Aachen, Germany - August 24- United States dressage rider Steffen Peters topped the standings today with his mount Floriano midway through the highly competitive Grand Prix at the World Equestrian Festival. Peters and his 16-year-old gelding reside in San Diego, California. Floriano is owned by Laurie and Steven Browning.

“We rode the whole time with the pedal to the metal. We took chances. It worked out fantastically well,” said Peters. The judges designated Peters and his chestnut Westphalian a score of 71.333 percent, with two of the five judges placing Peters in first place.

Kyra Kyrklund of Finland and her gelding Max earned the second place ranking with a score of 70.50 percent. Max, a Swedish Warmblood, is owned by Kyra Kyrklund, Yvette & Moed, and Roy Conn. Alexandra Korelova of Russia ranked in third with Balagur, a stallion owned by Anatoliy Balykin and Ekaterina Balykina.

George Williams of Delaware, Ohio represented the United States aboard Rocher today. The duo stood in fifth place with a score of 69.333 percent. Joan and Charles Smith own the 15 year-old, black Westphalian mare.

The remaining two American riders on the U.S. team are scheduled to compete on Thursday. Leslie Morse of Los Angeles, California will accompany her World Cup mount Kingston for the event, while Guenter Seidel and Aragon, his Olympic and World Cup partner, will also represent the United States in the competition.

After watching Peters’ test, U.S. coach Klaus Balkenhol pumped his fist in the air with excitement and revealed his pride for the successful showing of the United States. An accomplished veteran in the Aachen arena, Peters has shown there every year since 1999. He commented on the test, “All the things that were coefficients (where the movement attains double points) worked out extremely well. That’s what did it for us.”

The World Equestrian Festival in Aachen, Germany offers $330,000 in prize money for dressage alone. The 6,000-seat permanent stadium holds the major international event for the United States dressage team this year.

Wednesday, August 24
World Equestrian Festival Dressage Results:

1. Steffen Peters and Floriano, United States of America

2. Kyra Kyrklund and Max, Finland

3. Alexandra Korelova and Balagur, Russia

4. Ellen Schulten-Baumer and Lesotho, Germany

5. George Williams and Rocher, United States of America

6. Laurens van Lieren and Hexagon’s Ollright, Netherlands

7. Ann Kathrin Linsenhoff and Sterntaler-Unicef, Germany

8. Christian Pläge and Regent, Switzerland

9. Caroline Kottas-Heidenberg and Exupery, Austria

10. Emma Hindle and Lancet 2, Great Britain

Visit the official website of the World Equestrian Festival in Aachen, Germany at: http://www.chioaachen.de
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