Category Archives: Tryon

Santiago Lambre and Cetano Van Aspergem Z Win $72k CaptiveOne Advisors Grand Prix CSI 3*

Santiago Lambre and Cetano Van Aspergem Z. ©Bailey Beck Photography.

Mill Spring, NC – May 25, 2019 – Santiago Lambre (MEX) rode home with blue in the $72,000 CaptiveOne Advisors Grand Prix CSI 3* aboard his own Cetano Van Aspergem Z, a 2009 Zangersheide gelding (Clinton x Ahorn Z), at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC). Lambre secured a jump-off time of 36.824 to secure the win. Sharn Wordley (NZL) placed second jumping in tandem with his own mount, Gatsby, a 2011 Irish Sport Horse stallion (Simba x Cruise On), dashing through the timers in 37.663 seconds. Sarah Scheiring (USA) snatched third with S & L Cocodrille, a 2008 Belgian Warmblood gelding (Emerald Van’t Ruytershof x Kashmir Van Schuttershof) owned by S & L Farms, on a jump-off time of 38.329 seconds.

Among 20 entries with only six duos in a thrilling jump-off on the course set by Catsy Cruz (MEX), Lambre revealed, “I saw number one to go – Sharn – and he’s a fast rider and so I had to try and go faster than him. I did my plan and it worked. The first round was a nice course for a 3*; it was technical. The jump-off was really, really good. We were able to make less strides everywhere, so it was a very nice class,” he stated.

On his future plans with Cetano Van Aspergem Z, Lambre remarked, “I am staying three more weeks here [at TIEC] and then we’ll probably go to Spruce Meadows.”

For full results from the $72,000 CaptiveOne Advisors Grand Prix CSI 3*, click here.

For more information and results, please visit www.Tryon.com.

Kristen Vanderveen and Faustino de Tili Win $36k Horseware Ireland Welcome Stake CSI 3*

Kristen Vanderveen and Bull Run’s Faustino de Tili. ©TIEC.

Mill Spring, NC – May 23, 2019 – Kristen Vanderveen (USA) and Bull Run’s Faustino de Tili returned to Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) competition with a landmark win in Thursday’s $36,000 Horseware Ireland Welcome Stake CSI 3*, stopping the short-course timers in 38.71 seconds to claim their 30th FEI win together. Sarah Scheiring (USA) and S & L Cocodrille, a 2008 Belgian Warmblood gelding (Emerald Van’t Ruytershof x Kashmir Van Schuttershof) owned by S & L Farms, stopped the clock in 39.735 seconds to claim second, while Hunter Holloway (USA) rounded out the all-female podium aboard Silver Creek’s Validation, a 2007 Zweibrücker stallion (Vallado x Lansing) owned by Silver Creek Farms, with a 40.373-second jump-off performance.

Twenty-four pairs tested the first round set by Catsy Cruz (MEX), with seven entries returning for the jump-off. Vanderveen was already winning aboard Bull Run’s Faustino de Tili when she closed out the class aboard Bull Run’s Prince of Peace and placed sixth on a time of 40.423 seconds and one rail down.

“I thought the course was great,” said Vanderveen. “It was very fair and open, but at the same time the course caught everybody a little bit, which is great. She did a great job.”

Vanderveen and “Frosty,” the 2005 Belgian Warmblood stallion (Berlin x Darco) owned by Bull Run Jumpers Five LLC, have seen great success at Tryon throughout their career together, and the venue suits her horse so well that she made a change in plans and saved him to compete this week, Vanderveen commented.

“It’s nice to be back with Frosty. I was actually in Kentucky last week with him and I could just tell – I thought, ‘Nope, we are going to save him for all three weeks in Tryon, because he loves it there.’ This is his thing,” Vanderveen continued. “He has had a little vacation for the last week or two, and has been saving his energy, so it’s nice that it paid off today.”

The result was another Tryon win and their 30th FEI win together, Vanderveen detailed. “It was kind of a special win because it was his 30th FEI win since I’ve had him. We’ve been keeping an eye on it and trying to get to 30. My first 5* Grand Prix win was here, too.”

