Lexington, KY (September 18, 2012) - The United States Dressage Federation announced today that the Succeed/USDF FEI-Level Trainers' Conference will feature Olympian Steffen Peters and USEF National Young Dressage Horse Coach Scott Hassler.  The conference will be held January 21-22, 2013 at Mary Anne McPhail's High Meadow Farm in Loxahatchee, Florida.  During this year's conference, Peters and Hassler will engage qualified attendees in a peer-to-peer format focused on identifying each horse's strengths and weaknesses and improving attendees' problem solving skills, allowing them to make better training decisions.  Peters will be hands-on with FEI-level horses, spending time in the saddle as he demonstrates and conveys his training techniques aimed at achieving a direct improvement in each horse's performance. Peters and Hassler will also engage selected participants in thought-provoking training scenarios as they ride.
          Steffen Peters is one of the most sought after trainers and clinicians in the world and is known for his correct and sympathetic approach.  In addition to his training credentials, Peters has a highly decorated international competitive career.  He recently made history in having the number one and number two horses for the 2012 US Olympic team. Peters earned an Individual and Team Gold medal at the 2011 Pan American Games, earned an Individual Bronze medal in both the Grand Prix Special and Grand Prix Dressage at the 2010 World Equestrian Games, won the 2009 World Cup, placed fourth individually in the 2008 Olympic Games, earned a Team Bronze medal in the 1996 Olympics, has been named as USEF Equestrian of the Year an unprecedented three times, and has won six USEF National Grand Prix Dressage Championship titles.
            Scott Hassler, a well sought after clinician, is one of our country's most respected all-around horsemen and is an internationally respected and accomplished trainer and educator.  Hassler's straightforward and simple training and coaching techniques have been used to successfully develop horses of all ages through the Grand Prix level, as well as helped achieve the best US result to date at the World Championships for Young Horses, with a fourth place finish in 2005.  Hassler's visionary impact and dedication to the sport is further illustrated in the Young Dressage Horse Trainers Symposium, which Hassler initiated while he was at Hilltop Farm. This meaningful event is entering its eighth year and is heralded as a model for successful educational forums of the nature Hassler and Peters intend to deliver.  A member of the USEF Dressage Committee, the USEF Strategic Planning Committee, the USEF Young Horse Steering Committee, and the USDF Sporthorse Committee; Hassler was named USEF National Young Horse Coach in 2006 and is based at the renowned Riveredge Training Facility in Chesapeake City, Maryland.
            Kathie Robertson, Senior Education Programs Coordinator, stated, "I am excited we are able to provide a more intimate and interactive environment this year.  Steffen and Scott are the perfect team to interact with our attendees."
            For more information on the Succeed/USDF FEI-Level Trainers' Conference, including criteria for attendance, please contact the USDF office at trainersconference@usdf.org or at (859) 971-2277.

Founded in 1973, the United States Dressage Federation is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to education, recognition of achievement, and promotion of dressage. For more information about USDF membership or programs, visit www.usdf.org, email usdressage@usdf.org, or call (859) 971-2277.