#TeamSmartPak Series: Ryan Wood
From a pony club kid in Australia to a top-level international eventer based in Pennsylvania, Ryan Wood’s journey has been anything but ordinary. His first event horse? A $1,500 off-the-track mix named Countdown who took him all the way to his first 4* at just nineteen years old! Since then, Ryan’s passion for bringing horses up the levels has led him around the world and straight to the top. These days, he’s not just a rider. You’ll find him coaching, mentoring, and developing the next generation of champions through his program, Woodstock Eventing. Get to know Team SmartPak Rider Ryan Wood in our latest blog:
Fast Facts with Ryan:
- What kind of riding do you do?
- Eventing
- How many years have you been riding?
- 35
- How many years have you been with SmartPak?
- I have been lucky enough to be a SmartPak Team member since 2009! I joined up right after I moved to America in 2008.
- Where is home base for you?
- Woodstock Eventing is in Kennett Square, PA
- Where can riders and fans find you?
- WoodStockEventing.com
- @ryanwoodeventing on Instagram
- Ryan Wood and Woodstock Eventing on Facebook
The Good Stuff:
- What's the best advice you've ever been given?
- "Sit up straight. It sounds simple, but you'd be surprise to find out how many times things go better in the saddle (and sometimes not in the saddle) when you remember to sit tall and hold your core tight."
- What's your favorite advice to give to young riders?
- "Put in the time, even when it gets tough. Young riders don't always get to sit on the nicest horses or go to the fanciest shows, but every ride you put in with a good attitude takes you that much closer to your end goal."
- How do you stay motivated and energized in the off season?
- "Off season? What's that? No, but really, I never take an off season. When the FEI horses are on break, that's when I take the time to focus on my young horses and their future. It's not always big jumps and lateral work, the weeks and months I spend on straightness and rideability are always worthwhile to keep me and my horses feeling fresh and motivated."
- "Off season? What's that? No, but really, I never take an off season. When the FEI horses are on break, that's when I take the time to focus on my young horses and their future. It's not always big jumps and lateral work, the weeks and months I spend on straightness and rideability are always worthwhile to keep me and my horses feeling fresh and motivated."
The Smart(Pak) Stuff:
- Why does Ryan Wood use SmartPaks?
- SmartPak delivers quality that counts. Their system helps me manage a large team of horses without ever cutting corners. Plus, their products are reliable, consistent, and tailored to each horse’s individual needs.
- What's in Ryan's SmartPaks?
- Some of Ryan's favorite SmartPak supplements include:
SmartGI® Ultra Pellets combines two of our most popular supplements, SmartGut Ultra Pellets and SmartDigest Ultra Pellets, to provide ultimate support for the entire GI tract at about 15% savings over purchasing those two products individually.
SmartLytes® Pellets are carefully formulated to mimic the mineral losses in equine sweat. This formula also includes trimethylglycine to help cells maintain normal fluid levels. These tasty apple-banana flavored pellets have no sugar added and an excellent choice for even the pickiest eater.
A science-first approach to find the single-best supplement to address three key areas, SmartPerform® Ultra Pellets boasts research-supported ingredients that maintain healthy joints, bones, tendons, and ligaments, preserve normal, protective stomach tissue, and nourish the hindgut for a proper balance of beneficial “bugs”.
Keep up with Ryan and SmartPak on social media and learn more about SmartPaks at the buttons below!
More Blogs Featuring Ryan Wood:
Other #TeamSmartPak Series Blogs: