Aiken, SC (January 2, 2012) – Pan Am Gold Medal winning horse Weltino’s Magic, owned by Jen Hlavacek and ridden by Steffen Peters, has a motto designed to remind people that they can achieve the highest goals they set for themselves. Magic’s motto is, “I Believe in Magic,” and his fans around the world have embraced the saying. The staff at Custom Saddlery, the saddle company that endorses Peters and his magical equine partner, is thrilled to embrace the magic of Peters and Weltino’s Magic.
“Custom Saddlery has sponsored Steffen Peters on a variety of horses over the years. Steffen now rides predominantly in our Icon Flight Saddle and we are currently in the process of making a new saddle for Weltino’s Magic. We could not ask for a higher profile or more accomplished rider then Steffen. He is a true ambassador for the sport and for Custom Saddlery. We are proud and honored to have him ride in our saddles,” said Graham Newell, Professional Saddle Fitter for Custom Saddlery.
Peters and Magic showed the dressage world they were on top in 2011 when they rode away with the Team Gold and the Individual Gold Medal at the Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico. Peters and Weltino’s Magic also produced the only score over 80% — a score of 80.132 that set a new Pan-American Games record.
Newell said having Peters and Weltino’s Magic as part of their team has been a great experience for Custom Saddlery, a company known for producing quality dressage, eventing and jumping saddles. “Steffen is a staunch advocate for Custom Saddlery, to the point where he will stop riding to show a new client his saddle, even insisting that they sit and ride in it,” Newell said. “Steffen fell in love with our Advantage saddle and used that saddle for the Olympics. When we introduced the Icon range it was impressive to watch Steffen take delivery of the saddle on a Wednesday, ride in a CDI*** on Saturday and win! Steffen’s comment was, “The saddle worked right out of the box as if I had been riding in it for years.”
While Peters has a large fan base and is the reigning king of American dressage, Magic isn’t far behind him. With a Facebook page of approximately 1,600 fans, Magic has a big following among children, including school kids who were taught interdisciplinary subjects such as computer skills, geography and math while following Magic’s quest for the Pan American Games. “Magic’s owner has a file of his student fan mail that kids have sent to him. They ask Magic questions and they give Steffen advice on how to avoid the paparazzi. And of course they draw him pictures,” Newell said.
Earlier this year one of Magic’s young student fans became ill with leukemia. When she went into the hospital for a kidney transplant, she took with her a Christmas card from Magic and one of his first place ribbons that he had sent her. “It was her reminder to believe in herself and her powers of healing and recovery,” Newell said.
Magic is known as a laid back horse that doesn’t get frustrated as he travels the world to compete. “At the USDF National Symposium, Coach Anne Gribbons said that Magic was the same horse everywhere he went. He loves people and craves their attention because he knows he can con them into giving him some treats,” Newell said.
Cary Wallace, President and Master Saddle Fitter at Custom Saddlery, said that Custom enjoys its relationship with Peters and Magic. “Steffen is on board with our theory that innovations and unique designs are a result of a blending of design and craftsmanship,” Wallace said. The quality and craftsmanship of Custom’s saddles has had an enormous impact on the dressage world, with many of the top United States riders competing in Custom creations. At the 2011 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Festival of Champions, Peters wasn’t the only rider competing in a Custom Saddle. Other Custom Saddlery endorsed riders at Gladstone included Heather Blitz, Tina Konyot, Kathleen Raine, Caroline Roffman, Lauren Sammis, Endel Ots and David Wightman.
For more information on Custom Saddlery, visit their website at www.mysaddle.com.
For more information contact:
Custom Saddlery
Cary Wallace
www.mysaddle.com
1-800-235-3865