Homeside hero Steffen Peters arrived in Wellington, Florida on Saturday evening in preparation for the 2012 World Dressage Masters in Palm Beach set for next weekend. Ravel, Akiko Yamazaki's 14-year old KWPN gelding with which Peters swept to WDM victory in both the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Freestyle last March, arrived by air from California on Thursday.
While in Florida, Peters is based at Two Swans Farm, the home of WDM Palm Beach Ambassador Carol Cohen. Peters is a familiar face at Two Swans Farm, both as a guest with Ravel during all three previous WDM Palm Beach events, and as a regular clinician.
"This is Ravel's and Steffen's home away from home," said Cohen. "When Steffen and his wife Shannon come to Wellington for clinics, we host them here. They are like family to us." Peters has come to Florida on his own this time. Shannon Peters, who is normally her husband's 'eyes on the ground' in training, has remained at home in San Diego.
"Shannon is taking care of the gang at home," said Peters. "She is also riding my new Grand Prix horse Legolas. I don't have to twist Shannon's arm too hard to do that," he added with a laugh. Instead, he will rely on the guidance of US Dressage Team Chef d'Equipe Anne Gribbons while in Florida.
Peters, who won last year's WDM Palm Beach with personal best scores that reached well over 80%, hopes to defend his title against a strong international field that includes two members of the 2011 European Dressage Championship gold medal-winning team from Great Britain, Charlotte Dujardin and Carl Hester. Dujardin will ride her European Championship horse Valegro at the WDM Palm Beach. Valegro's meteoric rise to the top echelons of international dressage has not gone unnoticed by Peters.
"I'm excited for the sport that there is another contender for the WDM title, because that is always good for the sport," said Peters. "The great thing is, Ravel is doing even better than last year."
Ravel competed for the first time this year in California a week ago, achieving a winning score of 80.426%. Asked if he expected to improve on his career topping score of 80.87% in the Grand Prix test at last year's WDM Palm Beach, Peters said, "Any time you pass the 80% mark, you wonder if you should push it any more. I didn't take any risks last weekend but still scored over 80%. If Ravel goes that way again here I will be extremely happy."
Peters and Ravel will remain at Two Swans Farm until the morning of Thursday, January 26th, when they will arrive at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center for the FEI horse inspection. The four European horses which arrived in Miami on Friday evening will be released from quarantine and shipped to the competition venue later today. The remaining WDM entries are already in Florida, including Favourit, the horse that finished second to Peters in the WDM Palm Beach Grand Prix Freestyle last year. His rider, Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven of Sweden, has based her horses in South Florida for the second winter to take advantage of the ideal climate and large number CDIs that are concentrated in a very small area.
The last competitor to have confirmed her participation in the 2012 WDM Palm Beach is Canada's Victoria Winter with Proton. Winter, a double bronze medalist at the 1995 Pan Am Games, was a member of the Canadian Dressage Team at the 2010 World Equestrian Games with Proton.
A total of 15 horses and riders from six countries will compete for €100,000 ($130,000) at the only WDM event to take place outside of Europe. The WDM presented by Axel Johnson Group is the world's richest and most prestigious dressage series. The WDM Palm Beach, whose presenting sponsor IPC Palm Beach saved the event from extinction last year when its former sponsor suddenly pulled out, is the only five star CDI to take place annually in North America.
-- WDM Press release
Related Link
List of Competitors for 2012 World Dressage Masters Palm Beach