Category Archives: Tryon

Competitions, Show Jumping, Tryon

Richie Moloney and Ypaja Yando Ace the $72,000 Adequan Grand Prix CSI 2*

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Richie Moloney and Ypaja Yando ©Sportfot.

Mill Spring, NC – October 5, 2019 – Richie Moloney (IRL) and Ypaja Yando fought their way to a win in the $72,000 Adequan® Grand Prix CSI 2* at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) at Tryon Resort, stopping the jump-off timers in 46.819 seconds. Santiago Lambre (MEX) and Dingeman, a 2008 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Nintender x Darnels) owned by Aurora Rangel De Alba, claimed reserve on a jump-off performance of 47.542 seconds, while third-place honors went to Brooke Kemper (USA) and her own Classified, a 2004 Holsteiner/Thoroughbred gelding (Crescendo x Aim at Me), who put in a 48.001-second jump-off ride to secure the podium finish.

Peter Grant (CAN) saw 49 entries challenge the first-round track, with five horse-and-rider pairs returning to test the jump-off. Moloney’s strategy with the Equinimity LLC mount, the 2007 Finnish Warmblood stallion (Quinar x Lasino), was to go quickly and smoothly, but initially thought he left the door open, he explained.

“It was a big [CSI] 2*, with a long course, and a long jump-off. I’ve had this horse since he was eight, and he’s always a competitive horse at this height and the 1.50m classes. So the strategy was to try to jump clear and then be very quick in the jump-off.

“I think I was just kind of quick enough everywhere – nothing crazy,” Moloney admitted about his slick jump-off performance. “Everything was pretty calculated, with no risks. Number B of the double, maybe the seven was a bit steady, because when I came out of the ring I thought I could have done six strides there, but it worked out that I didn’t have to!”

For full results from the $72,000 Adequan® Grand Prix CSI 2*, click here.

To learn more, visit www.Tryon.com.

*Featured/Spotlights, Show Jumping, Tryon

Tracy Fenney & MTM Apple Win Horseware Ireland Welcome Stake and Power & Speed Stake CSI 2*

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Tracy Fenney and MTM Apple ©Sportfot.

Mill Spring, NC – October 3, 2019 – Tracy Fenney (USA) and MTM Apple kicked off Tryon Fall 3 with two back-to-back FEI wins, claiming Thursday’s $36,000 Horseware Ireland Welcome Stake CSI 2* on a jump-off time of 39.032 seconds. Kristen VanderVeen (USA) and Bull Run’s Prince of Peace, the 2009 Holsteiner gelding (Cardenio x Contender) owned by Bull Run Jumpers Six LLC, earned second-place honors with a 40.401 second short-course performance, while Fenney also received third, this time aboard MTM Reve Du Paradis, the 2005 Selle Francais gelding (Crown Z x Adelfos) owned by MTM Farm, following their clear jump-off round in a time of 40.499 seconds.

Fenney shared that the 2011 Danish Warmblood mare (Favorit Ask x Willemoes) owned by MTM Farm has been improving with every round in the ring. “She was great, even better than yesterday. It was a hard 1.45m, but it was good to get her in the ring and get her in gear.”

Course designer Peter Grant (CAN) hosted 56 entries in the first round of competition, with 22 horse-and-rider pairs qualifying to attempt the short course. After being knocked out of the lead on her other mount, Fenney was determined to get back in the lead with MTM Apple. “She’s really fast and she’s super straightforward. I mean, from one to two she did that like a gem, and I was so impressed with her.”

Tracy Fenney and MTM Apple Float to $5,000 Power & Speed CSI 2* Win

Fenney and MTM Apple also dominated Wednesday’s $5,000 Power & Speed CSI 2* to start the week on a high note, stopping the speed phase timers in 30.76 seconds. Kristen VanderVeen (USA) and Bull Run’s Living, the 2009 Zangersheide mare (Quasimodo x Wolfgang) owned by Bull Run Jumpers Six LLC, claimed second in a time of 32.306 seconds, while Lauren Tisbo (USA) rounded out the all-American, all-female podium aboard Tequestrian Farms LLC’s Casco 11, the 2009 Holsteiner gelding (Caspar x Colman), putting in a speed phase time of 34.714 seconds.

“She’s fairly new, so that’s why I showed her today,” Fenney said of the 2011 Danish Warmblood mare (Favorit Ask x Willemoes) owned by MTM Farm. “She’s very straightforward and has a very good attitude about what she does. I was a little bit worried because it’s so hot this week, so I wasn’t sure if I should show her today, but because she’s so new we decided to show her in a class. I love her; she felt great.”

Fenney and the mare have been building their relationship over the past year, she explained. “We imported her last year and we have been doing little things and some Grands Prix. Every time we show her, she gets better and better.

“I guess we’ll see what our plans are this week; I’m doing the welcome stake with three horses and I’ll kind of pick and choose what I’ll do Saturday night from there. Whatever horse doesn’t go Saturday, I’ll do on Sunday,” Fenney concluded.

