America's double Olympic team horse Ravel has been formally retired from competition sport at a ceremony at the 2013 CDI Del Mar on Saturday 27 April 2013. Akiko Yamazaki's Dutch warmblood gelding competed in his ast show at the 2012 Olympic Games but his retirement was celebrated in public eight months later at Del Mar.
Steffen Peters and Ravel performed their Avatar freestyle one last time, before a tear-filled ceremony took place in which Ravel's entire team was honoured and thanked.
"Thank you everybody for being here tonoght. It's really great to be able to show you ravel one last time in his home ground. I'm so warmed in my heart to see so many people coming to say goodbye to him," Akiko said at the ceremony. "It takes a village to accomplish what Ravel is able to do. Thank you everyone in Ravel's team."
"Akiko, thank you so much," Peters said at the ceremony. "I said it many times. I try to put in words a few times what I experienced with Ravel and with the entire Ravel team. I can't put it in words."
Steffen described winning the 2009 World Cup Finals in Las Vegas as his career highlight. He used the words "pure joy, pure gratitude, appreciation."
Akiko and Jerry Yamazaki acquired Ravel from Tim Coomans in The Netherlands in September 2006. The dark bay was gelded soon after his arrival in the U.S. and a serious injury stalled their career. The pair, however, made its claim to fame in 2008 by finishing fourth at the 2008 Olympic Games. They won the 2009 World Cup Finals in Las Vegas and were double individual bronze medallists at the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Kentucky. In 2012 they were 17th at the Olympic Games in London. They won the 2009 CDIO Aachen and they were the 2008 and 2011 U.S. Grand Prix Champions.
Ravel is America's most decorated Grand Prix dressage horse ever.
Related Links
Steffen Peters' Ravel Retires from Competition after 2012 Olympic Games' Freestyle
Steffen Peters Wins 2012 U.S. Grand Prix Dressage Championships
American Steffen Peters Rides Ravel to Record Win in Grand Prix at 2011 World Dressage Masters Palm Beach
Michael Poulin and Ravel Inducted into USDF Hall of Fame
Ravel Named 2010 USDF Grand Prix Horse of the Year
Ravel Proclaimed U.S. Horse of the Year 2009
Steffen Peters and Ravel Dance to Victory in 2009 World Cup Finals
TC Ravel Sold to Steffen Peters
