Category Archives: Tryon

Competitions, Dressage, Tryon

Adrienne Lyle and Harmony’s Duval Make a Big Splash at Tryon Spring Dressage 1 CDI 3*

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

Tryon, NC – April 19, 2019 – Adrienne Lyle (USA) and Harmony’s Duval danced to victory in FEI Grand Prix competition to kick off Tryon Spring Dressage 1 CDI 3* presented by Adequan®, earning a personal best score of 75.130% to top a field of 14. Ashley Holzer (USA) and Havanna 145, a 2007 Hanoverian mare (Hochadel x Rodgau) owned by Diane Fellows, garnered a score of 72.478% to be awarded second place, while Jill Irving (CAN) and her own Degas 12, a 2002 Hanoverian gelding (De Niro x Regazonni), rounded out the podium on a total score of 70.978%.

For Lyle and the 2008 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Rosseau x Riverman) owned by Duval Partners LLC, their clean test was “a big deal” and full circle from their first National Grand Prix competition at TIEC exactly a year ago, she explained.

“At this show a year ago we did our first National Grand Prix, so he’s only been in Grand Prix competition for a year. It’s always been about getting him [to] focus,” she elaborated, “and not get flustered and get through a test without mistakes, so this is a really big accomplishment.

“He hasn’t shown that many places in his life, and we’ve only been at [Adequan® Global Dressage Festival] all season, so this is new for him. I love this showgrounds – it’s maybe my favorite showgrounds in the world to show – but it’s great for the horses to get to come to a new place and ride in a new stadium with atmosphere like this. It’s really fun.”

Her young mount showed great composure despite several rain delays through the day, and “is always ready to go,” she revealed. “He’s a horse that I get out several times before his test, tack-walking and hand-walking a lot, so he’s in and out a lot through the day. [Today] we had to wait a bit, but that’s just part of the game. The good thing about him is he’s always ready to go – he has endless energy. So when we throw the tack on, he’s ready for it, no matter when that is.”

Lyle called Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) at Tryon Resort the ideal stepping stone for her next challenge with Harmony’s Duval: taking on Europe. “I wanted to come to this CDI to get one more show in before we go to Europe this summer. I think this is a really good stepping stone to get him some exposure and solidify him a little bit more. He got a grant to go to Europe this summer from the USDF that will help fund him there,” Lyle continued. “He was US bred and born, so he’s never been out of the country. He’s a really wonderful horse – we’ve had him since before he was saddle-broke, so it’s a fun culmination of many years of work with him.”

Before Europe, Harmony’s Duval will take on the FEI Grand Prix Special CDI 3*, which Lyle predicted will feature his strongest work: “We’re on to the Special on Sunday, which is always a really strong test for him. His piaffe and passage work is always a highlight for him, so I’m really, really excited about him,” she concluded.

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

Competitions, Show Jumping, Tryon

Fernando Cardenas Jr. Claims First and Second in $25k Jumper Classic American Standard

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Dr. Fernando Cardenas Jr. and Quincy Too. ©Charly Miller/Tryon Resort.

Mill Spring, NC – April 15, 2019 – Dr. Fernando Cardenas Jr. (New Hill, NC) topped the $25,000 Jumper Classic American Standard earning first and second place aboard two of his own mounts. For the first-place victory, Cardenas Jr. completed the jump-off in 39.684 seconds with Quincy Too. To secure second place, Cardenas Jr. earned a time of 46.171 seconds with Calvados. August Torsilien (Flemington, NJ) took third place with Samy Du Reverdy owned by Briland Farm Ventures, LLC with a time of 39.92 seconds.

With 12 pairs and only six in the jump-off, Cardenas Jr. remained ahead in the course set by Gerry Briggs (Smyrna, TN). On the course, Cardenas Jr., who is also a full-time veterinarian, remarked, “It was a very nice course. It was a long course, and I thought the time allowed was going to be very lenient, but in reality, it was just right. We had to shave our corners and keep cantering,” he stated.

On his first-place mount, Quincy Too, Cardenas said, “We need to work on getting him a little bit more fit. I’d like for him to go to the Pan American Games in August, so our goal is to only show at Tryon, and get ready at the FEI events for that competition.”