For full results from the $36,000 Horseware Ireland Welcome Stake CSI 2*, click here.

For full results from the $5,000 Power & Speed Stake CSI 2*, click here.

To learn more, visit www.Tryon.com.

*Featured/Spotlights, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping, Tryon

Santiago Lambre and Con Rouet Clinch the Win in $5,000 Horseware Ireland Welcome Stake

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Santiago Lambre and Con Rouet ©TIEC.

Mill Spring, NC – October 1, 2019 – Santiago Lambre (Wellington, FL) and Con Rouet claimed Thursday’s $5,000 Horseware Ireland Welcome Stake after finishing the jump-off in a time of 41.829 seconds to kick off Tryon Fall 2 competition at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) at Tryon Resort. Johan Kachelhoffer (Princeton, NJ) aboard his own Copit Della Caccia, a 2008 Italian Warmblood stallion (Copito x Campbell), finished in second place with a jump-off time of 43.187 seconds, while Grant Seger (Corpus Christi, TX) piloted the Grey Fox Crossing-owned Dr. J, a 2008 Italian Warmblood gelding (Diamant de Semilly x Calando I), to round out the podium on a time of 41.369 seconds to earn third.

Course designer Nick Granat (Chicago, IL) had 12 horse-and-rider pairs in the initial round and welcomed back four entries in the jump-off. Although Lambre and the 2010 Oldenburg gelding (Conthargos x Balou Du Rouet) owned by Salvador Onate Barron came out in the lead after their final round, Con Rouet has been getting a break from jumping “as much” while Lambre competed at Saugerties, NY.

“Although this is his first week [back] now, Con Rouet is a super careful horse and very competitive,” Lambre explained. “The first round was not easy, especially for a national welcome, and I was not super-fast [in the jump-off] since there were only four, but it ended up being a good risk since the last rider [Grant Seger] was faster but had the last rail down.”

Con Rouet did not compete in Fall 2 competition following his win, but Lambre did return to Tryon Stadium for a win aboard Diathago in Saturday’s $25,000 Carolina Arena Equipment Grand Prix. “I’m preparing Con Rouet for Wellington to have him ready to do the speed classes there. I think his level is gonna be 1.45m, but that’s okay because if he’s fast it’s good. He’s going to be a really competitive horse,” Lambre concluded.

Gavin Moylan and String of Pearls Claim Champion in the Pulse Equine Performance Hunter Combined 3’3”/3’6” Division

The Pulse Equine Performance Hunter Combined 3’3”/3’6” Division saw Gavin Moylan (Middleburg, VA) and Priscilla Denegre’s String of Pearls come out on top for champion honors, while Colleen Acosta (Roanoke, TX) piloted Olive, owned by Ryann Grissom, to reserve honors.

Moylan shared that String of Pearls, who is owned by his wife’s mother, has been a member of his program for about five years and has been very successful. “I found her [String of Pearls] in Germany as a four-year-old and immediately she suited my wife’s mother, Penny Denegre, who has had horses with me for a long time and is a great supporter of this sport. She’s just been a winner since we’ve had her.”

Although Moylan enjoys showing the mare himself, he explained that “it’s really about Penny this year,” and that his main goal for String of Pearls is simply to prepare her to compete at the upcoming indoor shows. “Penny qualified for Harrisburg and Washington [International Horse Show], which is a big deal in the adults and we’re very excited for her to go there.”

For full results from the Pulse Equine Performance Hunter Combined 3’3”/3’6” Division, click here.

For full results from the $5,000 Horseware Ireland Welcome Stake, click here.

To learn more, visit www.Tryon.com.

Competitions, Show Jumping, Tryon

Santiago Lambre and Diathago Deliver $25,000 Carolina Arena Equipment Grand Prix Victory

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Santiago Lambre and Diathago ©TIEC.

Mill Spring, NC – September 28, 2019 – Santiago Lambre (Wellington, FL) and Diathago sped to win the $25,000 Carolina Arena Equipment Grand Prix at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC), halting the jump-off timers at 40.372 seconds. Tiffany Hammack (Hawthorn Woods, IL) and Crack Elle Chavannaise, a 2008 Belgian Sporthorse mare (Carving x Unknown) owned by Beyaert Farm Inc, took second place for their performance of 40.734 seconds, while Theo Genn (Lebanon, OH) and Firewall, a 2010 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Lexicon x Padinus) owned by Eduardo Leon, claimed third-place honors with a time of 40.822 seconds.

“Diathago is a new horse I’ve had now for two months. I jumped him three weeks ago in the 5* Grand Prix in Saugerties, which we won. We were one of only two pairs clear; it was a really tough course,” Lambre said. “Now I’m preparing him for the 5* here in three weeks.”

The course, designed by Nick Granat (Chicago, IL), challenged 29 pairs, with eight returning to pilot the short course. “It was a really nice course for a National Standard Grand Prix,” Lambre shared. “I think it was tough enough, but didn’t have terrible results.

