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Steffen Peters and Floriano Win Collecting Gaits Farm / USEF National Grand Prix Championship / World Equestrian Games Selection Trials at USET Foundation Dressage Festival of Champions presented by Paul Miller, Inc. at Gladstone
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Mary Hilton for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
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PHOTO CAPTION: Steffen Peters and Floriano won the Collecting Gaits Farm / USEF National Grand Prix Championship / World Equestrian Games Selection Trials at the USET Dressage Festival of Champions presented by Paul Miller, Inc. at Gladstone. PHOTO CREDIT: SusanJStickle.com
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Steffen Peters and Floriano Win Collecting Gaits Farm / USEF National Grand Prix Championship / World Equestrian Games Selection Trials at USET Foundation Dressage Festival of Champions presented by Paul Miller, Inc. at Gladstone
GLADSTONE, NJ – June 18, 2006 – Steffen Peters of San Diego, California, riding Floriano (Floristan x Wichita), a 16-year-old chestnut Westphalian gelding owned by Laurelyn Browning, dominated all three rounds of competition in the Collecting Gaits Farm / USEF National Grand Prix Championship / World Equestrian Games Selection Trials and clinched the title today with a commanding score of 83.250% in the USEF Grand Prix Freestyle. Peters’ hat-trick of victories included the USEF Grand Prix (74.5%) and the Grand Prix Special (77.24%), weighted 45% and 35% respectively. Combined with his score today that counted for 20%, Peters and Floriano earned the overall total of 77.209%. The triple win weekend also resulted in Peters and Floriano finishing as the first-placed rider/horse combination in the World Equestrian Games (WEG) Selection Trials, and they will be members of the United States dressage team that will compete at the WEG in Aachen, Germany (August 20 through September 3).
The Collecting Gaits Farm / USEF National Grand Prix Championship / World Equestrian Games Selection Trials were held June 15-18 at the USET Foundation Dressage Festival of Champions presented by Paul Miller, Inc. at Gladstone, New Jersey. The 12 highest-ranked Grand Prix horse/rider combinations qualified from across the nation to compete.
Peters’ acknowledged that coming into the competition, based on his recent shows, he did not expect the clean sweep. “I obviously felt very good after the Grand Prix, but I learned that you never want to be too confident. I went into the Special risking a lot and riding as if I hadn’t won the Grand Prix,” he revealed. “Today, it obviously felt good. There was a little bit more of a difference between Guenter [Seidel] and Leslie [Morse] so I came in a little bit more relaxed, that’s for sure. I was so very happy that Floriano had so much energy and that he felt 100% healthy. With a 16-year-old horse, that’s obviously a priority.” Relishing his undefeated three days of competition, Peters grinned, “Nobody ever camped on Mt. Everest but in the meantime I’m going to enjoy the view.”
Terri Gallo of Klassic Kur created the music for Peters’ freestyle, which includes instrumentals of “Can’t Stop Thinking About Tomorrow” and John Lennon’s “Imagine.” Peters created the choreography after the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, where he was an alternate on the team. “It was recorded in a studio, it’s very customized,” he explained. “There’s no room for error. Every single second has to be exactly where it needs to be. Some freestyles have a little bit more room for improvisation, this one doesn’t. That makes it very difficult and it becomes very obvious when you’re not with the music. But today every single movement changed when the music changed.” Peters noted that his horse’s rhythm was right with the music most of the ride and that he did not have to do any improvising during the test.
In addition to the Athens Olympics, Peters was a member of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics Bronze Medal Team and has participated on two U.S. teams at the World Equestrian Festival, CHIO Aachen (2004 and 2005).
