Proving he is the rider to beat, no matter the horse, Steffen Peters of San Diego claimed the winner’s spot yet again on Four Winds Farms’, Rosamunde with a score of 76.225% in the G-2 Software Grand Prix Freestyle. Riding to music that included tunes from Coldplay and Rolling Stones, he and the 10-year-old Rheinlander mare rocked the house. Using music from Disney’s ‘The Dinosaur’, Kimberly McGrath (Yucaipa) on Winslow finished second with a 73.425, followed by Jan Ebeling (Moorpark) and FRH Rassolini (70.325%).
Starting off the Adequan Evening of Musical Freestyles earlier in the evening, the FEI Freestyle Test of Choice was won by local favorite Nick Wagman (San Diego) riding the Dutch Warmblood gelding, Zenith, owned by Beverly Gepfer with a score of 69.750%. Second went to Jodie Cressman (Camarillo) on Gina Atton-Thomas’ Upendo with 68.375% and third went to Barbi Breen-Gurley (Los Osos) and Vindicator (63.757%).
The audience was wowed by a special exhibition Freestyle by Anna Buffini (San Diego) and her self- described “best friend”, Sundayboy. Showing the 18-year-old gelding in his final performance before stepping down from International competition, and performing to a medley of Neil Diamond tunes originally performed by Anna’s coach, Gunter Seidel, she added an emotional moment to the evening.
Capping off the evening was an exhibition Pas de Deux at the Grand Prix level, performed by Joy Rothe and Sarah Pinney riding the full brother and sister, Rohan and Rolex. The ‘Dancing Duo’ performed a brand new routine to the delight of the audience at the Evening of Musical Freestyles.
Peters dominated the entire day of competition. He won convincingly on Bailarino in the Intermediaire I, sponsored by Jen and Bruce Hlavacek with 73.202%. Rebecca Rigdon on La Fariah claimed the red ribbon again today, with a score of 70.358%.
On the National side of the show, Peters was again impressive as he claimed the First Level High Score (77.778%) title with the impressive 6-year-old Galeno Gimli, son of his 2009 World Cup Champion Ravel.