The Good HorsePerson: 4/19/09

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Steffan Peters Edges Out Werth to Win World Cup Final with 84.95%

Steffan Peters become the second American rider in history to win the World Cup Final on Saturday Night at the Rolex FEI World Cup held this year in Las Vegas. He has only been partnered with his horse, the 11 year old gelding Ravel (by Contango), for 14 months. Peters credits Ravel's good mind and sound temper for helping him to the win. Dressage Daily quotes Peters: “Ravel kept it together even with the noisy crowd. I am really one of those lucky guys in the world that gets to ride a horse with a mind like that.” Ravel's success is a credit to Iron Spring Farm's breeding program, of which Contango has long since been a cornerstone stud.

See a video of Peter's historic ride at NBC's Universal Sports Equestrian Channel.

For more live equestrian sports action, The Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event starts Thursday, April 23rd and runs through Sunday, April 26th. Held each year at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY, Rolex draws a crowd of over 100,000. A festive atmosphere pervades the Horse Park with more than 175 merchants, corporate sponsors and food vendors on the grounds. Equestrian Events, Inc. is offering pay-per-view webcasts of the dressage and cross country. Universal Sports' Equestrian Channel will have free, live coverage of show jumping on April 26th.

photo credit: AP Photo

Who is The Good HorsePerson?

The Good HorsePerson is the blog of dressage trainer and instructor Amanda Chambers. Amanda has been teaching and training in dressage and basic horsemanship for over a decade. Amanda earned her USDF Bronze and Silver Medals riding her Appendix Quarter Horse Gotta Love Me, who she trained and rode to multiple regional award wins, including USDF Regional Reserve Champion at Fourth Level, the Bayer/USET Festival of Champions FEI YR Individual Medal and USDF Regional Jr/YR Champion at Intermediare I. Today, Gotta Love Me is still going strong at age 21, competing successfully at Third Level with his amateur owner.

In 2002, Amanda rode the Holsteiner gelding Lombado to wins at both the CBLM and USDF Regional Championships at Second Level. Amanda was also Reserve Champion at Second Level with the Holsteiner mare Izabelle.

From 2004 to 2007, Amanda rode the Thoroughbred gelding Grande Finale (trained by USEF "S" judge Elizabeth Madlener) to year-end high score awards at 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Levels. In 2006, Amanda and Grande Finale were Virginia State Champions at 3rd Level and in '07 they were Reserve State Champions at 4th Level. Also in 2007, Amanda rode two other Thoroughbreds who placed in year-end awards at Training and First Level, including Parker's Way, who scored up to 69% at 1st Level and 1st Level Freestyle including a win at First Level, Test 4 in a 15 horse class at a licensed PVDA show. A junior student of Amanda's was Reserve Champion at year end awards at Training Level riding Thoroughbred gelding Alchemist.

In 2008, Amanda rode the Thoroughbred mare Star Style to seven wins at Training and First Level, including High Score of a licensed PVDA show with 73%.

In 2009, Amanda rode the Trakehner gelding Golden Hour (by Happy Hour) owned by Fred & Debbie Ellis and trained by Elizabeth Madlener. Golden Hour won 9 Training Level Open Classes with a high score of 78% and placed 3rd nationally for Trakehners at Training Level.

Amanda holds a B.A. in English Literature from Franklin & Marshall College. When she is not riding, teaching or competing in dressage, she works as a marketing manager and does freelance writing for equestrian publications.