Dressage-News

THERMAL, California, Feb. 18, 2022–Steffen Peters competed Suppenkasper for the first time since the Olympic team silver medal performance seven months ago to easily post the highest American Grand Prix score in qualifying so far for the world championships.

Steffen and the 14-year-old KWPN gelding (Spielberg x IPS Krack C) were awarded 76.652% in the Desert Dressage CDI3* that met his goal of beating his Olympic Grand Prix score of 76.196%.

Canada’s Shelley Lawder of Langley, British Columbia and Zaouira was the only other competitor and scored 67.587% in the first Big Tour competition for the partnership.

“I’m very happy with Mopsie today,” Steffen told dressage-news.com. “He felt great.

“I talked to several judges and all of them thought the piaffe is getting better, getting straighter. Overall, a very clean test.

“The highlights were the relaxed collected walk, a much better reinback and clearly improved piaffe.

“We still have lots of energy, horse and rider are fit. I think he’s in really good shape for this year.”

Asked by someone if his relationship with Suppenkasper had changed since Tokyo, he replied: “Yes, I love him even more.”

Steffen of San Diego, California and Suppenkasper were the first of the three Olympic silver medal team combinations to compete in qualifyiong competitions for the U.S. squad for the world championships in Herning, Denmark in August. Adrienne Lyle of Wellington, Florida and Salvino are in the lineup for the CDI5* at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center next week. Sabine Schut-Kery of San Marco, California has not yet decided on her first start on Sanceo since Tokyo.

Results:

CDI3* Grand Prix