US rider Steffen Peters has responded to criticism of his “disappointing” performance in the Paris Olympic dressage grand prix on Wednesday (31 July).

The six-time Olympian and 16-year-old Suppenkasper, who were part of the silver-medal winning team at the Tokyo Games, scored an uncharacteristic 66.49%. This meant they came ninth of 10 in group F – and out of the qualifying scores for the individual medal-deciding grand prix freestyle on Sunday (4 August).

Steffen and Suppenkasper started off positively, with their marks trending above 70%, but at the end of the extended walk Suppenkasper appeared to spook, and from then the pair had a tricky ride. In the last centre line they struggled to get the piaffe, and the halt was not immobile.

After his test, Steffen said it was “tough” and that Suppenkasper had been “a little too much on fire”.

“He’s been in places like this before, and I thought right after the walk I had him, and he got more and more excited, and even on the last extension he was drifting a little right,” said Steffen.

“He saw something on the short side, and [it] gave him from behind so much energy for that last passage, and I knew that could be trouble for the last piaffe.”

US chef d’equipe Christine Traurig said that she shared Steffen’s disappointment, “especially taking into consideration what this combination has done for this sport, our country, and worldwide, bringing so much positive engagement to and energy to dressage over the past few years”

“It became obvious to me during their test, ‘Mopsie’ was not himself. Once he returned to stabling after cool-down, he was taken care of by his team and our team US Equestrian veterinarian and is starting to feel more himself, which is the most important thing,” she said.

In an update today (1 August) Steffen thanked everyone for their support leading up to Paris, and he addressed the pair’s performance.

“Of course it wasn’t a good performance yesterday, and I just wanted to clarify, Mopsie came in pretty relaxed and did a good halt. We started with beautiful extensions and half passes, but as soon as the walk came around, you could clearly see the tension,” he said.

“For some reason Mopsie got hotter and hotter towards the end of the test, and unfortunately the big disaster on the last centre line.”

Steffen said that he wanted to be “upfront and clear” that the test was “a very painful disappointment”.

“I woke up this morning at 3am and you hope it was just a bad dream, but it was very obvious that it was the reality, and the reality hurts,” he said.

“I know from the past that if I hold on to the negativity and disappointment; I know exactly how damaging it can be. It’s going to take a few days, maybe even a few weeks, to let go of this. But I will let go.”

Steffen added that “as far as my riding, there were some negative words”.

“I totally accept this. And I will always accept the criticism. But what I won’t accept is if Mopsie’s criticised, because he will always be my ‘rave’ horse,” said Steffen, referring to the pair’s upbeat freestyle performances for which they have become fondly known.

“And he’ll always be my best friend,” he said.

The US dressage team has had a tough time in Versailles. As well as claiming silver in Tokyo, the US won bronze at the Rio Olympics in 2016, and silver at the 2018 World Equestrian Games, but in Paris they have failed to qualify for the team or individual finals.

Marcus Orlob and 10-year-old mare Jane were eliminated during the grand prix on Tuesday (30 July) under the blood rule, as the mare sustained a “very minor cut” when she knocked herself prior to entering the arena. As all three combination scores count, this meant the team did not make it into the team medal-deciding grand prix special on Saturday (3 August).

Adrienne Lyle and 12-year-old gelding Helix scored 72.59% in the grand prix on Tuesday, to finish third in the group C. Only the top two from each group qualified for the freestyle, followed by the six next highest-scoring combinations, and Adrienne missed out; sixth place went to Poland’s Sandra Sysojeva and Maxima Bella, who scored 73.42%.

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United States Equestrian (USEF) has announced the US Olympic dressage team for Paris 2024. The selected riders for the US, which will be defending its silver medal won in Tokyo, are Adrienne Lyle, Marcus Orlob, and Steffen Peters, with Endel Ots as the alternate.

Adrienne is a stalwart of the US team and will be riding Helix. The 12-year-old gelding was bought for Adrienne by Heidi Humphries of Zen Elite Equestrian Center in January.

Marcus will be riding Jane – another new partnership formed this year when Marcus took over from the owner, Alice Tarjan. Together, they were the highest-scoring US partnership at CDI Kronberg, achieving personal bests in the grand prix (73.91%) and the special (75.34%).

Steffen will partner Suppenkasper, the horse he rode at the Tokyo Olympics – at which the American team won team silver.

Endel and Bohemian – who finished fourth individually at the Tokyo Olympics with his former rider Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour – will act as the travelling reserves.