Click here to view full results from the $25,000 Jumper Classic American Standard.

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

Competitions, Show Jumping, Tryon

Genevieve Edwards Tops $15k 1.35-1.40m Jumper Classic & $5k 1.35m Welcome Stake at Tryon

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Genevieve Edwards and Vantablack De Muze. ©AllisonAho/Tryon Resort.

Mill Spring, NC – April 8, 2019 – Genevieve Edwards (Guyton, GA) rode to the top in the $15,000 1.35m-1.40m Jumper Classic aboard her own Vantablack De Muze earning a jump-off time of 31.044 seconds at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC). Jumping in at 31.758 seconds, Aida Sanchez Long (Chattanooga, TN) earned second place with MHS Indiana owned by Dimitri Pauli. Allen Nabors Jr. (Odessa, FL) took third place with Bon Chatsworth Pierre owned by Jessie Mazzoni earning a time of 34.114 seconds.

Among 10 entries with only four pairs in the jump-off, Edwards, the last rider in the round, secured the top score in an exciting jump-off on the course set by Dean Rheinheimer (Sheridan, IN). Edwards revealed, “I’ve had ‘Ocho’ since he was four. I bought him as an unbroke 4-year-old off of a YouTube video.

“I brought him through the levels and now he’s really coming into his own at the 1.40m and 1.45m levels. We’re hoping to hit a couple of grand prixs this year. I’d like to shoot for FEI in 2020. He’s like my dog. He actually gets turned out in my yard. He’s like my big pet, and he likes bananas. My husband trail rides him, and he does leadline classes too. He’s awesome; he’s a cool horse,” she concluded.

Click here to view full results from the $15,000 1.35m-1.40m Jumper Stake.

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

Competitions, Show Jumping, Tryon

Nicky Galligan and Javas Miss Jordan Win $15,000 1.35m-1.40m Jumper Stake

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Nicky Galligan and Javas Miss Jordan.  ©Bailey Beck.

Mill Spring, NC – April 2, 2019 – Nicky Galligan (Keswick, VA) and Javas Miss Jordan galloped to victory in Sunday’s $15,000 1.35m-1.40m Jumper Stake with a time of 32.362 seconds. David O’Brien (Lexington, KY) and Dayla 6 owned by Cleveland Equestrian claimed second place with a time of 32.759 seconds. Doug Payne (Aiken, SC) and Quintessence owned by Jane Dudinsky claimed the yellow rosette for third after stopping the jump-off timers in 33.21 seconds.

Among 17 entries in the course set by J. P. Godard (Aiken, SC), Galligan remained ahead of the competition after first setting sight on the venue last week during Tryon Welcome 1. “This is my first time here. I’m really, really impressed,” he remarked.

“Normally, I’d be in Florida for the winter, and this year we did a little restructuring and didn’t go. So last week was actually my first show, too.” Galligan relayed that his favorite aspect of grounds is “fantastic facilities – the footing is top-class. “[It’s] really, really impressive – for me to jump the horses two weeks, three days each week and no worries about feet is incredible. I’m very happy to be here.”

On the course, Galligan commented, “It felt really nice. We were here last week, too, and today felt like a little step up [in difficulty] from last week. It was a little more technical in the lines, playing with the adjustability of the horse, shortening and then lengthening over the oxers, and a really nice day. It was a really nice job with the courses both weeks – I brought some young horses, as well, and they got fantastic experience.

“This is a very special horse to me and my family, actually,” Galligan revealed. “She’s part of the reason why we’re in the States. I’ve had her since she was four years old, and I was the first person to sit on her back. I bought her directly from the breeder and have been nurturing her quite slowly. She actually hasn’t been at a show since last August until last week, so this was just some shows to get her a little fit and jumping some rounds again. She will go home now for a couple weeks in the paddock, do a couple more shows and we will aim to come back here for the 3* show in May.”

Though the mare’s schedule has been slow so far, there was nothing slow about the jump-off round the pair produced to take the win. His strategy was “no pressure,” Galligan elaborated. “It was more about giving the horse experience in the jump-off, because she hasn’t jumped a lot of Grand Prixs, and had to warm up a second time and go back into the ring. So really, I was just thinking about giving her that experience of taking a breather, chilling out, warming up again and coming back in.”

