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Steffen Peters leads the GP National Championship.

Jun 10, 2012

Steffen Peters (San Diego, CA) is a consistent winning force on the U.S. Dressage scene, in the last 12 months he scored the 2011 National Grand Prix Dressage Championship, the 2011 National Intermediaire I Dressage Championship, Team and Individual Gold at the 2011 Pan American Games, and the 2012 Exquis World Dressage Masters - Palm Beach. But none of those wins came on Legolas 92.

Four Winds Farm's 10-year-old Westphalian gelding is trying to add his own title to that list - and he got off to a great start, scoring 76.064% in the Grand Prix to lead the championship. He only arrived in December from Germany.

The scopey gelding also walked with authority, much to the relief of his rider. The flying changes continue to be a work in progress.

"What's quite difficult with him is to get him to walk as relaxed as he did today," said Peters. "But even after the walk tour he was still at 79% that is very exciting. That's the best walk and piaffe passage tour he's done so far. Unfortunately we had the mistake in the one tempis (flying change) - those are still a bit inconsistent. I'm very happy with the twos - the overall feeling was great."

Peters 2008 Olympic and 2012 World Equestrian Games veteran, Ravel, received permission to not attend the Trials based on the Selection Procedures for the Olympic Games - so Peters is taking full advantage of the opportunity to show Legolas the ropes.

National Champions abound in this division as the 2010 winners: Tina Konyot and Calecto V cruised into the runner-up spot on a score of 72.787%. 

Rounding out the top three is another Californian who made the trip worth the miles. Jan Ebeling (Moorpark, CA) and Rafalca have the strength of a long term relationship on their side - their partnership has spanned six years. The comfort level was evident in the ring.

The Grand Prix National Championship takes place over two weekends, with each of the four tests counting equally. It resumes Sunday at 8 AM. The Grand Prix National Championship takes place over two weekends, with each of the four tests counting equally. It resumes Sunday at 8 AM with the Olympic Grand Prix Special and continues June 15 and 16th.

Source dressagedaily.com