“I wanted to jump under the lights with him [Diathago] since he’s never done that before, but he wasn’t spooky at all,” Lambre, who has big hopes for the 2009 Oldenburg gelding (Diarado x Carthago) owned by Gestut Lewitz, revealed. “The plan is next year to do the Nations Cup in Wellington and I also think this horse has the potential for the Olympics.”

For full results from the $25,000 Carolina Arena Equipment Grand Prix, click here.

To learn more, visit www.Tryon.com.

Competitions, Show Jumping, Tryon

Santiago Lambre and Doloris Dominate $25,000 Tryon Resort Grand Prix

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Santiago Lambre and Doloris ©Sportfot.

Mill Spring, NC – September 21, 2019 – Santiago Lambre (Wellington, FL) and Doloris out-jumped a tough field to claim the win in the $25,000 Tryon Resort Grand Prix at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC), clearing the short course in 33.462 seconds. Allen Nabors Jr. (Odessa, FL) and Bon Chatsworth Pierre, a 2011 Zangersheide gelding (Revaou de La Bergerie x Little Rock) owned by Jessie Grabowski and Allen Nabors, secured second with a 34.324-second jump-off round, while Taylor Land (Atlanta, GA) and Falco V, the 2010 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Bustique x Montreux) owned by Pinetree Farms Inc., rounded out the podium on a time of 35.282 seconds to earn third.

J.  P. Godard (Aiken, SC) tested 33 horse-and-rider pairs over his course design, with 11 entries qualifying for the jump-off round. Lambre and the 2008 Dutch Warmblood mare (Harley VDL x Colorado D) owned by Aurora Rangel De Alba are prepping for a competitive stint at TIEC following recent success at Saugerties NY, making this victory a back-to-back win for the mare, Lambre explained.

“Tonight’s was the only class she jumped this week, so it was a good week for her! She came from a victory at Saugerties in an FEI class, which was the last show she did. It was a really nice course for a national Grand Prix. It was a really nice first round, and I think it was fine for 11 riders to be clear. The jump-off was really nice, with options [to each fence].”

The Tryon Fall series kicks off with two weeks of national competition, followed by four consecutive weeks of FEI show jumping competition, and Lambre was excited to have had a positive first week of preparation, he shared. “I wanted the horses to come early now to jump in the night classes before FEI competition, and it’s good preparation for them. At the same time, I try to keep the horses fit and fast, and prepared for the next week or so when it gets a little tougher.”

The jump-off proved challenging for the 11 pairs who attempted it, with six going double-clear, and Lambre piloting Ibabco, the 2008 Belgian Warmblood stallion (Nabab de Reve x Darco) owned by Santiago Lambre & Stephex Stables, to eighth place on a four-fault round.

“I knew there were some fast riders in the jump-off,” said Lambre, “so I tried to ride as fast as possible without losing my mind, like I did with Ibabco [to have one down]. But it’s okay – you have to go full-speed to win; you cannot leave room!”

Doloris will take a week off competition next week, but Lambre has her aimed at two and five-star competition in the weeks upcoming. “She’ll do the 2* week [Tryon Fall 3], and then maybe the 5* [Tryon Fall 5]. This place is great, and the new footing [upgrades] are amazing. Always, everything is perfect here. I think it’s going to be a great four or five weeks,” he concluded.

For full results from the $25,000 Tryon Resort Grand Prix, click here.

To learn more, visit www.Tryon.com.

*Featured/Spotlights, Eventing/H.T., Tryon

Inaugural Blue Ridge Mountain Horse Trials Provides World-Class Competitor Experience

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Doug Payne and Quantum Leap ©Christine Quinn Photography.

Mill Spring, NC – September 17, 2019 – The inaugural Blue Ridge Mountain Horse Trials (BRMHT) at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) concluded Sunday, following two days of national-level Eventing competition at the venue. The event marked the first time competitors of all lower levels were welcomed to test the White Oak Cross-Country Course, the same to host Cross-Country competition during the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018 (WEG). World-renowned course designer Captain Mark Phillips (GBR) designed seven layouts to host nearly 150 entries from Beginner Novice through Advanced, including Modified.

In the Advanced Division, Doug Payne (Aiken, SC) piloted Quantum Leap to top honors after finishing with a final score of 40.60. Allison Springer (Upperville, VA) and Katie Lichten’s Sapphire Blue B, a 2010 Irish Sport Horse gelding (Heritage Fortunus x Lucy Blue), finished in second place after earning a final score of 51.70, while Ema Klugman (Clarksburg, MD) and Jeni Klugman’s Bendigo, a 2002 Trakehner gelding (Unknown x Unknown), took third place after a final score 52.40.

“He [Quantum Leap] is an eight-year-old and still greenish to the [Advanced] level for sure; he has probably five events under his belt at this point,” Payne shared of the 2011 Zweibrucker gelding (Quite Capitol x Report to Sloopy), co-owned with his wife, Jessica Payne.

Payne continued, “I wasn’t looking to going crazy fast, but he’s a very efficient and good galloping horse, so he just covers the ground so well. I’m very, very lucky to have such a talented and willing horse to go with. He goes in a rubber snaffle, and you barely have to touch him.”

