Burbank, California - At the conclusion of his grand prix ride, Steffen Peters, of San Diego, CA, looked over at his wife, Shannon crying with emotion, at the in-gate. He knew it was a good ride. “If she doesn’t cry, I know it’s just a so-so test.” The judge’s panel agreed, awarding Peters and Floriano, owned by Laurelyn Browning, a winning score of 73.417. At 17, the flashy, chestnut gelding still seems at the top of his game. “I did not have to push him at all,” Peters explained. “He felt really strong.”

photo: Lynndee Kemmet

In an exciting and toughly contested race, the second through fifth place riders were all within a percentage point of one another. Edging out her competition, was another Californian, Leslie Morse. Ring her bay stallion, Morse showed some brilliance, but the risk caused a couple of mistakes, she hopes to put behind her tomorrow.

Courtney King and Michael Barisone seemed thrilled with their respective third- and fourth-place finishes.

King said she was very pleases with her horse, Idocus, also an older mount. “He felt happy and honest.” She also sited some mistakes in the one-tempi’s and was hoping to smooth out some of the transitions before tomorrow.

Barisone’s mount, Neruda, has one of the “biggest” passages on the circuit, and it was impressive to watch today. When asked how it felt to ride, he responded, “It’s great! He [Neruda] makes me look good.”

On a more somber note, Peters spoke on behalf of all the riders during the press conference, commenting on their disappointment at not having their friend and veteran competitor, Guenter Siedel, in the mix. Seidel’s grand prix horse, Aragon, the 16-year-old grey Bavarian Gelding, owned by Dick and Jane Brown, had to withdraw from the finals on Friday. Seidel explained, “Aragon passed the jog, no problem on Thursday, then injured himself later in the day.” The decision was made to take the horse home for evaluation and treatment. Peters went on to say it is always the horse that matters and to “save him for future competitions.”

For the U.S. League Finals and Freestyle Championships, scores from the grand prix do not actually count, but rather determine the order of go for Sunday’s freestyle. Barisone explained that riders never feel that is entirely true, as it is important to leave the judges with a good impression. “You have to be credible and solid. Don’t leave the judges with the feeling you are going to struggle.” Particularly important when, as Barisone is, a rider is debuts a completely new freestyle.

U.S. Team Chef d’Equipe Klaus Balkenhol felt he saw some nerves today and thinks the rides will be much stronger tomorrow. About the whole experience of East and West Coast riders competing for those coveted spots and international recognition, Barisone pointed to Peters and said, “He’s living the dream, but we’re all shooting for that dream.”

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