Classic Eventing Nation

Looking Ahead to Eventing at Woodside Horse Park in 2023

By on Mar 8, 2023 10:21 am -

A jump sits atop one of the hills at Woodside Horse Park, one of the only facilities in California with some significant terrain. Photo by Sally Spickard.

From carrots for the horses when they arrived and the coffee and donut hospitality cart that created a friendly atmosphere at the Woodside Fall Horse Trials last October, to the community support that raised funds for new show jumps and cross-country fences, to being approved to host three USEA-recognized events in 2023, there is a buzz about what lies ahead for the future of eventing at The Horse Park at Woodside in Northern California.

The Woodside Spring Horse Trials will take place on May 26-28 with national levels through Advanced, followed by the Woodside Summer Horse Trials on August 11-13 up to Advanced/Intermediate, and culminating with the Woodside Fall International on October 6-8 that will return eventing at the FEI levels to Woodside with a CCI4*-S, CCI3*-S, and CCI2*S.

“I’m most excited that the community has come together so beautifully to allow us to purchase all of our own eventing equipment,” said Victoria Klein, who serves on the Board of Governors of The Horse Park at Woodside. “So, we have a new stadium jump course. What’s especially exciting about that is that so many of the local training barns got behind The Horse Park and donated money so that we could get those jumps, and we will be representing their logos on the jumps.”

Among other new developments for events at The Horse Park at Woodside in 2023 will be cross country courses designed by Derek di Grazia. Di Grazia’s courses have been featured at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event, Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials, the Tokyo Olympics, Bromont International Horse Trials, and at the Morven Park International Horse Trials. Designing at Woodside reunites him with a venue close to where he resides in Carmel Valley, CA, and where he has competed for decades.

“I’ve been working at The Park off and on since the 1990s, and this is actually my third time back as course designer,” Derek said. “Obviously, The Horse Park has evolved quite a lot since then, and consequently the cross country has done the same. It’s seen its fair bit of change over the years and through that time they’ve developed a lot of nice features on the cross country which has made it good for competitors.”

Derek di Grazia at Woodside in February. Victoria Klein photo.

A team that included Derek di Grazia and Bert Wood, who will be cross country builder and will design courses up to Preliminary, toured Woodside on February 20 to set the course for the horse trials in May. They then visited a lumber yard to purchase logs that had been cleared from recent storms and in fuel mitigation projects. These logs will be used to construct new jumps during 20 days of building scheduled for April. “It was really like kids in a candy store,” Victoria Klein said.

Future plans for horse trials at Woodside include adding a Modified level either in late 2023 or in 2024.

The Horse Park at Woodside has hosted events annually since 2005 on 272 acres as the most northern eventing venue in California, although eventing has taken place since 1981 on what was previously known as Guernsey Field and part of Stanford University (on whose land the Horse Park still sits).

“There’s quite a lot of interest to compete there,” Derek said. “It’s one of the few places in California that actually has terrain, which is very beneficial for the horses and riders competing. Having that experience of being able to go up and down hills as well as having the terrain be part of the jumping question is quite important in the development of both horses and riders.”

In addition to eventing, Woodside hosts hunter-jumper, dressage, and reining shows, as well as polo and vaulting. There are also approximately 120 horses that are boarded at Woodside year-round.

Logs that will be turned into new jumps at Woodside during 20 days of building scheduled for April. Steve Roon photo

“The Horse Park was created to be an eventing venue, and we are very unique in a lot of ways because of it,” Executive Director Steve Roon said. “With all of these various disciplines, we are just so fortunate to have a facility that can accommodate them, and it’s the support of all these disciplines that make eventing possible here.”

Events at The Horse Park at Woodside in 2023 will be organized by Christina Gray and her team that makes up Gray Area Events. Christina grew up in Northern California near Woodside, so it represented a homecoming when she and The Horse Park at Woodside teamed up for their first event, the Woodside Fall Horse Trials, in October 2022.

“Woodside is a special place because I grew up competing there,” Christina said. “It was the closest venue to where I grew up, so it’s exciting to be part of it again. The fall event was our debut of starting things up, and we look forward to continuing things and having a real welcoming atmosphere and making sure things are done to the best possible level.”

