Aiding partnerships between horses and humans through the art of riding
Equine Performance Partnership
“There is no perfect rider, only a perfect team”
Who We Are.
Falk Peter
FEI Trainer-Rider-Competitor
Falk is an accomplished dressage instructor and trainer, skilled with young horses through Grand Prix, and is originally from Höxter Germany. He is a Bereiter (FN) level professional, licensed with honors by the German Equestrian Federation Committee in Warendorf, Germany after completing years of training at the Cavalry Riding School of Hannover. Attaining this license is the result of years of rigorous training in multiple disciplines. Riders are required to fully grasp the worlds of three-day eventing, showjumping, and dressage. Falk’s main passion was always dressage although he works with three-day eventers and showjumpers in the industry.
Falk holds his German bronze, silver, and gold medals and successfully competed in Mexico, Colombia, Germany, and the United States. Having trained team riders all over the world, including riders from the Mexican team, Colombian team, Japanese team, and the young rider team of Austria, Falk possesses a wide breadth of knowledge of horsemanship and international competition experience that make his program and approach unique, lively and enriching for both horses and riders.
The love and captivation of horses stretches back to childhood for Falk, when his neighbor, Mr. Rose, acquired some horses who Falk became very curious about. Mr. Rose allowed him as a young boy to feed the horses and clean the stables before Falk went to school, much to the delight of the young horse enthusiast. Since then, that love for horses has grown into a career that took Falk on an adventure around the world and connected him with many special horses, riders, and beautiful places.
Now based in Ocala, FL, Falk continues his program at home at Highland Oaks Stables, which he shares with his partner Victoria de Benedicty where together, they realize the passion of forming horses and riders and have created a powerhouse team of horses, clients, and like-minded partners. Seated about 5 minutes from the World Equestrian Center, Highland Oaks Farm and Highland Oaks Stables are two world-class facilities— the Stables for the higher level training and sales horses, and the Farm for rest and bringing up the young horses who fly in from Europe.
Victoria de Benedicty
Instructor-Rider-Competitor
A native to the horse capital of the world, Ocala, FL, Victoria has known and loved horses since birth. Her parents, Karin and George, had ponies for her and her brother and sister when she was born and encouraged her passion for horses and riding, sharing in the “horse addiction” themselves. At their family farm, American Eagle Farms, they specialize in the breeding and pinhooking of Thoroughbred racehorses as well as some sport horses and also had a successful boarding operation for many years. They hosted decorated riders from all over the world at their facilities for the winter show seasons and Victoria had the fortune of learning and watching these riders from a young age. Victoria had a successful junior career in hunter jumpers and dressage riding, where blossomed an obsession with riding, competing, learning from, and being with horses.
Victoria is an accomplished musician, professional fine artist, and writer and because of a changing world and circumstances, spent several years away from horses gaining knowledge of the arts and honing these passions during her early college-age years. It was an adventure that took her on tours across the East Coast performing in different US cities with the music groups she was a part of, and showing her art in major cities, which ultimately led her back to Ocala, and back to horses; back to her true passion.
It was her childhood dream to have a career as a professional rider so in 2018 when Victoria came back to Ocala, she began pursuing an education from trainers, riders, and horses in Ocala to keep expanding her knowledge. Victoria is well-versed in different breeds and disciplines from Thoroughbreds and racing, to Iberian horses and baroque riding, to starting young horses, aiding problem horses and those in need of rehabilitation, to dressage riding and competition. Years later, she has made this dream a reality thanks to exceptional trainers and horses who provided her the opportunity to learn from them and gain more insight into the ever-expanding book of horse knowledge.
Together, with her partner Falk Peter, Victoria works as a professional rider in Ocala and is working toward an international career in dressage riding. Victoria is proudly sponsored by International Riding Helmets and is a great supporter of their products and vision.
It’s all about happy horses.
