WELLINGTON, Fla.--Steffen Peters on Suppenkasper won the FEI Grand Prix Special CDI4* over a class of 11 entries on a score of 75.766 percent on Saturday, Jan. 30..
Steffen Peters on Suppekasper “The grand prix special is always my favorite test,” said Peters. “It has those beautiful transitions from extended trot to passage, and then the half-passes are a little easier to ride, so there was a bit more of a throttle there with Mopsie today because he was so relaxed. The passage tour felt really good, and I really thought I had him there for the one tempis – I really collected him on the short side, and then I risked it a little and it was just a tad too much, so we had a small mistake. But, he’s done five shows in a row without a single mistake, and at the end of the day I am human, and they’re horses and not machines, so those things happen.”
“He walked nicely, which is a challenge for him in the grand prix special because he gets so fired up from all of the extensions and all of the passage, and to get him to relax is not an easy thing," said Peters. "However, he waited patiently for me to ask for the piaffe, he didn’t anticipate it, so overall it was a good test and I’m happy with it.”
Peters doesn't plan to compete again until the five-star at AGDF 7.
“DEBBIE McDONALD comes over a couple times a week, and we will be taking a look at all of the videos,” said Peters. “We always appreciate the judge’s comments too, so we will review those and go from there. The main thing is that Mopsie will get a nice, easy week. I’m so fortunate that he’s a horse that I can warm up for a bit and get all of the collected work done in 20 minutes, and take him for a half an hour walk, so the workload on his legs is extremely limited for a grand prix horse. I believe in preserving horses, not just winning, doing well, or making the team. Truly preserving them, spoiling them, giving them lots of love and relatively easy work, keeping them fit, but in a relaxed, happy way.”
Second place in the FEI Grand Prix Special CDI4*was Charlotte Jorst on Kastel’s Nintendo with a 72.043 percent, and Canadian Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu on All In was third with with a 71.553 percent.
Earlier in the day, Nick Wagman on Ferano, won the FEI Grand Prix Special CDI3* with a 71.638 percent with Benjamin Ebeling on Illuster Van De Kampert second with a 71.255 percent, and Susan Dutta on Don Design DC was third with a score of 69.362 percent.
