United States Eventing Association

Cindy Wood’s wire-to-wire win at last weekend’s Virginia Preliminary Three-Day Event, the first classic-format Preliminary three-day of 2010, marked the culmination of a long-awaited goal for this adult amateur from Newark, Maryland. “I just wanted to finish on my dressage score at a long-format three-day,” said Cindy, 49. Her dream came true as she and her homebred Connemara/ Thoroughbred gelding Unbelievable (Gold Rock x Hideaway's Erin Go Bragh) pulled off a big win at the Preliminary Three-Day Event in Lexington, Virginia, part of the Virginia Horse Trials.

Cindy and 'Lee' led the field of six horses after their final salute in dressage on Friday morning, posting an impressive 33.3 to top the charts. “He was actually really good…I screwed up the first counter-counter, and got like a three and a four, but we still ended up about five points in front of everybody."

The pair was competing in their second Preliminary Three-Day Event, having galloped around boldly at last year's P3D, and this year proved no exception to their pristine record. “He was just fabulous on cross-country. On steeplechase this year he was like, ‘I got this, Mom, I know what’s going on!”

Cindy was exceptionally pleased with how well Lee performed on Phase D, the cross-country course. “It was nice because the designers really did open it up and have more galloping room, and we had a couple combinations on the classic course, and he just handled them fabulously. You’d get him on the line, and he’d say, ‘I got it, I got it!’

Cindy hails from Newark, Maryland, a relatively flat area compared to the rolling hills at the Virginia Horse Center, yet had no problem conditioning Lee for the endurance day. “I just do the same thing everybody else does—a lot of gallops and a lot of trotting. Last year, I took him up to Fair Hill twice and did some gallops up the hills, but this year I only got up there one day. I think he just had a better base this year. Once they get that fit, it’s easier to get them fit again. He’s just been easy—he’s a lot of fun." Lee was also awarded the Best Conditioned Horse of the P3D, and earned a RecoveryWrap-Equine System from Vital Wear and a trophy from Hands On Pottery for their accomplishment.

Bred and trained by Cindy, Lee had a bit of a rough start in life as his dam Gold Rock colicked when he was very young, and Cindy and her husband had to bucket feed him in his early days. Gold Rock, a Thoroughbred, used to event with Cindy and now serves as Cindy’s main foxhunter. “Actually, Lee hunted this year a lot because she was lame, so he ended up having to do double-duty. He was fabulous…he’s just like, ‘okay, another job! This is cool!’

Like a fine wine, Lee seems to get better and better with age. “He turned eight today,” said Cindy proudly, on Saturday. “As a four-year-old he did Novice, as a five-year-old he did Training and did the Training Three-Day, and as a six-year-old and did Prelim--so this is his third season at Prelim.”

Though Lee has proven himself both mentally and physically capable of competing at the upper-levels, we probably won't see Cindy partnering with him for that feat. “I personally don’t want to go Intermediate. I look at the fences and think, yeah, I could probably do that....but do I want to? I’d really like to see how far he can go, so I might get somebody to ride him. He’s young, he’s sound, let’s see how far he can go.”

Cindy added that she and upper-level rider Carol Kozlowski have joked about Carol getting the ride on Lee. Carol serves on the USEA Board of Governors, and is well-known for her success at the Advanced level riding Lee’s sire, the purebred Connemara stallion Hideaway’s Erin Go Bragh. Cindy added, “Lee’s practically a twin for Take Time,” the talented halfbred gelding, owned by Lynn Blades, whom Carol competed through the CCI2* level, including a 2nd place finish at Jersey Fresh CCI2* in 2008.

“We have a rail, but hopefully we won’t need it,” said Cindy, after Saturday's cross-country round. Turns out, they didn't even need it--the second placed competitor dropped a rail, giving Cindy and Lee an eight-point cushion.

All In The Family

Second placed finisher, Kevin Smith travelled from Hoverton, Ohio to follow in his big brother Kyle’s footsteps to compete in his first classic Preliminary Three-Day Event. The 19-year-old engineering major at Youngstown State University partnered with his 16.1-hand 12-year-old Thoroughbred gelding Tintin (Private Key x Delta Tare) to finish runner-up.

“Tintin is a horse that I got about two years ago," explained Kevin. "I got him after my last event horse decided he didn’t want to be an upper-level event horse."

“We did a half-star [Training Three-Day] last year, which geared us up for this, because pretty much after we got him we saw how good he was and he could do big events." After they finished the Training Three-Day at South Farm in July, the P3D became their goal. “It’s a really good experience to have under your belt, so we spent the rest of last year and all this spring gearing up for it. It’s been a really fun experience.”

