Steffen Peters To Return to CDI Ring with Catch Ride, Blue Hors Zirrus

Dressage

U.S.A.

U.S. six-time Olympian is set to make his come back to the international competition ring after an almost 1.5-year health care hiatus. He is taking on catch ride Blue Hors Zirrus.

Hiatus

After the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, Akiko Yamazaki's long-time sponsorship of Steffen Peters came to an end and his number one ride Suppenkasper was retired from sport.

The 61-year old rider announced he would be taking a break from sport dealing with mental and physical health issues, including neuropathy, which is damage or dysfunction of the peripheral nerves. It can cause symptoms like weakness, numbness, and pain, particularly in the hands and feet.

Peters continued to teach but no longer rode for at least a year before he slowly turned to the saddle at home. He handed over the ride on his new number one, Mani's Endeavor, to his wife Shannon.

CDI Come Back

Peters will now be making his comeback to the international and national ring at this weekend's CDI Del Ma on 19 - 22 March 2026.

According to Dressage-news he will be competing Lezlie Rehagen's small tour horse Sir Ruffo (by Sir Donnerhall I x Rubin Royal) in the national ring. More interestingly, Dressprod spotted that Peters has been entered to compete Christina Vinios' Blue Hors Zirrus in the international Grand Prix ring at the CDI Del Mar.

The 14-year old gelding Blue Hors Zirrus (by Zack x Donnerhall) was originally trained and competed by Nanna Skodborg Merrald, who won bronze on him at the 2019 Danish Young Horse Championships and produced him to Grand Prix level before selling to Vinios in the U.S.A. at the end of 2022.

Catch Ride

Vinios, who owns Five Rings Farm in Wellington, Florida, has shown the horse at national level herself and in January 2026 rode him in his first CDI ever in Wellington.

Vinios and Zirrus at Global in February 2026

"Steffen has helped me with him in the clinics for the last few months and I asked him if he’d do a few shows with him," Vinios told Eurodressage. "He’s helped us with training and competing a few of our horses over the years."

When asked if Zirrus can be counted as Peters' U.S. team hopeful for the 2026 World Championships or 2028 L.A. Olympics, Vinios replied, "for now the plan with Zirrus is just to get a few CDIs under his belt and take it one show at a time."