History was made today when Phoebe Peters claimed Great Britain’s first-ever Dressage individual medal at the FEI European Pony Championships in Arezzo, Italy this evening. And making the moment all the more sensational was the fact that it was a golden one.
Her top-score performance with SL Lucci in the Team competition helped put her country back on the podium, in bronze medal position, on Friday for the first time in six years. And today she exceeded all expectations when throwing down the gauntlet with another fabulous test from the 11-year-old SL Lucci that left the rest floundering in her wake in the Individual Championship.  
Not even the great German partnership of Deinhard B and Semmieke Rothenberger could better the 79.049 Peters registered on the scoreboard after a test that oozed confidence, grace, lightness and accuracy. Four of the five judges put her in first place with a winning margin of just over half a percentage point ahead of Rothenberger in silver, while The Netherlands‘ Lisanne Zoutendijk continued to impress when clinching bronze with Champ of Class scoring 77.317.
Peters put her stamp on the class when fifth to go, and from there it was up to the rest to catch her. None came seriously close until Zoutendijk and her nine-year-old gelding, which took individual gold for Dutch compatriot Sanne Vos last year at Fontainebleau (FRA), posted 78.463. But everyone was aware that if Deinhard B could show the class that has already made him a living legend at the age of 14 and a world-record holder following his amazing 81.3 per cent score at the final German qualifier in Hagen (GER) last month, then his 13-year-old rider, Rothenberger, might just push Peters off the top step of the podium. Fifth-last to go, Deinhard posted some excellent scores, but despite the fact that he behaved a great deal more sensibly than he did during his team test earlier in the week, his mark saw the German rider having to settle for silver this time out.
British Chef d’Equipe, Liz Mills, was almost speechless but not quite. “Our first-ever Individual medal!” she said with delight. “We were all hoping for good things here because   they (Peters and SL Lucci) have been so very, very consistent. They won at Saumur and Compiegne - and at Vidauban they won six tests. In total they have won 11 our of 15 in the last while. They are a fantastic partnership!” she pointed out.
Peters has been riding SL Lucci for two years now and was on last year’s British team at the European Pony Championships in Fontainebleau. Under the tutelage of instructor Peter Storr her partnership with her gelding has gone from strength to strength. Asked how she felt about her incredible victory, the 14-year-old rider said modestly “I’m really pleased with how it went. Every time I ask, he gives me 110 per cent, and he tries so hard for me”. She was particularly pleased with “the simple changes, he’s very strong at that, and today they pulled the score up again”. She says she is inspired by Storr and by the stunning Olympic performances of the British senior team. “Charlotte (Dujardin) and Carl (Hester) have paved the way for us all now!” she pointed out.
While she was waiting to go into the medal ceremony, SL Luccia was standing sleepily, probably wondering if there might be a few extra carrots in his feed tonight. “He’s always like this” Peters said, “but when he goes into the arena he really lights up, that’s one of the great things about him. He’s the best, he amazes me, and there were things I could have done much better today so we can do even better again!” she added.
Rothenberger meanwhile said she was “very happy with the silver, especially after what he (Deinhard) did in the team competition. Today he was the total opposite but it makes me cross when people say he doesn’t behave sometimes. He’s not being bold, he just gets really upset by things. I’m very happy with him because he needs a rider like me - I help him and he helps me” she pointed out.
The only question remaining now is who will take the Freestyle title tomorrow to bring this very exciting FEI European Pony Dressage Championships to a close.