OCALA, FL (352today.com) – Amanda Steege has formed many remarkable bonds with horses throughout her career, but her connection with Laffite de Muze stands out.
The 13-year-old Belgian Warmblood, owned by Cheryl Olsten, has become a consistent winner in the show hunter circuit under Steege’s guidance.
Laffite de Muze’s Impressive Achievements and Charitable Impact
Laffite’s accolades include being the 2024 United States Equestrian Federation High Performance Hunter of the Year. He also won the $50,000 World Championship Hunter Rider Professional Challenge in October. His owner, Cheryl Olsten, donates his winnings to the Equus Foundation, which supports charitable equine organizations. There’s even a children’s book about Laffite called Big Wishes for Little Feat.
|READ PART ONE: Amanda Steege: A lifetime with horses rooted in family tradition
“He won so much that first year, he’s just continued for the last seven years,” said Steege. “There are not too many things left to win, that he hasn’t won. Not only riding Laffite is great, but just being around Laffite is great. He has an amazing personality. He has a level of intelligence that is above and beyond that of the average horse. Everybody that’s around him seems to recognize that. He looks you right in your eye. He communicates with you on a different level. We’re excited that they’re going to have a couple of USHJA international derbies at WEC. Those two classes are going to be $80,000 classes.”
New Talent in the Barn: Simon STN and Tangelina
Beyond Laffite, Steege’s barn boasts promising talent, including Simon STN and Tangelina, both poised for success in hunter derbies.
“I spent most of the last year getting them started,” said Steege. “[Simon STN] was six last year. He should start to be around and competing in some of those classes. It’ll be great to have Laffite, who is obviously just the man and knows exactly what he’s doing, and to have a few younger horses to be coming along and follow in his footsteps.”
Why WEC is Amanda Steege’s “Happy Place”
Steege credits Ocala and the World Equestrian Center for providing the ideal environment to prepare for events. “For Laffite, usually our big goal is derby finals which is in August in Kentucky in the Rolex Arena later in the day or at night,” said Steege. “There aren’t a lot of places we can go to, to simulate that and practice that, but WEC is one of those places – especially when they have those derbies with the stadium in the back with the purple seats, or in the Grand Arena. It’s just a huge ring, with a lot of atmosphere. Sometimes, we show at night under the lights and they do such a good job with the courses. Being here for the winter is the perfect set up of what we’re trying to do. WEC is my happy place, it has been since it opened. I can’t really imagine any place nicer to show then here.”