All of the hard work is focused on two goals: the enjoyment of the competitors and the safety of their equine partners.

“I have been going to events at The Horse Park for over 30 years and I can say hands and hooves down, this was the BEST organized EVER!!” was a comment posted on Facebook by Olympic medalist Gina Miles based in Templeton, CA. “The organizing team that produced Woodside Horse Trials has overcome huge odds and delivered the goods. They had all the major details covered, great courses with the best cross-country footing and multiple drags of show jumping throughout the day, beautiful show jumps and course design, no dust throughout the park, on time rings and pleasant, helpful office staff.”

Panoramic views of the San Francisco Bay feature at the top of Woodside Horse Park. Photo by Sally Spickard.

Added Kassi McMillan, who has competed from Beginner Novice to Preliminary at Woodside since her junior rider years in 2006: “The effort put in to all aspects of the show was undeniable; from the gorgeous footing for all the divisions, to the gorgeous competitors dinner and the cold bottle water handed out at the exit to those departing home on Sunday. Count me in for May Woodside 2023!”

That feedback has motivated the organizers for the future of eventing at Woodside.

“We were so incredibly moved by the kind write-ups, the comments, and the people expressing their appreciation of the effort we are putting in to make the Woodside Horse Trials sustainable and to have a future,” Victoria said. “We are absolutely clear now that we have a beautiful future for horse trials at Woodside.”

Connect with Woodside

Location: 3674 Sand Hill Road, Woodside, CA 94062
Email: Send message at http://www.horsepark.org/emailmessage.php
Website: http://www.horsepark.org/
Volunteer: http://www.horsepark.org/volunteer.php
Instagram: horseparkatwoodside

Wednesday News & Notes from SRF Carolina International

By on Mar 8, 2023 12:01 am -

When eventing meets football…

Kicking off 2023’s eventing schedule with the first CCI4*-S of the season, the Setters’ Run Farm Carolina International is celebrating their 10th anniversary this year with the theme ‘First and Ten’.

We all know about football (and baseball) cards and now, thanks to Carolina International and EquiRatings, eventing fans get to play along too. Attendees of the event will have the chance to collect trading cards showing some of the best bits from the event’s history.

You can pick up the complimentary cards in your competitor packets on site, at the Carolina Club and in the Vendor Village.

Collect, trade – even get them signed – who knows, one day you might find you have a card to rival the 1935 National Chicle Bronko Nagurski Rookie Card (worth around $750,000), or even a Honus Wagner, 1909-1911 ATC T206 (worth a whopping $3 million!).

U.S. Weekend Preview

Chattahoochee Hills H.T. (Fairburn, GA) [Website] [Entries] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Full Gallop Farm March I H.T (Aiken, SC) [Website] [Volunteer]

SAzEA Spring H.T. (Tucson, AZ) [Website] [Entries / Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Southern Pines H.T. (Raeford, NC) [Website] [Entries] [Volunteer] [Scoring]

Wednesday News and Reading

When you see a horse that you suspect is being neglected, you may be tempted to go all Heartland, hitch up the trailer and rush to the rescue. Unless you’re a fictional horse whispering miracle girl, however, it’s best to take a more considered line of action. This comprehensive guide explains exactly what to do – and what not to do – in order to help in the best way possible for the horse. [When Not To Go All Heartland]

Scientists studying ancient human skeletons have found evidence which suggests that we’ve been riding for 5,000 years. Martin Trautmann, anthropologist and co-author of the study, says, “You can read life histories from bones”. The team studying the skeletons found what is known as ‘horseman syndrome’ – a pattern on the bones caused by the repeated movements associated with riding. It turns out, humans may have been sharing their lives with horses since 3000 BCE. [A Truly Looooong Term Relationship]

Ever wondered what to do if you’re joined by an uninvited wild animal on your trail ride? Having lived in Kenya and spent Pony Club Camp in the bush surrounding Lake Naivasha, seeing giraffes, zebras, waterbuck and perhaps a hippo wasn’t out of the ordinary for me as a teenager. Nowadays, in Wales, the most wild the wildlife gets on my hacks is some curious cows and the odd pheasant emerging suddenly from a hedge. Regardless of whether you’re dealing with bears and cougars, or game birds and cattle, it makes sense to know how to handle animal encounters when you’re out on your horse, starting with training your horse to listen to your lead when things get a bit scary. [Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!]

A recent study has found that particularly fearful horses can be identified as foals, and suggests fear testing foals may be useful in reducing preventable accidents. The premise is that, in identifying horses which are predisposed to extreme fearfulness, those horses can be matched more effectively with experienced owners who are able to deal with their specific needs. In a first of its kind, the study was conducted over three years and tested 25 Danish Warmblood stallions at various ages. The results have the potential to impact training and breeding, and ultimately, safety. [I Ain’t ‘Fraid of No Thingamajig]

It’s International Women’s Day today and so we’re sharing the story of these military wives, who are going on an epic riding adventure. The Forces Wives Challenge (FWC) will see the group take on 130 km over five days, crossing mountains and raising funds for the Armed Forces Equine Charity. Each of the eight women has a personal reason for taking part and their shared message is that “together we can achieve anything”. They begin their journey in June – follow along with #FWC_R2F. [Riding To Freedom]

When the fashion world’s talking about horses… It wasn’t all about high fashion at Stella McCartney’s Paris Fashion Week winter show, in fact, there wasn’t a catwalk in sight – just an indoor sand arena and seven gray horses. Making the point that her clothes are totally animal friendly, the designer used real-life horses as well as equine prints to demonstrate that you can “show animals in a different way” than in furs, feathers and leather. She did make sure that everyone was aware that the horses, trained by Jean-Francois Pignon, are worked with in “a cruelty-free way” and that they were happy to be part of the show. [A High Fashion Horse Show]

Looking for something to sing along to in the barn? Like navigating a 5* cross country course, working out how to watch American Idol here in the UK takes determination, commitment, and quick thinking re-routes to the black flag option. It’s a show that makes me smile, but never more so than when I spotted a contestant’s home video of him going all Heartland and joining up with his horse. I got way too excited about seeing a horse in a music show! On a relevant note, Horse Illustrated has gathered together some horsey songs, which, along with some additions of my own, I’ve turned into a Spotify playlist. Don’t see your favorites? Let me know in the comments and I shall endeavor to add them. [Go Eventing Sing Along]

Sponsor Corner

Only eight more days until the start of Carolina International! Get ready for 2023 with this throwback to when Doug Payne and Vandiver was our Carolina Winner.

Video Break

In need of a bit of a Wednesday wake up? Here’s a brain teaser… Can you spot the odd one out?

Tuesday Video: Don’t Miss Tonight’s Ride iQ Ask an Expert with EN’s Own Maggie Deatrick

By on Mar 7, 2023 3:30 pm -

Bookmark this! Each week, Ride iQ hosts a different expert from various walks of life in the equestrian industry for a live Q&A. This week, they’ll be joined by none other than EN’s own Maggie Deatrick. Maggie juggles all facets of her life as an amateur upper-level rider, mother, and engineer (and we sure do miss her writing here on EN, but she will forever be a part of the family!).

The live Q&A will kick off at 7 p.m. EST on the Ride iQ YouTube channel and social media. For anyone unable to attend live, the sessions are made available for replay and will also be pulled into the Ride iQ audio library for future consumption.

Wins by Tamie Smith and First-Ever Modified Held at Twin Rivers Highlight Winter Horse Trials

By on Mar 7, 2023 1:00 pm -

Tamie Smith and Elliot V. Photo by Ride On Photo.

The 2023 Twin Rivers Winter Horse Trials were an event to remember. A hard-working crew and community support stepped up after record rains in Paso Robles, CA flooded the cross country course prior to the show. Tamie Smith’s wins at the Advanced and Intermediate levels highlighted top-class performances. And, Twin Rivers hosted a Modified level for the first time in the event’s history.

That the Twin Rivers Winter Horse Trials even took place was a feat in itself. The bottom field at Twin Rivers Ranch where the dressage rings and the lower part of the cross country course are located was under approximately four feet of water six weeks prior to the event because of severe flooding to the area. The combination of grounds crews working ’round-the-clock, the strong response to a GoFundMe campaign, and a break in the weather during a particularly rainy California winter allowed for a “miracle,” as organizer Connie Baxter described hosting the event.

