Woodside marks the penultimate conclusion of the Advanced and three-star season for the West Coast, with only the Galway CCI3* to finish up the year. The pairs contesting this weekend are an even mix of experienced pairs looking to get a good run before their fall CCI3* and horses and riders who just moved up to the level recently and are looking to get their first international level under their belt this weekend.
Photo courtsey Sherry Stewart.
The Event
- For the past three runnings, only one pair per year has finished on their dressage score. Those F-O-D-S pairs have finished no worse than third each year.
- More than 25% of the field has made the time over the last three years on average, which is considerably higher than the world-wide rate at the CIC3* level of 6.57%.
Sabrina Glaser and Rembrandt. Photo by Lively Manor Photography.
Dressage Divas
- Rembrandt and Sabrina Glaser are making their CIC3* debut together, but they’ve impressed in the first phase thus far. With an average from two Advanced starts that just squeaks under 50 when converting to FEI scores, this pair should be competitive from day one.
- James Alliston has quickly gelled with Happenstance, dropping their dressage score with each successive start. If the trend continues, we should see a score below their mark of 49.4 (equivalent to USEF of 32.9) at their last outing in the Twin Rivers Advanced, which they led from start to finish.
Bunnie Sexton and Rise Against, 4th place. Photo by Leslie Wylie.
Show Jumping Powerhouses
- Rise Against, with Bunnie Sexton in the irons, has never once in 29 stadium rounds at the Advanced, 3*, and 4* levels ever had more than one rail. In fact, at the CIC3* level, he has only ever had one rail.
- Tullamore and Maris Burns have only had a few starts at this level over the past two years, but they’ve kept their stadium record fairly clean, putting in three one-or-none rounds.
James Alliston and Parker. Photo by Leslie Threlkeld.
Cross Country Machines
- It’s impossible to discuss cross country machines without bringing up Parker, who is one of the best cross country horses in the nation. This horse has contested at the 3* level for seven years now with James Alliston, and averages only six seconds over optimum time at the CIC3*/A levels over the past two years.
- James himself is no slowpoke and in his three runs with Happenstance, he’s proven that his speed isn’t limited to one horse. With James, Happenstance has averaged 13 seconds over optimum, which will keep him well in the hunt after cross country.
PREDICTED WINNER: James Alliston and Happenstance
James Alliston and Happenstance. Photo by Sherry Stewart.
Keep Your Eye On:
- James Alliston and Parker
- Bunnie Sexton and Rise Against
- Rebecca Braitling and Walterstown Don
Woodside International CIC & H.T. [Website] [Entry Status/Ride Times/Live Scores]