Payne commended Phillips’ course-building to accommodate multiple courses on one footprint. “Initially I was thinking [the course] might get real busy, but there is enough space here that it’s quite good.” Payne concluded, “The course was wonderful. I think the footing couldn’t have been any better. It was a good, flowing course, and I think the whole competition has been excellent.”

After the Show Jumping phase on Saturday night under the lights in Tryon Stadium, Springer and Sapphire Blue B were leading after earning a score of 27.70 in the Dressage phase and putting in a clear round in Tryon Stadium. “He [Sapphire Blue B] is my student Katie Lichten’s horse. We call him Steve in the barn — he’s a unicorn.”

Springer continued: “He’s young, and was definitely spooky in there [Tryon Stadium] but he jumped great. He’s a talented young horse, and I feel really honored to be able to ride him for [Katie Lichten].”

Lucienne Elms and Mistralou Win Open Intermediate Division

Lucienne Elms (Campobello, SC) and her own Mistralou claimed the win in Open Intermediate after a speedy Cross-Country performance bringing her final score to 46.40. Second place was awarded to Annie Goodwin (Aiken, SC) and Mettraise, owned by Jeanne Sylvester, after their final score of 52.50, while John Michael Durr (Shelby, NC) earned third just behind, finishing with a final score of 52.60 with Becky Brown’s entry Tilikum.

“It was a fantastic course design; Mark Phillips is ever the master,” Elms said of the Cross-Country course designer’s work after piloting horses through two different levels. “[The course] rode really well; there were plenty of questions, with all combinations rewarding to just keep a forward rhythm, too.”

Although Elms just started competing again after sustaining injuries in late 2018, she admitted that she was still determined to be competitive: “I wanted a strong result; he [Mistralou] is not green, so I intended to set out for the time. He is a full-blood horse and always a pleasure to finish on, [since] he just keeps galloping, so I was confident I would be competitive providing the time wasn’t easy to attain.”

Kimberly Steinbuch (Shelby, NC) aboard PDQ Leigh, owned by Jil Walton, led the pack Saturday after scoring a 29.30 to lead the Dressage phase and producing a fault-free Show Jumping round. “He’s very new to me: I’ve had him for just over two and a half weeks,” Steinbuch admitted. “I’m very excited about him and looking forward to a very good partnership.”

Steinbuch shared that the course set by course designer Chris Barnard was her first Show Jumping round “under the lights,” and her second Show Jumping round with PDQ Leigh. “It was a little back-and-forth and a little discussionary, but he knows his job is just to leave all of the rails in the cups,” stated Steinbuch.

Steinbuch revealed that she is not used to riding a horse of PDQ Leigh’s size and that it could be a challenging dynamic on Cross-Country: “He’s definitely over 17 hands, so it’s very different for me to have a horse his size to try and ride around, but he’s pretty straight forward and he knows his job.”

Steinbuch and her husband, John Michael Durr, operate out of Shelby, North Carolina, which allows them to compete at TIEC as often as they wish, she said. “We’re here two to three weeks a month, so we basically live here. We do all the Jumpers and Hunters here, and then we do Eventing on the weekends. It’s nice to be centrally located,” concluded Steinbuch.

John Michael Durr and Casofino Claim Open Preliminary Division

John Michael Durr (Shelby, NC) maintained his lead from the first day of competition in the Open Preliminary division to win it all, earning a final score of 29.10 aboard Casofino, owned by Madigan Murphy. Ema Klugman (Clarksburg, MD) and Jeni Klugman’s Bronte Beach Z came in a close second after finishing with a final score of 30.00, while Doug Payne (Aiken, SC) and Stephen Blauner’s Baymax finished in third with a final score of 34.40.

“The course rode really well; Mark [Phillips] did an amazing job; even though there were a lot of courses it felt like the horses were never confused about where they were going,” explained Durr of the White Oak Course adjacent to TIEC. “It was really well done. There were several different tracks, and he nailed it.”

Durr explained that he has been working on giving Casofino “consistent miles and education” before turning the reins back over to his adult-amateur owner, who is also Durr’s student. “He’s a really exciting young horse. He just needed a little making up to win with his adult amateur.” Durr continued, “This was the first time he had been in a ring like this under the lights. His heart was going a million miles a minute and he saw every kid rolling down the grass, but he focused on the jumps and did his job.”

Durr concluded, “Every part of what Tryon does makes you feel special – it doesn’t matter whether you’re there for a national horse trials, a B-rated Hunter/Jumper show, or the 5* week. Tryon gives you that championship feeling all the time, so when my students do go to the championships or go to Young Riders or something like that, they don’t fall apart, because they’re used to being in a big atmosphere.”

For full results from the Blue Ridge Mountain Horse Trials at TIEC, click here.

To learn more, visit www.Tryon.com.

