Nichols Claims First Senior Freestyle Victory at TerraNova
With a 72.140%, the 21-year-old marks a new milestone while Eckroth climbs into Series podium position.
In only her second Grand Prix Freestyle as a senior, accomplished 21-year-old Erin Nichols earned her first international freestyle victory at TerraNova, scoring 72.140% aboard her 16-year-old KWPN gelding, Elian Royale. While this marks a new milestone at the senior level, Nichols is no stranger to the spotlight—she’s a former triple gold medalist at the North American Youth Championships and a winner of multiple international U25 classes, including freestyle victories on both sides of the Atlantic.
Nichols placed second in Friday’s Grand Prix with a 68.848%, just behind USA’s Benjamin Ebeling and Bellena (69.109%). While Ebeling opted to ride in the Grand Prix Special, it was Nichols and Eline Eckroth contesting the Freestyle the next day.
While not an overall personal best, the 72.140% is right in line with Nichols’ average across her freestyle performances—most of which came during her successful run in the Under 25 ranks. That makes this weekend’s test a senior-level personal best, and an important benchmark as she builds her résumé at the top level. Although the field was small, the win is a clear milestone for Nichols, who has her sights set on future U.S. team appearances and dreams of representing her country at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Eckroth Climbs the Leaderboard
Eckroth’s second-place finish—earned in a modestly contested class—was enough to propel her from 11th to 4th in the US Equestrian Open of Dressage standings. She edges out early-season favorite Felicitas Hendricks, who is likely returning to Germany now that the Wellington circuit has wrapped. Like Karen Lipp, currently ranked third overall, Eckroth is gaining ground through consistent 2nd- and 3rd-place finishes at smaller shows. It’s a reminder that Series points don’t always come from big wins—smart scheduling can pay off, especially with cash prizes going to the top 18 riders at the end of the qualifiers. The biggest payday, however, will come at the Finals, where those top 18 will face off in Thermal, California, this November.
Ocala Could Shake Things Up
The TerraNova weekend may have featured a small field, but it gave Nichols another career milestone to add to her already impressive resume. It also shuffled the standings in favor of Eckroth, who will compete again next weekend against third-place rider Karen Lipp at the World Equestrian Center’s CDI4* Freestyle. With the two riders only four points apart, Ocala’s outing could significantly reshape the leaderboard—potentially even knocking Germany’s Evelyn Eger out of second place.
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