Steffen Peters and Suppenkasper Top the Competition in the FEI Grand Prix CDI3*, Sponsored by Elizabeth Keadle

by | Nov 14, 2020 | Dressage, Press Release | 0 comments

Photo © ESI Photography

For Immediate Release:

THERMAL, Calif. – November 13, 2020 – Competition finished Friday afternoon at the inaugural Adequan® Desert Dressage I CDI, presented by Buffini & Company with the FEI Grand Prix CDI3*, sponsored by Elizabeth Keadle, held in the Grand Prix Stadium. A field of eleven horse and rider pairs demonstrated their capabilities to the judges and it was Steffen Peters (USA) and Suppenkasper who rode to the top with an impeccable score of 77.413% and earned the blue ribbon. 

Second place was awarded to Anna Buffini (USA) aboard her own mount FRH Davinia La Douce (Don Frederico x A Jungle Prince), a thirteen year old Hannovarian mare, with a score of 68.565%. Rounding out the top three was Guenter Seidel aboard Louise Leatherdale’s Equirelle (Florett As x Donnerhall), an eleven year old Dutch Warmblood mare, with a score of 68.261%.

Suppenkasper (Spielberg x Ips Krack C) is a twelve year old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Four Winds Farm. The pair has acquired multiple titles with their time together including wins at the FEI World Equestrian Games in Tryon, North Carolina. 

“Mopsie and I have been together for almost four years now. It was a bit of a rough start, we started out in the lower 70% and slowly worked our season up a bit more every year, especially last year in Florida,” explained Peters. “He looked very promising. He made the team for the Olympic Games that didn’t happen. I felt like Mopsie and I needed at least another year to polish things off and mature. Not just Mopsie, but myself too. I can’t help but think he will be even better next year.”

Peters and Suppenkasper performed an immaculate test and laid down a bold performance in the court, showcasing their talents as a single unit and Suppenkasper’s energy and power during each movement. Despite a shortened season, Peters was happy to have more time to mature with his mount before they, hopefully, represent the United States at the Olympics in the coming year. 

“It simply gave us more time. Mopsie is a very energetic horse and always wants to go, sometimes wants to go too much. That shows in the extended trot and extended canter. It also shows in the piaffe and passage, he tries sometimes so hard,” Peters articulated. “What used to happen, he would get so excited in the passage that he would, once in a while, be uneven behind. One hind leg would do a passage for a 9 score and the other for a 6 score. Unfortunately, that doesn’t average out for a 7 score. The piaffe is still a little difficult when he tries too hard. He would sway sometimes in front and I practiced that quite a bit in a two-point at the end of our warm up to just make sure that he understands the piaffe is a part of relaxation. He is finally understanding that to the point where I can ask him for more in the piaffe. Before it was always saying a little prayer and being super careful, not touching him, kind of hoping that things would work out in the piaffe. Now I can ride it and be a bit more in charge of it.” 

Despite competing in a national competition two months ago, this is the pair’s first major competition back since the break due to coronavirus. This is also the first time competing at the Desert International Horse Park together. 

“We arrived two days ago and I drove around with my mouth open. The last time we were here was about seven or eight years ago and I just couldn’t believe how much was improved and the resources that were put into this place. It is absolutely beautiful,” Peters expressed. “That arena, truly, I am not exaggerating, has Olympic quality. When you come in with the big gate and the spectators where they are, that has Olympic quality. I cannot wait and hope that maybe one day something really big will happen here.”

Peters and Suppenkasper will go to Florida for the winter to compete in more Olympic qualifiers as well as a Nation’s Cup before they are told if they have earned a well deserved spot on the Olympic team and embark on that journey. 

For full results from the class, click here.

 

About the Desert International Horse Park

With nearly 1.3 million square feet of competition and riding space, the Desert International Horse Park is one of the largest equestrian facilities in North America. Offering multiple weeks of world-class equestrian competition from October through March, the facility is a destination location for thousands of equestrians, their horses, family and friends for several months annually. Competitors from all over the world travel to Thermal, CA to not only compete but to enjoy everything the desert has to offer.