Championships, Competitions, Dressage, Para-Equestrian, Tryon, USEF

Roxanne Trunnell Tops USEF Para Dressage National Championship with Dolton

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Roxanne Trunnell and Dolton ©Susan J. Stickle Photography.

Mill Spring, NC – September 15, 2019 – Tryon Fall Dressage 2 CDI 3* and CPEDI 3* presented by Adequan® concluded Sunday at Tryon International Equestrian Center, wrapping up three days of international and national Dressage competition at the venue that simultaneously hosted the Adequan®/USEF Para Dressage National Championship. In CDI 3* competition, Karen Lipp (USA) rode to a win in Saturday’s FEI Grand Prix Freestyle CDI 3* with Whitney, while Katherine Bateson Chandler (USA) and Alcazar claimed their second FEI CDI 3* win Sunday with a 70.341% in the FEI Grand Prix Special CDI 3*. Roxanne Trunnell and Dolton secured the Adequan®/USEF Para Dressage National Championship title with a final cumulative score of 75.247%, and David Botana was named National Reserve Champion following his efforts riding Lord Locksley to a cumulative score of 74.318%.

“It feels really good [to win a National Championship], Trunnell shared. “I haven’t been with Dolton for very long. [Our] partnership is really forming.” Trunnell also relayed that one of the highlights of her tests with Dolton was “just how consistent he was. Always marching!”

Trunnell scored a 79.333% in the FEI CPEDI 3* Freestyle Grade I, earning the highest score of the weekend with the 2012 Hanoverian gelding (Danone I x Unknown) owned by Flintwood Farm LLC. “Our Freestyle music is from ‘Forrest Gump’ – it’s adorable!”

While Trunnell is hoping to be named to Team USA for the Tokyo Paralympics, she reflected that accuracy is a big focus, and that gaining experience at TIEC is a great environment to prepare for atmosphere and stiff competition going forward. “[Going forward we’ll do] just a lot of training, and working on accuracy with geometry. I think the bigger venue and more competition is more realistic of what we’ll get [in Tokyo], so it helps us mentally.”

Botana shared that his weekend with the 2001 Trakehner stallion (Unkenruf x Lida x Enrico Caruso) owned by Margaret L. Stevens, Lord Locksley, had been an “amazing” culmination of hard work over the summer: “We’ve worked all summer and learned a lot. We practiced the halt, bending, and improving precision, plus overall harmony. I think it all really came together this weekend. I think we were able to pull off some really improved balance in our turns, and stayed constant throughout the weekend with high scores. It’s been amazing; everything kind of came together, from working with my trainer and meeting to go over our test before each ride, and taking the judges’ comments and what I felt during each ride to transition on to the next test. [That 75] was amazing. We had a perfect ride, and it all came together.”

Botana and the big grey stallion have made strides towards harmony and Lord Locksley knows his job well despite a serious career change, Botana explained. “It’s a big transition from being a Grand Prix International stallion to being in Para Dressage Grade I, and he’s taken beautifully to it. It took us a while to get into a groove,” Botana recalled, “but now we’re in a perfect balance. He knows that as soon as I put my foot in the stirrup, we’re going to walk, and that’s it. There can be a million things going on, and he won’t bat an eye. But the second I get off and step a foot away, he’ll be back to his regular big stallion self!”

Katherine Bateson Chandler Wins FEI Grand Prix Special CDI 3*

Bateson Chandler and the 2005 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Cantango x Polina x Ferro) owned by Jane Forbes Clark repeated their Friday win in the FEI Grand Prix CDI 3* with the top score in Sunday’s FEI Grand Prix Special CDI 3*, but Alcazar was “a bit more with me today,” she explained. “I’m a little happier with this ride, because he’s another two days down the road of being in the heat, and sort of it’s been a little tough for him. He came off a lot of atmosphere in Europe, so now he’s a little like, ‘what happened to everybody?’ This has been an amazing show and he felt a bit more with me today.”

The pair has had a busy summer and Alcazar is ready for a break, Bateson Chandler relayed, but spent their last competition before a holiday making the most of their stay. “It’s an amazing venue. This is truly a world-class venue with beautiful stabling, which always really matters to us. We’ve got fans in the stalls, which really helps with the heat.”

Karen Lipp and Whitney Win the Grand Prix Freestyle CDI 3*

Karen Lipp and Whitney travelled down centerline to win the blue rosette in Saturday’s Grand Prix Freestyle CDI 3* with a score of 61.185%. Lipp shared that she has been working with Whitney, a 2005 Hanoverian mare (White Star x Hauptstutbuch Grace) owned by Kathleen Oldford, since she was four years old and has brought her through all of the young horse programs: “We did the four, five, and six-year-old programs. Her owner rode her a little bit and then decided to sell her, and then she didn’t like that idea, so she said, ‘You keep her and ride her.’ I’ve been showing her in the Grand Prix now for about two and a half years.

“I didn’t really have a quality horse to show in CDI for a year, so it’s been nice to have Whitney go the CDI ring because it was a long break for me out of the ring, and it’s a lot different than riding in normal shows.”

To learn more, visit www.Tryon.com.

