Gary, Chester and Steffen - A Journey to the USA for Dressage - Part 1

by Gary Lung for Equestrian Life

How it Started?

Firstly, I would like to apologise for not writing this earlier but since the my return from San Diego, I’ve been chasing my tail. One would think not having your competition horse around would free you up but apparently this is not the case! I want to start by taking everyone back to the beginning, to when I first heard about Steffen Peters ...

The first I heard of and saw Steffen Peters was when he was riding Floriano in the World Equestrian Games in 2006. I remember watching the DVD and thinking what a soft and kind rider with such concentration and focus. I thought to myself “Apart from riding the test, I wonder what is going through his mind?” (Watch the video of Steffen and Floriano below)

Well, I eventually found out when I next came across Steffen. He was the guest presenter in a masterclass called ‘A Day of Dressage” held in Sydney back in 2008. I was unable to make the masterclass but after receiving positive feedback from friends who went, I purchased the set of DVDs and spent hours watching and listening to them.

Through the Masterclass he worked with several horses all at different levels and it was pleasant to hear how respectful he was with each horse and rider. There were loads of training concepts, tips and hints that Steffen shared with his audience, whilst still maintaining the focused expression, from when I first saw him riding.

I loved how he approached each horse and rider differently and took into consideration their level of education and talents. I remember watching him warm up Nadia Coghlan’s beautiful horse Carlyle. He began in a lovely relaxed trot and then would change the movement to an expressive, light and jaw dropping moving machine without a tense moment. One word came to mind – “impressive”.

One of my favourite Steffen sayings was when he was working with a difficult horse, “he or she is entitled to an opinion”.  That was music to my ears. It is a nice way to say, I hear what the horse is saying and now lets work through the process together.

The next time I heard about Steffen’s positive training methods and concepts was when friends of mine attended a FEI Dressage Forum in New Zealand. Again, the feedback confirmed his talent for training horses.

By this time, I was starting to get interested. Watching him win and place in major events throughout the world including World Equestrian Games and Olympics was fantastic but the way he trained and worked with his horses intrigued me. I was starting to dream that I would love to train with this person.

Educational DVD’s and you tube footages on Steffen riding, training and coaching was all I could access so when I heard that he was coming to Queensland to present at the Mitavite Ultimate Masterclass, I thought this is my opportunity to spend some time listening to him and to hopefully access that unique training concept.

Nicole Magoffin and Trish Osborne (organisers of the event) gave people around Australia the opportunity to become demo riders through an application process.  I could not believe my ears, first Steffen was coming to Queensland and second, there was an opportunity to be part of the master class so needless to say, I applied.

It was a very exciting day when I found out that my horse GB Winchester (Chester)  and  I were  selected, I kept thinking it was a dream. I kept thinking that the organisers would change their mind and put someone else instead of Chester and me.  It wasn’t until media announcements were made about our involvement that I was sure I got the opportunity to ride and train with one of the world’s best coaches, trainer and rider.

Gary riding Chester for Steffen in the Ultimate Masterclass ©

Not only did Nicole and Trish arrange for Steffen to present but they brought in Jonah Oliver,  one of Australia’s leading sport psychologist to work alongside Steffen and each rider. Steffen looked after the technique and Jonah looked after the mental. The concept and the combination worked very well.

The Mitavite Ultimate Masterclass was very satisfying for me on a number of  levels.

1). My dream to train with Steffen came true, 

2). Steffen helped me with training areas that I was struggling with, and

3). Steffen rode Chester.

I’m a visual and doing learner and as much as a coach will explain and describe what he or she is trying to get across, I learn faster if I can see someone do it and then for me to have a go.  This happened when Steffen rode Chester, explaining what he was doing and then I got to ride and felt the final outcome.

Being part of this wonderful master class training with Steffen was one of the highlights of my riding career. To top this off, Steffen approached me after the masterclass and invited Chester and I to come over to San Diego to train with him in his barn – “Arroyo Del Mar”.

What an invitation? To travel across the world to train with one of the world’s best trainer, coach, rider and competitor was all too over whelming. 

The following questions raced around my head:

How long do we go for?

When do we go?

Will I stay the whole time?

What about my job?

How much will it cost?

Who will look after Chester if I’m not there?

I also had a million and one questions for Steffen and as I sent through endless emails, he patiently answered them all.  He was accommodating, supportive and helpful.  He suggested I come over to meet everyone and to see the barn and to see if I was comfortable in packing up my horse and sending him across the world to live with Team Peters.

Over a period of 4 weeks, I spent sleepless nights throwing around the pros and cons, investigating all avenues, speaking to a number of people and the final decision was made in the beginning of December 2012.  I decided not to take up Steffen’s offer to come across first but to go ahead and send Chester as soon as possible and take up the opportunity offered.

My decision to do this was influenced by the fact that Nicole Magoffin had previously spent time with Steffen at Arroyo Del Mar when she took her Grand Prix horse Jaybee Anzac over for 6 months. She spoke highly not only of Steffen’s training methods but of the way Steffen and Shannon ran their training establishment. Her words were “everyone is happy, all the people (owners, grooms and staff), all the horses and even the dogs”

In addition to this, I had already met and had been training with Lientje Schueler (Steffen’s Assistant trainer) who comes over to Australia 3 to 4 times a year.  I spent time chatting to her and her feedback confirmed everything that I had heard.

Join us tomorrow for Part Two as Gary takes us through what “The Trip” was like heading over to the USA.

Photos and article subject to copyright.