International dressage star Steffen Peters was happily surprised at the calibre of New Zealand horses he assessed in Manfeild Park (Feilding).

As winner of the 2009 FEI Dressage World Cup, the American rider is presenting in Feilding for the FEI Regional Dressage Forum.

A selection of New Zealand horse and riders participate in the weekend's forum, under the eye of the world leading rider and trainer. Today (Friday) Peters assessed the combination's and was pleased with the potential shown.

“The problems the riders experience are the same ones I see all over the world,” said Peters. “Sometimes there is too much contact and too much leg used.

“At the end of the day it is our responsibility to teach the horse to use its own muscles to carry itself.”

“I was especially pleased with the Advanced horses that I worked with today and the immediate improvements that I saw.”

those 'amateur' clydie crosses? LOL

That's great news! The quality of horses is certainly improving here in NZ and it's nice to have that acknowledged by an internationally renown equestrian.

Thanks for posting!

Hey Michelle, I think I drive past your stud whenever I go to visit my good friend Tracy Kovacs on the Fernside/Oxford main road?

That's the one!!!! Normally the boy is in the front paddock and if you pull up into my driveway, he gallops over to check out what food you have for him! LOL!