US Olympic dressage team for Paris 2024

Adrienne Lyle with 12-year-old Helix

Owner: Zen Elite Equestrian Center

Breeder: AMT Toonen Arts

Breeding: by Apache, out of a mare by Zeester T

Groom: Marina Lemay

Marcus Orlob with 10-year-old Jane

Owner: Alice Tarjan

Breeder: HJ van Oort

Breeding: by Desperado, out of a mare by Zandra

Groom: Allison Nemeth

Steffen Peters with 16-year-old Suppenkasper

Owners: Four Winds Farm and Akiko Yamazaki

Breeder: F van der Poel, Haps

Breeding: by Spielberg, out of a mare by Upanoeska

Groom: Eddie Garcia

Travelling reserve:

Endel Ots with 14-year-old Bohemian

Owner: Zen Elite Equestrian Center

Breeder: Heinrich Langewellpott

Breeding: by Bordeaux, out of a mare by Sunshine

Groom: Caroline Hoerdum

“There has been a lot of anticipation around the selection of this team, and I am confident in and proud of each of the combinations we have representing the US at the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic Games,” said chef d’equipe Christine Traurig.

“Everyone has been hard at work here in Europe for the past six weeks, working to solidify and build confidence in their partnerships and producing stronger scores for the US We want to be sure our horses are peaking at the right time over the next few weeks, and I know these athletes will give everything they have to make our country proud.”

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Four-time Olympian Steffen Peters put in a solid performance as the Olympic dressage freestyle got underway at the Tokyo Olympics. This final day’s competition is to decide the individual medals. Steffen’s test on Suppenkasper took an early lead, scoring 80.968%, not too far off the pair’s personal best of 81.5%.

Already with two team bronze medals under his belt, Steffen played his part in the US team’s silver last night in the grand prix special, scoring 77.77%. This probably won’t be enough to trouble the leaders, but it set the standard in the first group of challengers. The Spielberg gelding has racked up 22 consecutive wins, and was unbeaten since the start of 2020, but all on US soil. Today’s test was probably not quite as sharp as last night’s effort, but Steffen was still proud of his horse’s achievement.

“Suppenkasper gave everything yesterday, every ounce of energy and every single ounce of cooperation,” he said. “Yesterday he fought for our team. And I wouldn’t say he was tired today, just not as brilliant as yesterday, but it was still a clean test and an 80%, almost an 81%. Nothing wrong with that.”

Four-time Olympian Steffen chose dance music with a strong beat, and packed the moves into this relaxed and active test. The first one-tempi changes were bouncy yet settled, while his half-passes were active and elegant, the trot steps right in time with the beat. The music featured James Blunt’s It’s Gonna Be OK, and some 1980s Haddaway.

“I personally feel like the upbeat dance music,” said Steffen. “If we have a party tonight, and that’s the music, I’ll be dancing to.”

Who will qualify for the Tokyo Olympics grand prix freestyle? H&H’s dressage editor makes her predictions…

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The Tokyo Olympics dressage competition gets underway today (24 July), with the grand prix, which runs over two days. At these Olympics, the grand prix serves two separate purposes: it acts as a team qualifier for the grand prix special on Tuesday (27 July), with the top eight teams going on to compete for the team medals, and it also determines who will qualify for the Tokyo Olympics grand prix freestyle, which determines the individual medals on Wednesday (28 July).

Only 18 combinations will progress through from the grand prix to the freestyle. The 60 starters (15 teams of three plus 15 individuals) will ride in six groups of 10, with riders distributed across these groups according to world ranking. The 18 that will progress to the freestyle comprise the top two pairs in each of the six groups, plus the six next best across all the groups.

As we have discussed in our Olympics previews, this Games is especially unpredictable for many reasons. But H&H dressage editor Polly Bryan has analysed the start list, and had a go at predicting which combinations will make up the 18 that will qualify for the Tokyo Olympics grand prix freestyle. Let’s see what she thinks…

Group One

Joao Victor Marcari Oliva (BRA) – Escorial

Nanna Skodberg Merrald (DEN) – Zack

Dong Seon Kim (KOR) – Belstaff

Kazuki Sado (JPN) – Ludwig Der Sonnenkoenig 2

Mary Hanna (AUS) – Calanta

Inna Logutenkova (UKR) – Fleraro

Yvonne Losos de Muniz (DOM) – Aquamarijn

Lottie Fry (GBR) – Everdale

Therese Nilshagen (SWE) – Dante Weltino

This is a strong group to kick off proceedings at the Tokyo Olympics dressage. The Swedish pair Therese Nilshagen and Dante Weltino are the best-ranked pair, in 18th, hence their position at the end of the group, but it is Britain’s Lottie Fry and Everdale, ranked 36th, whose grand prix scores have been consistently higher over the past couple of seasons. I would expect Lottie to lead this group and secure her spot in the freestyle. If Therese and Dante Weltino can find their best form, I would expect them to go through too, but it could be a close call between them and the Danish pair Nanna Skodberg Merrald, who have posted consistent mid-70s grand prix scores in the short time they’ve been together. Don’t rule out Yvonne Losos de Muniz, and Mary Hanna, either.

