The United States closed out the Dressage Team Championship at the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games on Friday with exemplary performances by a World Championship rookie and a decorated team veteran in the d'Ornano Stadium. Laura Graves and Steffen Peters produced impressive tests before the Ground Jury of Stephen Clarke, Elizabeth McMullen, Isabelle Judet, Susan Hoevenaars, Francis Verbeek, Dietrich Plewa, and Liselotte Fore to lead the U.S. to a fourth-place finish on a score of 222.714.

Graves (Geneva, Fla.) is making her Championship debut this week in Normandy, but belied her experience as she produced a powerful, accurate test with her own Verdades to score 74.871% and finish in 10th place. From the moment the 2014 Reserve National Champions entered the ring it was clear they looked to gain maximum points in every movement. The combination completed its trot tour carrying a score over 75%, but lost marks when the 12-year-old KWPN gelding grew wary of the end of the arena in the walk. However, with a strong canter tour highlighted by the clean one-time changes, they earned back valuable points.

"I couldn't be happier; my horse got a little nervous in there unfortunately," said Graves after her test. "He has a super walk and for that to happen in the walk was too bad."

After earning a second-place finish at The Dutta Corp/USEF Grand Prix Dressage National Championship, the combination headed to Europe competing at CDI4* Fritzens and on the U.S. team at CDIO5* Aachen. Despite the summer's tour being her first time competing overseas, Graves said she had not felt nerves until she headed into d'Ornano Stadium on Tuesday morning as competing on the U.S. Team at the World Games became a reality.

"This is the big bang for me; it's so exciting to be here on a team" said Graves. "Competing on a team versus as an individual is amazing. We're all like family."

Peters (San Diego, Calif.) entered the ring with Four Winds Farm's Legolas 92 knowing that he would need a strong score to lift the U.S. onto the podium. The three-time USEF National Champions went for it from their first steps down centerline, and looked prepared to produce a career-best performance, until a mistake late in the test in the one-time tempi changes. The pair finished on an overall score of 75.843% in eighth place.

While the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games double Individual Bronze medalists had hoped to provide a higher score to the U.S. team, he was still pleased with the performance.

"There was a mistake in the one-tempis, but we really had to go for it; it wasn't a day when you could play it safe," said Peters. "I wish I could have gotten a better score for my team, but I fought for my country."

Peters looks forward to Wednesday's Grand Prix Special where he will look to replicate much of the work from his Grand Prix Test, as well as the feeling he and Legolas had two weeks ago at CDI3* Verden in the Special.

"We had a wonderful feeling today, very supple with the exception of the one-tempis. I think it was the best test I've done with him," said Peters. "We will practice tomorrow and practice the changes in the morning, and I hope he goes as well as he did two weeks ago (in Verden)."

Germany scored a decisive victory to the Team Gold medal on a score of 241.700, with Great Britain earning the Silver medal 231.343, and The Netherlands earning a the Bronze on a score of 227.400.

The United States will be represented Adrienne Lyle, Graves, Peters in Wednesday's Grand Prix Special at 10:40am, 2:35pm, and 2:45pm local time, respectively.