Championships, Competitions, Dressage, Para-Equestrian, Tryon, USEF

USEF Para Dressage National Championship Results in Win for Team USA

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Rebecca Hart and El Corona Texel ©Susan J. Stickle Photography.

Mill Spring, NC – September 14, 2019 – Day Two of the Adequan®/USEF Para Dressage National Championship saw a win for Team USA at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) at Tryon Resort, consisting of Roxanne Trunnell, Kate Shoemaker, Rebecca Hart, and Sydney Collier combining efforts for a total score of 439.585. In second, Team Canada, including Lauren Barwick, Lee Garrod, Jody Schloss, and Winona Hartvikson, finished on a score of 416.079. David Botana and Lord Locksley currently lead in the Individual competition, with Trunnell just behind heading into the final day of competition.

Hart and “Tex” claimed a win in the CPEDI 3* Individual Grade III on a score of 73.775%, but Hart revealed that the weekend was about much more than the current competition for her just a year following her double-medal achievements at the World Equestrian Games (WEG) hosted at the venue last September.

“This arena has so many emotions for me. I’ve had some monumental moments – the epitome of my riding career here. I rolled in to the venue on Monday and all the emotions came back,” she recalled. “And I was having the memory of meeting up with my parents – because my parents don’t get to come to shows that often, and my dad was here – and I was telling myself, ‘don’t get weepy, you just got in the driveway!’

“But revisiting the place where I saw my dad, and where I was waiting in the chute for the final rides when we realized I had gotten the bronze and the first medal ever for US Para Equestrian in a WEG, was just fantastic,” Hart continued. “To have Tex here again with me, and to have him perform so well for me again in this arena… Tryon has such a special place in my heart.”

Hart is now focused on 2020, and admitted, “We’re Dressage riders – we always want more and want to get that extra little tenth of a point that we can get anywhere! Heading into next year we’ve got a lot of little things to work on.”

But it was a significant change in routine that has helped deepen Hart and her mount’s connection, she detailed: “We had actually changed up our routine coming into this event, which was a little intimidating, because changing anything before a big championship can go one of two ways, but it has really worked for us. I now do all the warm-up myself with Tex, which has made for a much more symbiotic relationship with my horse.”

Hart elaborated, “Before, I had my trainer doing the warm-up, because I don’t post, so I liked to give him a bit of a warm-up with an able-bodied rider to get his back moving, but I always felt like there was a bit of translation period from the two rides, and I would basically have to re-warm him up all over again. And then, any issue they had would translate into my ride as well, so me handling him from the start myself makes it my own ride, and it gives us a lot more confidence in the ring.”

Trunnell and Dolton, the 2012 Hanoverian gelding (Danone I x Unknown) owned by Flintwood Farm LLC, claimed second behind Botana in the CPEDI 3* Individual Grade I test Saturday, scoring a 73.571%. “It was a wonderful weekend,” Trunnell said after the Team USA win. “We really have been working on solidifying them [our tests]. It feels like they’re really coming together. I love how he just kept marching.  We’re hoping to make it to Tokyo, so that’s what we’ll be working on.”

Collier and All In One grabbed third place in the CPEDI 3* Individual Grade I Competition to help earn the win for Team USA, and shared that she was impressed with her mount’s reliability in their first CPEDI competition together: “For this weekend, we wanted to come out, be consistent, and I personally wanted to work on my geometry. With him being as great of a horse as he is, I have to step up to his amount of talent! Being a visually-impaired rider, geometry can be one of the most difficult things to nail, so I’ve really been working at home on perfecting my step counts, because that’s how I do my geometry.”

Collier continued of the 2009 Hanoverian gelding (Abanos x Dauphin) owned by Going For Gold LLC, “Being here in the big ring with different lighting and situations, I was very impressed with how ‘Alle’ stepped up his game. He was like, I’ve got your back! Really, we had no idea what to anticipate going into our first CPEDI.”

Working towards Tokyo 2020 and hoping to be named to next year’s team, Collier emphasized that competing at TIEC has been a valuable learning experience for such a new combination. “[Going forward] I just want to work on fine-tuning the little things we’ve observed here. It’s been an amazing learning experience for us, and for only having him since mid-June, I think there is so much room to improve on so many things, which is just – I keep using the word exciting, but I don’t think it really sums up the feeling that I feel about our partnership. We connected so quickly, and I can’t wait for the future with him,” Collier concluded.

Shoemaker and Solitaer 40 presented solo once again in the CPEDI 3* Grade IV Individual competition, scoring a 73.049% and putting in what she felt were “personal bests” for her team this weekend regardless of scores: “I think this was really the best work we’ve gotten in the arena – we’ve been together for five years now, and every show has been a step in the right direction: we get it at home, then we get it in the warm-up, then we get it around the arena, and then we get it in [the arena], so I felt like we had some really amazing moments in the arena this week. So, that’s what I’m really excited about, and regardless of the scores, they were personal bests.”

“I just want to keep adding more cadence, self-carriage and balance into the work, so we can show the expressiveness that he has,” Shoemaker said of the 2007 Hanoverian gelding (Sandro hit x Dynastie x De niro). “There’s so much in there, and he’s just waiting for me to tap into it.”

The Adequan®/USEF Para Dressage National Championship will be streamed live on USEF Network throughout the weekend. Click here to watch.

To learn more, visit www.Tryon.com.

*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Dressage, Para-Equestrian, Tryon, USEF

Katherine Bateson and Alcazar Kick Off Tryon Fall Dressage 2 CDI 3* with a Win

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Katherine Bateson Chandler and Alcazar ©Susan J. Stickle Photography.

Mill Spring, NC – September 14, 2019 – Tryon Fall Dressage 2 CDI 3*/CPEDI 3* presented by Adequan® and the Adequan®/USEF Para Dressage National Championship at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) kicked off Friday when Katherine Bateson Chandler (USA) piloted Alcazar down centerline to win the FEI Grand Prix CDI 3* after capturing a total score of 69.196%. Michael Pineo (USA) and his own 2010 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Jazz x Belalussi x Samba Hit), Farrington, were awarded second place in the class with a score of 63.63%. Third-place honors were then awarded to Julio Cesar Mendoza Loor (ECU) and Aileen Daly’s Rosali, a 2005 Danish Warmblood mare (Blue Horse Romanov x Mosegardens Ratina x Ragazzo), with a score of 63.587%.

Chandler explained that she and the 2005 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Cantango x Polina x Ferro) owned by Jane Forbes Clark have been working together for seven and a half years now, during which they have had to face many challenges: “It’s been a long journey with a lot of ups and downs, but he’s a horse that we’ve always believed in and I’m excited for him to start to come into his own.

“We’ve just come off a European tour with a lot of atmosphere, and a lot of big shows. We were on the Aachen Nations Cup Team and he was really super there. He actually is one of those horses that the bigger the environment and the bigger the show the better he gets and sort of rises to the occasion,” Chandler continued, “I’m super happy with him [today]. He was so honest and made no mistakes — I couldn’t be happier with him!”

Chandler, who competed in the 2010 World Equestrian Games (WEG), but missed coming to Tryon in 2018, is aiming at Tokyo in 2020 and enjoyed a Grand Prix win on her first-ever trip to the venue, she detailed: “Our next goal is Tokyo, so that’s why we’re here. To qualify we have to do four Grands Prix, and I wanted to get one in, so I didn’t have all the pressure of getting them all during Florida, and to get one score under my belt. My goals [for this weekend] are to get in the ring and get experience, and to get my scores as high as I can before going into the Florida season. I’ve never actually been here before; I’m so impressed, and it’s a beautiful facility.” Chandler concluded, “After this show, I’ll go back to Wellington where we’re based, and then in January, the circuit starts!”

USEF Para Dressage National Championship Team Competition Sees Tight Competition between the USA and Canada

After the first half of Adequan®/USEF Para Dressage National Championship Team competition, the Adequan® U.S. Para Dressage Team, consisting of Roxanne Trunnell, who currently leads Individual competition, Kate Shoemaker, Rebecca Hart, and Sydney Collier headed into Individual Tests on Saturday in Tryon Stadium. Team Canada, consisting of Lauren Barwick, Lee Garrod, Jody Schloss, and Winona Hartvikson, are close behind with a chance to make up the difference in day two of competition.

Rebecca Hart (USA) and El Corona Texel topped Grade III Team Test competition on a score of 71.226%, while Canada claimed second via Lauren Barwick and Engelbrecht, her own 2009 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Vivaldi x Regina x Rimini), scoring 70.098%. USA also claimed third, with Meghan Benge and Worth the Trip, the 1998 Welsh Cross gelding by Anjershaf rocky, bringing home a score of 68.137%.

“This is kind of our first technical qualifying event for Tokyo. He felt amazing today,” Hart said of the 2009 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Wynton x Urieta Texel x Goodtimes) owned by Rowan O’Riley. “We had created a plan leading up to this event on how we wanted everything to go, and so far the plan has worked accordingly and we’ve been able to do everything that we wanted to.”

While she’s “actively campaigning for Tokyo,” Hart explained, for now the plan is to continue their progress this weekend: “I just want to continue with the progress we have made. I hope he has very confident and encouraging rides moving forward so that we can build and bring in the dynamic and expressiveness that I know we can. We’ve got two more events in January in Wellington, and then a final observation event after that.”

Hart is no stranger to the venue, as just a year ago she made history as the first U.S. Para Dressage athlete to claim a medal at WEG, later securing a second medal in the team competition. “I love showing at Tryon,” Hart emphasized. “The arena we are competing in this weekend has special memories for me, as it’s where we received our medals from the Tryon 2018 World Equestrian Games last year, so it’s always nice to come here. It’s a great feeling and it has a nice vibe to it.”