“We’ve gotten quite a bit of weather here in California, more so than ever, and the river flooded out the lower part of the cross country,” Tamie Smith said. “So, it was a little nerve-wracking knowing whether they were going to be prepared, but they did a great job.”

Tamie won the Advanced division with the 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding Elliot V (Zavall VDL x Vera-R), owned by the Elliot V Partnership. They led after dressage with a score of 30.0 and added 6.4 time penalties on cross country for a finishing score of 36.4.

“2023 is going to be his breakout year, and he’s really come out fantastic,” Tamie said. Following what she described as a challenging 2022 for Elliot V, she plans to step him up to the 5* level for the first time in 2023 at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event, where he will join Mai Baum as Smith’s rides in the CCI5* at the Kentucky Horse Park.

“He’s kind of been a little bit in the background, and I’ve been trudging along developing him,” Tamie said about Elliot V. “Although he didn’t have the best year last year, it was more bad luck type stuff, and it always felt like he couldn’t catch a break.”

Tamie also won the Intermediate with Kynan, owned by the Kynan Syndicate, adding 5.2 time penalties on cross country to their dressage score of 28.6 to finish with a score of 33.8. It was Kynan’s first Intermediate, and the 8-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding has made a quick ascent since his first USEA-recognized event with Tamie — at Training at the Twin Rivers Summer Horse Trials in June 2022.

Tamie Smith and Kynan. Photo by Ride On Photo.

“I took my time last year just trying to get to know him, and over the winter, I felt like I solidified a partnership,” she said. “He’s a real all-around super horse. He’s really good in all three phases and has an intelligent mind and is game.”

Kynan finished 2022 with a win in the CCI2*-S at the Morven Park Fall International in Leesburg, VA, and then a third place in the CCI2*-L back in California at the Galway Downs International. He started 2023 winning at Preliminary at the Ram Tap Horse Trials before moving up to Intermediate at Twin Rivers.

“Everything went to plan, which is always nice, and the horses felt really prepared,” Tamie said. “The courses really felt up to par with a good track, and it was great.”

Tamie was also second in Open Preliminary with Julianne Guariglia’s 7-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Crafty Don (Tolan R x Diamond Breaker) to Helen Alliston and Alliston Equestrian’s 8-year-old Zangersheide gelding Flinterro Z (Figaro). Elsa Warble won the Preliminary Rider division with Anna Meegan’s 9-year-old Holsteiner gelding FE Unlimited (Uriko x Viona III).

Molly Duda and Carlingfords Hes a Clover. Photo by Ride On Photo.

In the first ever Modified held at Twin Rivers, Molly Duda and her 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Carlingfords Hes a Clover (Polanski x Fourleaf Clover) finished on their dressage score of 25.3 to win. That tied for the lowest finishing score across all levels with Kelly Estes and Waltz With Me (Wild Dance x Point of Grace) in the Beginner Novice Rider Division.

“It was a tricky course. My trainers were joking that it looked like the Modified Olympics,” Molly said with a laugh. “It felt really good. My horse, Tommy, was just incredible through it. He’s just a cross country machine. He loves it out there. The footing really held up with the rain, so it was great.”

This was the second event together for Molly and “Tommy” following a fourth-place finish at Training at Ram Tap last month. Tommy was competing at the 3* level in Great Britain with Lizzie Baugh in 2022 before partnering with Molly.

“I’ve only had him for about two months. He’s very new to me,” she said. “He’s just such a gentleman. He’s a very well-trained horse, and he loves his job. We pretty much clicked right when he got to the States. He’s always been so level-headed about everything. He’s just got the sweetest personality.”

The Baxter family that hosts eventing at Twin Rivers Ranch was incredibly grateful for the outpouring of support received in response to the flooding that led up to the Twin Rivers Winter Horse Trials. There was a significant private donation and a strong community response to the GoFundMe campaign to have the facilities ready for the event.

“The support we received was so heartwarming,” organizer Connie Baxter said. “It was a real team effort, and after all the hard work that went into hosting these horse trials, we’re looking forward to the internationals, as well as the Young Event Horse West Coast Championships, that make up our show schedule in 2023.”

The next event that will take place at Twin Rivers Ranch will be the Twin Rivers Spring International on April 13-16.

