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THE STORY OF SPETERS DRESSAGE

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Steffen and Shannon Peters, both widely known and accomplished within the sport of dressage, are no strangers to the competition ring nor the media spotlight, but what is the story behind their success and what they now call "SPeters Dressage"? 

 

​         Today, SPeters Dressage is the name for both Steffen and Shannon Peters training business in San Diego, CA out of the Arroyo Del Mar facility. Although both Steffen and Shannon run their businesses separately with different clients and horses, they do share in their longtime memories, training philosophies, and in their loyal and experienced grooms. Before unpacking the present of SPeters Dressage, let’s take a brief dive into the past of both Steffen and Shannon individually and together. 

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             Steffen Peters began his riding journey in Wesel, Germany at the age of seven. He competed from a young age in local dressage competitions and by fifteen explored the opportunities to compete throughout Belgium and Denmark. A pivotal moment in Steffen’s career was the gift of Udon from his father. Before Peters began his army service in Germany, he spent the summer of 1984 training in San Diego, CA and in 1985, returned to the San Diego area to work with Laurie Flavo. Peters opened his own barn in 1991, gained US citizenship in 1992, and competed and won bronze in the 1996 Olympic Games on Udon.

 

            Shannon Peters, originally from Michigan, also began riding from a young age and began her own training business when she moved to Boulder, Colorado for college. She had a successful training business in Colorado, but decided to move her business to San Diego in 2003 when she married Steffen Peters. In 2006, the Peters moved their business to Arroyo Del Mar, where they currently live and work today. 

        

             Shannon Peters is known for her excellent and compassionate connection with the horses she works with. Her longtime mentor is Karl Mikolka, who believed it takes a dedicated spirit and time to understand the horse as a willing partner. Shannon is a very experienced Grand Prix dressage rider and a USDF Gold Medalist. She has competed in USDF Recognized shows on 41 different horses, and is a a CLS five star competitor with 133 shows to date. 

           Shannon has been featured in multiple articles and magazines for her thoughts on hoof health and longterm soundness. She has taken fifteen horses now from training level to Grand Prix dressage barefoot. Her incredible story can be read in the article below. 

https://dressagetoday.com/horse-health-/barefoot-dressage-with-shannon-peters-12540

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            Although the name SPeters Dressage clearly is the story about Steffen and Shannon Peters, Team Peters also includes multiple other important players. Loyal and experienced grooms Eduardo Garcia, Juan Rodriguez, and Angel Utrilla have been working at Arroyo Del Mar with the Peters since the business first moved to the facility. Team Peters is also about educating and developing driven individuals. Dawn White O’Connor first came to work with the Peters following her high school years in 2007 and worked with them for over eleven years. O’Connor, originally from Colorado, met Shannon Peters at a clinic and was invited to work with Team Peters as a working student. She rode with Shannon and Steffen for several years and was given the opportunity to groom for Steffen in Europe several times, including both in 2007 as well as in 2012 for the London Olympic Games. O’Connor has had the privilege of riding and competing on some of Steffen’s mounts, such as Aristo, Legolas, Galeno, and Bailarino. She now runs her own successful training business in the San Diego area.

 

            Ehren Volk is another key member in the dynamics of Team Peters. Ehren, a Canadian born rider, first came to train with Shannon Peters immediately following her high school years for a few months in San Diego. She clicked with the team and Shannon specifically and was offered a working student position. Volk has now been working with the Peters for eight years now and has found her important place as Shannon Peter’s assistant. She has had the privilege of riding and competing some of the Peters past horses in FEI Small Tour CDI competitions and is now operating her own training business out of Arroyo Del Mar.

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1971

Steffen Peters begins riding in Germany

1980

Steffen Peters purchases Udon

1985

Steffen Peters returns to the US with Udon

1979

Steffen Peters begins competing in Belgium and Denmark

1984

Steffen Peters spends the summer in San Diego, CA training before serving in the German Army

1992

Steffen Peters becomes a US citizen

1991

Steffen Peters opens his own barn and receives his first sponsor, Lila Kommerstad

2003

Shannon Peters moves to San Diego

1996

Steffen Peters wins team bronze in the Summer Olympic Games

2003

Shannon and Steffen Peters are married

2004

Shannon and Steffen Peters move to Arroyo Del Mar

2004

Steffen Peters is an alternate on Floriano for the Summer Olympic Games

2007

Dawn White O'Connor comes to SPeters Dressage as a working student

2008

Steffen Peters places fourth in the Summer Olympic Games

2006

Steffen Peters wins team bronze at the World Equestrian Games

2007

Steffen Peters wins individual bronze in the Las Vegas World Cup

2009

Steffen Peters wins Bronze and Gold on Ravel in the Las Vegas World Cup

2010

Steffen Peters wins two individual  bronze medals at the World Equestrian Games

2011

Steffen Peters wins individual and team gold medals at the Pan Am Games

2012

Ravel Retires

2015

Steffen Peters wins individual and team gold medals at the Pan Am Games

2014

Ehren Volk comes to SPeters Dressage as a working student

2016

Steffen Peters wins Team Bronze in the Olympic Games

2017

Dawn White O'Connor begins competing on Legolas

2018

Steffen Peters wins team silver at the World Equestrian Games in Tryon

2019

Del Mar National Horse Show Grand Prix - 80.99%

2020

FEI Grand Prix Freestyle CDIW -83.495% Global Dressage Festival 5

2021

Steffen Peters wins team silver  at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games

2019

FEI Grand Prix - Open - GAIG Q 78.26% 

Spooktacular Halloween Dressage Show

2020

FEI Grand Prix Freestyle CDIO3* - 81.53 % Global Dressage Festival 10

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Video Archive

All Videos

Suppenkasper & Steffen Peters - FEI CDI-W Grand Prix Freestyle - Evening of Musical Freestyles 2018

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Suppenkasper & Steffen Peters - FEI CDI-W Grand Prix Freestyle - Evening of Musical Freestyles 2018
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Suppenkasper & Steffen Peters - FEI CDI-W Grand Prix Freestyle - Evening of Musical Freestyles 2018

Suppenkasper & Steffen Peters - FEI CDI-W Grand Prix Freestyle - Evening of Musical Freestyles 2018

06:29
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Ravel & Steffen Peters - Their Last Freestyle - Night of Musical Freestyles 2013

Ravel & Steffen Peters - Their Last Freestyle - Night of Musical Freestyles 2013

09:18
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Steffen Peters - In The Moment

Steffen Peters - In The Moment

25:08
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Steffen and Shannon Peters, part 2

Steffen and Shannon Peters, part 2

02:39
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