Galligan continued, “After jumping our classes last week and this week I thought we could have a little bit of fun today. She’s a naturally fast horse, so we had a little bit of fun. No pressure on her, just let her do her job, and she came up good. It was a lot of fun.”

Though impressed with TIEC’s rings, Galligan attributed the mare’s strong build to the fact that he prefers to get the horses out of the ring as much as possible: “I guess we pay a lot of attention to detail in our strength and conditioning, and the soundness of our horses, and try to keep them happy,” he said. “We’re lucky to live in Virginia with a lot of natural hills, so I don’t spend a lot of time in the ring – I spend a lot of time in nature keeping them fit and strong. She just loves her job, too. She’s a very simple horse and loves to show.”

Click here to view full results from the $15,000 1.35m-1.40m Jumper Stake.

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

Competitions, Show Jumping, Tryon

David O’Brien and KIR Royal SCF Win $15,000 1.35m-1.40m Jumper Classic

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David O’Brien and KIR Royal SCF. Photo credit: Bailey Beck.

Mill Spring, NC – March 25, 2019 – Tryon Welcome 1 saw David O’Brien grab top honors throughout the venue’s first contest for 2019, which featured USEF “A” and Level 3 Jumper competition, topping off the week with a win aboard KIR Royal SCF in Sunday’s $15,000 1.35m-1.40m Jumper Classic. The Lexington, KY resident and his Spy Coast Farm, LLC mount posted two clear rounds on the day to take the win, stopping the jump-off timers in 36.112 seconds. Claiming reserve honors, Jorge Ludwig and his own The Graduate, hailing from Newbury Park, CA, sped through the short-course in 36.171 seconds, while Nicky Galligan (Keswick, VA) and his own Javas Miss Jordan produced a 37.804-second jump-off round to receive third place honors.

The course, set by Dean Rheinheimer of Venice, FL, saw ten entries with six pairs demonstrating a jump-off round. O’Brien noted that he was glad to be back at Tryon, especially following his success at the venue last fall. “The course was really nice, and it’s nice to get my horses back in this ring again after the break this winter,” he said. “This was my first show outdoors since October [2018], where KIR Royal SCF won a Speed class in CSI 5* competition. He’s home-produced, bred by Lisa Lourie at Spy Coast Farm.”

KIR Royal SCF, a 2010 Belgian Warmblood gelding (Amaretto D’Arco x Nabab De Reve), improved on his second-place finish in Friday’s $5,000 1.35m Welcome Stake, where O’Brien also collected top honors riding Dayla 6, a 2009 Belgian Sport Horse mare (Ogano Sitte x Zeoliet). “We had one down in the second round Friday, but today there were no mistakes,” O’Brien continued. “I was very close to a double clear on Dayla today, and she was very good this week. She belongs to Cleveland Equestrian, and I don’t have her for that long, but she seems really nice.”

TIEC competitors have begun utilizing the newly-built jumps added to the inventory this winter, as well as enjoying recently-renovated barns and numerous facility updates ahead of the Tryon Welcome Series. As a rider known for his ability to bring along younger mounts, O’Brien mentioned that he appreciates the venue as a horse-friendly place to start the season and prepare them for the year ahead:

“I brought all my young horses here because we get to jump in the main ring with very nice jumps,” he explained. “I use TIEC as a preparation for Kentucky in May. I get them in the main ring with all these great jumps, so I’ve kind of caught up to everyone who’s been in Florida without having to go down there.”

O’Brien will spend another week at TIEC, competing in Tryon Welcome 2 (USEF “A”/Level 3) before returning to Kentucky for a bit to be with his younger horses ahead of their summer season. “We have a Young Horse Show at our farm in April – part of the same series that will come to TIEC in November this year – and then I’ll come back here for the summer and bring all my babies back,” he concluded.

Click here to view full results from the $15,000 1.35m-1.40m Jumper Classic.

