98 SIDELINES MARCH 2012
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
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By Erin Gilmore
T
he global dressage community centered its
attention on Wellington, Florida and the World
Dressage Masters Palm Beach CDI4* January
26-28, 2012. Held at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center
for the second year in a row, the Masters attracted some
of the best dressage riders in the world, who went head to
head to try and best 2011 World Dressage Masters Pam
Beach Champions Steffen Peters and Ravel.
The competition opened on Thursday, January 26th
with the Wellington Classic Sunshine Challenge CDI3*
Grand Prix. Ashley Holzer and Pop Art won the class on
69.915% ahead of ahead of Heather Blitz and Paragon,
who scored a 69.170%.
Friday’s CDI4* Grand Prix attracted a large crowd
as the big guns made their frst appearance. Steffen
Peters and Ravel traveled from their home base in San
Diego, California to defend last year’s title, and their
score of 81.383% in the Special easily granted him frst
Steffen Stars at World Dressage
Masters Palm Beach CDI 4*
USEF Horseman of the Year Steffen Peters shines
with Ravel in the face of tough competition
place ahead of British breakout star Charlotte Dujardin and her
Valegro, who fnished in second. Tinne Vilhelmson-Silven and
Favourit were third, and Adrienne Lyle was fourth with Wizard.
Ahead of the main event on Saturday evening, it was Lyle who
clinched a thrilling win in the Grand Prix Special. The protégé
of dressage legend Debbie McDonald, Lyle proved that she is
a promising candidate for the upcoming Olympic team this July.
Over 2,000 spectators packed into the Jim Brandon Equestrian
Center for the CDI4* Grand Prix Freestyle to watch Peters
perform his stirring Freestyle set to the music of the flm Avatar.
Again his score placed him at the head of the class, but Dujardin,
a 26 year old rider who has been competing at the grand prix
level for just one year, came within fractions of a percent, nearly
causing a tied score. Peters’ 83.700% to Dujardin’s 83.650%
caused gasps of surprise throughout the crowd.
“When she came out of the ring I went over and said to her, ‘I
think you’ve won it,’” commented Peters about the closeness of
the competition. “I had a great night with Ravel, it was the best
freestyle I’ve ever ridden.”
Steffen Peters celebrates a successful ride
after the CDI4* Grand Prix
All photos by Kim MacMillan unless otherwise noted