Jim Wofford, a well-known proponent of the classic-format three-days, visited South Farm last February for a clinic and shared some wisdom with Kevin. “He came to do a clinic and his main words of advice were to start now…you can’t be over-prepared for a one-star. Preparation is the key.” Kevin and Tintin's early conditioning this year was done in the harsh midwestern weather, as their Ohio home had the snowiest record on winter...and no indoor!

Kevin took Jim's suggestions to heart and spent months conditioning for the Preliminary Three-Day. “Tintin actually felt great on cross-country. I myself felt a little under-prepared with the conditions, but he loved it and he just kept going. I think he really liked being able to be out there and getting to run. My guy really likes to go fast, and actually ended up thirty seconds under the time on steeplechase…the officials weren’t too happy about that,” laughed Kevin, who said he won't be making that speedy mistake again!

“He really enjoyed himself and I think it’s such a good experience because you get so much more out of it than a regular horse trials. You spend almost a whole hour or hour and a half by the time you’ve cooled out from cross-country. Doing the steeplechase seems a lot easier for warm-up, too.”

What's next for this fired-up duo, now that they have some experience under their belts? “Depending on how he recovers after this event, we might do an Intermediate in about a month or so. I’ll just play it by ear and see how he is, and hopefully make him an Intermediate horse.”

During Sunday's finale, Tintin booted just a single rail, adding only four faults to his dressage score of 39.1, and solidified he and Kevin's second placed standing.

The thrill of the 'chase lives on in the Smith family. “A year ago in October, Kyle, Kevin's brother, did Hagyard Midsouth Preliminary Three-Day Event,” added Kevin’s mother, Jackie Fisher Smith, who served as Kevin's groom and mentor during the weekend. In addition to encouraging her sons to experience the education and horsemanship of long-format events, Jackie is also a Level II ICP certified instructor and USEF licensed official, often serving as course designer, judge, or technical delegate in Midwestern events. The Smith family resides at the scenic Stone Gate Farm, which holds two USEA recognized events: Winona Horse Trials in May, as well as the Stone Gate Farm Horse Trials in September.

Congratulations to Kevin and Tintin who also earned the Best Turned-Out Award, taking home a trophy from Hands on Pottery for their stylistic accomplishment!

From T3D to P3D - a Natural Succession

The amateur eventers were out in full throttle this weekend, including Stephen Fulton who was also competing in his first Preliminary Three-Day Event. “I’m trained by my wife Karen Fulton and my support staff of Savannah and Grace,” said Stephen with a smile, as he acknowledged his wife and two daughters, who helped him during the weekend. “ We’re from Finksburg, Maryland, and we own Full Moon Farm—we run a lesson program and have a couple of unrecognized horse trials and a quarter-star event that we’re running at the end of June.”

The “Quarter-Star Event” is actually a Novice Three-Day Event, centered around the educational components of a classic format event. Lower levels like Beginner Novice and Elementary are offered as well. "We decided to hold this because we had such a great time at Waredaca, and it's almost like it's a whole other sport," said Karen . "It really teaches you about the horsemanship and the fitness. We thought this would be a great opportunity for our students to learn about this kind of stuff. The neat thing was that the people who helped at Waredaca, like Danny Warrington and Kelly Williams, came to help. The lower levels don't actually steeplechase, but have a "pace track," to help them learn about the correct pace they'll need at events."

"I’m a professional farrier and do this for fun," said Stephen. "This is our first long-format Prelim—I’ve done the long-format Training events twice, and my oldest daughter has done it once. We heard about this, and ended up talking to [organizers] Brian and Penny Ross on the phone about it. They were just very helpful and very supportive."

Stephen was fortunate enough to learn the ropes aboard FMF Ides Of March, an experienced eventer. "‘Clay’ is an 18-year-old Thoroughbred gelding that I got from a client of mine who got married and was moving to Germany. He’s a former three-star horse, and he’s competing on his “way down” with me, but it’s really cool because you know he can do it because he’s “been there, done that. He’s an older gentleman, so we spend a lot of time working on his feet, and his back, and his hocks and legs—but he’s great."

Stephen got his first taste of long-format events two years ago when he first competed at the Area II Adult Riders Training Three-Day, held at Waredaca, which is luckily just down the road from Full Moon Farm. “I did the Training Three-Day on him first, and then did it again on my Training horse last year. Because of his age, we try not to do too much stuff with him, so this was a really good one for him.”

“After the Training Three-day, we did six Preliminary horse trials—I think we maybe only had one stop all season. He’s just a cross-country guy.”