The full list of winners from the 2023 Twin Rivers Winter Horse Trials:

Advanced: Tamie Smith and Elliot V (36.4)
Open Intermediate: Tamie Smith and Kynan (33.8)
Open Preliminary: Helen Alliston and Flinterro Z (26.6)
Preliminary Rider: Elsa Warble and FE Unlimited (28.8)
Open Modified: Molly Duda and Carlingfords Hes a Clover (25.3)
Open Training: Tommy Greengard and Cooley Sligo (28.3)
Sr. Training Rider: Teresa Harcourt and Csongor (29.2)
Jr. Training Rider: Fiona Holland and Joshua Tree (25.6)
Training Amateur: Jessica Jones and Jameson (30.6)
Open Novice: Rebecca Braitling and Made by Leontine EB (26.1)
Sr. Novice Rider: Alexandra Naeve and Soaring Bird (30.0)
Jr. Novice Rider: Holly Fosmark and When Starz Align (29.2)
Novice Amateur: Taylor Miles and RLE Cappuccino (26.1)
Open Beginner Novice: Lauren Billys Shady and Mister Cooley (30.6)
Beginner Novice Rider: Kelly Estes and Waltz With Me (25.3)
Starter: Helen Alliston and Faraó (27.7)

Attention Intercollegiate Eventers! Your Championship will be Held at Tryon, May 26-28

By on Mar 7, 2023 11:30 am -

Auburn University’s mascot “Aubie” was out cheering on the team. Photo by Shelby Allen.

Exciting news for all you Intercollegiate eventers reading this! The Intercollegiate Eventing Championships have become a popular destination for teams to gather; last year’s Championships were held at Bouckaert Farm. This year, the USEA has announced the Intercollegiate Eventing Championships will be held at Tryon International Equestrian Center in Mill Spring, NC, May 26-28.

Entries for the Championship will open April 11 and close on May 9. There are no qualifications necessary to enter, but schools represented must be registered Affiliates of the USEA.

Here is some more information on the upcoming event:

All participants must be enrolled as undergraduate students or be no more than six months past the completion of their undergraduate education, allowing December graduates to compete in the May championship. The USEA will no longer offer the Graduate division at the Intercollegiate Championship due to lack of participation in recent years.

TIEC offers an expansive selection of on-site accommodations, which can be viewed and booked here. For further information on the venue, local accommodations, travel and things to do, view TIEC’s Visitor’s Guide here. Any remaining questions regarding the 2023 USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Championship can be directed to USEA Staff Liaison, Kaleigh Collett, via email at [email protected] or by phone at (703) 669-9994.

About the USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Program

The USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Program was established in 2014 to provide a framework within which eventing teams and individual competitors could flourish at universities and colleges across the country. The USEA offers a discount of $25 on annual USEA memberships for current students of universities and colleges registered as Affiliates with the USEA. Many events across the country now offer Intercollegiate Team Challenges where collegiate eventers can compete individually as well as on teams with their fellow students. In Intercollegiate Team Challenges, each rider’s score is multiplied by a coefficient appropriate for their level to account for differences in level difficulty, and then the individual scores are added together to determine the team score. Click here to learn more about the Intercollegiate Eventing Program.

Jonelle Price is Coming to Ocala! How to Audit a Clinic to Benefit Team Canada

By on Mar 7, 2023 9:00 am -

Jonelle Price and Grappa Nera add another sterling accolade to the Price family’s roster. Photo by Tilly Berendt.

Exciting news and a rare opportunity for you, EN! New Zealand Olympian and World Championships rider Jonelle Price is coming to the U.S. for a three-day Canadian High Performance Training Camp and a one-day open clinic. The Canadian training camp will focus on all three phases, and the open clinic on the 15th will focus on show jumping. The clinic will take place in two locations: March 12-13’s training camp as well as the open clinic on March 15 will be held at Kepferle Equestrian in Anthony, FL. The cross country portion of the training camp will be held at Will Coleman’s Okonokos in Ocala.

If you want to have a chance to audit this special opportunity, which was spearheaded in large part by Canadian Eventing Chef d’Equipe Rebecca Howard, you can purchase an auditing pass for $100 CDN ($73 USD). This auditing pass will give you admission to all three days of training camp as well as the open clinic. The open clinic is full at this time, but you can join the waitlist and/or purchase an auditing pass by emailing [email protected].

