U.S. Olympic Dressage Team Concludes Time at 2024 Olympic Games with Steffen Peters and Suppenkasper’s FEI Grand Prix
By U.S. Equestrian Communications Dept.
Versailles, France – The U.S. Dressage Team finished their time at the 2024 Olympic Games with the final U.S. combination of Steffen Peters and Suppenkasper completing their FEI Grand Prix test. The pair finished with a 66.491% after a difficult final line and some bobbles during their test. At the current time, neither Adrienne Lyle or Steffen Peters are qualified for the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle, but Lyle and Helix are the second reserve for the class, so will re-inspect on Sunday.
“I deeply share Steffen’s disappointment with his ride today, especially taking into consideration what this combination has done for this sport, our country, and worldwide, bringing so much positive engagement to and energy to Dressage over the past few years,” said Chef d’Equipe Christine Traurig. “It became obvious to me during their test, Mopsie was not himself today. Once he returned to stabling after cool down, he was taken care of by his team and our team USEF veterinarian and is starting to feel more himself, which is the most important thing.”
Peters, of San Diego, Calif., and Suppenkasper started off their test well, with Mopsie (Suppenkasper’s barn name) earning strong marks in the beginning trot tour, but some additional bobbles throughout the test started to impact their score. After their final trot extension across the diagonal, Mopsie spotted something in the crowd, which spooked him, according to Peters, which resulted in a very costly last centerline.
“It was tough,” said Steffen Peters about his ride on Suppenkasper in the Olympic Games. “[He was] a little too much on fire. He’s been in places like this before, and I thought right after the walk I had him, and he got more and more excited, and even on the last extension, he was drifting a little right. He saw something on the short side, and [it] gave him from behind so much energy for that last passage, and I knew that could be trouble for the last piaffe.”
The FEI Grand Prix Special for team medals will begin at 10:00 a.m. GMT+2/4:00 a.m. ET on Saturday, August 3, while the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle for individual medals will start at 10:00 a.m. GMT+2/4:00 a.m. ET on Sunday, August 4.
USPC National Office
The United States Pony Clubs, Inc. (USPC or Pony Club) is the largest equestrian educational organization in North America. Started in 1954, the organization has developed curriculum that teaches safe riding skills and the care of horses through mounted and unmounted lessons. Through Pony Club, members have fun with horses and make lifelong friends while they develop skills, habits, and values that extend well beyond the barn and last a lifetime. Many members apply what they have learned in the USPC program successfully in their careers, educational and volunteer opportunities, and other life pursuits.
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