USEA Convention Program

33 DIANE SNOW Diane, from Portland, Oregon, is co-owner of Gallops Saddler y, an all-English tack store that specializes in eventing. After several years in local government and publishing, Diane opened Gallops after the arrival of her children. A former member of Pony Club and a current rider and competitor, Diane feels lucky to have a life that revolves around horses. Her role with the Young Rider Program developed while participating as a parent for her daughter who was ver y active in the program. Diane is also a member of the Area VII Council and a member of the USEA Foundation. Diane is married to Dan Snow and has two daughters, Hannah and Lizzie. DANIEL STEWART Author of the USEA "Sport Psychology Tip of the Month," Coach Stewart has been a successful international trainer and instructor for over 25 years. In addition to the U.S., he has trained riders in Spain, Portugal, Canada, Mexico, Belgium, United Arab Emirates, England, Switzerland, Greece and the West Indies. From 1999 to 2007 he coached riders on several U.S. Equestrian Teams to success at many World Championships; World Equestrian Games; and Olympics. As the internationally acclaimed author of Pressure Proof Your Riding; Equestrian Fit and Focused in 52 and Ride Right; he's widely considered one of the world's leading experts on equestrian sport psychology, performance, and athletics. He teaches clinics and seminars to thousands of eventers each year, coaches equestrian athlete-camps at the U.S. Olympic Training center (riders of all ages and levels), and is the keynote speaker at many USEA Area annual meetings. He lived in Andalusia, Spain until recently but now lives in Naples, Fla. where he also produces weekly equestrian sport psychology, fitness and instructor certification videos as part of his Pressure Proof Academy. PETER THOMSEN Peter Thomsen is one of Germany's most decorated team riders and has been a trailblazer for the team for over a decade. He began his career at a Schleswig-Holstein farm operated by his family, and learned how to ride on the Shetland pony mare Susi. Peter credits his 1985 second place in the long format Intermediate at Langenhagen as the takeoff point for his career. Peter first trained with Thomas Rüder on the Baltic Sea island Fehmarn, and later joined Dieter Baumann in Luhmühlen. In 1987 he rode in his first German National Championships. Professionally, Peter holds a master's degree in public administration and works for DHL as an account manager. He and his veterinarian wife, Dr. Kirsten Thomsen, live at the far north end of Germany, near the Danish border on the North Sea coast, where they routinely train their horses on the beach. They have two daughters, Kaya and Annie, both of whom compete on ponies. At their home facility, near Lindewitt, they host and unofficially train some of the young Swedish eventing team candidates, an arrangement that has been longstanding and successful. Peter is a sought-after clinician and coach, with an extensive list of credits with regard to identifying, developing, and "placing" top young event horses. Examples are Chilli Morning, Shamwari, and Mr. Bass. Some of Peter's top results include: fourth at the 1994 European Championships, team bronze at the 1994 World Equestrian Games, member of the 1996 Olympic team, 1998 World Equestrian, team silver at the 1999 European Championships, 11th at the 2011 European Championships, team gold at the 2012 Olympic Games, fifth at the 2013 European Championships, sixth place at the 2014 World Equestrian Games, and ninth at the 2015 European Championships. Peter has "produced" almost all his own horses from scratch and took home several Bundeschampionat titles on horses that nearly all went on to at least 3* performance convention speakers

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