U.S. Equestrian Federation officials have granted Steffen Peters a pass from competing Ravel at the USEF Selection Trials for the 2012 U.S. Dressage Team for the London Olympic Games.

Peters, San Diego, Calif., submitted a request to skip the USEF Festival of Champions in Gladstone, N.J. After the USEF Dressage Selectors met on May 24, they approved the request to consider Peters, 47, and Ravel, a 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood (Contango—Hautain, Democraat) owned by Four Winds Farm, for the Short List/FEI Nominated Entry without attending the selection trials in accordance with the USEF Olympic Games Selection Procedure.

According to the procedure, “The Selectors may name an athlete/horse combination to the third position that has not participated in or completed the entire Selection Trial in accordance with the criteria below if the combination has contributed to a team medal or has finished in one of the top six positions as an individual at a World Championship or Olympic Games within the past four years, excluding athlete/horse combinations which were drop scores or alternates at a team competition.”

Ravel and Peters won two individual bronze medals at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (Ky.), and were fourth individually at the 2008 Olympic Games (Hong Kong).

Additionally, Ravel must undergo a veterinary inspection by the team veterinarian with one of the team selectors present, which was completed by Dr. Rick Mitchell on May 21.

The Short List/Nominated Entry will be announced following the selection trials, which end June 17.