Group Two

Edward Gal (NED) – Total US

Beatriz Ferrer-Salat (ESP) – Elegance

Dina Ellermann (EST) – Donna Anna

Francesco Zaza (ITA) – Wispering Romance

Maria Caetano (POR) – Fenix De Tineo

Chris von Martels (CAN) – Eclips

Inessa Merkulova (ROC) – Mister X

Antonia Ramel (SWE) – Brother De Jeu

Cathrine Dufour (DEN) – Bohemian

This is a fascinating group. In theory, Cathrine Dufour should walk it – she and Bohemian achieved plus-83% several times in 2020, and 80% on their last outing, and are ranked number six in the world. But Edward Gal’s Total US, while too new to this level to have made much headway up the world rankings as of yet, has scored in the high 70s in each of their three international grands prix so far. I think Cathrine and Edward will book tickets to the freestyle, but Spain’s Beatriz Ferrer-Salat, Sweden’s Antonia Ramel and Austria’s Victoria Max-Theurer are likely to be in strong contention for one of the six “lucky loser” places.

Group Three

Jose Antonio Garcia Mena (ESP) – Sorento 15

Carl Hester (GBR) – En Vogue

Larissa Pauluis (BEL) – Flambeau

Aleksandra Maksakova (ROC) – Bojengels

Alexandre Ayache (FRA) – Zo What

Rodrigo Torres (POR) – Fogoso

Sabine Schut-Kery (USA) – Sanceo

Henri Ruoste (FIN) – Kontestro DB

Hans Peter Minderhoud (NED) – Dream Boy

Jessica von Bredow-Werndl (GER) – TSF Dalera

This is going to be a hugely exciting group to finish things up on the first day of grand prix, and Britain’s Carl Hester will face hot competition. Germany’s Jessica von Bredow-Werndl, ranked second in the world, is one of the favourites for individual gold and I would expect her to easily finish in the top two today, based on recent scores – her last three grands prix have all earned over 81%. If Carl and En Vogue can match their best international grand prix score – 77.5% in May – I think they will also go through. But the USA’s Sabine Schut-Kery, Finland’s Henri Ruoste and the Netherlands’ Hans-Peter Minderhoud all have the form to muscle their way into the top two. Whoever finishes third will likely end up as one of six extra qualifiers.

Group Four

Severo Jurado Lopez (ESP) – Fendi T

Christian Schumach (AUT) – TE Quiero SF

Caroline Chew (SGP) – Tribiani

Tatyana Kosterina (ROC) – Diavolessa

Heike Holstein (IRE) – Sambuca

Laurence Roos (BEL) – Fil Rouge

Lindsay Kellock (CAN) – Sebastien

Simone Pearce (AUS) – Destano

Carina Cassøe Kruth (DEN) – Heiline’s Danciera

Adrienne Lyle (USA) – Salvino

Based on their recent form, I expect this group to come down to a battle between the USA’s top ranked rider, Adrienne Lyle, and Denmark’s Carina Cassøe Kruth, both of whom have several very strong grand prix scores on their recent record. My money would go on Adrienne to edge it with Salvino – they are the only members of this group to have scored 80% at grand prix, and she achieved that as recently as April this year. Australia’s Simone Pearce and Destano could also be in the mix, but I think Ireland’s sole dressage representative Heike Holstein would have to better her best by a significant margin with the lovely home-bred mare Sambuca to move forward to the freestyle here.

Group Five

Marlies van Baalen (NED) – Go Legend

Shingo Hayashi (JPN) – Scolari 4

Martha Fernanda del Valle Quirarte (MEX) – Beduino Lam

Domien Michels (BEL) – Intermezzo Van Het Meerda

Kelly Layne (AUS) – Samhitas

Estelle Wettstein (SUI) – West Side Story OLD

Nicolas Ehlinger Wagner (LUX) – Quater Back Junior FRH

Morgan Barbançon (FRA) – Sir Donnerhall II OLD

Juliette Ramel (SWE) – Buriel KH

Dorothee Schneider (GER) – Showtime FRH

On paper, Germany’s Dorothee Schneider should walk this group with the lovely showtime FRH, with whom she could well win an individual medal. They haven’t competed very much since the 2019 Europeans, where they won two individual silver medals, but they produced an 81.52% grand prix on their last outing in June. Juliette Ramel and Buriel could well end up being Sweden’s leading combination after the withdrawal of Patrik Kittel, and I am confident that they will qualify for the Tokyo Olympics grand prix freestyle. But whether that is as one of the top two, or as a “lucky loser”, may well be up to France’s Morgan Barbançon, whose grand prix scores with Sir Donnerhall II are remarkably consistent, hovering very close to the 72% mark.

