Ravel and Steffen Peters (Photo by Susan Stickle)
"This is Ravel's and Steffen's home away from home," said Cohen. "When Steffen and his wife Shannon come to Wellington for clinics, we host them here. They are like family to us." Peters has come to Florida on his own this time. Shannon Peters, who is normally her husband's 'eyes on the ground' in training, has remained at home in San Diego.
"Shannon is taking care of the gang at home," said Peters. "She is also riding my new Grand Prix horse Legolas. I don't have to twist Shannon's arm too hard to do that," he added with a laugh. Instead, he will rely on the guidance of US Dressage Team Chef d'Equipe Anne Gribbons while in Florida.
Peters, who won last year's WDM Palm Beach with personal best scores that reached well over 80%, hopes to defend his title against a strong international field that includes two members of the 2011 European Dressage Championship gold medal-winning team from Great Britain, Charlotte Dujardin and Carl Hester. Dujardin will ride her European Championship horse Valegro at the WDM Palm Beach. Valegro's meteoric rise to the top echelons of international dressage has not gone unnoticed by Peters. "I'm excited for the sport that there is another contender for the WDM title, because that is always good for the sport," said Peters. "The great thing is, Ravel is doing even better than last year."
Ravel competed for the first time this year in California a week ago, achieving a winning score of 80.426%. Asked if he expected to improve on his career topping score of 80.87% in the Grand Prix test at last year's WDM Palm Beach, Peters said, "Any time you pass the 80% mark, you wonder if you should push it any more. I didn't take any risks last weekend but still scored over 80%. If Ravel goes that way again here I will be extremely happy."
Peters and Ravel will remain at Two Swans Farm until the morning of Thursday, January 26th, when they will arrive at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center for the FEI horse inspection. The four European horses which arrived in Miami on Friday evening will be released from quarantine and shipped to the competition venue later today. The remaining WDM entries are already in Florida, including Favourit, the horse that finished second to Peters in the WDM Palm Beach Grand Prix Freestyle last year. His rider, Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfven of Sweden, has based her horses in South Florida for the second winter to take advantage of the ideal climate and large number CDIs that are concentrated in a very small area.
The last competitor to have confirmed her participation in the 2012 WDM Palm Beach is Canada's Victoria Winter with Proton. Winter, a double bronze medalist at the 1995 Pan Am Games, was a member of the Canadian Dressage Team at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games with Proton. A total of 15 horses and riders from six countries will compete for €100,000 ($130,000) at the only WDM event to take place outside of Europe. The WDM presented by Axel Johnson Group is the world's richest and most prestigious dressage series. The WDM Palm Beach, whose presenting sponsor IPC Palm Beach saved the event from extinction last year when its former sponsor suddenly pulled out, is the only five star CDI to take place annually in North America.
Confirmed entries for WDM Palm Beach presented by IPC Palm Beach
Jacqueline Brooks (CAN) - Gran Gesto
Charlotte Dujardin (GBR) - Valegro
Todd Flettrich (USA) - Otto
Carl Hester (GBR) - Wie Atlantico
Adrienne Lyle (USA) - Wizard
Ashley Holzer (CAN) - Pop Art
Tina Konyot (USA) - Calecto V
Yvonne Losos de Muñiz (DOM) - Dondolo Las Marismas
Steffen Peters (USA) - Ravel
Anja Plönzke (GER) - Le Mont d'Or
Pierre St. Jacques (USA) - Lucky Tiger
Per Sandgaard (SWE) - Lomumba Havdal
Minna Telde (SWE) - Deinhardt
Tinne Vilhelmsson-Silfven (SWE) - Favourit
Victoria Winter (CAN) - Proton
In addition, the two top placed horses from Thursday's CDI3* Grand Prix will be invited to compete in the WDM Palm Beach CDI5*.
Competition schedule January 26 - 28, 2012
*Gates open at 11:00 am each day. Spectators are encouraged to arrive for Saturday evening's Grand Prix Freestyle at 5:30 pm.
Thursday January 26:
o 11:30 am - CDI 3* Horse Inspection
o 12:30 pm - CDI 5* (WDM) Horse Inspection
o 2 pm to 5 - CDI 3* Grand Prix (top two horses to receive invitations to CDI5*)
Friday January 27:
o 2 pm to 5 - CDI5* Grand Prix
Saturday January 28:
o 2 pm to 4:30 - CDI5* Grand Prix Special
o 7:30 pm to 10:30 - CDI5* Grand Prix Freestyle
A very limited number of VIP tables are still available for the 2012 WDM Palm Beach. For information on pricing and availability go to www.internationalpoloclub.com, or contact Maria Feola at 561-282-5334, 561-282-5301 or [email protected].
World Dressage Masters Palm Beach Fast Facts:
What: North America's only CDI5*, and part of the richest dressage series in the world. Up to twenty of the world's top dressage stars will compete for 100,000 Euros in prize money at the WDM Palm Beach.
When: January 26 - 28, 2012
• Thursday, January 26th
11am - 8pm
• Friday, January 27th
11am - 8pm
• Saturday, January 28th
11am - 9pm
Where: Jim Brandon Equestrian Center - Okeeheelee Park South, 7500 Forest Hill Blvd,
West Palm Beach, FL 33413
Producer: Wellington Classic Dressage - www.wellingtonclassicdressage.com - Noreen O'Sullivan 561-227-1570 or John Flanagan 561-714-9058
Ticket sales and information: www.internationalpoloclub.com - Maria Feola: 561-282-5334 - [email protected]
Official Caterer: International Polo Club Catering
Past WDM Results, as well as complete WDM Rider Rankings can also be found on the WDM website: www.WorldDressageMasters.com
WDM Palm Beach Presenting Sponsor: International Polo Club Palm Beach
Additional WDM Palm Beach Sponsors: 2kGrey
WDM Presenting Partner: Axel Johnson Group
WDM Official Partners: team EXQUIS, Moorland Investments and Moorland Stables, Nürnberger Versicherungsgruppe
WDM Official Supplier: Jerich International
WDM Global Media Partner: Eurosport