Dressage Horseman Of The Year: Steffen Peters

Steffen Peters couldn’t have asked for much more from 2008. He won every U.S. Grand Prix he entered with Ravel. He took home the Collecting Gaits Farm/U.S. Equestrian Federation Grand Prix Championship. He was the highest-placed U.S. dressage rider at the Olympic Games in Hong Kong and narrowly missed an individual medal.

While these accolades would certainly be enough to make him the Chronicle’s Dressage Horseman of the Year, they’re only the latest in a long line of accomplishments that prove Peters is dominating U.S. dressage.

What is it about Peters that lands him at the top time after time? Certainly his natural talent and fierce competitive spirit play a role. And then there are the three “Cs” that rule his life—calmness, consistency and clarity.

“There’s a method that’s very clear, especially after you’ve been riding with him for a while. To me it feels like it’s one of the fairest systems to the horse,” said Akiko Yamazaki, who owns Ravel and trains with Peters. “It’s black and white; there’s no gray zone. You expect a lot from the horse, but you’re clear about what you’re expecting.”

“He showed me the next level of expectation from the horses. It’s not just passage, it’s the best passage you can get out of the horse,” said Courtney King-Dye, who has ridden with Peters as a student and an Olympic teammate. “He’s so quiet. Even when he’s very strong with the horses, it’s never wild. He has so much control over his body. He can be very clear and strong without making a big deal. It’s just that quiet focus that makes him really special, along with the timing.”

The consummate professional, Peters’ quiet, consistent demeanor reaches beyond the horses into every aspect of his life.

“The way he treats his horses and the way he trains his horses permeates through his whole existence. The relationship you have with Steffen is a very easy, clear and pleasant experience,” said Yamazaki.

And the proof that his methods work is never more obvious than in a pressure-cooker situation like the Olympic Games.

“He plays the game at the highest level,” said Gil Merrick, who was the U.S. dressage team leader for the 2006 World Equestrian Games and the 2008 Olympic Games. “Steffen’s a master at managing everything around him so he’s totally focused on the horse and the training. There’s an aura of calm around him. Every single detail is managed. There’s so much order around the management of the horse, the management of the groom, the management of the equipment, managing the owner’s needs. He has all the pieces thought through.”