Dressage-News

Jan. 17, 2026

Akiko Yamazaki, the owner of five of the six horses competed in Olympics by Steffen Peters, has been presented with the annual R. Bruce Duchossois Distinguished Trustee Award by the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation.

The award to Akiko of Woodside, California was made in recognition of her role as a trustee since 2010 and as secretary of the board since 2019 while providing financial support to equestrian sport.

In addition to her support of Steffen she has a daughter who rides dressage and one who is a vaulting competitor.

She is co-chair of the foundation’s “Pathway to the Podium” campaign focused on support as the U.S. prepares for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.

“It is a true honor to be recognized along with past recipients who have contributed so much to equestrian sport in the U.S.,” Akiko said. “It is a nice way to recognize and celebrate the long journey my team had with Steffen as our rider with my horses, which included participation in the past five consecutive Olympic Games, all the World Equestrian Games and World Championships in between, and multiple World Cup Finals. The award really belongs to my team.”

Among horses owned by Akiko was Ravel on which Steffen in 2009 became only the second American to win the World Cup and two individual bronze medals at the 2010 World Equestrian Games, Suppenkasper on whom he won Tokyo Olympic and 2018 WEG silver medals and Legolas that was his 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic bronze medal and 2015 Pan American Games gold medal mount.