EN’s Amanda Chance will be covering a portion of the clinic — and if you’re interested in submitting a report of your own during the clinic, please let us know at [email protected].

Go Eventing!

Tuesday News & Notes from Kentucky Performance Products

By on Mar 7, 2023 8:19 am -

I’m going to leave this here for you with little to no comment, because that squeal really does speak for itself, doesn’t it?

Events Opening Today: Meadowcreek Park-The Spring Social Event, Sporting Days Farm April H.T. III, River Glen Spring H.T., Fair Hill International April H.T. & CCI-S

Events Closing Today: Full Gallop Farm March II H.T., Texas Rose Horse Park H.T., March Horse Trials at Majestic Oaks

Tuesday News & Notes from Around the World:

We all know a bit about soft tissue injury in horses: how to prevent it, how to treat it, how much time off to factor in after it happens. But what about our own tendons and ligaments? What does a similar injury mean for a rider? Writer and dressage rider Laura Adriaanse found out firsthand when a potentially torn ACL derailed her best-laid plans for 2023 – and she’s learned a thing or two along the way about herself, too. [A good blog to start your day]

Showjumper Ludger Beerbaum has had a bit of a dampener to the start of his 2023 season. The German rider took a tumble while competing at the Global Champions Tour in Qatar and has broken his leg, requiring a significant surgery and a few new bits of metal to stabilise the whole thing. He’s recovering well now and will no doubt be back in action soon. [Ludger sidelined]

Ever wondered who the folks behind the scenes at USEA are? In their ongoing series, they’re aiming to make sure you can put a face to a name — and this week, you can ‘meet’ the dynamic duo behind the Membership department. [Meet Jennifer and Cindy]

And finally, if you follow Swedish eventer Sofia Sjoborg on Instagram, you’ve probably seen her horses wearing some pretty funky trousers. Those trousers are actually a new device designed to minimise lower-limb swelling, and we’ve got the research behind them for your perusal. [Great if your horse isn’t easily embarrassed]

Sponsor Corner:

Are you planning to put your mare in foal this year? It’s important you get up-to-speed on Vitamin E, and what it can mean for your horse’s reproductive efficiency. Save time, stress, and expense by giving your mare all the nutrients she needs – more info here from Kentucky Performance Products here!

Watch This:

Getting ready for your first event of the year? You’re in good company.

Monday Video: Ride Bruce’s Field with Boyd and Bruno

By on Mar 6, 2023 3:00 pm -

Take a spin around the cross-country course at Grand-Prix Eventing Festival at Bruce's Field via JockeyCam with Bruno who finished 🥉

Posted by Boyd Martin on Saturday, March 4, 2023

The $50,000 Grand-Prix Eventing Festival at Bruce’s Field has come and gone for another year! We’re left with good memories of a great unofficial kickoff to the season, loads of rides to re-watch, and, thanks to Boyd Martin donning a JockeyCam during his ride aboard Federman B, we can even take a spin around the course ourselves.

Boyd and “Bruno” clinched a very emotional win at this event last year. They’re clearly fan favorites — listen to the cheers that follow them around the course! Boyd has said that he feels honored to ride Bruno, and the pair is really starting to click. One thing that stood out to me while watching this round was what a huge stride Bruno has, yet how adjustable and catty he is. Just take a look at this gif from our live updates of the pair though the Palmetto Golf Tees bounce:

Ultimately, Boyd and Bruno would finish two seconds over time and end their weekend in third place behind two-phase leaders Doug Payne and Starr Witness in second, and winner Liz Halliday-Sharp, who rode a foot-perfect double clear round aboard and Miks Master C to become a three-time champion at this event. If you missed it, you can catch the final report right here.

GPE at Bruce’s Field: GPE Website, H&C+ Livestream Replay, EN’s Coverage

#GoEventing at Twin Rivers: Just a Few Moody Cross Country Shots

By on Mar 6, 2023 1:30 pm -

Kaylawna Smith-Cook and Passepartout. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Twin Rivers in Paso Robles, CA celebrated a successful return to eventing after sustaining major damages from record-breaking rains and flooding in the area earlier this year. Thanks to Sherry Stewart for sending in some moody shots from what was still a wet weekend in California — but it sure made for some epic photos!

