New Additions to the Advisory Board

As the horse world evolves and changes, so must Draper Therapies. One of the ways we help ourselves stay current with the demands of today’s horsemen is through our advisory board – a collection of top riders, trainers, and equine professionals who help us not only promote our products, but also design (or redesign), improve, and test our products. With their help and expertise, we can say we bring truly effective, practical, well-constructed  products to the equine therapy retail market. Recently we have added five members to the advisory board, each with different equine experience and a unique perspective on equine wellness. We are happy to welcome Arianna Almeida, Caroline Roffman, Jenna Cadwallader, Steffen Peters, and Shannon Peters to the Draper Therapies Advisory Board.

Steffen and Shannon Peters

Steffen Peters, born in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, now competes for the United States in dressage. Steffen began riding at seven and started attending local dressage shows. At 15, he was competing in international competitions in Denmark and Belgium. He  received his first horse, Udon, at age 16. In 1991 he moved to San Diego, California and opened his own barn.

Peters won his first Olympic bronze medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia riding Udon. In 2006 he also won bronze with the US team at the World Equestrian Games. Steffen and Ravel were the first American pair to be named the Aachen Grand Prix Champions after receiving the highest scores in all three portions at the Aachen World Equestrian Festival Grand Prix competition in 2009. They were also won the 2009 World Cup final, two bronze medals in the individual competition at the 2010 World Equestrian Games and named the US Grand Prix Dressage Champions, twice.  The Chronicle of the Horse named Steffen and Ravel Horse and Horseman of the Year, and the USEF named Ravel horse of the year in 2009. Steffen was the first person to be awarded the USEF’s Equestrian of the year award three times, winning in 2008, 2009 and 2011.

Shannon, who married Steffen in 2004, is also a top dressage rider and trainer. It is evident in everything she does that Shannon cares for her horses not only as a competition partners, but also as friends. “I’ve learned over the years that competition horses are complex athletes who need more than talent and good training,” says Shannon. “They need the best care we can provide for their overall well-being; they need to feel safe and secure with their trainers and riders; and they need to feel a connection to really excel. I love my horses, and regardless of results in the show ring, for me that will always mean more than anything else.”

Steffen and Shannon lives in San Diego and together they own and operate Arroyo Del Mar, a world-class training and boarding facility.

Arianna Almeida

Originally from Croton-on-Hudson NY, Arianna Almeida began riding at 4 years old. Arianna competed in eventing through the preliminary level throughout high school and purchased her horse, Drummer’s Call, when attending Cornell University. She has worked as a working student for four star eventer Mikki Kuchta,  also became a working student for Jennie Brannigan. Arianna has competed at the preliminary level, winning three preliminary events and then placed first at Chattahoochee CIC*. She moved up into intermediate placing 3rd at GMHA and 4^th at Full Gallop in 2013. Arianna also received Area I USEA 1st Place Preliminary Adult Amateur Rider, Area I USEA 3rd Place Intermediate Adult Amateur Rider and 1^st place CIC* Chattahoochee Hill Horse Trials all in 2011. 

Jenna Cadwallader

Jenna Cadwallader, of Pheonix AZ, began riding at an early age after her father, a team roper, encouraged her to be involved with horses. She was involved in junior and high school rodeo and attended Central Arizona College on a rodeo scholarship. She competed at the College National Finals numerous times and in 2003 she joined the Women’s Pro Rodeo Association. She worked at an Equine surgical center that specializes in equine orthopedics as a veterinary technician before becoming a full time barrel horse trainer. Currently, Jenna is involved with the Futurity and Derby side of barrel racing, enjoying her time working with young equine athletes.

Jenna has many accomplishments; she was in the Top 25 WPRA final World Standings in 2005 as well as many time WPRA Turquoise Circuit Finals qualifier and Dodge National Circuit Finals Top Eight. She has Futurity and Derby earnings at Greg Olson Memorial, Classic Equine, Pac West, Hawki, WPRA Finals and WPRA World Finals Card race money earner. She won the 2012 Pac West 5 year old Futurity Slot Race Champion on SLR Red Hot Veno and the 2013 Pac West Reserve 5 year old Slot race Champion on Famous Meerkat. She is #3 ranked 1D rider in the Mountain States region and owner of Deny Deny Deny the #2 ranked 1D horse in the Mountain States Region.

Caroline Roffman

At age 24, Caroline Roffman is already a top contender in the grand Prix, FEI Small tour and young horse program. Caroline came up through the ranks of the Dressage Young Rider program and is a dressage rider and trainer who owns and operates Lionshare Dressage with her partner, Endel Ots in Wellington, Florida. Caroline has had the chance to train with top riders such as Lars Petersen, Steffen Peters, Kyra Kyrklund, Debbie McDonald, and Anky van Grunsven. During her Junior/Young rider career she won 5 medals from the NAJYRC and was awarded the Fiona Ban Memorial Trophy for highest scoring young rider.

In 2010 Caroline traveled to Taipei, Taiwan and was presented the FEI Rising Star Award from HRH Princess Haya, the president of the FEI. She also won the Five-Year-Old Championship at the Young Horse Championships aboard Bon Chance that same year. Caroline and her horse, Beemer, won the Brentina Cup at Gladstone along with three reserve championships on San City, Bon Chance, and Pie in 2011 at the Young Horse Championships. In 2012 Caroline and Pie were the 2012 Intermediare I National Champions along with a Gold Medal during the inaugural GDF Nations Cup. Aboard Her Highness O, she received the 2012 Developing Horse Prix St. Georges Championship at Lamplight. Currently in 2013 Caroline was a member of the Gold Medal winning Team USA at the Nations Cup, had multiple wins in the Under 25 Grand Prix division with Sagacious HF along with competing very successfully in the small tour with her mare, Her Highness O. This summer, Caroline will be the first rider to compete in the Under 25 Grand Prix division in Aachen with her gelding Sagacious.