64 SIDELINES NOVEMBER 2011
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
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By Jan Westmark-Allan
David Blake is in the enviable position of training and
riding with Steffen and Shannon Peters on a daily basis
since he operates his David Blake Dressage Training
facility out of Arroyo Del Mar in San Diego, California, a
world-class training center led by the Peters. “Scott Hassler
introduced me to Steffen in 2006 and I began trailering
my six-year-old Holsteiner gelding to Arroyo Del Mar for
lessons in preparation for the Young Horse Championships
in Lexington, Kentucky. After the Championships, Steffen
would give me lessons at shows and I would go to San
Diego as often as possible for lessons,” David said. “In the
spring of 2009 the Peters offcially asked me to move into
Arroyo Del Mar so I moved there with my wife, Andrea, and
two horses.” David said, at the sake of sounding cheesy, it
has been a dream come true for him. “It is such a beautiful
environment for both the horse and rider. I get lessons
from Steffen, especially in preparation for shows, but the
daily lessons I get from watching Steffen and Shannon
have made an incredible impact on my riding,” he said,
adding that the little details he has picked up from watching
riding at that level have been insurmountable.
Sidelines:
You competed at the 2011 Collecting Gaits
Farm/USEF Festival of Champions in Gladstone on your
horse Lord Albert, what was that like?
DB:
It was my frst time there and it was such a wonderful
experience. I felt very honored to be in a class of incredible
horses and riders, some of the best in the world. In our Prix
St. Georges class we were both a little tense and nervous
and ended up 13th with a 67.3%. In the Intermediaire I
class we ended up 6th with a 69.47%, which was thrilling.
Places 1-5 included some soon-to-be world famous horses
and the 2010 Intermediaire I Championship winner. We
ended up 9
th
overall in the Intermediaire I Championships
and couldn’t be happier with our frst trip there.
Sidelines:
You had great support getting to Gladstone,
who helped you?
DB:
There were many fundraising parties for us, in addition
to some very generous donations from a few of our clients,
and that helped get us to Gladstone. We were surrounded
by such loving and generous people, it really was amazing.
It was such a huge relief to be able to concentrate on my
riding with Albert and stay focused on that.
Sidelines:
How did you become partners with Lord Albert?
DB:
Lord Albert is a nine-year-old Hanoverian gelding who
was imported to be a breeding stallion when he was four,
but proved to be too diffcult and naughty for his owner and
anyone else for that matter. He was brought to Arroyo Del
Mar in hopes that he could fnd a partner but was too unruly
there as well. They suggested I come try him and right
away I had a connection with him. We rode a lot of bucks
together but somehow always seemed to pull it together for
the show ring.
Sidelines:
When did you and Lord Albert really connect?
DB:
In 2007, Albert and I won the West Coast Regional FEI
Five-Year-Old Championships and qualifed for the Young
Five Questions for David Blake
Horse Breeding World Championships in Verden, Germany. We
had only been together for about six months at that time and he
had one more test for me before we really connected. The day
we arrived at the show grounds, Albert took off with me while I
was hand walking him and I ended up breaking my collarbone and
dislocating my shoulder. I knew it was what he did to “win” and
get his riders to give up on him. I knew if I gave up on him during
that show our partnership would never happen so I rode him the
following day. We ended up ranked in the middle of the class and
both went home with a new respect for one another. Albert just
seems to get better and better every year and I plan on showing
him at the grand prix level next season. Albert is now the most
reliable and the sweetest horse I have in the barn. We understand
each other and have a great relationship built on mutual respect.
Sidelines:
What is it like having your wife as your business
partner?
DB:
Having my wife run my business with me by my side is the
most recent highlight of my career. She has been instrumental
in my success and it makes me feel blessed every day to have
her in my life. Andrea and I knew each other in high school but
never dated. We went our separate ways after we graduated and
met up again 10 years later. She has a twin sister who married
my best friend from high school in the Bahamas in 2006. We
reunited on the island and have been together every day since.
Andrea had never been around horses until we started dating
and it wasn’t until we moved into Arroyo Del Mar that she actually
worked with them. She was my groom for the frst six months at
Arroyo. It was a sink or swim type of situation and she did great.
We now have a groom and an assistant so she can concentrate
on what she is really good at, which is marketing and sales. I’m
very lucky to have her working side by side with me; I know not
many riders have that.
David and Lord Albert competing at Gladstone
Photo by Andrea Blake