Steffen Peters on Competition Hiatus to Invest Time in Himself

Dressage

U.S.A.

Six-time U.S. Olympian Steffen Peters has announced he'll be on a hiatus from competition sport as he deals with neuropathy.

The 60-year old, who disclosed five years ago his struggles with mental health issues and depression, told Dressage-News that he is currently not preparing for a next major championship.

Highly Decorated

The German born and San Diego based Steffen Peters first competed at the Olympics in Atlanta in 1996 and has been a consistent U.S. Olympic team member since 2008 in Hong Kong, where he achieved his best ever result on Ravel (4th). Sponsored by Akiko Yamazaki he was 17th on Ravel in London 2012, 12th on Legolas in Rio 2016; 10th on Suppenkasper in Tokyo 2021 and 51st in the GP on Suppenkasper in Paris 2024. He won Olympic team silver and double team bronze.

He rode four World Equestrian Games for silver and bronze team medals and two individual bronzes, he was the World Cup winner in 2009. He won two team and two individual Pan American Games golds.

Neuropathy

After the Paris Olympics, Suppenkasper was retired from sport and his new Olympic hopeful, Lombard, has been allocated to Niki Clarke.

In an interview with Dressage-News Peters explained that physical exercise and meditation kept him mentally going the last five years, but now he is struggling with neuropathy, which is damage or dysfunction of the peripheral nerves. It can cause symptoms like weakness, numbness, and pain, particularly in the hands and feet.

“Big life changes at the moment,” he told dressage-news.com. “I am simply investing time in myself, and I’m still enjoying the clinics; I usually do two a month, but I’m spending a little bit more time in between taking care of myself, especially of my nervous system."

On A Break, Still Teaching

Peters added, "it’s pretty simple after exactly 50 years of the show arena. I started when I was 10 years old now I’m 60. It’s only normal that eventually, your body and your nervous system says, ‘Wait a minute! This has been a ton of pressure for 50 years. Maybe it’s time to take a little break’. That’s exactly what I’m doing.”

Peters recently taught a Masterclass at the Pacific League World Cup final in Werribee, Australia.

Peters expressed that he has not retired from riding, but is investing time in himself.

"I’m very fortunate that I have no structural damage in my body from riding. But my nervous system took a hit and that’s what I’m taking care of right now," he explained. "Another thing that I’m guilty off of not taking care of during competition years, this whole idea of decompressing that I never took seriously enough. I enjoyed my hobbies, but I simply didn’t take care enough and listen to my nervous system. I truly believe in meditating. I know that the mind is very powerful and it can heal."

Read the full interview on Dressage-News