-- WEC press release
In their quest to qualify for the US Festival of Champions this summer, Andrea Woodard (USA) and Roxette entered their first internationally rated competition at the 2025 CDI Ocala on 10 - 13 April 2025.
While the young horse had shown nationally at WEC – Ocala last fall indoors and in Wellington the past few months, she stepped into the WEC Grand Arena with aplomb and set the winning score at 70.176% to take the top prize in the Prix St. Georges 1*.
Following the test, Woodard described what she felt were Roxette’s strengths in the class. “I feel her trying to understand what's coming and what I’m asking,” she explained. “She's very willing to be right there, but it’s still a demanding test for a younger horse. We still don't know each other that well, so there's a lot of layers that go into it. The fact that she stayed with me and she really tried throughout the entire test to do what I was asking her to do and was attentive, that was the strongest part of it.”
Woodard brought Roxette over from Europe in July 2024 and took her time developing the coming-eight-year-old Danish Warmblood mare (by Revolution x Quite Easy I). She is owned by company Enter At A LLC,. Roxette “showed the changes but was kind of green” and needed polish, but her mind and ability to happily adjust to new circumstances was encouraging.
Woodard, who was born in New York and grew up in Denmark, returned to the U.S. in 2015 to start a new training business. It has grown over the past 10 years to incorporate training success at the international level as well as fulfilment with developing young horses.
The Para Connection
Woodard is likely a familiar face to those who have followed para dressage at recent Paralympic Games and World Championships, as she trained gold medalists Roxanne Trunnell and Dolton. Woodard is training para riders Ellie Brimmer – the 2024 USEF Para Dressage National Champion – and Marie Vonderheyden, who has represented the U.S. para dressage team.
“It’s been an incredible journey for me to get experience at the highest level of the sport,” she said. “I really feel passionate about helping the para riders. It takes a ton of preparation, and you have to really think out of the box sometimes. It's such a team effort and a rewarding journey. I'm so proud of them.”
Top Three
Second place in the Prix St Georgwent to Charlotte Jorst (USA) on her own Atterupgaards Botticelli, a 13-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding (Benetton Dream x Caprimond) with a score of 69.824%.
Adam Steffens-Smienk (USA) picked up third and fourth places with Boston Strong OLD and Bentayga, both owned by Candoit Stables. Boston Strong OLD, a 15-year-old Oldenburg gelding (Bordeaux x Sandro Hit), scored 66.853%, while Bentayga, a nine-year-old Hanoverian mare (Belantis I x Carabas) received 66.471%.
Related Links
Scores: 2025 CDI Ocala
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