This weekend’s eventing competition at Galway Downs in Temecula, Calif., couldn’t really have gone much better for Robyn Fisher. She didn’t touch a rail in show jumping, on Sunday, April 2, finishing the competition in the lead in both the two-star and the three-star divisions.

Fisher took a commanding lead in dressage with Le Samurai in the CIC-W and held it throughout the competition. She incurred time penalties on cross-country because she had to circle “Sparky” a few times to make him rideable, but she still held the lead before show jumping.

“I had no room for error,” said Fisher. But when second-placed Jennifer Wooten and The Good Witch caught a rail, she could relax a little. And the 11-year-old Holsteiner didn’t need much cushion. Fisher and Sparky jumped around the maximum course without touching a rail, although they did incur three time penalties, finishing with 75.6 points.

The win means that Fisher is qualified for the FEI World Cup with Le Samurai, and it also was the kick-off event for the Pacific Adequan U.S. Eventing Association Gold Cup, so she’ll collect points for that as well.

But Fisher was even more pleased with her victory in the CIC** aboard 10-year-old Holsteiner, Lady Calido. “I love this horse,” she enthused after the competition.

“Cali” was competing in her fourth intermediate with Fisher. Two years ago the mare was used as a broodmare, but she’s taken to eventing quickly, and Fisher already plans to move her up to advanced.

“She’s answering all the questions really well,” said Fisher. If all goes well, they’ll contest the Fair Hill International CCI*** (Md.) this fall.

Wooten wasn’t really disappointed with her rail in the CIC-W. “I’m a little lacking in experience in these bigger competitions,” she said. “It was clearly my rail. I was a little too picky.”

Lauren Whitlock also caught a rail to retain third place in the three-star with Kipling (78.7). “He was too strong,” she said. But overall she rated the event highly and felt it prepared her well for the Rolex Kentucky CCI****, which is her goal this spring.

“It’s nice riding here and knowing you’ll be prepared,” she said.

It was just the second intermediate for Kelly Prather, who placed second in the CIC** with Ballinakill Glory (61.5). She thought the courses were big and challenging, but fun.

Prather’s ridden the 7-year-old Irish Sport Horse since the mare was 3, and they just moved up at Twin Rivers (Calif.) this spring.

Both Prather and Whitlock ride at Chocolate Horse Farm with Andrea Pfeiffer in Petaluma, Calif., and Pfeiffer owns Ballinakill Glory.

In the CIC* Fiona Dodson was all smiles as she claimed a victory that eluded her last fall. She rode her 10-year-old Happy Go Lucky to the win with one rail down (47.2). Last fall they led after cross-country, but rails took them out of contention.

“Show jumping is a weakness for both of us,” she admitted. “I’m more confident in the other phases.”

Dodson, 17, would like to move up to intermediate with “Leo,” but she was concerned about pushing him too quickly. Morgan Roundtree was able to move up three spots into second place with a clear round aboard Sherwood (47.9), and Jessica Rice moved up into third on I’m So Brite (50.4). The 12-year-old Thoroughbred was a former ride of Phillip Dutton’s, and Rice has only been riding him for less than a year.

For complete results visit www.galwaydowns.com