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Colvin and Lumiere Finish Strong in $10,000 1.45m Horseware Ireland Open Jumpers at TIEC

Tori Colvin and Lumiere. Photos: ©BarryKosterPhotography.

Mill Spring, NC – July 3, 2015 – The third day of Tryon Summer 2 competition at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) was marked with a big win for top talent Victoria Colvin, of Loxahatchee, FL, as she bested the $10,000 Horseware Ireland 1.45m Open Jumpers aboard Lumiere. Sharn Wordley (NZL) and Charline 28 finished second with Schuyler Riley of Wellington, FL and Carlisco bringing home third place honors. Competition at Tryon Summer 2 will continue through Sunday, July 5. The venue will host the $127,000 Ariat® Grand Prix tomorrow night, Saturday, July 4, beginning at 8pm. Gates will open to the public at 6pm. The Tryon Summer Series, hosting four consecutive weeks of FEI competition, will conclude on Sunday, July 19.

Colvin and Lumiere, a 2004 Oldenburg gelding owned by Peacock Ridge, LLC, pulled together two fantastic rounds to take a speedy handle on the class of 32 entries, racing to a strong finish in 33.055 seconds to beat out Wordley, who finished the jump-off track in 36.238 seconds. Colvin took over the ride on Lumiere during the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) and has excelled on the feisty gelding ever since.

“He’s a very quick horse naturally so I was just planning on putting in a neat and tidy round today,” she commented. “I wanted to push for it in the jump-off, but not go too fast because that’s where we sometimes get in trouble. He felt great, and I’m really proud of his effort today.”

Originally purchased for another client at Andre Dignelli’s Heritage Farm, Lumiere proved to be a perfect fit for Colvin, who competed him in the Medium Junior Jumper division during the WEF circuit. Not sure if the gelding would be able to reach the top levels of the sport, Colvin and Dignelli have been pleasantly surprised by his willingness to step up in the bigger classes.

“He’s definitely feisty. He gets very quick after he hears the buzzer sound, and I think that can be a little frightening if you don’t expect it. We didn’t think he would be consistent at this level, but he’s completely exceeded our expectations,” she commented. “He takes more of a leg focused ride. I have to be really quiet with my hands because he can get offended if he feels you trying to take over with your hands. The forward movement has really helped him to feel comfortable in these bigger classes.”

Heading to the Adequan®/FEI North American Junior Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC) in Lexington, KY at the end of the month aboard Lumiere, Colvin is hopeful that the duo will continue their winning ways through the rest of their season together. The pair will also contest the $15,000 Under 25 Grand Prix on Sunday at TIEC, alongside Colvin’s other mount, Bettertimes, owned by Heritage Farm.

“I’m really excited for NAJYRC and am looking forward to taking him there because I think we have the potential to do really well. He’s been a great ride for me,” she remarked. “He’ll do the Under 25 Grand Prix on Sunday, which he did well in last week too. I feel like we’re hitting our stride at the right point in the season.”

Sharn Wordley and Charline 28
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Sharn Wordley and Charline 28

One of the country’s most talented young riders, Colvin continues to dominate in the hunter ring and is gaining confidence in the jumper ring as well. Her mount, Echo Von T Spieveld, owned by Take The High Road, LLC, is an exciting new partnership for Colvin, who she hopes will be a great Grand Prix horse for her this year.

“He’s just adorable. He was gelded about a year ago so he can be a little studdish when you first get on, but that’s what I like about him. He’s a fighter in the ring. We have formed a really close relationship already, and I think he’s the real deal,” she explained. “He’ll do the Grand Prix tomorrow night, and my goal is to start doing some of the bigger Grand Prix classes with him come fall and throughout the indoor season.”

Colvin has thoroughly enjoyed her stay at TIEC and is looking forward to coming back after the Heritage Farm team departs for Kentucky next week. She noted, “This is just a beautiful showground. When everything is finished, this is going to be the place to be. There is going to be some incredible stuff here in the future.”

The $127,000 Ariat® Grand Prix will begin at 8pm Saturday, July 4, with an array of family fun and entertainment beginning between 5pm-6pm. For a full list of results and weekly schedule, please visit www.tryon.com.

About Tryon International Equestrian Center

The Tryon International Equestrian Center is destined to become one of the premier centers in the equestrian world. This new facility opened in June 2014 with sanctioned horse shows and initial supporting amenities including 10 riding arenas, 850 permanent stalls, a covered riding facility and fitness center. Future expansion includes a sports complex, two hotels, sporting clay course, and an 18-hole golf course plus a full calendar of equestrian competitions and activities. It is a spring, summer and fall haven for eastern and northeastern American equestrian competitors and enthusiasts. For more information, call 828-863-1000 or visit www.tryon.com.

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