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

Show Jumping, Tryon

Paul O’Shea Flies to 1st and 2nd in $132k Greenville-Spartanburg Int’l Airport Grand Prix CSI 3*

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Photo: Paul O’Shea and Skara Glen’s Presence.

Mill Spring, NC – October 27, 2018 – Paul O’Shea (IRL) flew straight to the top in the $132,000 Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport Grand Prix CSI 3* in a time of 36.532 seconds on the short course aboard Skara Glen’s Presence, a 2008 Holsteiner gelding (Contendro x Nekton) owned by Skara Glen Stables. O’Shea also landed in second place aboard Imerald Van’t Voorhof, a 2008 Belgian Warmblood gelding (Emerald Van’t Ruytershof x Bacardi-Orange De Muze) owned by Tequestrian Farms, LLC, with a time of 37.094 seconds. Todd Minikus (USA) piloted Amex Z, a 2009 Zangersheide mare (Andiamo Z x Landaris) owned by Bit by Bit Group, to third after a 37.312 second performance in Tryon Stadium at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC).

Mexico’s Manuel Esparza set the stage for a competitive jump-off on a track that tested both long gallops and tight turns, which O’Shea complimented. “The course rode well. Obviously, I’m happy with how it went. It was a very nice track and a very nice result with eight clear in the first round. I think it was a really good course,” he continued. “They’re both very good horses and they’ve been going really well. They’re used to this level now, too – even though they’re both ten, they’re both still a little inexperienced.”

After achieving a string of second place finishes in FEI classes for the past few weeks at Tryon, O’Shea was thrilled to step to the top of the podium and finish his season strong, especially against stiff competition.

“Going into the jump-off, Todd was in the lead, and he’s one of the fastest riders in the world without a doubt. Kent was last, who is one of the fastest in the world without a doubt, too, and so there was no point not to go as fast as we could,” he explained.

O’Shea praised both his mounts for being brave, scopey and willing partners. “Presence has a very big stride and he’s very uphill, which is helpful of course, and he’s very brave. He never hesitates and you can turn him back. He’ll always try. Imerald has a massive stride as well, and is quite similar. He’s very uphill and light to ride and very scopey.”

“Maybe to the second fence I saved some time and I think I did eight strides to number three. I think Todd did nine, so I think that’s where I got him. Otherwise we were quite even,” elaborated O’Shea.

After a successful fall season at Tryon, O’Shea plans to give both his mounts some well-earned time off before heading to Florida for the winter. “They’ll start back in WEF again and do some smaller classes and build back up. When I start them back I’ll see how they feel, rather than say they’ll jump week two at the Grand Prix; if they need smaller classes to build back up we’ll take it week by week.”

For full results from the $132,000 Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport Grand Prix CSI 3*, click here.

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

Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping, Tryon

Scott Keach and Fedor Bound to Blue in the $35,000 1.50m Welcome Stake CSI 3*

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Scott Keach and Fedor. Photo Credit ©Sportfot.

Mill Spring, NC – October 25, 2018 – Scott Keach (AUS) and Fedor dashed to first place in the $35,000 1.50m Horseware Ireland Welcome Stake CSI 3* at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) as 2018 Tryon Fall 5 presented by Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport CSI 3* competition continued this week. Keach completed the jump-off set by USA’s Anthony D’Ambrosio in 39.242 seconds aboard the 2005 Belgian Warmblood gelding (Kashmir Van Schuttershof x Orkaan) owned by Scott Keach & Southern Cross Equestrian, LLC. Close behind, Todd Minikus (USA) swooped into second with a time of 40.123 seconds riding Quality Girl, a 2003 Oldenburg mare (Quidam’s Rubin x Dobrock) owned by Todd Minikus, LTD. Flying into third, Margie Engle (USA) finished the course in 41.24 seconds with Dicas, a 2009 Rhein gelding (Diarado x Cassini I) owned by Storm Ridge Capital LLC, Gladewinds Farm LLC, and Garber & Show Horses, Inc.

With 38 entries and nine jump-off pairs, Scott Keach emerged on top. “My horse was great today. It was one of those days where everything goes smoothly and everything comes out well. In the jump-off, I was trying to cut the turns, keep him moving, and hopefully be quicker than the others.”

