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The Night the World met Ravel; Peters Delivers Stellar Fourth Place Performance at 2008 Olympic Games in Dressage

Release: August 19 2008

Author: jmorris

Steffen Peters and Ravel
Shannon Brinkman

By Joanie Morris

Hong Kong, China – Coming into the Games, Peters was pinned as the best individual medal hope for the US in recent memory. Riding Akiko Yamazaki’s formerly undefeated 10-year-old KWPN gelding Ravel, Peters put in a masterful performance in the horse’s first effort outside the US. Anky van Grunsven and Salinero won on the strength of their freestyle (82.4%), winning her third consecutive Individual gold medal for The Netherlands on a final score of 76.68%.

“There was a tiny bit of tension in the two-tempis,” said Peters after scoring 76.5% in the freestyle (for a final score of 74.15%). “I had to risk it, so fourth place at the Olympic Games is not so bad. My horse lived up to my expectations one hundred percent.”

The difference between fourth and bronze medalist Heike Kemmer was .3%.

“Sometimes you have dreams,” said Peters who lives in San Diego, CA. “Today felt like a dream and I felt like I was in charge of it, it just wasn’t quite enough for the bronze. You have to go for it but you also have to be realistic.”

An Olympic veteran from 1996, Peters and Ravel shone to music by the Talking Heads and the Rolling Stones’ Sympathy for the Devil. The lyrics to the first line of that song are: “Please allow me to introduce myself…”

No further introductions will be necessary for Ravel, he has made his presence known.

“This is a great stepping stone for Ravel,” said Peters. “I feel like there is a big future for him.”

The future also looks bright for Courtney King-Dye and Mythilus, a 13-year-old KWPN gelding owned by Harmony Amateur Sports Foundation. They performed their freestyle to the music of Cat Stevens. It was based around one of King-Dye’s favorite songs, Sad Lisa ¬- although new canter work was composed since she last performed her freestyle at the USEF Selection Trials.

Her test gave a great overall impression but she had a couple of costly mistakes that kept her score lower than expected. Her freestyle score of 69.55% gave her a two-day final score of 70.175%.

“I was really happy,” said King-Dye after her test. “I had a mistake in both the twos and the ones which were very expensive. I took some chances and had some mistakes. It was a new kur but I think it is a great one for the future. I did the best I could and he was the best he could be on the day.”

King-Dye thinks that Mythilus may have lost a little bit his sparkle after such and intense few weeks but she is excited about the horse’s future. King-Dye was competing in her first Olympic Games, and although she will not take a medal home, she learned more than she ever imagined.

“I loved coming here,” she said. “The team unity, being part of this team was a fantastic experience. I learned so much as an athlete.”

Isabell Werth and Satchmo, who were leading coming into the freestyle ended up with the silver medal after a major disobedience in the piaffe. Their final score was 76.650%.

The show jumpers jog tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. for the indivdual final, which commences at 7.15 p.m. on Thursday.

For complete results, please see www.equestrian2008.org. Please contact Joanie Morris at jmorris@usef.org for more information.

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