Mare Opens Way for Arlene Paige to Go to U.S. National Dressage Championships

Peters take Intermediaire I Title

It was the husband-wife combo of the Peters that swept through the I1 championship from beginning. Steffen Peters on Marlando (Balzflug – Casandra) took the tricolor back home to San Diego with an overall score of 73.425, edging out his wife, Shannon, on Luxor (Ferro – Godette) who had 71.695.4.

Steffen had one pressing question even before he started the freestyle, debating whether to walk in or to have a halt at the start. “Marlando has been so silly about the halts. You never know—he might step back and exit the arena,” he said after the audience started clapping before he had concluded his ride in the Special. The gelding had spooked and judges penalized Steffen for not completing his final salute. But after Steffen went ahead with his planned ride “since in international championships, you must take a little bit of a risk.”

But from the uneventful start, “it was probably one of the best freestyles I have had,” said the California trainer. The judges rewarded them with a winning 77.525 for their performance to music from “San Maco.”

Shannon, who rode to the Spanish rhythm of “Nueci Flanenco,” admitted her horse’s personality caused problems. “He is a hot, sensitive horse and the music had a little bit of drum beat to it. The music is louder than it has been and this is only the third time we have done this to it, but we did the best we could and I am happy.”

Photo copyrighted: Susan J Stickle