Vanderveen will save Bull Run’s Prince of Peace for Sunday’s $36,000 1.45m Jumper Classic CSI 3*, and plans to compete Bull Run’s Faustino de Tili in Saturday’s $72,000 CaptiveOne Advisors Grand Prix CSI 3*. She revealed that she will be spending the next few weeks at TIEC to prepare for an upcoming trip to Europe:

“We will be here through the 4* competition and then we are doing something a little different this year. Showing here is also a lot of prep for that. What better can you do to prep than come here? I was originally going to leave Frosty stateside, and just recently decided to bring him along [to Europe]. He has proven today that he wants to come!”

Todd Minikus and Amex Z Fly to Win $36,000 1.45m Power and Speed Stake CSI 3*

Todd Minikus (USA) and Amex Z Flew to Win Wednesday’s $36,000 Power and Speed Stake CSI 3*, clearing the short course in 28.43 seconds ahead of David Blake (IRL) aboard Emilia, a 2009 Dutch Warmblood mare (Ukato x Goodwill) owned by Pine Hollow Farm, who stopped the timers at 29.084 seconds for the red rosette. Santiago Lambre and Dingeman, a 2008 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Nintender x Darnels) owned by Aurora Rangel de Alba, rounded out the podium after their 29.419-second jump-off effort.

Minikus and the 2009 Zangersheide mare (Andiamo Z x Landaris) owned by Bit By Bit Group “maybe did one or two less strides back to the combinations” to gain the advantage over the field, he explained. “The course rode nicely, and it was a nice opening class for all the horses, but it was very competitive by the time we got to the speed phase. The riders in the class are extremely competitive.”

Team Minikus has just arrived in at TIEC, and he noted that he’s encouraged to see such a positive start to his Tryon campaign after a less-successful tour than hoped in Kentucky this spring. “It’s nice to start off here with a little better success than what we were having in Kentucky earlier since I didn’t have that good of a tour. She will show this week, and I’m planning for her to be in the Grand Prix on Saturday as well,” Minikus concluded.

Geoffrey Hesslink Champions the Green Hunter 3’3″ Division aboard Coronation

Geoffrey Hesslink of Shelburne, VT rode Lindsay Maxwell’s mount Coronation to top honors in the Green Hunter 3’3″ Division, with reserve honors named to Sara Ketcham (Columbus, NC), riding Splendid Moon for Claire de Lune Farm.

Hesslink has been paired with the 2011 Warmblood gelding (Conthargos x Balouville) since late winter, but the combination has already proven successful, he relayed.

“We call him Conor, and he’s great. He’s done three shows, and has been champion at two, and reserve at the other. The lowest score he’s had is 85. He’s been amazing and has made very few mistakes,” Hesslink said. “He is such a dream to have!”

Hesslink and “Conor” will be competing again next week at TIEC, and will return to compete in the Summer Series at TIEC.

“I really like the Grand Hunter Ring [Ring 4] here. It’s really big, so it’s nice that you can get on a gallop and keep one pace. Today the lines rode really nicely,” Hesslink continued of the course set by Joe Carnicom (Toledo, OH).

Hesslink concluded, “It’s a top facility, and it’s nice that they can have classes on the grass or in the George Morris Arena, too. I think it’s a really great place to bring young horses along and get a lot of experience and exposure to environment.”

Click here for full results from the $36,000 Horseware Ireland Welcome Stake CSI 3*.

For more information and results, please visit www.Tryon.com.

Jimmy Torano and Chanel One Win $25k Marshall & Sterling Insurance Grand Prix at TIEC

Jimmy Torano and Chanel One ©TIEC.

Mill Spring, NC – May 18, 2019 – Jimmy Torano and Chanel One raced around the jump-off track in a time of 35.484 seconds to secure the $25,000 Marshal & Sterling Insurance Grand Prix win at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC), taking top honors to represent Wellington, FL. Taylor Land (Atlanta, GA) and Liroy 30, a 2009 Dutch Sport Horse gelding (Levistano x King Kolibri) owned by Jay Land, Taylor Land, and Pinetree Farms Inc., cleared the short course in 36.714 seconds to earn second, while Nicky Galligan (Keswick, VA) and his own Javas Miss Jordan, a 2009 Irish Sport Horse mare (Luidam x Obos Quality 004), rounded out the podium in third after their 38.052-second jump-off performance.

