There’s a little extra something that separates a great Grand Prix horse from a world-beater, and, for Floriano, that something is heart. Three fantastic gaits, dynamic half-passes and impeccable canter pirouettes certainly help, but it’s Floriano’s desire to perform to his utmost for Steffen Peters that made him the top U.S. dressage horse at the FEI World Equestrian Games (Germany) and brought him within a fraction of an individual medal.

“He’s simply got the best possible work ethic any horse could have,” stated Peters.

Floriano exceeded Peters’ expectations in 2006. The pair swept the Collecting Gaits Farm/U.S. Equestrian Federation National Grand Prix Championship (N.J.), winning every class and finishing on a high of 83 percent in the freestyle. “We thought those were the best three tests the horse had ever done,” said Steffen’s wife Shannon.

Steffen merely hoped to maintain that level of performance, but he actually improved by finishing fourth in the Grand Prix Special at the WEG.

“The atmosphere at the World Games just takes it up a notch for most horses, and with 50,000 people watching and the atmosphere of Aachen–I think it was the right time for that horse,” said Shannon.

Steffen credited the achievements of the prior year for building a strong foundation. “I think it started with the [FEI World Cup Final] in Las Vegas last year where things went really well. [He won the national Grand Prix, held in conjunction with the World Cup.] I think that was a big breakthrough for Floriano,” he said. “From there on he did really well [at the Aachen CHIO (Germany)] last year.” Steffen and Floriano were also the alternates for the 2004 Athens Olympics.

But it took more than a few good shows to bring out the best in Floriano. Steffen began riding the talented gelding in 2003. Melanie Pai imported him to her Caanan Ranch outside of Houston, Texas, from Germany a year earlier, where he had been trained in the Grand Prix movements. “From the first moment I saw ‘Flori’ in the arena I knew he was an amazing horse,” said Pai. “After spending time with him on the crossties, I fell in love.”

Pai wanted a rider of international caliber to bring out the best in Floriano, so she invited Steffen to sit on him. He accepted the ride immediately, but it would take a carefully planned training program combined with a strong bond between horse and rider to move Floriano from green Grand Prix mount in 2004 to world-class just two years later.

Stephen and Laurelyn Browning bought Floriano shortly after the 2005 FEI World Cup Final (Nev.). In the early days Floriano would stand straight up on his hind legs when he got overwhelmed, and he’s still very capable of showing off his athleticism in the awards ceremonies with wild leaps.

“It was never because he wasn’t willing to work. It was simply that he tried too hard and he boiled over,” said Steffen. “We started out with the first Grand Prix, a 61, a 62 percent because I rode him so carefully and didn’t ask for much in the beginning. Even in the training there were many days where I looked at the videotape, and I didn’t see a whole lot of expression. I didn’t see that the hind legs were very engaged, but Floriano was happy.”

Steffen progressed with Floriano by asking for a few more steps of piaffe or passage when he knew the horse was comfortable, but he always followed up with rising trot and relaxing work.

“I think because of that routine, asking him to put a lot of effort and expression into his work, and relaxing him immediately afterward, switching back and forth, that was the formula and the recipe to get him to trust me and to get him to perform as he did this year,” said Steffen. “Now he can easily handle the collected work for 15 to 20 minutes, but that’s about it. He still needs the relaxation work in between.”

While Floriano may be hot in the ring, he’s the quietest, gentlest horse in the stable. “We all call him Grandpa on the ground because nothing could bother the horse,” said Shannon. “You’d never think under saddle that he’s electric as he is.”

Floriano’s stall is next to the crossties in the barn, and he has 24-hour access to an outside paddock. Steffen rides him five days a week and his groom, Lientje Schueler, hand walks him once or twice a day for 20 minutes at a time.

“He’s an easy horse,” said Schueler. “He stands wherever you leave him. You could leave the stall door open, and he wouldn’t go anywhere. He’s like a big Golden Retriever to hand walk. He would like to be a dog and go curl up by the fireplace with Shannon and Steffen.”

Floriano’s bond with people is obvious to those around him. “He’s very affectionate,” said Shannon. “He always knows when Steffen’s at the barn and always looks for him. He’ll come out to find Steffen when he hears his voice.”

He also appreciates his caregivers. “He loves to hang out with people,” said Schueler. “He has a strong bond with his owner, Laurie. She takes him for grass. Sometimes after hand walking he puts his head down and doesn’t want to go back into his stall.”

Floriano turned 17 in 2007, so his competitive career may be drawing to a close. “I always let the horse tell me,” said Steffen. “If he can keep the performance level in the show arena that he had in Aachen, then I will compete him again. If that’s not the case, then he will be retired.”


Personal Profile
Description: Chestnut, gelding, 17, Westphalian (Florestan I–Wichita).

Owner: Laurelyn and Stephen Browning.

Rider: Steffen Peters.

Home: With Peters in San Diego, Calif.

What He Eats: Triple Crown Complete and Natural Glo Rice Bran.

Quirks: “He holds his left front leg up and points with his head for what he wants,” said Lientje Schueler. “He loves attention, but he’s very polite.”

His Soundness Secret: “He has free access to his paddock. He can go in or out any time he likes,” said Peters. “Especially with an older horse, I always think motion is lotion.”

His Biggest Fear: “He doesn’t like to be by himself,” said Peters. “He’s a very social animal. We don’t even take the chance of leaving him alone. If both horses next to him leave, we take him out of his stall and walk him around until one of them returns. The risk of injury is simply too big.”

His Show Persona: “He’s like a professor. He knows everything,” said Schueler. “At a horse show, I don’t even have to put a halter on to braid him. But he gets very excited right before Steffen gets on him.”


2006 Competitive highlights
4th–Grand Prix Special, FEI World Equestrian Games (Germany)
6th–Grand Prix freestyle, FEI World Equestrian Games (Germany)
Team bronze–FEI World Equestrian Games (Germany)
1st–Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Grand Prix Championships (N.J.)
1st–Grand Prix, Burbank CDI (Calif.)
1st–Grand Prix Special, Burbank CDI (Calif.)
1st–Grand Prix, Del Mar CDI (Calif.)


Sara Lieser