We started the weekend off with the CCI4*-S dressage here at Woodside International Horse Trials. With 15 riders taking part in this competitive division and twelve points separating the field after dressage, the pressure is on for show jumping and cross-country.
Tamie Smith has taken the early lead, placing first on Ruth Bley's Danito (Dancier x Wie Musik), an 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding, and second on Judith McSwain's Fleeceworks Royal (Riverman x Marisol), an 11-year-old Holsteiner mare.
Tamie Smith shares thoughts on her rides at Woodside International:
Erik Duvander, who is on site this weekend, has been working closely with Smith on keeping her horses supple, soft, and fine-tuning everything in preparation for her CCI4*-Ls in these upcoming weeks.
Coming in .30 behind Smith in third was Erin Kellerhouse on her own Woodford Reserve (Tinaranas Inspector x Laharns Laughton), a 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding. Kellerhouse has produced this horse up the levels and their relationship continues to shine through. "Ian [Stark] worked with me for him to be a little bit more up and not be so strict about him being deep anymore. He was kind of testing me a couple of times but after that I felt like he was good and smooth,” Kellerhouse stated. Still green at the level "Woody" improved throughout his test showing he is one to keep an eye out for. The division rounded out with top competitors Derek di Grazia, Lauren Billys, and Amber Levine leaving no room for mistakes in these final two phases.
With dressage and show jumping taking place tomorrow it promises to be a competitive, action-packed day. Make sure to follow along with all the excitement on our Facebook and keep up with live scores on EventEntries.com.
Eventing can feel a little overwhelming to those new to the sport. It’s unlike any other equestrian sport, with three phases packed to the brim with action and excitement. When you enter a horse trial, you’re likely to interact with a wide variety of support staff, all of whom are there to ensure you have an amazing weekend of competition.
Drumroll please… After much consideration, the United States Eventing Association, Inc. (USEA) and our partners at Adams Horse Supply are proud to announce the winner of the ATC Scavenger Hunt hosted during the Adams Horse Supply USEA Adult Team Championships (ATC) at the USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds.
When Alice Sarno was 8 years old, she begged her parents for riding lessons. “All I could do was think about horses,” said Sarno, 75, recalling that they eventually agreed. “They finally gave up on giving me dance lessons and got me horseback riding lessons instead. My mom and dad made a deal thinking I would phase right out of it. But by the next year, I had two more horses.”
The USEA is saddened to report that horsewoman Lefreda Williams died on Aug. 29. She was 87. Williams was a pillar of the North Carolina equestrian community and a founding member of the Carolina Horse Park in Raeford, North Carolina.