DEL MAR – Almost a year from their historic World Cup championship in Las Vegas last April, dressage stars Steffen Peters and Ravel set a personal best 77.660 percent to win the Grand Prix CDI at the Dressage Affaire, held March 12-14.

The victory, by nine percentage points over Adrienne Lyle aboard Wizard, continues their 2010 campaign toward the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games this September in Lexington, KY. After demonstrating at the Del Mar Arena that he and the 12-year-old KWPN gelding are well prepared for any competition, Peters plans to compete close to home until the selection trials in August.

“We will not travel to Europe this summer,” said Peters, 44, who emigrated to the U.S. at age 20 from Germany. “But, I do want Ravel to stay sharp. I will compete with him at the Del Mar CDI and later in the San Diego chapter’s summer shows. It is not good to keep a horse out of the competition arena for too long.”

Held every four years, the WEG comes to the U.S. for the first time in 2010. Ravel is regarded as the host nation’s best championship hope, especially after Tip Top 962, ridden by Leslie Morse to win Exquis World Dressage Masters Grand Prix Specials in Hickstead in 2009 and at Palm Beach this year, suffered colic at the Dressage Affaire show. The 16-year-old Swedish Warmblood stallion underwent major colic surgery March 12 by Dr. Rodrigo Vazquez in Rancho Santa Fe.
Peters, of Del Mar, was thrilled to achieve his personal best ride in his hometown.

“It is always more difficult to score your best at home,” he said. “The home crowd is a competitor’s toughest audience.”

They put in a flawless test for the 77.67 percent with one score of 80.00% from Wim Ernes from Holland who officiated at C.

Guenter Seidel of nearby Cardiff and U II was third with 68.043 percent. Fellow Californian Jan Ebeling of Moorpark was fourth on Sandrina at 67.489 per cent.

In the special on Sunday, Peters and Ravel scored 77.375 percent, and Lyle and Wizard placed second with 68.958.