Mar. 5, 2024
By KENNETH J. BRADDICK
Steffen Peters to return to the show arena in Del Mar, California in two weeks for the six-time Olympian’s first competition since the Paris Games in 2024.
Steffen, based in San Diego, California will compete Sir Ruffo, a 10-year-old Oldenburg gelding at Prix St. Georges in the national competition Mar. 20-23.
Steffen, 61, confirmed to DRESSAGE-NEWS.com of the ride on Sir Ruffo, owned by Lezlie Rehagen of Chicago.
Sir Ruffo (Sir Donnerhall I x Rubin Royal OLD) was bred by Unai Agirre in Spain and competed there successfully at the ages of six and seven by Spanish rider Diego Martinez.
“What a horse,” Diego has exclaimed on social media of Sir Ruffo. “This one makes the journey really, really exciting.”
Steffen has battled with health issues in recent years, including a nerve affliction that led to giving up riding for a year after the Paris Olympics. However, with both physical and mental recovery programs at his San Diego home he has restored his health sufficiently not only to return to riding but to provide riding clinics across the country.
He’s waiting to find out how he and Sir Ruffo perform at Del Mar before discussing plans with the owner.
The situation is similar to other American riders such as Adrienne Lyle, Kasey Perry-Glass and Laura Graves who have horses at or with the potential to be Grand Prix that could join Christian Simonson on Indian Rock and Marcus Orlob on Jane at international top sport.
The United States as host of the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles has the luxury of not having to qualify at the World Championships in Aachen, Germany in August or the Pan American Games next year to field a team in Los Angeles.
Steffen’s first Olympics for USA was on his Udon in Atlanta in 1996, followed by Ravel at the Beijing Games in 2008 and London in 2012, on Legolas at Rio de Janeiro in 2018 and on Suppenkasper in Tokyo and Paris. In addition to the teams earning a silver and two bronze medals at those Olympics and was World Cup champion in 2009.