Concerning his mount, who made easy work of the technical course, Keach remarked, “He feels super. He likes the cold weather; it suits him. He’s had a couple of pretty easy weeks, so he’s fresh. Hopefully he’ll be really fresh Saturday night!”

Keach plans to ride in the $132,000 Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport Grand Prix CSI 3* with Fedor, and elaborated on his future plans. “He goes out for a holiday next and then comes back in to do some CSI 5* shows.”

Taylor Land Secures Double-Podium Win in the $5,000 1.40m Power & Speed Stake CSI 3*

In the $5,000 1.40m Power & Speed Stake CSI 3* on Wednesday, Taylor Land (USA) claimed both first and second place aboard two different mounts. Land took home blue riding Liroy 30, a 2009 German Warmblood gelding (Levistano x King Kolibri) owned by Pinetree Farms LLC, and cleared the short course in 33.25 seconds. She also secured second place with Falco V, a 2010 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Bustique x Montreux) owned by Pinetree Farms LLC, with a time of 38.157 seconds. Another athlete for the USA, Margie Engle, earned third place finishing the jump-off in 38.558 seconds aboard First Lady G, a 2010 Dutch Warmblood mare owned by Gladewinds Partners LLC.

Concerning her winning rides, Land commented, “I really liked the course a lot. It was really nice and smooth. There were some options in the jump-off and a lot of places you could take cuts, but there were also risks. It was really nice to have options and have the ability to go fast.

“I went first on Liroy 30, which was nice because he’s a little more experienced, so I got to see the track,” Land explained. “I was trying a new bridle today and he was very happy with it. He was really fast and listened great. I just did my plan and both of the horses were so good today. Liroy 30 is really, really sweet, but he is a little bit nervous and Falco V is like the brave bear going into battle. Even though he is younger, he’s braver and more outgoing. Liroy 30 is the sweet, shy one.”

Land continued, “With these two horses, I’m just continuing to try to move up. I don’t have an older horse right now, so these are my top two guys and we’re just trying to move up. The CSI 3* level is about where we are at and we’ll just continue to move forward and jump CSI 4* and CSI 5* competitions next year.”

Of the venue, where Land frequents during the year, she said, “I love the venue. It’s beautiful. I love all the different rings. I really like the atmosphere here and it’s wonderful that there are big crowds. It always feels like an exciting show.”

For full results from the $35,000 1.50m Horseware Ireland Welcome Stake CSI 3*, click here.

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

Show Jumping, Tryon

Bluman Rides to Blue Concluding CSI 5* Competition at Tryon

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Daniel Bluman and Entano. Photo Credit ©Sportfot.

Mill Spring, NC – October 21, 2018 – It was a blue ribbon for Israel’s Daniel Bluman and mount Entano in the $70,000 1.50m Sunday Classic CSI 5* at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC). The duo raced to the first place finish in 41.599 seconds, besting the class of 34. Riding into second place was Sharn Wordley (NZL) and his own Casper, a 2006 Oldenburg gelding (Contender x Baloubet du Rouet), completing the short-course in 43.607 seconds. Third place honors were bestowed upon Kristen Vanderveen (USA) and the Bull Run Jumpers Six LLC’s 2006 Hanoverian gelding (Caspar x Quidam de Revel), Bull Run’s Almighty, who ended their jump-off in 44.598 seconds.

Bluman and the 2009 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Namelus R x Numero Uno) owned by Over the Top Stables LLC were one of five combinations to test the jump-off track, designed by Anthony D’Ambrosio (USA), and Bluman laid down a speedy round that nudged Wordley out of first. “I thought it was a very good course,” commented Bluman. “It was wonderful to have some beautiful new jumps out there to jump now. The course designer did a good job. It was a fair, nice track. There were faults all over the place and it was technical and hard enough. It suited Entano well. He’s been jumping great lately and it was a positive result, so I can’t complain.”

He continued, “He is a fast horse naturally, so I was trying to focus on him and make sure he was relaxed. I had a chance to see Sharn go in the jump-off and I thought I could beat him. This horse is a little hard to turn here and there, but he has a big step and is fast and careful, so it ended well.”