Seidel Named Reserve Champion and WEG Team Member
Guenter Seidel of Cardiff, California, and Aragon (Abydos x La Sabina), a 14-year-old gray Bavarian warmblood gelding owned by Richard and Jane Brown, earned 77.600% in the USEF Grand Prix Freestyle today for fourth place, but combined with their second-placed finishes in the USEF Grand Prix (71.583%) and the USEF Grand Prix Special (73.320%), the duo earned an overall total score of 73.394% and were named the Reserve Champions in the Collecting Gaits Farm / USEF National Grand Prix Championship / World Equestrian Games Selection Trials. As the second-highest placed rider/horse in the competition, Seidel and Aragon have also been named to the U.S. dressage team for the WEG.
Seidel’s freestyle featured music from “Evita” created by Terri Gallo of Klassic Kur. There were obvious errors, such as rearing slightly in the piaffe, but Seidel acknowledged that he was happy with the test. The championship/trials was only the second time Seidel and Aragon had exhibited their kur. He plans to make adjustments in the choreography before the WEG. “A few little things, just in the timing – a few small little changes,” he said. Seidel said he spoke with Gallo immediately after the competition and had already decided to “take a few beats out after the first pirouette, but it will mostly stay the same.” Seidel admitted that he had expected Aragon to perform better overall in the competition. “He’s doing well,” Seidel said, but noted, “He’s not as good here as I expected him to be, but it was good enough. I know he can do better than this, so I’m hoping he’ll peak in a month when we’re in Europe.”
Leslie Morse of Beverly Hills, California, and her 12-year-old bay Swedish warmblood stallion Tip Top 962 (Master 850 x Horsia) claimed second place today in the USEF Grand Prix Freestyle with a score of 79.100%. Morse tied for second with Seidel in the USEF Grand Prix (71.583%) and finished third in the USEF Grand Prix Special (72.00%), which combined with today’s placing put them in third place overall in the championship/trials with a total of 73.232%.
Morse was riding her newly re-designed freestyle for the first time. “The choreography I absolutely love. The decision to make the changes was very smart. Yes, it was very risky but I love my music and I knew actually in my heart, this is the right thing to do,” Morse said. “The changes had to be made so why not start now and perfect that? I have two months to get really comfortable and secure with it, but I think this is going to be my freestyle.” Morse explained that she kept the music for her walk, trot, and canter tours that she has been using for some time, but re-cut it. “I knew the music was good so it didn’t matter where I was in the ring. It was amazing that right up until the end I was right on. In the end I got a little bit behind. Overall it worked out great – I could hear it and feel it and it worked. It just goes with him.”
Arlene “Tuny” Page of Wellington, Florida, with her 10-year-old bay Hanoverian gelding Wild One (Wanderer x Graefin) placed third in today’s freestyle with a score of 77.950%. The duo produced a fluid, elegant, bobble-free test to rockin’ American oldies – the same freestyle that they exhibited at the 2006 World Cup Dressage Final in The Netherlands. Page and Wild One placed fourth in the USEF Grand Prix (70.792%) and fifth in the USEF Grand Prix Special (69.360%). With today’s score added, the duo completed the championship/trials in the fourth place slot, earning an overall total of 71.722%.
Marilyn Adams, USEF Director of Dressage, explained that the top two horse/rider combinations from the trials (Peters and Seidel) will compete at the WEG and can only be removed from the team because of documented injury or illness to the rider or horse. Four additional rider/horse combinations will be named to the Short List. The final team of four who will represent that United States at the WEG will be named on August 15.
Riders under consideration for the Short List include three combinations that did not compete in the Selection Trials. These athletes submitted Letters of Special Consideration in order to be considered as part of the Short List; they are Leslie Morse and Kingston; Debbie McDonald with Brentina, who were members of the 2004 Athens Olympics Bronze Medal Team, won the 2003 Dressage World Cup Final, and were members of the 2002 World Equestrian Games Silver Medal Team; and Catherine Haddad with her horse Maximus, a duo that has been competing successfully in Europe.
In determining the four riders to add to the Short List, the Dressage Selectors will look at several criteria including the Selection Trials results. “We had a wonderful competition here and they can also look at the qualifying competitions coming into these Selection Trials,” noted Adams. Another special consideration is made for a rider/horse combination that has contributed to a team medal at the World Championships, Olympic Games or placed in the top six at a World Cup Finals. The Selectors Committee will approve the Short List by June 26.