“This is a great prep for a one-star, which will set me up for Intermediate…or not,” joked Stephen with his wife.
“We don’t usually come down here because it’s four hours away, but then you forget what a lovely facility it is, and what a nice job they do with the courses.”

Stephen admitted his dressage test on Friday wasn’t the best, and they definitely could’ve done better. “Well, plus a horse bolted down the hill during his serpentine,” added Karen. “I think I got a two on that movement…I don’t believe I’ve ever gotten a two before, so it was a personal best,” said Stephen with a laugh. “Everybody needs a goal! It was pretty neat to ride in the standard arena though… we had letters I’d never even heard of before. Going across that diagonal is a whole different ball game on a fit horse."

When asked what his favorite part about cross-country, Stephen simply replied: “Finishing! Well, actually, steeplechase,” he said. “That is just so cool. He’s a funny horse—he’s as chilly as they come, and he’s very very good, except for the start box. He really does have an issue, although we’ve pretty much gotten it down pat by now, but the hard part about here is you have three start boxes instead of just one. Then he’s on course, and he’s just perfect. That 600mpm steeplechase….well, he makes the time and he makes it so easy… I’d have to say that’s my favorite part."

Stephen felt that the terrain on Phase D was truly an integral part of the whole cross-country experience. “The jumps might not have been the biggest things out there, but going downhill to them or uphill made a big difference. It’s just amazing compared to the usual horse trials we do—when you do the long-format with all the hills, they’ve got to be fit.”

Clay booted three rails during Sunday afternoon's show jumping round, which unfortunately dropped them from third to fourth. Brittany Bridges, 17, of Sanford, North Carolina had a foot-perfect show jumping round aboard Sandra Bridges' Irish Sport Horse gelding Derrymor (Rebel Yell x Favorable Star). The pair tacked on 10.8 time penalties on Saturday to their dressage score of 40.2, but a clean trip the rest of the weekend guaranteed them a move-up in the standings.

Lei Cluff-Ryan, 47, of Aiken, South Carolina had a great weekend aboard her aptly-named blue roan Appaloosa/Percheron/Arabian named The Blue Horse. The athletic 16-hand gelding turned heads as he galloped boldly across the scenic Lexington country-side, adding only a handful of time faults to their dressage score. Two lowered rails left them in fifth place.

Karyn Rainey, 51, of Issaquah, Washington partnered with the Thoroughbred mare She's All Silk--unfortunately, the pair withdrew after the mare tied up after their cross-country round.

In the CCI1*, Rebekah Simmons and Colleen Hofstetter's Irish Sport Horse Free And Clear (Mountain Pearl x Rare One), a Young Event Horse alumni, led the field of 24 starters from start to finish on their dressage score of 42.7. The experienced Mara Dean and Chequers Macon took second with a 44.0, and Wendy Masemer and Likolina rounded out the top three with a 50.5

Kirstie Dillon, 19, of Irmo, South Carolina, and her nine-year-old New Zealand Thoroughbred gelding Tasmans Devil took top honors in the CCI1* Junior/Young Rider division. The Young Rider never relinquished her 51.2 lead after dressage. Teresa Harcourt and Bonza Twist of Fate were mere points behind with a 53.1 and Imogen de Lavis and Brisco Bay took third with their 57.7.

About the SmartPak Equine/USEA Classic Series

The Virginia Preliminary Three-Day Event is part of the 2010 SmartPak Equine USEA Classic Series, which encompasses five long-format Preliminary and 11 long-format Training events across the nation. This elite series strives to preserve the legacy of the classic-format three-day event, a historic type of eventing that promotes horsemanship, excitement, and fellowship amongst eventers.

For her win, Cindy took home a $200 SmartPak Equine gift certificate, a Vital Wear RecoveryWrap - Equine System, Fleeceworks saddle pads, and Nunn Finer brushing boots. She is also entered into two year-end drawings, comprised of winners from all five Preliminary Three-Day Events: one winner receives a Stackhouse saddle and another winner wins a Point Two Pro Air vest from SmartPak Equine.

All competitors receive completion ribbons, courtesy of Fleeceworks, HoofWraps, and Fleeceworks grooming mitts.

The SmartPak Equine/USEA Classic Series is made possible through the support of its many sponsors: Title Sponsor: SmartPak Equine; Presenting Sponsor: Stackhouse Saddles; Silver Level Sponsor: Fleeceworks; Legacy Sponsors: Five Star Tack and VitalWear; Elite Sponsors: FITS and Nunn Finer