Steffen Peters Seeking Selection for 2nd Olympics on USA Silver Medal Partner Suppenkasper Emphasizing Meditation as Physical Training
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June 3, 2024
By KENNETH J. BRADDICK
Steffen Peters seeking selection for his second Olympics on his silver medal partner Suppenkasper that would be the rider’s sixth for the United States is putting as much emphasis on meditation as he does on physical training.
Steffen, at the age of 59 is the oldest rider on the American short list and, if he makes the three-member team, possibly the oldest of all 60 riders that will line up at the Olympics in Paris at the end of July.
Along with six other riders on the U.S. short list to be at Hagen, Germany Tuesday to begin the final push for selection by the deadline after the Rotterdam CDIO5* the last week of June Steffen of San Diego, California and the 16-year-old KWPN nicknamed “Mopsie” owned by Akiko Yamazaki have been ranked at the top of the U.S. standings.
Adrienne Lyle, his team mate on Salvino at the silver medal performances at the Tokyo Olympics and at the World Equestrian Games in Tryon in 2018, is close behind in the standings with Helix and Lars van de Hoenderheide and Endel Ots on Bohemian–all horses owned by Heidi Humphries’ Zen Elite Equestrian Center of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida–that have made a huge impact on American dressage since their first performances wearing the Stars ‘N’ Stripes just over two months ago.
Steffen with Suppenkasper and Anna Buffini with Fiontini were delayed by about a week leaving California.
Based with Endel Ots at the German facility of Finnish star Henri Ruoste that Steffen describes as “absolutely amazing.” His first impression of Endel and Bohemian was that the pair “look great… really a wonderful pair with an exceptional piaffe.”
He continues to work with Christine Traurig that began in California–“I know in the future it’ll be a wonderful cooperation between the two of us.”
“As far as the personal training, there’s an amazing public pool here that I use in the afternoon,” Steffen said. “I swim twice, take a little break and then go again for 15-20 minutes. Afterwards I might go to the gym and by the time it’s usually dinner time at six.
“But what’s most important to me is not just physical fitness but also the mental fitness,” said Steffen who disclosed in 2019 he had struggled with mental issues as he prepared for his fifth Olympics.
“Between the swimming sections I spend at least 30 minutes of pure meditation where everything disappears–the Olympics disappear, time disappears, my ego disappears, and I simply enjoy the moment of being still.
“That’s something I learned unfortunately way too late, but the meditation now means just as much to me as the training with Mopsie.
“And I’m looking forward to see everyone Tuesday. The Americans are known for watching each other at a show. Everybody will be there when somebody competes. I’m looking forward to the support and it’ll be, I think, a wonderful show.”
