The Four Winds Farm FEI Grand Prix Special, presented by Tex Sutton Equine Air Transport kicked off the final day of the Adequan® Desert Dressage I CDIW, presented by Buffini & Company. Eight horse and rider duos illustrated their abilities at the Desert International Horse Park in Thermal, CA, to the judges and it was Steffen Peters (USA) aboard Suppenkasper who emerged victorious with a score of 76.149% to earn the top placing.
Second place was presented to Anna Buffini (USA) aboard her thirteen year old Hannovarian mare FRH Davinia La Douce (Don Frederico x A Jungle Prince), with a score of 70.319%. The third place ribbon was awarded to Dawn White-O’Connor (USA) and Bailarino (Breitling W x De Niro 6), a twelve year old Oldenberg gelding owned by Four Winds Farm, with a score of 68.106%.
Peters’ mount Suppenkasper, better known as Mopsie, is a twelve year old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Spielberg out of Ips Krack C and owned by Four Winds Farm. In their four years together, Peters and Mopsie have competed all over the world and have an impressive resume of title wins under their belt.
“I appreciate every single day the fact that our horses just do it. For us to get on and do our routine. Some days they might be a little muscle sore but having a horse that simply just goes in and does the job every single time,” expressed Peters. “I still appreciate every single time I have a horse on a loose rein and they are stretching and turning exactly the way I want. I never forget how incredible that is.”
As a well respected Olympian and equestrian, Peters understands the standard at which these horses are asked to perform at. It is not just in the show arena that riders ask horses to perform their best, but during training as well. Peters builds quality relationships with all his horses to determine the best suited training schedules.
“You don’t do all the movements of the Grand Prix everyday but if you do a movement, you perform it as if you are at the Olympic Games. You do it 100% or you don’t do a movement,” Peters continued. “You work a lot on this whole idea on what the Grand Prix is based on because you need so much energy but, on the flip side, this extreme relaxation in the collected walk, extended walk and that relaxation before the piaffe. Then they need to be super fired up for the piaffe passage. Constantly at home working on getting them confidently energetic but more important, relaxed.That is what it is all about. Getting that energy when you really need it but having that pure relaxation that is even more important.”
For full results from the show, click here.
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