Fifteen horse-and-rider pairs tested the Oscar Soberon-designed course, with five combinations qualifying for the Dallas, TX designer’s second-round track. Torano and the 2010 Holsteiner stallion (Catoki x F-Cover Girl) owned by The New Group LLC were able to best a blazing performance from Land that Torano wasn’t sure he could beat, he revealed.

“Taylor really put the pressure on and was blazing fast – to be honest, when she went, I thought it was over, and she couldn’t be caught. So when I went in, I wasn’t riding for second or third, but all or nothing. I wasn’t going to try to back in to the podium. And Chanel One did everything I asked.”

Most importantly, Torano noted, was that it was the stallion’s first competition under the lights to date, adding even more pressure to a competitive class.

“This is his first time ever showing at night. His heart was pounding, his eyes were bugging out of his head a little bit – he was definitely nervous going in, and I felt like I had to hold his hand the first round. When I came back for the jump-off, he was all business, and right there with me,” Torano said of the ride he’s been saving in lower-level classes.

“Chanel One is a fairly new ride for me. I’ve only ridden the horse a handful of times, and I’ve been doing him in lower classes, but decided to step him up this week. He won the 1.40m class this week, jumped a nice round in the Welcome Stake on Thursday, and tonight he was spot on,” Torano emphasized. “I had a little bit of bad luck on my other two horses, and I think I really called on Chanel One tonight. I needed a clear round, and he really came through.”

Complimentary of the venue’s atmosphere, Torano mentioned that TIEC’s signature “Saturday Night Lights” event is an incomparable experience for competitors and fans alike, saying, “It doesn’t really get any better than this. The crowds come out Saturday night as good as anywhere, and they’re into it. You really feel like they’re pulling for you,” he continued. “It’s great to have these big classes and it’s a great atmosphere to have.”

For more information and results, please visit www.Tryon.com.

Cody Sapergia Rides Mr Royal Hollywood to Carolina Classic Open Derby Championship

Cody Sapergia and Mr. Royal Hollywood. ©Fletch Photos.

Mill Spring, NC – May 13, 2019 – Reiners from around the country participated in the 29th annual Carolina Classic at TIEC on May 8-12, held for the second year in a row at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC). In the Open Derby, Cody Sapergia topped the Level 3 and 4 leaderboards with Mr Royal Hollywood, scoring 225.5 points and $7,000 in prize money.

Abigail Grace Ehringer swept the Non-Pro Derby aboard All You Need Is Luv, claiming the championship title in Levels 1 through 4 and taking home $7,300 in prize money. Michael Hancock scored champion honors and $1,900 in prize money aboard Nics Custom Dually in the Non-Pro Derby Prime Time and Masters levels.

Securing the Open Derby Level 3 and 4 champion titles was Cody Sapergia of Smithfield, NC with a score of 225.5 aboard Mr Royal Hollywood, George and Carol Bell’s 4-year-old stallion by Hollywoodtinseltown out of Cee Miss Hollywood. Sapergia complimented his horse’s double-win performance.

“The circles he ran really well and came back to me good. The first turn was really solid, quite quick and I stopped him square, so no penalties. The second set of circles and spins were also good, but I think that what really got the points were the stops at the end because he’s a really good stopper, he’s really good with the front feet, and he has a good position and goes a long way, so I was really happy with him today,” explained Sapergia.

Sapergia was looking forward to a repeat visit to TIEC and complimented his experience at the Carolina Classic.

“I was here last year for the World Equestrian Games as the coach for the Mexican Reining Team. It was great then, and I couldn’t wait to come back this time because it’s such a unique venue. It’s really cool – really big arena, really good ground and there’s lots going on with the jumping and stuff like that, so it’s exciting,” added Sapergia.

With a score of 223.5, the Open Derby Level 2 champion honors went to Amanda F. Yarbrough and Gunners Shining Star, a 4-year-old mare by Gunners Special Nite out of Whiz Bang Spark and owned by Donald C. Burgy.

Gilad Susman earned the Open Derby Level 1 champion title with a score of 219 on Stanley Coats’ Sparklin Magnum, a 5-year-old stallion by Magnum Chic Dream out of Still Sparklin.

Click here for all results from the 2019 Carolina Classic at TIEC.

For more information and results, please visit www.Tryon.com.

Sharn Wordley and Gatsby Win $72,000 St. Luke’s Hospital Grand Prix CSI 2*

Sharn Wordley and Gatsby ©TIEC.

Mill Spring, NC – May 4, 2019 – Sharn Wordley (NZL) and Gatsby kicked off the Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) “Saturday Night Lights” 2019 series with a win in the $72,000 St. Luke’s Hospital Grand Prix CSI 2*, stopping the jump-off timers in 39.018 seconds to take a second win on the week. Annabella Sanchez (USA) and Incitatus, her own 2009 Oldenburg gelding (Stakkatol x Con Air), was just behind on a time of 39.154 seconds to earn second, while Fernando Cardenas Jr. (COL) and Quincy Car, a 2004 Oldenburg stallion (Galiani Car x Amour Parfait) owned by Fernando and Meredith Cardenas, dashed around the short course in a time of 39.941 seconds to secure the final podium spot.

Course designer Manuel Esparza (MEX) tested 20 entries over his first-round course, with eight pairs accepted back for the jump-off round. The entire podium all finished just under 40 seconds, and Wordley explained that he and Gatsby would have been more comfortably in front had they not had a little hiccup on course:

“My strategy [in the jump-off] was to go not crazy fast, but to keep all the jumps up. The second-to-last jump, on the rollback – it didn’t quite work out the way I wanted to and I had to add an extra stride,” he said. “That’s why I was on the same second as the second and third [place riders] – I was planning on being a bit faster than what I was, so I got lucky there.”

His advantage, then, came from his naturally fast horse, Wordley detailed. “I just have a very fast, smart horse. That’s where I had the advantage – I have a great horse. The other riders have great horses, too, and it was very close. But I could’ve been beaten at that one line – I got lucky.”

Wordley and his 2004 Irish Sport Horse stallion (Simba x Cruise On) also took the win in Thursday’s $36,000 Horseware Ireland Welcome Stake, and he was quick to compliment the course build for a competitive field under the lights in Tryon Stadium: “Fantastic week. I love Tryon. It was a very good course,” Wordley continued. “I thought he had the time just right – it was tight enough. Because the time was quite tight, it forced a few faults that riders wouldn’t have had otherwise. It was a very good course: very square and very wide.”

For more information and results, please visit www.Tryon.com.

Sharn Wordley Captures $36,000 Horseware Ireland Welcome Stake CSI 2* Win at Tryon

Sharn Wordley and Gatsby ©TIEC.

Tryon, NC – May 2, 2019 – Sharn Wordley (NZL) and Gatsby took home the win in Thursday’s $36,000 Horseware Ireland Welcome Stake CSI 2* to kick off Tryon Spring 1 competition, clearing the short-course in 38.28 seconds with his own Gatsby. Fernando Cardenas Jr. (COL) and his own Quincy Car, a 2004 Oldenburg stallion (Galiani Car x Amour Parfait), put in a 40.653-second jump-off round to land in second place, while Alberto Michan (ISR) and El Pacho, a 2009 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Cardento 933 x Goodtimes) owned by Pablo Mejia Villa, claimed third place on a time of 40.736 seconds.

Course designer Manuel Esparza (MEX) had 32 pairs test the first-round track, with 12 entries returning to challenge the jump-off course. Wordley and the 2004 Irish Sport Horse stallion (Simba x Cruise On) took a very technical approach to shaving off time in the second round, he explained.

