When one of us is out of town, the other rides his or her horses. You have to check your ego at the door and allow yourself to get help and receive it. For us it’s not a problem, I think because we have the highest respect for each other,” Shannon says. That respect was tested in 2007 when Weltino’s Magic’s
arrived at the ranch. “We definitely have our strong suits. He’s better with some horses than I am and we can admit that. Even though we have separate businesses, the principle we follow is to work out what’s better for horse, rider and owner,” Shannon says. Weltino’s Magic was purchased for Shannon as a
coming five-year-old. He was a Westphalian gelding by Weltino out of Diva by Diamond Boy, owned by Jen and Bruce Hlavacek. At the time he was a 16.1 hand, short- coupled horse that seemed to be a fairly uncomplicated ride. By the time they got to the 2008 Markel/ USEF National Young Horse Championships where they ended up reserve
champions, Magic was well over 17 hands and 1,600 pounds. After he did so well at the championships, she turned him out for time off because he had grown so much. When she brought him back, he was even bigger. “I told the owner I loved the horse to pieces, and I’m the last person to give up the ride, but for everyone’s sake, he was a better ride for Steffen. I could have gotten it done at some point, but as big and strong as he was, he was better with Steffen—who did an amazing job with him,” Shannon continues. The big Westphalian and Steffen won gold at the 2011
one another transfers into how we are with our clients and horses. It’s how we run our daily life and treat each other. It starts out with a common belief system and everything falls into place from there,” she adds. Although their businesses are separate, clearly their accomplishments rely on one another’s help.
After Hours If they can arrange it, afternoons are earmarked for escape from the barn, often on separate paths. They might work out together, but then Steffen can be found in a field maneuvering remote control airplanes and helicopters, on the road aboard his motorcycle or on water skis or a wakeboard.
Shannon is an avid tennis player and serious bike rider.
Both Shannon and Steffen were the clinicians at the NEDA 2010 Fall Symposium where they worked together to help numerous dressage riders.
In full gear, she is seen six or seven days a week on her road bike eating up the miles. At one time a competitive rider on two wheels, today it’s about fitness. “I like having a peaceful couple of hours on my bike. Because we do other things, we can really focus on the barn when we’re there. We have a separate time during the day to do things that are enjoyable and
to keep us from becoming overwhelmed by the whole thing,” she explains. In the horse world, personal and business decisions
Pan American Games. This is not to say Shannon and Peter aren’t each “go for
it” people. Both admit to being extremely competitive. “Ultimately we have the same goals in the ring. But as for each other, we are always rooting for the best for the other. We certainly are not competitive with each other at all,” she says. “We have so much the same philosophy on how we treat the horses, our staff and our clients. Our respect for
often blend. “Because so much of what we do with the horses is personal and we are so very passionate about it, it’s hard to separate the personal life from the business life,” says Shannon. “We have found a good way to do it and keep a good business head, not letting the personal take hold.” During evenings the Peters hold pow-wows on how to run the business and the farm, usually without any drama. While Shannon attends more to the management of the staff and the day-to-day running of the farm, decisions are a joint activity. “We don’t have a hard time in that department. We agree 99 percent of the time.” At night Shannon also attends to staffing paperwork and
to her other business, ShowRingShine, the boot care kit that she created, produces and markets.
Warmbloods Today 37
Photos by Carole MacDonald
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