Road to the 3-Day: Devin Handy

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As a first-time competitor of a classic 3-Day format, I must admit that I was overwhelmed with information! Everything from conditioning, to show scheduling, and organization in general seemed like a daunting task. The Road to the 3-Day helped tremendously by outlining a show schedule that I knew would set me on a successful path to the Waredaca Classic 3-Day. Additionally, the Road to the 3-Day enters its competitors into a chance to win entries to the participating events in the year that follows the Classic 3-Day, holding a very good value; so many entries I don’t have to worry about paying next year! However, I have found that the long-format event and eventing in general are more than just about the ribbons and prizes. By participating in the events leading up to the Three Day, I found that I began seeing familiar faces both inside and outside of the arena. By fostering these new relationships, the experience became more relaxed and even more enjoyable. Between the chances of earning great prizes, meeting fantastic people, and everything in between, I couldn’t recommend the Waredaca Classic 3-Day and the Road to the 3-Day Challenge enough!

Road to the 3-Day: Dawn Beach

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Having competitions take part in the challenge is truly appreciated. With busy lives and schedules, having these shows to help with our goals is important. Goals help me keep on track with training and on days when I am swamped, they help me to push on because they are on my calendar. The shows leading up to the main event keep us moving forward to the main goal of the 3-day and they help with fitness and prepare our horses mentally for the bigger competition.

I love every aspect of the 3-day, the training and time involved with our horses to prepare are fulfilling and to see all the pieces fall together on the 3-day weekend is extremely rewarding.

Road to the 3-Day: Cindi Moravec

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I heard about the Road to the 3-Day Challenge thru the Waredaca Classic 3-day FB page and on the Waredaca website.

I have had a Training level 3-day as a goal for over a year. 

The most important parts of successfully completing a 3 day are conditioning and preparation.

The prize for winning the challenge definitely played a part in helping me select what events to complete in. 

I reviewed the list of 6 horse trials and selected the final 3 as integral to my preparation.

At Seneca Valley, we scored our lowest dressage score of the year, had a rail down in stadium due to a spook, and finished XC strong and well under the time in hot, humid conditions.

Old Tavern was the next event, and we had the winning score in dressage, 2 rails in stadium and a confident, bold XC round.

The last HT was Morven Park, 2 weeks before the 3-day. We were in second place after dressage and a double clear stadium round moved us up to 1st. XC on Sunday proved hard to make the time for most, but we finished 3 seconds under, barely breathing to finish 1st.

These horse trials allowed us to compete over similar XC jumps and get much-needed conditioning in a very systematic way.

Winning the Training challenge was huge! The free entries to the 6 supporting horse trials in 2022 will help me immensely in my show budget.

Most events don’t offer much in prizes at the lower level, so promoting this Challenge and what the prize is, is very important.

Woods Baughman

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Woods Baughman, a 4* rider and assistant trainer at Last Frontier Farm, has become an integral part of the LFF team. From Lexington, KY, he started riding at age 6 with Maggie Wright at her Champagne Run Farm. At 10 years old, he convinced his parents to purchase a quarter pony named Smoothie with whom he competed at his first events and achieved his C3 rating with the Keeneland Pony Club. In 2014, he qualified for the NAJYRC 1* and finished 12th individually with his horse Truckee Bash as well as Area VIII Team Bronze.

In 2015, Woods met Sharon White and joined Team Orange. That year he qualified for the NAJYRC 2* and finished 6th individually on Montesquieu, and in 2016 he placed second in the CIC 2* with Maverick McNamara. Sharon orchestrated the opportunity of a lifetime for Woods in 2018 by sending him to Germany for a year with Dirk Schrade. There he continued to excel at the upper levels. He came home with his current competition horse, Ces’t la Vie 135 with whom he finished 6th at the CCI3-S at Bromont in 2019, won the Fair Hill International CCI3*-L, and most recently won the USEF CCI4*-L National Championship at Tryon in 2021. Woods and “Contendro” are bound for the 5* level in 2022 and he also has a couple exciting younger horses coming up the levels.

Laura Willard, Pony Kids Instructor

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Laura grew up in Upstate NY and began taking horseback riding lessons when she was 5 years old. She quickly fell in love with the equestrian world and spent her summers leasing horses and attending horseback riding camps. When Laura moved to Maryland, she was thrilled to find Waredaca as a place to continue her passion for horses.

Abby Shade, Pony Kids Coordinator

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Abby grew up riding at Waredaca every summer and is excited to be back to teach the next generation as the Pony Kids Coordinator. When not offering Pony Kids lessons, Abby can be found riding her horse, Slate, around the lake and on the trails.