James Alliston and Karma. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Tamie Smith and Elliot V. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

We saw several West Coast-based heavy hitters out in action, including James Alliston, Lauren Billys Shady and Tamie Smith, as well as some rising stars to keep an eye on throughout the remainder of the season.

Lauren Billys Shady and Can Be Sweet. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Amanda Boyce and Carter. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Bec Braitling and Caravaggio. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

The facility, owned by the Baxter family, will host dressage and hunter/jumper shows over the next few weeks and will next host a recognized event in April. Visit the Twin Rivers website for more information and a full competition calendar.

Elsa Warble and FE Unlimited. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Tamie Smith and Kynan. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Helen Alliston and Flinterro Z. Photo by Sherry Stewart.

Twin Rivers Winter H.T. (Paso Robles, CA): [Website] [Final Scores]

Weekend Winners: Full Gallop, Rocking Horse, Sporting Days, Twin Rivers

By on Mar 6, 2023 11:30 am -

We’re kicking off today’s Weekend Winners with a special shout to all who helped get Twin Rivers Ranch back into tip-top shape following massive flooding from California’s superstorms earlier this year. Between donations made via a GoFundMe to on the ground assistance getting the grounds repaired, massive efforts were made and this weekend’s event went off beautifully. Well done to all — what an effort, and what a testament to our eventing community.

$50,000 Grand-Prix Eventing at Bruce’s Field (Aiken, SC): [Website] [Tickets] [Live Stream Replay] [ Final Scores] [Volunteer] [EN’s Coverage]

Full Gallop Farm March Wednesday H.T. (Aiken, SC): [Website], [Final Scores]

Preliminary: Matthew Ulmer and Kings Carter (43.4)
Preliminary/Training: Tracey Ann Asti Bienemann and Venezuelan River (30.1)
Training: Madison Manley and NDR’s Fex (27.8)
Training/Novice: Nadia Novik and Dartfield’s One (43.4)
Novice A: Kate Brown and Kokoleka (31.1)
Novice B: Rebecca Mahaffey and What the Blip (30.3)
Beginner Novice A: Jennifer Fox and Galloway (27.7)
Beginner Novice B: Lauren Lindsay and FGF Giacokhan (27.7)
Starter A: Anna North and R’Whispers (25.3)
Starter B: Maria Elizabeth Novotny and Kayla’s Tune (31.7)

Rocking Horse Winter III H.T (Altoona, FL): [Website] [Final Scores]

Intermediate/Preliminary: Caitlin O’Roark and What The Devil (55.1)
Intermediate Rider: Olivia Miller and Cooley Starstruck (45.3)
Open Intermediate A: Alyssa Phillips and Cornelius Bo (30.7)
Open Intermediate B: Dani Sussman and Jos Bravio (33.7)
Open Intermediate One Day: Selena O’Hanlon and M S Thunderbolt (32.8)
Open Preliminary A: Guillermo De Campo Marambio and Castigado (28.2)
Open Preliminary B: Guillermo De Campo Marambio and Anahuac SDC (28.5)
Open Preliminary One Day: Melissa Boutin and Obeah Dancer GS (34.7)
Open Preliminary One Day: Lexi Scovil and Keep Calm (32.4)
Preliminary Horse: Megan Edwards and Global Dynasty (34.1)
Preliminary Rider: Lizzie Hoff and HSH Limited Edition (27.4)
Modified Rider A: Katherine Maroko and Rosie’s Little Miss Liberty (31.6)
Modified Rider B: Devon Tresan and Zavallo (26.7)
Open Modified A: William Ward III and Phantom of the Opera (29.5)
Open Modified B: Conor Rollins and Cavalier Monte Carla (30.7)
Open Modified C: Liz Lund and Franklin Delano CF (28.6)
Jr. Training Rider: Macy Hale and Ardeo Audacity (28.6)
Open Training A: Mia Farley and Redfield Jim (25.2)
Open Training B: Amy Ehteridge and Royal Lufttanzer (24.5)
Open Training C: Katie Malensek and FE Cheerio (24.1)
Sr. Training Rider A: Chris Kawcak and Amelie (33.9)
Sr. Training Rider B: Nancy Lee and PHF Wind Me Up (34.3)
Training Horse A: Dani Sussman and Baral Triumph (29.2)
Training Horse B: Meghan O’Donoghue and Global Eros (27.9)
Jr. Novice Rider: Jaeli Uselding and My Fair Prince (30.8)
Novice Horse A: Gabby Dickerson and Frijole (27.5)
Novice Horse B: Lynn Symansky and DHI Kickodieza (28.3)
Novice Horse C: Declan Bast and FE City Boy (21.1)
Open Novice A: Alexandra du Celliee Muller and HH Zephyr (27.6)
Open Novice B: Melanie Rousseau and Cabriolet 18 (20.0)
Open Novice C: Sinead Maynard and Lightning V/Z (26.8)
Sr. Novice Rider A: Sam Hellerman and Roheryn (31.7)
Sr. Novice Rider B: April Hays and Anteros HSH (29.7)
Beginner Novice Rider A: Laura Carlson and Kilkelly See The Difference (28.1)
Beginner Novice Rider B: Coco Fiorita and Oskar (28.8)
Open Beginner Novice A: Cindy Rawson and Truly Stellar (28.8)
Open Beginner Novice B: Michael Nolan and Jalisca (26.6)

