One of the few three-day event riders with four-star level experience in the United States, Ryan Wood is an example of determination and competitiveness.  A native of Australia, he brought his business, Woodstock Eventing to the United States at the beginning of 2008. He worked for eventing legend Bruce Davidson for several months before joining Phillip Dutton’s team in 2009.

Ryan started riding and competing at the age of eight. He bought his first horse for AUD $1,500. “Countdown”, advertised in a local newspaper, was a Thoroughbred/Stock horse which took Ryan through Pony Club, up through the ranks of eventing, ultimately competing at the four-star level when both horse and rider were each nineteen years old.

Ryan went on to compete at the four-star level with Countdown, Wonder and Koyuna Azgard. Notable among his successes in Australia were top placings at international events including the Adelaide CCI****, Melbourne CCI***, Sydney CCI***, and Warwick CIC-W ***.

Photo credit Erica Larson




After finishing school in Australia, Ryan spent a year working for Australian eventing champion Guy Wallace, then based himself at the New South Wales Equestrian Centre. He also gained valuable experience starting young horses and galloping race horses at Hawkesbury and Cessnock racecourses. Over the years he made a number of trips to Germany to train and ride with Olympic dressage trainer Norbert Van Laak, and with champion show-jumpers Ludger Beerbaum and Ernst Hofschroer.

Ryan moved to the United States in early 2008. In May, he and Wynella Wolverine, a TB/Warmblood cross gelding, won the Intermediate horse trials at the Fair Hill International. In June he and “Wolfie” traveled to Canada to place second in the CIC** at the Bromont three-day event.

Ryan kept up a busy competition schedule through the summer of 2008, and in September he and “Wolfie” won the Area II Intermediate Championship at the Plantation Field International CIC and Horse Trials in Unionville, Pennsylvania.

Ryan is a patient teacher and a brave and successful competitor who shares his knowledge and skill easily and expertly. His professional riding credentials include his qualification through the Equestrian Federation of Australia as a National Level 1 Coach. As Ryan builds his business, Woodstock Eventing, in the United States, he is seeking both
clients and sponsors. Ryan can be reached at woodstockeventing@hotmail.com.