“The jump-off was quick. I chose a different tactic than most: I went inside a jump they didn’t go inside, and went around a jump they did go inside. I think it was more a technical thing, and that’s where I made up the time,” he said.

“It was a nicely-built course,” Wordley elaborated, “and good for the first day. It rode well. I got caught out [of the first round] on my first horse, Rye Val De Mai, because I was just a second over the time. I didn’t realize the time was as tight as it was.”

His winning mount, Wordley revealed, took the win on his first show back after a break. “Gatsby hasn’t shown in two months, but he jumped well. He’s fifteen years old. He’ll jump the $72,000 St. Luke’s Hospital Grand Prix Saturday night, and I usually use him for 2* Grands Prix and 1.50m classes. He’s a great horse and he wins a lot,” Wordley concluded. “He’ll be showing here a lot.”

For more information and results, please visit www.Tryon.com.

Marquee Cincotta and Granaat Win $15,000 1.35m-1.40m Jumper Classic at Tryon

Marquee Cincotta and Granaat. ©TIEC.

Mill Spring, NC – April 30, 2019 – Marquee Cincotta (Palm Harbor, FL) and Allen Nabors Jr.’s Granaat flowed through the jump-off course in 36.174 seconds to take the win in Sunday’s $15,000 1.35m-1.40m Jumper Classic to conclude Tryon Welcome 6 competition at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC). The pair was followed by Taylor Land (Atlanta, GA) and Liroy 30 owned by Pinetree Farms Inc., on a time of 38.079 seconds, while Taylor Flury (Minooka, IL) and the Aliboo Farm, Inc. entry Calano Z rounded out the podium to earn third on a time of 38.229 seconds.

Fifteen pairs tested the Dean Rheinheimer (Sheridan, IN) course, with six returning to challenge the short course. Cincotta explained that the day’s win was only the second time competing at the 1.35m-1.40m level with Granaat, who is a new – and complex – partner in the ring.

“I got Granaat from Allen about four months ago. He’s a tricky horse, because he doesn’t like other horses, so no victory gallops or anything like that. I have to be very careful in the schooling ring, but his jump is amazing. He has all the jump in the word,” she continued. “This is my second class with him at this height – we were seventh in the $25,000 Jumper Classic two weeks ago during Tryon Welcome 4. Before that I had only really jumped him in 1.20m-1.30m.”

Cincotta revealed that Granaat has been “a bit of a project horse” in the few months they’ve been paired so far: “I spent more than a month with him just on the ground. I’ve had to build him up. This [winning] is happening way faster than I ever expected it could. He doesn’t like horses coming at him, or coming from behind, but if you put a ribbon in his tail and it starts flowing and hits him, he bolts. I’ve come off this horse probably fifty times,” she admitted. “You just have to do things a particular way with him – nothing can be fast or rushed, and some days I get on and say, nope, we’re not showing today. Today was a good day for him.”

Originally aimed as a young horse towards the Olympics due to his talent, Cincotta explained that Granaat’s quirkiness has taken creative management and patience, from his gear to the way he wears a red ribbon on his browband instead of in his tail.

“He’s very spooky. And it’s worse if you put earplugs in, or if you try to make him calm or give him any supplements. I’ve tried it all – soundproof bonnets, I’ve tried earplugs.  I think he would be a little tricky to be at the Olympic level, because he can be really inconsistent, but he likes it here,” she relayed. “I literally pulled him out of the field this morning and brought him here – and he doesn’t stay here. He gets to be a normal horse – now he gets to go home. You can’t do that at all shows.

“I was kind of just going calm and collected, and keeping my horse confident,” said Cincotta of her jump-off ride that bested the class by nearly two full seconds. “He’s naturally fast, so I don’t really even have to go fast, and I didn’t go out there for the win, just to keep going confidently. I’m thinking about doing the Platinum Zone competition here in July, and I’ll just keep building him up. The end goal would be to do a Saturday Night Grand Prix eventually, but we’re taking it slow,” she concluded.

For more information and results, please visit www.Tryon.com.

Erin Haas Doubles Her Double-Podium Finish in Tryon Welcome 5

Haas in her presentation ceremony collecting first, second, and fourth-place ribbons. ®TIEC/Charly Miller.

