RAVEL and Steffen Peters (Shannon Brinkman)
With the highest score of Ravel’s career, the nearly black gelding brought down the house at the Thomas & Mack Arena, with a performance that was legendary. Ravel, who is owned by Akiko Yamazaki, was focused, relaxed and brilliant in the ring. Peters made no mistakes, but still credits the horse with the win.
“I have to give Ravel all the credit to Ravel,” said Peters, who lives in San Diego. “He made me look good. He offered all the movements and I didn’t have to push him too hard.”
Ravel’s extended canters were so powerful that a ripple of sound went through the crowd with each one, by the time the pair turned down the center line for the final time, the fans couldn’t contain themselves and the applause and cheering began before the final salute. Peters (who picked up a Rolex watch with his win) was in awe of his horse’s performance.
“It’s obviously hard to describe how I feel,” said Peters after his ride. “ The support from the crowd was incredible. I just kept looking up at the score a few more times to make sure it was for real. I guess it is for real.”
The score was more than three points clear of van Grunsven, who scored 74.170, making it clear that this horse was for real too.
Saturday’s Freestyle competition stands on its own to crown the Champion and Peters is not going to change his plan despite his success today.
“It is very important not to change your routine,” said Peters. “It will depend how far Ravel allows me to push him. If he offers the same as today, we might be in good shape. But I know what these ladies are capable of.”
Van Grunsven and Werth are two of the toughest competitors in dressage history, and Peters knows he will have to stay on his game to win it all.
The Freestyle is the second and final part of the Dressage World Cup Final and it begins Saturday night at 7.00 pm.
The day got off to a disappointing start for the US dressage riders, Jan Ebeling and Rafalca were the lead off combination for the entire Grand Prix. Rafalca, a 12-year-old Oldenburg mare owned by Ann Romney and Beth Meyer, was clearly unsettled by the environment and atmosphere in the arena. She wasn’t alone. The venue is very intimate and many horses were spooking at the judges and the crowds in such close proximity. The mare was fractious in the beginning and Ebeling gave her a sympathetic ride and coaxed her through the test. He found some relief in the canter, but was disappointed with his score of 53.915%.
Making the situation more dire is the fact that under FEI rules, a rider needs a minimum score of 58% in the Grand Prix to move onto the Freestyle.
The story was no better for Leslie Morse.
Morse could not have been more pleased with Kingston in the schooling session on Wednesday or in the warm-up before her test. Second in the ring, there were high hopes for Morse and her (and Laura Petroff’s) beloved 17-year-old stallion.
But when she turned the first corner there was clearly an unbalanced step, within moments, the stoic horse was not right in the left front leg and the Ground Jury promptly and rightfully rung the bell signaling her to stop. Morse dismounted and left the arena.
“It was the right thing to do,” said Morse. “We all agreed it was best for him.”
Dr. Rick Mitchell, who is the Dressage veterinarian for the US horses, said there was no problem in the left front leg leading up to the competition and will fully work the horse up to determine the cause of the discomfort and treat him accordingly.
The Rolex FEI World Cup action continues tonight at 7pm with the opening round of Jumping –the Speed class. The US has 12 chances to double up on wins.