Sporting Days Farm March H.T. II (Aiken, SC): [Website] [Final Scores]

Intermediate CT: Kathleen Bertuna and Excel Star Harry (39.0)
Open Preliminary: Arden Foster Wildasin and Apogee (29.8)
Preliminary Horse: Mary Bess Davis and Monius (37.3)
Preliminary Rider: Jax Maxian and Milo Diamond (33.8)
Open Training: Ryan Wood and Fernhill Domino (24.3)
Preliminary/Training: Julia Spatt and Uptown Funk (33.4)
Training Horse: Danielle Downing and Caribe PCH (31.4)
Training Rider A: Madeline Cracknell and Wild Affair (33.6)
Training Rider B: Lisa Edinger and Quinto Quest (28.3)
Novice Rider A: Avery Cascarino and Excel Star Quidam’s Cavalier (27.2)
Novice Rider B: Samantha Schwartz and Rumble Fish (25.8)
Open Novice A: Alexander Conrad and FE Lions Darco (26.7)
Open Novice B: Ryan Wood and Kiltubrid Harley (21.7)
Beginner Novice Rider A: Tiffany Stewart and Crimson Clover (25.6)
Beginner Novice Rider B: Kristina Keilty and Best of Broadway (35.3)
Open Beginner Novice A: Natiel McKim and Windsor (29.1)
Open Beginner Novice B: Alison Eastman-Lawler and Sara Bella (28.4)
Starter A: Bryce Jungling and In Living Color (30.7)
Starter B: Arabelle Armstrong and Requiem In Color (31.3)

Twin Rivers Winter H.T. (Paso Robles, CA): [Website] [Final Scores]

Advanced: Tamie Smith and Elliot V (36.4)
Open Intermediate: Tamie Smith and Kynan (33.8)
Open Preliminary: Helen Alliston and Flinterro Z (26.6)
Preliminary Rider: Elsa Warble and FE Unlimited (28.8)
Open Modified: Molly Duda and Carlingfords Hes a Clover (25.3)
Jr. Training Rider: Fiona Holland and Joshua Tree (25.6)
Open Training: Tommy Greengard and Cooley Sligo (28.3)
Sr. Training Rider: Teresa Harcourt and Csongor (29.2)
Training Amateur: Jessica Jones and Jameson (30.6)
Jr. Novice Rider: Holly Fosmark and When Starz Align (29.2)
Novice Amateur: Taylor Miles and RLE Cappuccino (26.1)
Open Novice: Bec Braitling and Made by Leontine EB (26.1)
Sr. Novice Rider: Alexandra Naeve and Soaring Bird (30.0)
Beginner Novice Rider: Kelly Estes and Waltz With Me (25.3)
Open Beginner Novice: Lauren Billys Shady and Mister Cooley (30.6)
Starter: Helen Alliston and Faraó