Shannon Peters' Flor de Selva Passed Away

Dressage

U.S.A.

Shannon Peters' international Grand Prix horse Flor de Selva has passed away. He was 25 years old.

Flor de Selva was a 2000 born Westfalian by Florestan out of Baronin (by Bormio xx x Winner x Argwohn). He was bred by Norbert Borgmann.

PSI Auction Horse

He was a full brother to the international Grand Prix horse Fleetwood (Malin Hamilton), the licensed stallion Falcone Vero, and the small tour horse Feininger (Jessica Blackmore)

He sold as a 4-year old at the 2004 PSI Auction for 350,000 euro after a tough bidding duel between American Tim Dutta and Dutch Peter van de Zwan. The latter held the final bid, but in the end he did not walk away as owner of the horse.

Later on, the chestnut sold privately to American investor Laurelyn Browning, whose son Stephen briefly rode dressage at the time. They had also purchased San Rubin (by Sandro Hit x Rubinstein) at the same auction for 260,000 euro.

Flor de Selva initially stayed in Germany and Eva Möller competed him in the 2005 Bundeschampionate qualifiers in Haftenkamp and Hamm. However it was Ulf Möller who rode him at the 2005 Bundeschampionate in Warendorf, where they finished 8th in the 5-year old finals. Browning's other PSI auction purchase San Rubin won the title in the same class.

Shannon Peters

The horse then moved to California and came in training with Shannon Peters.

She premiered him at first level in January 2006, moved him from second to fourth level in 2007. They performed their first Prix St Georges level test at the Mid Winter Dressage Fair in February 2008 and competed intensively at small tour level through 2009. They came in 6th on the ranking heading to the 2009 U.S. Intermediaire I Championships, where she ended up fourth overall.

Lyme's Disease

The pair showed in two Intermediaire II classes in April 2010 after which a long break from showing followed.

In Gladstone, Flor de Selva contracted Lyme's disease which went undiagnosed for a year and a half. He developed a lot of inflammation in that period, Cushings disease, and battled through four bouts of laminitis. He required much health management but recovered to come back in sport. Peters took over ownership of Flor de Selva in that time.

The pair returned for one more national show at Grand Prix level at Del Mar in April 2015.

Shannon credited Flor de Selva as the most talented horse she has ever ridden. In 2013 she said, "the reason why Flor De Selva was my greatest ever horse to train, was because if it were possible for a horse to offer 150% every day, he would do it."

Retirement

Flor de Selva was retired from competition sport after Del Mar.

On 17 February 2025 Shannon announced the passing of the gelding.

"Squishy , THE OG to everyone who knew him, was sent to gallop peacefully with the angels today," she wrote. "I am heartbroken. He was the funniest and most naturally talented horse I have ever trained. He touched the hearts and souls of everyone he met. Fly free and without pain Squish, you were a king to all who knew you , til the last minute you graced our presence."