Oct 06, 2017

2017 Woodside International Horse Trials Adequan USEA Gold Cup CIC3* and Advanced Course Preview

By Jessica Duffy - USEA Staff
The CIC3*/Advanced Devoucoux Ditch Complex at Woodside International Horse Trials. USEA/Jessica Duffy Photo.

The Adequan USEA Gold Cup CIC3* and Advanced divisions completed their dressage tests earlier this morning at the Woodside International Horse Trials in Woodside, California, and will show jump over Michael Roy Curtis’ course this evening at 5:00 p.m. The finale will take place on cross-country tomorrow morning.

Ian Stark has been designing the cross-country course at Woodside for the last three years. Riders in the CIC3* and Advanced division will tackle nearly exactly the same track, with just the corner combination at fence 12 presenting different questions for the two divisions. The 3,400-meter track comprises 20 obstacles and a total of 34 jumping efforts to be completed in five minutes and 58 seconds.

Stark elected to make only minor tweaks to the course this year rather than completely restructuring the track. “We’ve moved a lot of the combinations around,” he explained. “We just altered where combinations are and swapped around single fences just to sort of give a different skill around the course. We’ve given the new water, right at the end of the course, a bit of a different look this year. It will be more toward rider control than overly bold jumping. There’s lots of new things for them to think about and combinations for them to sink their teeth into.”


The new combination at Triton's Pond for the CIC3* and Advanced divisions. USEA/Jessica Duffy Photo.

“We’re following a similar flow because I feel it works well, so I want to keep that at the moment,” elaborated Stark. “The first three fences are the same. [At fence four] we’ve taken out the step, so they haven’t got a big drop area on course, which I think is better. It’s still a technical question on course, but they’re not doing a big drop onto the road. We’ve take the step out and given them ramps, so It will be more up to the riders to get the distance right.”


The combination at fence four has been altered this year to remove the downbank as the "B" element. USEA/Jessica Duffy Photo.

Stark designed the course with a fall CCI in mind for the riders competing in the CIC3* this weekend. “What I hope is that people that are heading for a CCI in the fall, this gives them a good enough question in a competition, but also encourages good jumping toward their fall three-day event.”

Competitors will set out on Stark’s cross-country course at 11:30 a.m. tomorrow.

Woodside International Horse Trials: Live Scores | Ride Times | Website

Follow the USEA event coverage on social media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

About the Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series

The 2018 Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series features 11 qualifying competitions throughout the United States at the Advanced horse trials and CIC3* levels. The qualifying period begins August 2017 and continues through August 2018 with the final taking place at the 2018 USEA American Eventing Championships at the Colorado Horse Park in Parker, Colorado, August 29 – September 2, 2018. Riders who complete a qualifier earn the chance to vie for $40,000 in prize money and thousands of dollars in prizes and the title of Adequan USEA Gold Cup Champion in the Adequan USEA Gold Cup Final Advanced Division.

The 2018 Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series is made possible through the support of its many loyal sponsors: Adequan, Standlee Forage, Nutrena, Merck Animal Health, and FITS.

Shelby Allen for Woodside Horse Trials contributed to this article.

Feb 15, 2025 Profile

Can’t Keep a Good Horse Down: Ava Vojnovic and LH Clean Slate’s Comeback

“This guy has been through a lot." According to Ava Vojnovic, that was Olympian Boyd Martin’s reaction upon seeing her horse, LH Clean Slate at a clinic last month. He hit the nail on the head. Since 2022, “Slate” has struggled with a multitude of injuries that kept him out of work for just under three years. It all started in 2022, when Vojnovic and Slate started having difficulties under saddle that kept ending up with Vojnovic on the ground.

Feb 14, 2025 AEC

USEA Announces Tina Fitch Photography as Official Photographer of the 2025 USEA AEC

The United States Eventing Association, Inc. (USEA) is thrilled to share that Tina Fitch Photography will be the official photographer at the 2025 USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Nutrena Feeds. The 2025 AEC take place Aug. 26-31, 2024 at Galway Downs in Temecula, California.

Feb 14, 2025 Eventing News

Triple 2024 Leadboard Winner No May Moon is on Her Way to the Top of the Sport

Allison Springer has always known that No May Moon was a special horse, but she didn’t quite expect the 2024 season they ended up having. With a big win in the MARS Bromont CCI4*-L (Quebec, Canada), a third-place finish at the Morven Park CCI4*-L (Leesburg, Virginia), and several top 5 placings at the Advanced level, “Mayzie” earned the 2024 Standlee USEA Horse of the Year award, as well as the Bates USEA Mare of the Year award. She also topped the 2024 Advanced Horse of the Year standings.

Feb 13, 2025 Association News

Beware of Phishing Attempts and Other Types of Fraud

Please always remain vigilant when it comes to sending any personal communications via email or text. Every year we receive reports of members and leaders of our sport receiving phishing attempts both online and by phone. These are often communications disguised as being sent from USEA staff or other leaders. As the years go on, the phishing attempts appear to be more directed and tailored.

Official Corporate Sponsors of the USEA

Official Joint Therapy Treatment of the USEA

Official Feed of the USEA

Official Saddle of the USEA

Official Equine Insurance of the USEA

Official Forage of the USEA

Official Supplement Feeding System of the USEA

Official Competition & Training Apparel of the USEA

Official Horse Boot of the USEA

Official Shockwave of the USEA

Official Horse Wear of the USEA