Steffen Peters is a four-time Olympic dressage competitor and three-time USEF Horseman of the Year.

When he was a teenager in Germany, his father bought him a three-year-old KWPN gelding named Udon. The two trained at Jo Hinnemann’s barn in Voerde, Germany, where Steffen met American trainer Laurie Falvo who invited him to work at her barn in San Diego in the summer of 1984. Captivated by the lifestyle and weather, Steffen made a life changing choice and moved to San Diego with Udon. Living in a $200 a month garage, riding a motorbike for transportation, he worked for others for five years, including Günter Seidel, before going out on his own in 1991. In 1992 he became a U.S. citizen.

While riding in a clinic with the late Dr. Reiner Klimke, Steffen was spotted by Lila Kommerstad who would become his first sponsor, purchasing Udon from the Peters family.  With the horse he had brought up from a three year old, Steffen saw his dream come true when they represented the U.S. in the Atlanta Olympics where they won team bronze.

In 2004, Steffen was a reserve for the US team with Floriano,

In 2006 Floriano was the highest placed American horse on the U.S. bronze medal team at the Aachen World Equestrian Games.

In 2008, Steffen and Ravel were the highest placed American pair at the Beijing Olympics, coming in just out of the medals at fourth place.

In 2009, Steffen and Ravel won the FEI Rolex World Cup final, then swept the Grand Prix, the Special and the Freestyle at Aachen. That same year United States Dressage Federation named Ravel horse of the year.

Steffen and Ravel represented the United States in Kentucky at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Kentucky, where they earned two bronze medals.

At the London Olympics Steffen and Ravel placed 17th in the individual dressage.

Steffen’s top horse in 2014 is Legolas, and the pair started the year well, winning the Grand Prix and the Freestyle at Burbank CDI-W.

www.spetersdressage.com