Group Six

Virginia Yarur (CHI) – Ronaldo

Yessin Rahmouni (MAR) – All At Once

Hiroyuki Kitahara (JPN) – Huracan

Maxime Collard (FRA) – Cupido PB

Charlotte Dujardin (GBR) – Gio 

Florian Bacher (AUT) – Fidertraum

Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu (CAN) – All In

Joao Miguel Torrao (POR) – Equador

Steffen Peters (USA) – Suppenkasper

Isabell Werth (GER) – Bella Rose 2

And so to the final, and arguably most interesting group, of the six to close out the grand prix competition here at the Tokyo Olympics. I think that a couple of the six additional qualifying combinations will come from this group. World number one Isabell Werth will bring the action to a suitable climax, but all eyes will be on defending Olympic champion Charlotte Dujardin. She may only be ranked 109th with Gio, but this is reflective of their lack of international outings, not of their ability, and I would fully expect Charlotte to give Isabell a run for her money. My feeling is, though, that the sprightly little Gio will improve as the competition goes on, so while Charlotte will certainly not be sitting quietly in this test, I think we’ll see a higher score from them in the special. The USA’s Steffen Peters and Portugal’s main man Joao Torrao will have to improve on their best scores so far to make the top two, but a high-70s mark is within reach for them both, so I expect to see them in the top 18 as well.

So, who will qualify for the Tokyo Olympics grand prix freestyle?

After crunching the numbers for each of the six groups, here are the 18 combinations I would expect to make it through to the grand prix freestyle, and to compete for an individual Olympic medal:

Lottie Fry (GBR) – Everdale

Therese Nilshagen (SWE) – Dante Weltino

Nanna Skodberg Merrald (DEN) – Zack

Edward Gal (NED) – Total US

Antonia Ramel (SWE) – Brother De Jeu

Cathrine Dufour (DEN) – Bohemian

Carl Hester (GBR) – En Vogue

Henri Ruoste (FIN) – Kontestro DB

Hans Peter Minderhoud (NED) – Dream Boy

Jessica von Bredow-Werndl (GER) – TSF Dalera

Carina Cassøe Kruth (DEN) – Heiline’s Danciera

Adrienne Lyle (USA) – Salvino

Juliette Ramel (SWE) – Buriel KH

Dorothee Schneider (GER) – Showtime FRH

Charlotte Dujardin (GBR) – Gio

Joao Miguel Torrao (POR) – Equador

Steffen Peters (USA) – Suppenkasper

Isabell Werth (GER) – Bella Rose 2

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The dressage horses and riders hoping to do Team USA proud at the Tokyo Olympics have been confirmed.

US Equestrian has confirmed the following combinations will form the USA Olympic dressage team in Tokyo:

• Adrienne Lyle and 14-year-old stallion Salvino, owned by Betsy Juliano LLC
• Steffen Peters and 13-year-old gelding Suppenkasper, owned by Four Winds Farm and Akiko Yamazaki
• Sabine Schut-Kery and 15-year-old stallion Sanceo, owned by Alice Womble
• Travelling reserve: Nick Wagman and 13-year-old gelding Don John, owned by Beverly Gepfer

The team alternates will be:

• Olivia LaGoy-Weltz and 17-year-old gelding Rassing’s Lonoir, owned by Mary Anne McPhail and Olivia
• Ben Ebeling and 13-year-old gelding Illuster van de Kampert, owned by Sasha Cutter for Nuvolari Holdings and Amy Roberts Ebeling

Adrienne and Salvino were part of the silver medal-winning team at the 2018 World Equestrian Games alongside Steffen and Suppenkasper. Adrienne competed at London 2012, while Tokyo marks Steffen’s fifth Olympics. He was part of the bronze medal-winning team at Rio 2016, competed at London 2012, Beijing 2008 and the Atlanta Games in 1996. Sabine is making her Olympic debut.

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The US Olympic dressage team will be led by chef d’equipe Debbie McDonald and team leader Hallye Griffin. Debbie was on the bronze-medal winning team at the 2004 Athens Games riding Brentina. She rode alongside Steffen at the Beijing Olympics, and represented Team USA at the 2002 and 2006 World Equestrian Games. In 2003 Debbie and Brentina won the World Cup final in Gothenburg.

“The team selected to represent us in Tokyo is incredibly strong and I’m looking forward to working with these combinations in the coming weeks to ensure we deliver performances our country will be proud of this summer,” said Debbie.

“We’ve worked tremendously hard over the past year to adjust and prepare for these Games and it’s exciting to see all of the hard work begin to pay off. These combinations are up for the challenge that will be presented to us in Tokyo, and we are incredibly grateful for the continued support of our family, friends, and fans around the country.”

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Steffen Peters continued his winning streak from 2020 into 2021 when he claimed his 17th consecutive international victory at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival (GDF) in Wellington, Florida.

Steffen rode his Tokyo Olympics team hopeful Suppenkasper to a solid win in the CDI4* grand prix special on 30 January. The pair, who are unbeaten in international competition since 2019, posted 75.77%, with just a mistake in the one-time changes pulling their marks down.

