Peters, Ravel WDM Champs

By Staff Report February 1, 2012

San Diego rider Steffen Peters and Ravel successfully defended their World Dressage Masters title in Palm Beach, FL, on Jan. 28.

It was the duo’s second consecutive CDI 4* Exquis Grand Prix Freestyle win, but it wasn’t an easy victory. British challengers Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro came within five one-hundredths of a percentage point of toppling Peters from the center of the podium.

“I had a great night with Ravel, but I watched Charlotte after our ride,” Peters said afterwards. “When she came out of the ring I went over and said to her, ‘I think you’ve won it.’ It is exciting to be that close to another of the world’s top horses and riders.” Peters and Ravel ― a 14-year-old KWPN gelding owned by Akiko Yamazaki ― had received a score of 83.7%, which kept them ahead of Dujardin and Valegro by the slimmest of margins.

The British pair received 83.65% for their performance in what was Dujardin’s North American debut. Valegro is a 10-year-old KWPN gelding owned by Carl Hester and Roly Luard.

“I had a great ride,” Dujardin said. “Yesterday Valegro was a little bit too hot and I was hanging on for dear life, but he dealt with the atmosphere really well tonight.” Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfvén of Sweden rode Antonia Ax:son Johnson’s 13 year old Rheinlander gelding Favourit to 78.250% and third place from the FEI ground jury consisting of Stephen Clarke (GBR), Wim Ernes (NED), Isabelle Judet (FRA), Gary Rockwell (USA) and Lois Yukins (USA).

The top three placings were identical to the results of the Nürnberger Grand Prix on Jan. 27. Peter’s score of 81.383% that night was a personal best and the highest ever at a WDM Palm Beach grand prix. “Ravel feels even stronger than last year and more supple. It was a blast to ride,” Peters said after the Friday outing.

Saturday night’s sold out evening at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center capped the second WDM in Palm Beach, and participants enthusiastically proclaimed it a success. “This is the place in the world where it happens,” said Antonia Ax:son Johnson of Axel Johnson Group, a presenting sponsor along with the International Polo Club of Palm Beach. “We brought nine horses to Florida last year, and we found it’s the most wonderful place for horses and riders. We now have a farm of our own here and are residents in Wellington.”

“It was such a great night tonight,” said IPC Palm Beach founder John Goodman. “I think everyone from polo and the other disciplines learned a lot tonight. I’m just honored to be a part of it.”

Close to 2,000 people filled the venue to capacity to watch some of the world’s top dressage horses and riders perform their Grand Prix Freestyles to music at the richest dressage series in the world, and the only WDM event held outside of Europe.  Spectators were treated to a half time laser light show from GoodWray Productions, which also provided a live high definition video stream. An on-demand version is available at USEFNetwork.com. There is a DVD available for purchase at internationalpoloclub.com.

Results WDM Palm Beach Exquis Grand Prix Freestyle (Jan. 28, 2012)
1. Steffen Peters (USA) Ravel – 83.700%
2. Charlotte Dujardin (GBR) Valegro – 83.650%
3. Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfvén (SWE) Favourit – 78.250%
4. Carl Hester (GBR) Wie Atlantico – 74.850%
5. Anja Plönzke (GER) Le Mont d’Or – 74.800%
6. Tina Konyot (USA) Calecto V – 73.025%
7. Ashley Holzer (CAN) Breaking Dawn – 71.325%
8. Minna Telde (SWE) Deinhardt – 71.000%
Results WDM Palm Beach Nürnberger Grand Prix (Jan. 27, 2012)
1. Steffen Peters (USA) Ravel – 81.383%
2. Charlotte Dujardin (GBR) Valegro – 78.468%
3. Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven (SWE) Favourit – 73.255%
4. Adrienne Lyle (USA) Wizard – 72.149%
5. (tie) Anja Plönzke (GER) Le Mont D’Or – 71.404%
5. (tie) Ashley Holzer (CAN) Breaking Dawn – 71.404%
7. Heather Blitz (USA) Paragon – 71.000%
8. Carl Hester (GBR) Wie Atlantico De Ymas – 69.979%

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