Procedures allow for the Short-Listed riders to go to Europe, starting June 19 if they choose, and to train and compete there until August at competitions the committee has approved. The top two are allowed to ride in a national competition or in a final CDI 3* at Verden, Germany, and then go on to the World Equestrian Games.
The U.S. coach, Klaus Balkenhol, who is based in Germany, will train and assess the combinations as the WEG approaches. “Klaus will work with the athletes and watch the horses and make his determination as to the best plan for each combination,” explained Adams. “It’s a good plan because the athletes can go over when they’re comfortable.”
Steffen Peters said that his plan to prepare for the WEG would be to follow the recommendations made by Adams and Balkenhol, but noted that Floriano could go straight to Aachen as he did in 2005 for the CHIO. “He’s been in the show ring many times. I feel pretty confident that we could do that but if Klaus and Marilyn decide that I should do another show, I’ll do so,” Peters stated. His plan is to return to California on June 20, rest his horse for a week, train lightly for two weeks, and travel to Verden if required. He expects to be in Europe by approximately July 20. “If we don’t need to do Verden, then I would like to be in Europe about two weeks prior to the World Games,” Peters said.
Seidel explained that he and Aragon would return to California and that his preparation plan was similar to the one Peters had mapped out. .
Morse said that she has not committed to a plan yet, but that because her mount is a stallion she has to factor in the 58-day quarantine restrictions traveling to Europe. “Tip Top will be staying in this area, and I will go home for a short break,” said the Californian. “He deserves some trail rides. I’ll come back and we’ll count back the 58 days and give us some extra leeway.”
Page also agreed that her plans would be similar to Peters’. “There are two bosses here that I won’t outright defer to, but I certainly will take in their comments and consideration and make a plan,” she stated, referring to Adams and Balkenhol. “My horse is younger and he needs to develop strength, so he needs a little bit of mileage in the ring, unlike some of the more experienced horses. So for my horse it might make a little more sense to go a little bit earlier. I certainly plan on doing Verden.”
Coach Balkenhol attended the Collecting Gaits Farm / USEF National Grand Prix Championship / World Equestrian Games Selection Trials at Gladstone and commented (in German) on the athletes and the competition. Gil Merrick, USEF Director of Dressage Sport Programs, acted as his translator. Balkenhol acknowledged that he was encouraged by this weekend about the team the U.S. would send to Aachen. He said that the riders improved day by day and that it’s obvious that they don’t have enough competitions here in the states to get the experience they need. He was pleased with all of the horses in the freestyle today and said that the riders that are in contention to be placed on the team showed some difficult technical movements and performed them very well. They have a number of weeks before the World Championships and can work at home to get ready for that. Balkenhol said the riders at Gladstone are world-class. They have experience and they know what they need to do in the next weeks to be ready for the WEG. Balkenhol pointed out that they have a way for everyone to stay in communication during these next weeks so if any small problems show up, they can handle them and everybody will be in great shape for the World Equestrian Games.
Officiating today for the USEF Grand Prix Freestyle were the four USA “I” judges: Hilda Gurney (E), Anne Gribbons (C), Janet Foy (M), and Jessica Ransehousen (B). The foreign judge and president of the ground jury, Uwe Mechlem “O” of Germany officiated at H.
The non-profit United States Equestrian Team Foundation supports the competition, training, coaching, travel and educational needs of America’s elite and developing international, high-performance athletes and horses in partnership with the United States Equestrian Federation. For more information about the USET Foundation or to make a donation, please call (908) 234-1251 or visit its website at www.uset.org
PHOTO CAPTION: Steffen Peters and Floriano won the Collecting Gaits Farm / USEF National Grand Prix Championship / World Equestrian Games Selection Trials at the USET Dressage Festival of Champions presented by Paul Miller, Inc. at Gladstone. PHOTO CREDIT: SusanJStickle.com
