(L) Noreen O'Sullivan, Steffen Peters, Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven , Tina Konyot, John Goodman. Photo Credit: Lynndee Kemmet
Thousands of horses and riders converged in West Palm Beach Florida from around the world to compete once again this winter, making this season the richest and most successful season ever for Dressage in Florida. The ever-popular Wellington Classic Dressage (WCD) and Gold Coast Dressage Association (GCDA) shows at the beautiful Palm Beach County Jim Brandon Equestrian Center were joined this year by International Horse Sport Palm Beach (IHS) shows at the Equestrian Estates Horse Park. Combined, these three Dressage organizations host more than 23 weeks of competitions year-round, including 6 International CDI competitions.
The premiere event of the winter season was clearly the World Dressage Masters CDI5* Series Presented by Axel Johnson Group. The World Dressage Masters is one of the richest Dressage Series internationally, with only 4-6 shows hosted around the world, each boasting over 100,000 Euros in Prize Money (approximately $140,000). The WDM CDI5*Palm Beach Show was hosted March 9-12, 2011 by Wellington Classic Dressage, with International Polo Club as Presenting Sponsor. “We are honored to host this very prestigious show for 2011 and beyond, and to work with the WDM team and IPC to make this year’s event a resounding success,” stated John Flanagan, Managing Partner for Wellington Classic Dressage. What an honor too, that America’s top rider, Steffen Peters on Ravel, owned by Akiko Yamazaki, took home the top prize by winning the WDM Grand Prix Freestyle with a score of 84.53%, followed by Sweden’s Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven on Favourit with 77.90%, and US Rider Tina Konyot and Calecto V with 76.65%. The 2012 WDM CDI5* Palm Beach is slated for January 26th-29th, 2012.
Wellington Classic Dressage’s eleven-show series kicked off high season with the Wellington Classic Holiday Challenge in December and wrapped up the winter season with the Wellington Classic Challenge III on the 1st of May. The WCD series is held at the very popular Jim Brandon Equestrian Center, which boosts excellent footing and stabling, several competition rings, including a covered arena, riding trails and a Western Events area on over 111 acres. Gold Coast Dressage Association, the local GMO hosted their centerpiece show also at Jim Brandon, the GCDA Opener CDIW. International Horse Sport hosted Florida’s traditional favorite and longest-running CDI, the Palm Beach Dressage Derby CDIW, as well as 4 other shows at the beautiful Horse Park at Equestrian Estates in nearby Loxahatchee, which this year underwent many upgrades and improvements.
Ravel and Steffen Peters winning the 2009 FEI World Cup Dressage Final.
January 15 2010 Louisville, KY – Annually, five of the USEF’s 130,000 registered horses achieve so much in a year that they are named USEF Horses of Honor and enter the running for the title of Farnam/Platform Horse of the Year.
In 2009 all five of these horses were nothing short of remarkable.
But one forever changed the face of his sport, and with that, Ravel was voted the 2009 USEF Farnam/Platform Horse of the Year.
It began in April at the FEI World Cup Dressage Final when, with the weight of a nation on his 11-year-old shoulders, Ravel trotted back into Las Vegas’ Thomas & Mack Arena after winning the Grand Prix to perform his Freestyle.
Steffen Peters and Ravel (Photo Credit: HorseTalk.co.nz)
We caught up with Steffen Peters last weekend at a clinic in Prospect, KY and heard about how busy his life has become since his wins this year and his plans for next year with Ravel. He also shares his thoughts on Rollkur and the importance of basic training. Claartje van Andel reports from the Global Dressage Forum too where Steffen was warmly received for his riding and training. Listen in…
Steffen Sweeps! Peters and Ravel Dominate for the US at CHIO Aachen
By Joanie Morris
July 13, 2009 In an unprecedented sweep, Steffen Peters and Akiko Yamazaki’s 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood Ravel swept all three classes in the CDIO Aachen (GER): the Grand Prix, the Grand Prix Special and the Grand Prix Freestyle – further validating their Rolex/FEI World CupTM Dressage Final victory in April.
The sweep was a first for an American combination, and they did it in classic style. Their score in the finale, Sunday’s Grand Prix Freestyle, was 85.600%, more than a point clear of 2008 Olympic Gold Medalists Anky van Grunsven (NED) and IPS Salinero. They picked up 30,000 EURO for their efforts on Sunday, pushing their three-day prize money total to more than 45,000 EURO. With this win, Peters (who was born in Germany) more than realized a lifelong dream of finishing in the top three at Aachen. He achieved it, to standing ovations, with family, friends and fans in attendance to celebrate his tremendous accomplishment.
The pair will return to their base in San Diego, California with the next major goal the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games next September in Lexington, Kentucky.
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