The 13-year-old Spielberg son, who is owned by Akiko Yamazaki and Four Winds Farm, was Steffen’s ride at the 2018 World Equestrian Games in Tryon, North Carolina, where he helped the USA team claim silver on home soil. Their scores have remained consistently high over the past two years, helping put them firmly in contention for a berth at the Tokyo Olympics later this year, where it will be the grand prix special will determine the team medals.

“The grand prix special is always my favourite test,” said Steffen after his latest win in Wellington. “It has those beautiful transitions from extended trot to passage, and then the half-passes are a little easier to ride, so there was a bit more of a throttle there with ‘Mopsie’ today because he was so relaxed.

“I really thought I had him there for the one tempis – I really collected him on the short side, and then I risked it a little and it was just a tad too much, so we had a small mistake,” added the four-time Olympian. “But he’s done five shows in a row without a single mistake, and at the end of the day I am human, and they’re horses and not machines, so those things happen.”

The pair will next be in action in the GDF’s CDI5* show at the end of February.

Article continues below…

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Steffen finished ahead of runners-up Charlotte Jorst (USA) and Kastel’s Nintendo, who posted 72.04%. Meanwhile Britain’s Susan Pape slotted into eighth position with 67.51% on Harmony’s Eclectisch.

Germany-based Susan has enjoyed plenty of success so far this year on the Florida circuit with this 11-year-old Zenon x Olivi stallion; they finished runners-up to Steffen and Suppenkasper in the first CDI3* leg of the GDF last month.

They were also second in January’s World Cup grand prix behind the USA’s Olivia Lagoy-Weltz and Rassing’s Lonoir, who went on to top the freestyle qualifier with 81.54% – one of very few World Cup qualifiers to have taken place this season.

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Steffen Peters is one of the USA’s most successful dressage riders – former World Cup champion and the holder of six Olympic and world medals, including most recently team silver at the 2018 World Equestrian Games.

We find out a bit more about Steffen…

1. Yahoo co-founder Jerry Yang and his wife Akiko Yamazaki are long-time supporters of Steffen. They owned his great horse Ravel, who won the World Cup final in 2009, and also his current top ride, Suppenkasper.

2. That World Cup final victory was in Las Vegas, so Steffen has “amazing memories” from the event and was particularly looking forward to returning to compete there in this year’s World Cup final – a plan that was kiboshed by the event’s cancellation due to the coronavirus pandemic.

3. Steffen grew up in Germany and first visited America to work for trainer Laurie Falvo in the summer after he left school. He had to return to Germany to do two years army service, but saved up all his holiday so he could return to the USA as early as possible. He has made his home there ever since and gained US citizenship in 1992.

4. The US rider was third in all three tests at the 2010 World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Kentucky riding Ravel. He took individual bronze medals for his performances in the special and freestyle, as well as finishing in the same position individually in the team grand prix. The individual top three were the same in every test, with Steffen beaten by Edward Gal on Totilas and Britain’s Laura Bechtolsheimer (now Tomlinson) on Mistral Hojris.

5. Steffen has ridden at World Championship and Olympic level on five different horses: Udon (1996 Olympics in Atlanta), Floriano (2006 WEG in Aachen), Ravel (2008 Olympics in Hong Kong, 2010 WEG in Kentucky, 2012 Olympics in London), Legolas 92 (2014 WEG in Caen, 2016 Olympics in Rio) and Suppenkasper (2018 WEG in Tryon).

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6. When Steffen was in the process of trying and buying Suppenkasper for Jerry and Akiko, he drove three hours each way daily for several weeks to watch the horse’s then-rider, Helen Langehanenberg, ride him. “If you have a sponsor who is so generous and willing to buy a horse, you have to do your duty – you have to spend every minute you can to assure them this could be a team horse.”

7. Steffen’s wife Shannon is also a grand prix dressage rider and has taken 15 horses to grand prix barefoot.

Read our full interview with Steffen, including how he has overcome recent mental health problems, in this week’s Horse & Hound magazine (dated 16 April). 

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Several teams expected to fight it out for the medals have been announced for September’s World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Tryon, North Carolina. The battle will also be on to achieve one of the five qualification spots for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

The home side looks particularly strong, with current world number three combination Laura Graves and the 16-year-old gelding Verdades leading the charge after their grand prix victory in Aachen in July. Joining her are three combinations who all performed strongly in Aachen: Kasey Parry-Glass with the Diamond Hit 15-year-old Goerklintgaards Dublet, Adrienne Lyle with Salvino, by Sandro Hit, and Steffen Peters with the Rock Forever mare Rosamunde.

The Netherlands will also be sending a strong quartet to Tryon, hoping to win their first team medal since 2015. Edward Gal will spearhead the team on the impressive 10-year-old stallion Glock’s Zonik, by Blue Hors Zack. Edward will be joined by his partner Hans Peter Minderhoud, riding another exciting young stallion, Glock’s Dream Boy, by Vivaldi.