Tryon, NC – April 22, 2019 – Tryon Welcome 5 competition concluded with a highlight win for Erin Haas of Ann Arbor, MI, aboard Quality On Top in the $15,000 1.35m-1.40m Jumper Classic at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC), stopping the short-course timers in 34.689 seconds to top the podium. Haas and Elektrisk, owned by North Face Farm, finished on a time of 37.404 seconds to achieve second and repeating her one-two finish in the $5,000 1.35m Welcome Stake. Lucy Rachel Donohue (Rhinebeck, NY) guided Renee Snyder’s J’Adore RF to a time of 38.103 seconds to claim third.

Haas had the ride on three of the six horses to advance to the jump-off round in the class set by course designer Dean Rheinheimer (Sheridan, IN), besting a field of 10 pairs and also taking fourth aboard North Face Farm’s Carona Z.

The North Face Farm entry Quality On Top is one of her more experienced but spooky horses, Haas admitted. “It’s difficult for him to go in different rings, especially when the temperature changes like this – he can be very difficult. I was quite pleased with him that he kept it together. It was a great week to give him some confidence and keep him working.

“Elektrisk is a younger guy that I chose not to do the inside turn to the in-and-out,” Haas explained. “He doesn’t turn to the left quite as well, and I didn’t want to take that risk with him. But I figured with my more experienced horse I could take the risk and try the inside turn there, and it worked out well.”

Of her green mount on the day that finished just out of the podium, Haas added, “Carona was also double-clean. She’s younger and coming along, and this is great mileage and experience for her to jump in different rings and get more experience. I was really pleased with her. It’s been a spectacular week, and I was really happy with the horses today.”

Haas and her mounts will take a week-long break from showing but will be back at TIEC to continue enjoying the spring weather, she detailed. “I’ll take next week off and then I’ll show here two more weeks in the Spring Series. I just came here from Florida, and the weather is really nice here in spring and fall. We always stop here on our way up from Florida and on our way back south,” Haas concluded. “My family loves this place, and there’s so much to do. It’s so beautiful, and we really enjoy it. I have a Labrador retriever puppy and she is loving it here, too! And, I really like hiking and stuff so I really enjoy being here.”

For more information and results, please visit www.Tryon.com.

Adrienne Lyle and Harmony’s Duval Do It Again to Win FEI Grand Prix Special CDI 3*

Adrienne Lyle and Harmony’s Duval. ©Susan J. Stickle Photography.

Tryon, NC – April 21, 2019 – Adrienne Lyle (USA) and Harmony’s Duval danced to another win to close out Tryon Spring Dressage 1 CDI 3* presented by Adequan®, taking top honors in the FEI Grand Prix Special CDI 3* on a score of 73.851%. Naima Moreira Laliberte (CAN) and KML S.A.R.L.’s Statesman took reserve after earning a total score of 72.404%, dancing in tandem with the 2007 Hanoverian gelding by Sandro Hit. Once again gaining the podium, Jill Irving (CAN) and Degas 12, her own 2002 Hanoverian gelding (De Niro x Regazonni), received a composite score of 69.596% to take third place.

Lyle and the 2008 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Rosseau x Riverman) owned by Duval Partners LLC also collected a win earlier in the week, besting the FEI Grand Prix CDI 3* competition on Friday, and predicted that Sunday would offer an opportunity to showcase the grey gelding’s strongest movements: piaffe and passage.

Intermediate 1 Freestyle CDI 3* competition presented by Helgstrand Dressage saw Pablo Gomez Molina (ESP) and Furst Foriano Ymas, a 2007 Westphalian gelding (Furst Piccolo x Donnerbube I) owned by Yeguda de Ymas S.L., take top honors with a score of 76.125%, while reserve was awarded to Jennifer Baumert (USA) aboard Handsome, a 2005 Hanoverian gelding (Hochadelx Weltmeyer) owned by Betsy Juliano, LLC, for their efforts amounting to a score of 75.667%. Third place was named to Endel Ots (USA) and Lucky Strike, a 2010 Hanoverian gelding (Lord Laurie x His Highness) owned by Max Ots, for their score of 75.333%.