CPEDI 3* Grade I Team competition saw the day’s high score as Roxanne Trunnell (USA) and Dolton, received a 74.881% to dominate the field. David Botana (USA) and Lord Locksley, the 2001 Trakehner stallion (Unkenruf x Lida x Enrico Caruso) owned by Margaret Stevens, scored a 73.274% to claim second, while Sydney Collier (USA) and All In One, the 2009 Hanoverian gelding (Abanos x Dauphin) owned by Going For Gold LLC, scored an even 71.000% to achieve third.

“Dolton is a seven-year-old; he’s just a little baby,” said Trunnell. “He felt really good today! I love showing here at Tryon! It is so pretty and I love the mountains. We hope to continue to have great rides and help build his confidence even more this weekend. We’re hoping to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.”

CPEDI 3* Para Dressage Team Grade V results saw Canada top the podium, with Lee Garrod (CAN) taking top honors on a score of 69.225% with Question, the 2008 Oldenburg gelding (Quaterback x Evita) owned by Lee Garrod. Cayla van der Walt (RSA) and Daturo II, her own 2006 Andalusian gelding (Merlito XI x Daturna x Pestillo), scored a 68.217% for second, while Cynthia Screnci (USA) and her own Eragon VF, the 2009 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Don romantic x Ujinja), landed in third with a 63.101% score.

In CPEDI 3* Para Dressage Team Grade II competition, Beatrice De Lavalette (USA) claimed first on a score of 69.495% with Duna, the 2008 Dutch Warmblood mare (Vivaldi x Nicola x Amethist) owned by Nicolas De Lavalette, while Jason Surnoski (CAN) rode Phoenix, a 1999 Westphalian gelding owned by Cynthia Nugent, to a score of 69.192% and second place. Alanna Flax-Clark (USA) and El Paso, her own 2004 Dutch Riding Pony gelding (Elegant x Karin x Carl), earned third with a total score of 67.778%.

CPEDI 3* Para Dressage Team Grade IV competition saw Kate Shoemaker (USA) present solo for a score of 73.083%, riding her own Solitaer 40, a 2007 Hanoverian stallion (Sandro hit x Dynastie x De niro).

CPEDI 1* Para Novice Test A Grade IV saw Emma Jameson (USA) make her FEI debut aboard Cortesana La, a 2007 PRE mare owned by Misha Marshall, to score a 50.052%.

The Adequan®/USEF Para Dressage National Championship will be streamed live on USEF Network throughout the weekend. Click here to watch.

To learn more, visit www.Tryon.com.

Competitions, Show Jumping, Tryon

Taylor Land and Get Go Are Unbeatable Again in the $25,000 Tryon Grand Prix

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Taylor Land and Get Go ©TIEC.

Mill Spring, NC – August 26, 2019 – Taylor Land (Atlanta, GA) and Get Go were unbeatable yet again, claiming another Grand Prix win this Sunday in the $25,000 Tryon Grand Prix at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) after their jump-off time of 39.285 seconds. She also piloted Liroy 30, a ten-year-old German Sporthorse gelding (Levistano x King Kolibri) owned by Pinetree Farms Inc., to a second-place finish with a clear jump-off performance of 40.449 seconds, while Santiago Lambre (Wellington, FL) aboard Doloris, an eleven-year old Dutch Warmblood mare (Harley VDL x Colorado D) owned by Aurora Rangel De Alba, sped to a close third after their jump-off time of 40.485 seconds.

“I loved the first round; it was a little different than the courses we’ve been riding. It was, I thought, a little bit more connected, which I really liked,” Land shared of the J. P. Godard (Aiken, SC) designed course. Godard’s course tested 32 entries in the initial round, with 18 horse-and-rider pairs welcomed back to challenge the jump-off track.

Land and Get Go, a 2012 Hanoverian gelding (Grey Top x World Diamond O) owned by Pinetree Farms Inc., started out this year competing in the seven-year-old jumper division, but after his performance at Spruce Meadows, where the jumps were 1.40m, Land felt like he was ready for the next step. “He’s really grown up so much this year. He started the year just jumping the seven-year-olds and now he has moved up to doing the smaller Grand Prix classes and I think we just have to keep on our track and try to keep moving forward one step at a time.” Land continued, “I’m really excited for his future!”

Although the talent is a huge part of her success, Land admitted that none of this would happen if it weren’t for her team: “My team that’s behind me right now is amazing. I’ve had my rider, Liz, now for a year and she has helped me so much with the horses. She’s my support system at home and that makes such a difference. My parents also help me so much whether it’s coaching, training horses, or just as support – it’s just amazing to have them.”

Land concluded: “I think these horses are just at a point where I’ve had them for a long time, and we are to the point now where we’re really teammates. It feels like we are progressing to the next level together for all three of the horses. I’ve had Falco [V] for three years and the other two [Get Go and Liroy 30] for two years, and it’s just enough time to really get to know them. You feel like it should just take six months, but it doesn’t. It takes a long time and they’re just all coming into their own, and it’s fun to have them really reaching an exciting point at the same time.”

For full results from the $25,000 Tryon Grand Prix, click here.

To learn more, visit www.Tryon.com.