Also selected are Emmelie Scholtens and the UB40 stallion Apache, who had super results in Aachen, and Madeleine Witte-Vrees with her 2017 European Championships ride Cennin.

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Denmark and Sweden, who took European silver and bronze respectively in 2017, have also put forward strong sides that will be vying for the podium.

Patrik Kittel has booked his place at his third WEG, and 11^th senior championship, with two rides: his Rio Olympic partner Deja and the exciting 10-year-old mare Well Done De La Roche CMF. Championship veteran Tinne Vilhelmson Silfvén has also been selected with her 2017 Europeans ride Paridon Magi as well as her double Olympic and 2014 WEG horse Don Auriello, who returned to competition at the Rotterdam CDI in June after nearly two years out.

Therese Nilshagen and the 11-year-old Danone stallion Dante Weltino — who are currently ranked 12^th in the world after taking individual European fourth and fifth in Gothenburg last year — will head to their first WEG. Juliette Ramel and her Rio partner Buriel KH complete the Swedish team.

The double individual European bronze medallists Cathrine Dufour and Atterupgaards Cassidy will lead the Danish quartet, which also features Daniel Bachmann Andersen with Blue Hors Zack, who banked a personal best kür score of plus-82% in Aachen. Betina Jaeger (Belstaff) and Britain-based Anders Dahl (Selten HW) complete the team.

Gold medal favourites Germany are yet to announce their team, as are Great Britain. Stay up to date with all the WEG team announcements as they come in here.

Don’t miss our full preview of the FEI World Equestrian Games in Tryon, on sale Thursday 30 August

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Olympic dressage medallist Steffen Peters has ditched his top hat for a helmet following the example of his teammates and idols.

The two-time Olympic team bronze medal-winner, pictured above at the Rio 2016 Olympics, made it his new year’s resolution to wear a helmet for FEI competitions. Protective headgear is already compulsory in national competitions run under US Equestrian rules.

He was encouraged by his US teammates as well as pressure from mothers and fans on social media.

When he looked at the team pictures from Rio 2016, he realised he was the only US rider in a topper.

He was also influenced by Carl Hester’s choice to often wear a helmet over a top hat.

“I received so many messages on Facebook, some firm, some kindly convincing me to wear a helmet because I am setting an example for children,” he said.

“Some mothers aggressively told me that I have to wear a helmet. I listened.

“At the end of the day, if so many people speak out, and when you are an athlete in this position, you have to set guidelines and suggestions, and I listened.”

Research has found that 45% of sports-related traumatic brain injuries among adults in the US between 2003 and 2012 were related to equestrian falls.

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“Safety comes first,” added Steffen.

“There are so many accidents where the horse is walking; it’s not always the horse acting up, bucking, or a rider falling off. Sometimes it’s little situations that we can’t control.”

He admitted it was “superstition” that had caused him to hold on to his top hat for so long.

“Over the years, I became less superstitious,” he said.

“At first it was my tailcoat that I had for 26 years. The top hat was the final superstitious item that I hung on to. I had a couple of good tests with the helmet and decided to switch.”

The number of riders opting for safety helmets over top hats was a talking point at last year’s Olympics.

There was a notable increase in both the pure and eventing dressage of riders choosing to wear hard hats compared to London 2012.

The British Equestrian Federation confirmed to H&H last year that the Brits’ decision on what to wear was down to the riders themselves.

All of the British silver medal-winning dressage team opted for hard hats.

“We felt that on this occasion it was the appropriate thing to do as the Olympics is on such a huge stage,” British dressage team member Spencer Wilton told H&H at the time.

A British Dressage spokesman added the dressage team’s decision was a “great statement”.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Carl Hester rode the Don Ruto gelding Nip Tuck to a 75.529% performance at the Rio Olympics in Brazil this morning.

He was the third rider for the British team of four. Carl was hoping for a score akin to his 79% grand prix at Hartpury CDI in July, but Nip Tuck was spooky in the early movements and jumped out of his skin in the transition to extended walk — a pace which can often be fragile in dressage horses anyway.

“One minute it’s a camera, one minute it’s a flower; he’s got a tiny mind,” said Carl. “In the transition to walk he saw a tiny flower. I think he needs glasses; we’ll have to see if someone can invent them.

“I wanted a higher score, but Nip Tuck used to get that score when he was at his best. I’m disappointed, but it’s not a terrible score.”

He added on Facebook: “Frustratingly a Pokemon at P! A lot of points lost but lots to like! Tomorrow is another day!”

Britain now has a team average of 75.125% and are currently in fourth place. Germany leads the way with an apparently unassailable average of 80.19% with Isabell Werth (Weihegold) still to come later today. The Netherlands are lying in the silver medal positition despite being down to only three horses, while the USA have crept above the UK into the bronze position thanks to a cracking plus-77% test from Steffen Peters and Legolas.

