Gladstone, NJ – In their first national competition riding together, husband and wife team Steffen and Shannon Peters of San Diego, California, won first and second place respectively, taking home the titles in the 2005 Collecting Gaits Farm/United States Equestrian Federation National Intermediaire I Dressage Championship, presented by Paul Miller Auto Group, Inc. Steffen earned a cumulative score of 73.425%, riding Marlando (1999 Dutch Warmblood gelding), and Shannon was awarded a 71.695% overall, riding Luxor (1993 Dutch Warmblood gelding).

“It certainly worked out very well today,” said a smiling Steffen. “When you come down the center line, it’s about focus, but when you exit the ring, it’s about the team—it’s friendship.” If the pair keeps it up, dressage may just have what eventing has lauded for years, a la “O’Connor Event Team” style with the famous husband and wife team, David and Karen O’Connor.

Overall, Steffen was very pleased with Marlando’s freestyle performance on Saturday, which he said was “probably one of his best.” The pair earned overwhelming marks of approval from the judges— performing to their freestyle, San Marco, they finished with a 77.525%. Friday’s freestyle was the third of three classes which make up the National Championship. The first class, the USEF Prix St. Georges on Thursday accounted for 35% of the overall score; the USEF Intermediaire I on Friday accounted for 45% of the score; and the USEF Intermediaire Freestyle on Saturday accounted for the final 20%.

“It’s not just about coming here and winning,” Steffen said. “You look back and feel really good about the way you got here—the training and the road you took…that’s what I’m taking home from here.”

Shannon and Luxor performed their freestyle to a flamenco-style medley, earning a 71.300 and a fourth place in the class, still high enough to earn a second place ranking in the overall Championship. “I had a lot of horse today,” explained Shannon. “The music was a little loud for the horse…we did the best we could and I’m happy with where we placed.” In reference to her first time at the National Championship, Shannon said “I came here hoping I’d get in the top five. To actually place second, and behind Steffen, is great. I’m proud of my horse. We just pulled all of this together in February and started the freestyle two months ago.”

Jane Hannigan of Harvard, Massachusetts, once again rounded out the top three with a score of 70.290% on Maksymilian (1994 KWPN Dutch Warmblood gelding). The pair took second in Saturday’s class though, the USEF Intermediaire Freestyle, earning a 71.700 to music from “Mission Impossible.”

“I am so happy,” beamed Hannigan. “I had no expectations when I came here. I was just so excited for the opportunity the USEF gave me. I was elated that I would get to come to the Championship.” Placing third, Jane has started the long journey of proving herself among the nation’s very best. “I got to meet my hero, Coach Klaus Balkenhol. And I got to ride with my hero,” Hannigan said. “Overall, it was phenomenal.”

Scores for Saturday’s class, the USEF Intermediaire Freestyle, are listed below, followed by overall scores for the National Championship.