The U.S. anthem sounded after the first class, the Prix St Georges, at the 2014 CDI Fritzens, hosted at Klaus and Evelyn Haim-Swarovski's Schindlhof in the beautiful Austrian alps as the competition kicked off on Friday 4 July 2014. Steffen Peters and Akiko Yamazaki's 7-year old Rhinelander mare Rosamunde won the Prix St Georges with a whopping 75.105%.
Peters rode a very smooth PSG test with flowing trot work, a superb walk tour and an accurate canter part. He finished at the top of the leader board ahead of German top riders Dorothee Schneider and Karin Rehbein. The latter rider is ending her active career at the dressage show at Schindlhof.
Peters' victory was sweet as the American celebrated it on 4 July, America's Independence Day. U.S. champion Steffen Peters, World Cup winner in 2009 and bronze medalist at the 2010 World Equestrian Games, was very happy with his developing Prix St Georges horse Rosamunde.
“I am very pleased that I am allowed to experience Austria in the summer for the first time. So far I’ve only been here for skiing. The dressage show at Schindlhof with its unique mountain setting is a dream," the German born Peters commented.
His U.S. colleagues came to Tyrol to qualify for the World Equestrian Games in Normandy, France, in late August and for the final qualifier for U.S. team selection at the CHIO Aachen in two weeks. Only the top 2 of the U.S. Championships, i.e. Steffen Peters and Laura Graves, are already certain of a team spot. The remaining 6 U.S. riders compete for the ticket to France in the Big Tour.
The high quality of the participating athletes was obvious after the Small Tour. Stefanie Palm, last year’s winner of the Prix St. Georges, ranked sixth and best placed Austrian rider.
Photos © Max Schreiner
Related Links
Scores 2014 CDI Fritzens
Strong U.S. Contingent Heads to CDI4* Fritzens
20th Manfred Swarovski Memorial Dressage Show CDI4* at the Schindlhof in Fritzens (AUT) 4 - 6 July 2014