In the FEI Young Rider Freestyle CDIY NAYC/USEF Qualifier, Vanessa Creech-Terauds and Fleur de Lis L, a 2009 Hanoverian mare (First Dance x De Niro) owned by Louise Leatherdale, posted a score of 73.825% to take the lead over Anna Weniger (USA), who partnered with Andrew Weniger’s Claudius, a 2010 Hanoverian gelding (Carland x Wilander), to score 64.700% for second.

The FEI Grand Prix Freestyle 16-25 CDIU25 USEF Qualifier and FEI Junior Rider Freestyle CDIJ NAYC/USEF Qualifier hosted one exhibitor each, with Naima Naima Moreira Laliberte (CAN) and I Do Kiss, a 2006 Swedish Warmblood stallion (French Kiss x Donnerfly) owned by KML S.A.R.L., earning a 72.810% and Sophia Holloway (USA) guiding Neptune NF, her own 2009 Andalusian gelding, to a score of 65.300%.

For more information and results, please visit www.Tryon.com.

Ashley Holzer and Havanna 145 Take FEI Grand Prix Freestyle CDI 3*

Ashley Holzer and Havanna 145. ©Susan J. Stickle Photography.

Tryon, NC – April 20, 2019 – Ashley Holzer (USA) and Havanna 145 strutted to victory in the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle CDI 3* at Tryon Spring Dressage 1 CDI 3* presented by Adequan® at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC), dancing in tandem to music compiled by Tom Hunt and earning a total score of 77.225%. Jill Irving (CAN) and Arthur, her own 2005 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Jazz x Contango), grabbed reserve honors on a score of 74.075%, while Jessica Jo Tate (USA) and Kynynmont Gunsmoke’s Gideon, 2008 Connemara Cross gelding (Gun Smoke x Kynynmont Tara) owned by Pam Liddell, combined to receive a score of 67.925% and third place.

“I’m thrilled. I’m really over the moon with her,” emphasized Holzer of the 2007 Hanoverian mare (Hochadel x Rodgau) owned by Diane Fellows. “We had a bit of a setback last year, so this is her just sort of coming out of it, and she is really exceeding my expectations. The one little mistake she made was completely my mistake and she was just phenomenal. She kept answering the call and I had some moments even in the warm-up where she’s just bringing it to another level.”

Holzer and Havanna danced to “Havana,” bringing some sauce with the new floor plan. There were several aspects of their performance that Holzer was particularly excited about, she detailed: “I was really hoping in the beginning to just flow with her. Sometimes I get a little aggressive in my forward and it ends up looking a little rushed and hectic, and think she flowed really well through the first half pass and then coming up to the first passage, and I was really thrilled with the way that flowed to the music.”

Holzer continued: “I love the music, and I was sort of laughing to it [“Havana” by Camila Cabello] while I was in there. It’s so her, and I was getting a bit of a chuckle,” she admitted. “It’s funny, because it was really her owner, Dianne Fellows, that truly was responsible for this freestyle. I was a little bit like, ‘Really, Havanna to Havana music? Come on,’ and she really put her foot down and was really the one that got it made. And she’s right – it’s amazing, and it really works! I have to thank her. Without Diane, that music would not be her freestyle.”

Despite a small bobble, Holzer relayed her excitement about the overall improvement she sees in the mare: “I was a little behind the music and then I gunned her a little bit, but the rest was right on. I think it’s a really great feeling when you feel the music and the horse sync so well together,” she said. “But I really think what was amazing for me is that I feel she has more power, and she’s ramping up with more power, and she’s able to control it instead of getting nervous, and is relaxing with that power. That’s a big step.”

Holzer and team were using this weekend’s CDI competition as a test for bigger steps planned, she elaborated. “We really wanted to see how this show went, and she exceeded our expectations. I’m hoping to go to Europe,” she concluded, “and hopefully it will be our next big step.”

For more information and results, please visit www.Tryon.com.