2026 Finals, up from 588 championship tests ridden in 2025. The increase comes despite the overall number of individual competitors remaining relatively similar year over year, indicating greater participation in championship competition across a broad range of levels and divisions.

The 2026 Finals is set to feature 402 horse-and-rider combinations, including 190 Adult Amateurs (AA), 151 open riders, and 61 junior/young riders participating in at least one championship class.

Click here for the prize list.

“This growth in championship participation reflects the strength and enthusiasm of the U.S. dressage community,” said USDF Executive Director Stephan Hienzsch. “The US Dressage Finals offers competitors the opportunity to test themselves against the best combinations from across the country, and it is exciting to see more riders take on that challenge in 2026. We look forward to an outstanding week of competition at WEC – Wilmington.”

Growth Across the Levels
Championship entries are up across multiple levels and divisions, with several classes showing particularly strong growth compared with 2025.

Third Level has emerged as a leader in growth this year. Adult Amateur entries increased from 24 to 35, and Open entries rose from 15 to 24. Fourth Level Open entries increased from 15 to 24, and Fourth Level Adult Amateur entries rose from 17 to 23.
The upper levels have also seen significant increases in class sizes. AA Grand Prix Freestyle entries increased from six to 16, and the straight AA Grand Prix championship entries have risen from nine to 13.

More broadly, freestyle competition has seen notable growth. AA First Level Freestyle entries rose from 14 to 23, AA Third Level Freestyle entries went up from 13 to 19, and AA Fourth Level Freestyle entries increased from nine to 15.

Robust National Participation
As of October 12, USDF had sent 1,261 class invitations, of which 635 were accepted.
The 2026 Finals field includes:
• 190 Adult Amateurs with at least one entry in either a straight or freestyle championship
• 151 Open riders across the regular and freestyle Open and Jr/YR championship classes
• 61 Junior/Young Riders in the youth championship divisions

The depth of the 2026 field sets the stage for highly competitive championship classes throughout the four-day event.
The increase in championship participation coincides with a year of significant changes to the Finals qualification and entry process. The 2026 program eliminated the previous declaration and nomination processes. The top four eligible horse-and-rider combinations from each qualifying Regional Championship were automatically invited, and many minimum scores required to earn a wildcard were lowered. These changes have broadened the pathway to the national championship, with 173 wildcard invitations distributed across the nine USDF regions as per the graphic. 

Breed Award Declarations
Of the 34 breed registries offering High Score Breed Awards at the 2026 US Dressage Finals, 22 have eligible horses declared, up from 20 breed awards in 2025. Warmbloods make up the largest group, with 28 KWPNs (Dutch Warmbloods), 22 American Hanoverians, 15 Oldenburgs, and 10 Westfalens entered.

2026 Finals Breed Registries and Number of Declared Horses
1. American Hanoverian Society, 22
2. American Morgan Horse Association, 1
3. American Mustang and Burro Association, 1
4. American Quarter Horse Association, 3
5. American Rhineland Studbook, 1
6. American Trakehner Association, 2
7. American Warmblood Society and Sporthorse Registry, 4
8. Arabian Horse Association, 1
9. Canadian Warmblood Horse Breeders Association, 1
10. Gypsy Vanner Horse Society, 1
11. Holsteiner Verband – North American Breeding District, 4
12. International Andalusian and Lusitano Horse Association, 1
13. International Sporthorse Registry/Oldenburg NA, 2
14. Irish Draught Horse Society of North America, 1
15. KWPN of North America, 28
16. North American Danish Warmblood Association, 5
17. Oldenburg Horse Breeders Society/German Oldenburg Verband, 15
18. Rheinland Pfalz-Saar International, 2
19. The Jockey Club, 4
20. United States Lipizzan Federation, 1
21. US Lusitano Association, 4
22. Westfalen Verband NA, 10

Click for the full list of horses entered for the High Score Breed Awards. 

A United States Equestrian Federation (USEF)-rated competition — the USDF Fall Classic — runs alongside the 2026 US Dressage Finals. It is open to both Finals and non-Finals horses. Alongside its top-level competitions, gala evening performances on Friday and Saturday nights, competitor parties, and Halloween costume competitions, the 2026 US Dressage Finals offers a wide selection of shopping opportunities from an array of equestrian fashion, feed, equipment vendors, and more.

Championship classes will be livestreamed on USEF Network via ClipMyHorse. For more information visit the US Dressage Finals website.

Follow all the action via the USDF Facebook page, USDF Instagram page. Full results will be published live on HorseShowOffice.com. Along with presenting sponsor Adequan®, the 2026 US Dressage Finals is supported by SmartEquine and Platinum Performance. Contributing sponsors include Premier Equestrian, Sterling Thompson Equine, Schneiders, and Nutrena.