 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
California Riding Magazine • February, 2012 The Gallop: by Kim F. Miller |
To cap off a record-setting year, dressage superstar Steffen Peters added one more record to his résumé on Sat. Jan. 14 at the United States Equestrian Federation's Pegasus Awards dinner. He became the first person to score the USEF's Equestrian of the Year title three times. Several other Californians also received special spotlight that night. The Friesian stallion, Sjoerd, earned the USEF's coveted Horse of the Year title among horses competing in national disciplines. Show jumper Coral Reef Via Volo and Steffen's dressage star Weltino's Magic earned Horse Of Honor awards, representing their status as nominees for the HOY award. Campaigned to Pan Am Games team gold and individual silver, along with many other international accomplishments, Via Volo is owned by Coral Reef's Gwendolyn Meyer of San Diego. And Steffen's mount "Magic" rose to international stardom from the California circuit. Owned by Bruce and Jen Hlavacek, Magic had a remarkable undefeated year, winding up with team and individual gold at the Pan Am Games. The awards were presented during the USEF's annual convention, held this year in Cincinnati. Eventing coach Jimmy Wofford received the Lifetime Achievement Award and the amazing eventing horse, Neville Bardos, received the Horse of the Year distinction. As most know, Neville was rescued from a fire at his rider Boyd Martin's barn in May of 2011, during which six horses were lost. Neville suffered severe injuries due to smoke inhalation. Against all odds, he recovered to excel again, most notably finishing seventh in the grueling Burghley Horse Trials in England in September. Steffen won the Equestrian of the Year honor in 2008 and 2009 based largely on his accomplishments with Akiko Yamazaki's phenom Ravel—but in 2011, Ravel had some help. In addition to double gold at the Pan Am Games, Peters was undefeated in 2011, from California to Aachen, Germany, with the now 9-year-old Westphalian gelding. Both Ravel and Magic scored at the 2011 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF National Dressage Championships in Gladstone, NJ in September, when they swept the Grand Prix and Intermediaire I divisions, respectively. Steffen won all six classes in the effort and secured his Pan Am spot with Magic in the process. The trip to Mexico proved worth the miles as Steffen and Magic dominated at the Guadalajara Country Club. The competition was hard fought for individual honors but San Diego's dynamic duo led an American sweep. Steffen also won the William C. Steinkraus Trophy, awarded to an equestrian in an Olympic discipline, for the third time. As a result, he was one of six equestrians in the running for the USEF's top honor. True to his grateful nature, Steffen came to the Pegasus dinner prepared with a slideshow celebrating those who've helped him achieve success. His wife and partner in S Peters Dressage, Shannon, his mom, his horses, owners, grooms, veterinarians were all stars of that show, but his highest praise went to his horses. The USEF's National Horse of the Year, Sjoerd, had another outstanding year in his remarkable young life. Owned by Xena Vimercati of Three Day Ranch in Murrieta, the gorgeous stallion was virtually unbeatable all last year. Sjoerd was named World or Grand National Champion 14 times in 2011. He also added four World/Grand National Reserve Champion titles to his long list of accomplishments. The USEF's HOY, Horse Of Honor and Leading Friesian Sire is only 6! Available online at www.usefnetwork.com, the Pegasus awards presentations are moving and inspiring and fun. Check them out!
|