Continued below…

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Germany’s Kristina Bröring Sprehe, 29, is top of the leaderboard both as part of her team and the individual standings. Last to go before the lunch break, she pulled off a stunning 82.257% with her black De Niro stallion Desperados.

“Desperados was a really great today,” said Kristina. “I had a few mistakes, but apart from that he was really concentrating.”

Ireland’s sole representative, Judy Reynolds and Vancouver K, put in a clean and accurate test to score 74.7%.

“I’m just really happy with ‘JP’. He didn’t get nerous and was really with me,” she said.

In this grand prix, the final rotation of riders happens this afternoon, including Charlotte Dujardin, Beatriz Ferrer-Salat, Laura Graves, Hans Peter Minderhoud and Isabell Werth. Charlotte and Valegro go at 14.24 (18.24 British time).

The team medals will be decided tomorrrow based on the resutls of both the grand prix and special tests. Individual medals are won through performances in the freestyle alone.

Team standings

1. Germany

2. Netherlands

3. USA

4. Great Britain

Individual standings

1. Kristina Sprehe and Desperados FRH (GER) 82.257%

2. Dorothee Schneider and Showtime FRH (GER) 80.986%

3. Steffen Peters and Legolas (USA) 77.614%

4. Sonke Rothenberger and Cosmo (GER) 77.329%

5. Fiona Bigwood and Orthilia (GBR) 77.157%

6. Cathrine Dufour and Cassidy (DEN) 76.657%

7. Severo Jurado Lopez and Lorenzo (ESP) 76.429%

8. Diederik van Silfhout and Arlando (NED) 75.9%

9. Carl Hester and Nip Tuck (GBR) 75.529%

10. Edward Gal and Voice (NED) 75.271%

—

16eq. Spencer Wilton and Super Nova II (GBR) & Allison Brock and Rosevelt (USA) 72.686%

Full 20-page report on the dressage from Rio in H&H next week, out Thursday 18 August, including full analysis of how the medals were won and comment from Richard Davison.

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Emile Faurie finished ninth in the grand prix today (Thursday, 14 July) in Aachen on a new ride he has only competed twice before. Emile and Weekend Fun scored 72.886%.

“I’m chuffed to bits,” said Emile, who has been riding the 15-year-old for Ulli and Bianca Kasselmann of PSI since February. “He can be a hot head and a bit of a goer, but I felt he stayed with me.”

Michael Eilberg scored 72% for individual 14th on his father Ferdi’s 16-year-old Marakov, a member of last year’s British silver medal-winning European team here.

“It was a clean test and in the 70s so I’m well happy,” he said. “He gets spooky and nervous but once he’s between the boards he feels more secure — he trusts that because he knows that.”

The British team lie in sixth in the Nations Cup ahead of Saturday’s special, with Daniel Watson and Sarah Millis pleased with their inexpereinced horses despite lower placings — Daniel was 31st and Sarah 38th.

The first Brit into the arena, Daniel was “over the moon” with Nicola Naylor’s 11-year-old Amadeus, who is only in his second year at grand prix and scored 66.886%.

“For his stage in training I’m happy he went in there and did that — he’s not experienced and hasn’t done much, so to go in an atmosphere like that is a massive thing for him,” he said.

Sarah received 64.229% for her test on her own and Katja Kuistilla’s Hofjuwel, another 11-year-old, who did his first international grand prix in March.

“In some ways I’m pleased — he coped well in that atmosphere, which is quite new to the pair of us,” she said. “We had two big mistakes and I have to find a route to maintaining the connection all the way through the test and getting the bigger marks.”

Ireland’s Judy Reynolds is in Aachen for a final run before the Rio Olympics with her parents Joe and Kathleen’s Vancouver K. She had a slightly tricky time going into the arena when she had to walk to avoid the previous competitor, the USA’s Shelly Francis on Doktor, and then the hot Jazz son nearly decided to leave the arena following Shelly. But she still scored 72.714%.

“We made two mistakes but I was pleased with the test and to get 72% from the Olympic judges on not a good day for us,” she said.

Germans dominate

The German team took four of the top five placings today to lead, with their top three all scoring over 80%, believed to be a first for the sport.

Isabell Werth led after a mistake-free test on Weihegold OLD (83.271%), while Kristina Bröring-Sprehe took second on 82.314% with Desperados FRH. Dorothee Schneider claimed third with 80.7% on Showtime FRH and Sönke Rothenberger landed fifth riding Cosmo 59 (75.6%). Oddly, all the Germans apart from Isabell had errors in their two-time changes.

Only Rio-bound US rider Steffen Peters could break the Germans’ run, taking fourth on Legolas 92 with 77.243%. The USA lie second in the team competition, with Denmark third.

Full report of Aachen in H&H next week, out Thursday, 21 July.

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In the closest of finishes, the USA’s Steffen Peters on Ravel edged Charlotte Dujardin aboard Valegro for the World Dressage Masters freestyle title, with only 0.05% separating the two on Saturday night.

