Tamie Smith and Danito. Photo by MGO Photography.
Woodside International Horse Trials kicked off with CCI4*-S dressage, featuring a competitive division of 15 entries. With 12 points separating the field after dressage, the pressure is on for show jumping and cross country. Tamie Smith is in first and second respectively with Ruth Bley’s Danito, an 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Dancier x Wie Musik) on a penalty score of 26.0, and Judith McSwain’s Fleeceworks Royal, an 11-year-old Holsteiner mare (Riverman x Marisol) on a score of 27.6.
Erik Duvander, who is on site this weekend, has been working closely with Tamie on keeping her horses supple, soft, and fine-tuning everything in preparation for her CCI4*-Ls in these upcoming weeks.
Just .3 point behind Tamie in third is Erin Kellerhouse on her own Woodford Reserve, a 9-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Tinaranas Inspector x Laharns Laughton).
Erin Kellerhouse and Woodford Reserve sit in third in the CCI4*-S at Woodside International. MGO Photography Photo.
Erin 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 states. 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 Grazi, Lauren Billys and Amber Levine leaving no room for mistakes in these final two phases.
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