92 SIDELINES FEBRUARY 2012
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
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By Christine DeHerrera
Lientje Schueler has worked for Steffen and Shannon
Peters for the last six years, currently as their assistant
trainer. During that time, she’s won at Prix St. Georges
with Marlando with scores as high as 73%. She’s
also trained and shown several young horses at major
championships, including Pinky Roberts’ Regalo,
who finished third in the 2011 Markel/USEF National
Young Horse Dressage Championships (4-year-old)
and Michele and Geary Cooper’s Lucky Girl, Reserve
Champion (tie) at the 2008 Markel/USEF National
Young Horse Dressage Championships (5-year-old).
Lientje was born in Oldenburg, Germany and trained
with luminaries like Harry Boldt and Viola Abrahams.
In addition to working for Steffen and Shannon, Lientje
teaches clinics and accepts horses and riders in
training.
Sidelines:
What attracted you to working in the United
States?
LS:
At age 15, between 10th and 11th grade, I came
to California so that I could learn English and also
ride. I knew that I wanted to be a professional trainer,
so I actually talked my really supportive parents into
letting me do this. I did not realize that I was going to
fall under some sort of “California-spell”. I was soon
fascinated by being able to work outside year round
with the horses and meeting fascinating people who
had made their own American Dream come true. It
turned the saying into reality for me.
Sidelines:
How did you begin working for Steffen and
Shannon Peters?
LS:
In 2002 I first saw Steffen ride, teach and compete
at some of the shows in southern California that I
was attending as a groom. I was fascinated by his
harmonious riding and that he was making a difference
while he was teaching. When coaching he was truly
training horse and rider, not just chasing them through
the movements and saying “good” twenty times in one
lesson. That stood out to me.
I had ridden with Harry Boldt a few times and he was
kind enough to tell me that he could help me get started
in the right direction. When I contacted him, I told him
I wanted to work for Steffen and Shannon Peters. He
thought it was a good idea and gave me their contact
information. I very specifically wrote my emails to
A Few
Minutes
with Lientje
Schueler
Lientje Schueler and Chocolatt, a Swedish mare bred and owned
by Pinky Roberts. Lientje and Chocolatt won the six-year-old
California Championship Futurity
Photo by Amy McCool
Shannon and Steffen and wanted to work for both of them. All
I wanted to do was learn from the two of them. Six years later,
while I am developing my own clientele, teaching clinics and
showing different horses, I still feel that way!
Sidelines:
What have learned from Shannon and Steffen?
LS:
I honestly would not know how to pick the most important
thing! There are so many things as they are amazing, good
quality people and outstanding horse people. My philosophy
on training horses and people directly ties into what I have
learned from them as mentors.
I have grown as a person by watching Shannon and Steffen
always, always, always staying level headed regardless of the
circumstances. Think before you react or overreact. That