This is the gelding’s first year jumping at a higher level and Bluman explained that he is hopeful for the future with his mount. “This is the first year he has done the more serious classes and he has already won two high ranking classes. I may bring him to Kentucky as a second horse to give him some indoor experience, then he will head to Florida to compete in Holiday & Horses at PBIEC to gear up for the winter season.”

Bluman concluded, “I have high hopes for this horse. I have owned him since he was a seven-year-old and he has responded well to the work, so we are very excited about him.”

For full results from the $70,000 1.50m Sunday Classic CSI 5*, click here.

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

Show Jumping, Tryon

Conor Swail and Rubens LS La Silla Triumph in $384k Rolex Grand Prix CSI 5* at Tryon

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Conor Swail and Rubens LS La Silla. Photo Credit ©Sportfot.

Mill Spring, NC – October 20, 2018 – Conor Swail (IRL) and Rubens LS La Silla dazzled in the $384,000 Rolex Grand Prix CSI 5*, which set the stage as the most competitive Saturday Night Lights class of the 2018 season at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC). Swail and Rubens LS La Silla, a 2006 La Silla Stallion (Rebozo Ls La Silla x Cash) owned by Rose Hill Farm, flew through jump-off timers in a quick 39.804 seconds.

Subsequently, Paul O’Shea (IRL) and Skara Glen’s Machu Picchu, a 2007 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Silverstone x Matterhorn) owned by Skara Glen Stables and Whipstick Farm, placed second with a time of 42.076 seconds, and with eight added faults in the jump-off. Margie Engle (USA) and Royce, a 2004 Oldenburg stallion (Cafe Au Lait x Grandilot) owned by Gladewinds Partners LLC, took third place earning a time of 42.076 seconds and with twelve faults added to their second-round time.

Only three riders returned to the short-course, designed by Anthony D’Ambrosio (USA), and Swail maintained the pair’s stronghold on the lead. The duo was the first to go clear and Swail noted his plan going into the first round. “My horse has had a great year so far and he was coming in here with a lot of confidence. I thought that the time was going to be a little bit of an issue for me, but thankfully I squeezed just inside it.”

Swail continued, “It started off a little scratchy for us at the start. I think it was because we haven’t competed in five weeks. The second half of the round he jumped beautifully. We squeezed just inside the time, but thankfully there weren’t many more in the jump-off.”

Trailing behind Swail was fellow Irishman Paul O’Shea, who scored another second-place finish aboard Skara Glen’s Machu Picchu, after coming off a podium placing in last weekend’s Grand Prix CSI 3*. “I saw Conor go on the screen,” explained O’Shea, “and he didn’t look really fast, but he was really fast and is always really fast, so that didn’t tell me much, really. My horse has been jumping really well this year and we have been competing in Nation’s Cups all year. He won the Grand Prix here exactly a year ago and that was the last time we went this fast. He’s had a great year and it’s nice to finish with a result like this.”

Much like Swail’s mount, Engle noted that third place mount Royce is also coming off of a bit of down time. Despite this, the stallion remained swift and competitive, landing on the podium with promising results. “Royce felt great,” stated Engle. “In the first round he jumped amazingly. He was way up and over everything, and I think it look a little bit out of him. It was his first time back under the lights in a while. I think I got a little hungry. He’s been second like the last five or six Grand Prixs I’ve been in, so I took a little maybe too much of a shot at the third fence at the vertical. That one he rubbed light and then after that I think he just kind of emptied out. The first round he felt amazing and right on game.”

All three competitors echoed their gratitude toward their mounts, elaborating on the fact that each will get a week off as they plan out their next stops on their calendars. Swail concluded, “My two guys that I have here are heading over to have a week off next week, then they are heading to Lexington and then up to Toronto. After that, we will go to Florida and that wraps up the year.”

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

Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping, Tryon

Gilbertson Glides to First in the $35,000 1.45m Tryon Resort Speed Stake CSI 5*

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Lacey Gilbertson and Baloppi. Photo Credit ©Sportfot.

