It’s a long flight from Steffen Peters’ home base in San Diego, Calif., to the World Equestrian Festival in Aachen, Germany, but after becoming the first U.S. rider to win all three Grand Prix classes there, Peters certainly can consider the trip well worth the airline miles.
   
Ravel and Peters proved that their World Cup performance wasn’t a fluke after winning amongst Europe’s best combinations over the weekend. They dominated the Grand Prix with a commanding 77.83 percent over Exquis Nadine and Hans Peter Minderhoud (72.46%) and Alexandra Korelova on Balagur (72.04%).
  
Reigning Olympic gold medalists Anky Van Grunsven and IPS Salinero finished an uncharacteristic fifth (71.83%) in the Grand Prix, but returned to the ring on a mission for the Special. Ravel and Peters (76.91%) narrowly edged the pair for the blue after Salinero’s (76.58%) final halt wasn’t immobile.
   
Van Grunsven and Salinero put the pressure on Peters and Ravel in the freestyle after scoring 84.50 percent, but the U.S. pair rose to the challenge, and by the end of their Coldplay and Rolling Stones themed performance (85.60%) the crowd was on its feet.
   
Peters and Ravel earned $63,140 for their performance in Aachen; the only competition they will be contesting in Europe. The Netherlands won the dressage Nations Cup over Germany, whose team performed well despite the absence of Isabell Werth and Satchmo.