The competition, worth 70,000 Euros, was the highlight of the 100,000 Euro competition in Wellington, Florida.

Three of the five judges had Steffen, the 2011 winner, in first place, while two put Charlotte in the lead. Steffen’s mark was 83.700; Charlotte’s was 83.650.

Wim Ernes, president of the ground jury, said the difference was the complexity of Steffen’s routine. But he was impressed by the effort both riders made.

“It was a real high standard today. You could see they went to the limit,” he said.

Charlotte acknowledged that her freestyle, despite its dynamism, was relatively simple because it had been designed when her horse was less experienced. She’s having both the music and freestyle’s floor plan re-done, she said.

Losing by such a slim margin “is a bit frustrating,” she conceded, then added, “I’m pleased with how he went. There were still a few little mistakes, but it’s great to have such strong competition. I was happy with my test, and that’s all that matters, really.”

She was particularly glad that after Valegro uncharacteristically acted up in the prize giving for the previous day’s grand prix, when he reared, he was back on track as he went into the covered arena at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center for the freestyle. A capacity crowd of more than 1,700 did not upset him, and he was very correct and powerful in most of his movements.

Ravel is far more experienced, having participated in the Olympics and World Equestrian Games, so he flowed easily through the complex exercises under Steffen’s practiced guidance.

Charlotte’s mentor, Carl Hester, put in a riveting ride on Wie Atlantico, using one of his old freestyles, since he had never shown the horse before this weekend. He’s riding him for the pregnant Fiona Bigwood.

A brilliant extended canter was one of the highlights, and the horse never wavered in his attention.

“I was delighted with the ride. It was better than yesterday (the grand prix). I don’t think I could have done any more with the amount of time I’ve had,” said Carl, who was fourth on 74.850. Third place went to Sweden’s Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfve riding Favourit, on a score of 78.250.

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Eight horse and rider combinations have been short-listed for the USA dressage squad for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games following the United States Equestrian Federation selection trials.

Steffen Peters and Ravel, who won the 2009 FEI World Cup Final and were fourth at the 2008 Olympic Games, was selected without taking part in the Selection Trials based on their prior results.

The horse/rider combinations are:

• Tina Konyot riding Calecto V
• Todd Flettrich riding Otto
• Katherine Bateson-Chandler riding Nartan
• Steffen Peters riding Ravel
• Catherine Haddad riding Winyamaro
• Pierre St. Jacques riding Lucky Tiger
• Sue Blinks riding Robin Hood
• Jan Ebeling riding Rafalca

The final United States dressage team, and reserve riders, will be selected from this short-list prior to the championship.

• Read the latest World Equestrian Games news

History is on the cusp of being made in dressage, after Steffen Peters rode Ravel (pictured) to a resounding victory in the Las Vegas Grand Prix — the first American ever to win the first leg of a World Cup final.

His path might have been eased by the absence of title-holder Salinero, but there was plenty to like in Ravel’s joyful, tension-free performance which, scoring 77.915%, was also a personal best.

They finished over three per cent ahead of Anky van Grunsven on her second string Painted Black (74.170), and Steffen was awarded a clear run of nines for his riding. Prophetically, the “sound man” had selected “Viva Las Vegas” for Peters’ background music, and as soon as he had halted, the entire arena leapt to its feet.

“Ravel made me look good today,” said Peters. “ Yesterday, he reacted very well to the crowd who attended the warm-ups so I knew he was relaxed and that I could ask him for more.

“But I know what the two leading ladies are capable of, so I will stick to good advice that Anky has given me before and not change my routine before Saturday.”

Listen to Steffen Peters’ interview

Isabell Werth and Satchmo were third on 73.745. Isabell had remonstrated in the arena with photographers who she said were distracting. Both Satchmo and Painted Black were inconsistent, though Anky said she was “more than satisfied” with the result after her interrupted season.

Peters’ success also compensates for the dismal start of compatriots. Rafalca displayed a growing aversion for any movement within 20 metres of C and only the stoic persistence of national champion Jan Ebeling got them through. Second in, Kingston was visibly unlevel behind in the first half-passes. Vigorous bell ringing indicated the judges agreement, and after a short exchange, Leslie Morse dismounted and led him away.

End of the line for Las Vegas?

This may be the last time the finals are here, for even Vegas is not immune to the global financial crisis. David Holmes, FEI sports director, said the organisers had recently withdrawn their applications to host 2011 and 2013 due to funding concerns.

“That is sad news indeed, for it’s vital that these headline events continue to be spread around the globe,” he said. “Next year’s WEG will be the first outside Europe and it would be a backward step if we can’t continue to build on this momentum, this side of the Atlantic.”

The arena appeared less than a quarter full for the midday running of the dressage Grand Prix, a sign of the times and in stark contrast to the near sell-out at the World Cup final’s debut here in 2005.

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