Mill Spring, NC – October 19, 2018 – Lacey Gilbertson (USA) and Baloppi rode to victory in the $35,000 1.45m Tryon Resort Speed Stake CSI 5* at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC), blazing through the course in 62.31 seconds. Paige Johnson (USA) achieved second place with a time of 74.26 seconds aboard Innovation, a 2008 Belgian Warmblood gelding (Skippy II x Lauriston) owned by Salamander Farm, while Kent Farrington completed the all-American podium guiding Baltic Star 2, a 2009 Hanoverian gelding (Bacardi x Chalan) owned by himself and Tanma Corporation, to a 74.47 second finish.

Twenty-seven pairs stepped up to try their talents on the course set by USA’s Anthony D’Ambrosio, flying around the U.S. Trust Arena. Gilbertson and the 2007 Danish Warmblood mare owned by Seabrook LLC put in a tight round early in the class that couldn’t be bested. Just late enough in the line-up to watch some options ride, GIlbertson explained that the course was suited to her mount’s strengths.

“I thought the course was a lot of fun. There were several areas where you could leave out strides and make tight turns, plus really gallop across the ground and Baloppi is really good at that. It definitely worked to my advantage because she is so nice to ride and always right there with you,” said Gilbertson. “I didn’t go too early, so I did get to see all the numbers ride, and I chose to stick to my original plan once I saw those numbers were there in the options for the leave-outs.”

Gilbertson has been in the irons with Baloppi, whom she describes as “a magical unicorn,”  for more than a year and a half, and has piloted her to much success thus far. “I’ve definitely won the most on her than I have on anyone else. She’s brave, consistent, and no matter what ring she goes into she’s always the same, which makes my life really easy. She’s also a lot of fun.”

While Gilbertson will trade mounts for Saturday’s $384,000 Rolex Grand Prix CSI 5*, Baloppi has a bright future in the Grand Prix ring and in speed classes, she concluded. “I think she’ll jump some two and three-start Grand Prixs in the future, but definitely also more speed classes because she’s so good at them. She can kind of do anything, which is nice.”

Liza Boyd Earns First Place in the $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby

Liza Boyd of Camden, SC and Tradition gave two stunning performances to earn a total score of 371 in the $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby in Tryon Stadium to take the win, piloting the 2010 Westphalian gelding for owner Maggie Hill. Reserve honors were earned by Harold Chopping of Southern Pines, NC and Barbara Scott’s Catchphrase, a 2010 Zangersheide gelding, combining their first-round and handy scores for a total of 370, while Holly Shepherd of Grand Bay, AL claimed third in the irons for Helen Brown aboard Tybee, a 2007 Hanoverian gelding, finishing on a two-round total of 369.25.

Eighteen entries toured the course set by designers Dean Rheinheimer and J. P. Godard, with the top twelve invited back to showcase their talents in the handy round. Boyd noted that the second round was tricky but gave credit to Tradition for pulling through. “That was a pretty hard handy,” she explained. “In 1-2 when I was cantering to it, I didn’t realize how tight I had turned. I think that’s what got me such high points; I think I sliced to it a little bit more, a bit on accident, actually. When I was cantering to it, I thought for a second, ‘Oh my, he could run out here,’ but he just stepped up for me.”

Planning for a well-executed handy round, Boyd elaborated on her plan moving through the trot jump. “I definitely did have to fudge (the trot jump) a little,” she commented. “I started trotting later than I had planned, which gave me some extra points. You take a little risk when you take that long to come back to the trot. I did a sitting trot to get him engaged from behind a little bit better and then the hand gallop I tried to do super early and get it done early. I was able to measure the distance and make sure he was back on his hind legs for the last jump.”

Boyd and the gelding have had a productive year and the pair will continue to compete through the indoor season and head to Florida for the winter. “The horse stepped up and was third at Derby Finals and then he went on and helped me win the World Champion Hunter Rider class at Capital Challenge,” noted Boyd. “He helped me gain a place in the top six. He’s done a lot for me this year and he’s really quickly stepped up to the plate to become a really top professional horse. He’s young, and super, super scopey. In Europe, I think he really jumped some really great tracks; he’s got a lot of ability. He’s done a lot.”

For full results from the $35,000 1.45m Tryon Resort Speed Stake CSI 5*, click here.

For full results from the $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, click here.

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