Tag Archives: Tryon International Equestrian Center

Mark Bluman and Thriller P Secure Victory in $35,000 1.50m Suncast Welcome CSI 3*

Mark Bluman and Thriller P. Photos ©LizCrawleyPhotography.

Mill Spring, NC – June 30, 2016 – Mark Bluman (COL) demonstrated his skill and expertise, besting Thursday’s tough field of 37 riders at the Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) aboard Thriller P in the $35,000 1.50m Suncast® Welcome CSI 3* on the second day of FEI competition at Tryon Summer I. Bluman and Thriller P dominated the complex course design designed by Oscar Soberon (MEX) with an impressive jump-off time of 36.597 seconds.

Taking second place with a speedy and accurate round was Eugenio Garza (MEX) and his ride Empire Van Wuitenshof with a time of 37.142 seconds, while Amanda Derbyshire (GBR) and Lady Maria BH claimed the yellow rosette with a time of 38.023 seconds.

Thriller P is not one of Bluman’s usual mounts, as the 2004 Swedish Warmblood stallion (Cardento x Lucky Light) is owned and ridden by Bluman’s student, Daniela Stransky. Bluman elaborated on why he took over the reins.

“You know it is funny because that horse is not part of my string. He is part of my student’s string. We recently purchased him for her, so we decided that I would show him this week,” he detailed. “I wanted to make sure he went well in the big ring. Every time he has shown, he has been fantastic. With my students, I always prefer to tune-up their horses and help them to feel incredible.

“Thriller P is one of the greatest horses in the barn,” he added.

The tough track asked many questions, yet Bluman and Thriller P exhibited several tidy turns and a deceivingly fast round, delivering the winning answer in the talented class. Bluman elaborated on the athleticism of Thriller P and how he felt the class rode overall.

“In the jump-off, yes I was quick, but on this horse you don’t realize how fast you are actually going,” Bluman commented. “In Florida, I had a very similar ride on him after WEF, where we also won the class. He covers a lot of ground and is very athletic, which is an unbeatable combination.”

Eugenio Garza and Empire Van Wuitenshof
Eugenio Garza and Empire Van Wuitenshof

Bluman went on to speak of the preparation and accuracy needed to excel in classes such as this, which showcased a talented group of international riders. He stated, “Part of my system at home is to practice a line, but do all different numbers of strides in-between those two jumps. We work on collecting and extending, along with gymnastics to teach the horses that those types of situations can happen at the show. We actually practiced something very similar last week to prepare for the four weeks of the Summer Series here at TIEC. That technique teaches the horses to be soft, adjustable, and careful, which helped him feel incredible today.”

Bluman was ecstatic with his win, but is already looking forward to Saturday night. He hopes his accomplished mount, Uitteraard, who he has been successful with at TIEC before, will rise to the occasion in the $130,000 Adequan® Grand Prix CSI 3*. Bluman spoke about Uitteraard, saying, “He is a part of my string and is coming off of a win. I feel very confident and I hope Saturday night goes well!”

Bluman and team now consider themselves locals, training out of a farm only minutes from the show, and will strive to be top contenders at TIEC for the remainder of the Summer Series. They also have plans to return for the 2016 Tryon Fall Series.

World-class show jumping and nationally rated hunter divisions will continue throughout the week at TIEC, consisting of a $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby and a $10,000 Pre-Green Hunter Classic on Friday, July 1. The highlight event on Friday, however, will be the first ever Great Charity Challenge of the Carolinas (GCCC), which encourages guests and spectators to dress in costume representing this year’s super heroes theme! Gates will open at 5:00 p.m. and competition will begin at 7:00 p.m.

The “Saturday Night Lights” series will return for weekend fun, beginning Saturday, July 2, and continuing four consecutive Saturdays through July 23. Entertainment will start at 6:00 p.m. and the class is set to commence at 8:00 p.m. Following competition on Saturday evening, TIEC will host the first-ever laser light show the Foothills region in the George H. Morris Arena in celebration of the upcoming Fourth of July holiday. For more information and to see a full list of results, please visit www.tryon.com.

Erica Quinn Captures First Career International Hunter Derby Win with Need I Say at TIEC

Erica Quinn and Need I Say. Photos ©FlyingHorsePhotography.

Karl Cook Bests the Competition aboard Caillou 24 in $35,000 1.45m Horseware Ireland Speed Stake CSI 5*

Mill Spring, NC – June 10, 2016 – Erica Quinn of Mainesville, OH and Need I Say captured their first career derby win together, topping the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby presented by Mirimichi Green at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC). Quinn and Need I Say received a final two round score of 369 to take the win. Kelley Farmer of Wellington, FL guided Point Being and Baltimore to second and third place, respectively, earning total scores of 368 and 359 from the judging panel. Competition at TIEC continues Saturday with the highly anticipated $380,000 Horseware Ireland Grand Prix CSI 5* for the Governor’s Cup beginning at 8:00 p.m. Gates open at 6:00 p.m. with free admission and free parking for all attendees.

Quinn, who recently took over the ride on the 2008 Warmblood gelding owned by Kelley Farmer, was elated with the performance of Need I Say under the lights in the George H. Morris Arena. The pair completed an effortless and athletic handy round, which ultimately pushed them to the top of the leaderboard. Andy Christison built the course, which showcased a number of airy oxers and difficult combinations, proving to be a tough test for riders throughout the evening.

“He’s just an amazing animal. I can’t say enough nice things about that horse. In the first round, I bobbled going into the two stride, which I was mad at myself for, but then I came back in the second round and was confident. He’s just such a good handy horse. I feel like I can do anything on him,” she explained.

Need I Say has an attitude and athleticism that allows him to excel in the handy round, which is one of his most notable strengths. The pair received 10 handy points from each of the judging panels to boost their score after performing an effortless, but bold second round.

“When I turn, it doesn’t matter if it’s one stride or three strides, he’s always going to leave the ground. He gives you such a nice feeling over the fences,” she added. “I’m new to doing the derbies and I would be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous, but I also think that I just need to keep doing them and get used to the atmosphere.”

Originally, Friday’s class was not on Quinn’s planned competition schedule, as she had arranged to stay in Kentucky, but at the last minute decided to bring Need I Say with the other group of horses traveling to the TIEC venue with Kelley Farmer and Larry Glefke.

“Kelley told me to come down here to do the $50,000 instead of staying in Kentucky and now I’m sure glad I did,” she smiled. “It really worked out for us and I can’t say enough nice things about Larry and Kelley. This is an amazing opportunity for me and I couldn’t thank them enough.”

Farmer had the initial ride on the gelding after he arrived stateside and collected two derby wins right off the bat in Pensacola, FL, establishing Need I Say as a strong derby contender. Quinn took over the ride this spring, and has been competing the gelding since, learning from Farmer and her winning ways.

“Kelley has quite a few horses in her derby string and was nice enough to let me ride this horse. He finished very well here a few weeks ago too. This is our second derby together and the other was a few weeks ago here where we finished in third,” explained Quinn. “I’m just so thankful that she gave me the ride.”

Quinn has worked at Lane Change Farm with Glefke and Farmer for nearly two years and focuses on many of the Pre-Green horses in the barn, but is beginning to turn more of her attention to Need I Say.

“Erica has worked with us for a while and has done a very good job. She’s worked for this chance and she’s definitely paid her dues. Everyone needs a chance and she’s earned this,” said Farmer. “I have plenty of horses in my string and I wanted her to have a horse that had no tricks and that was capable of competing with mine. In the handy rounds, when we tell her, you know, you have to go inside, she has a horse that can do it.”

Farmer found Need I Say on a trip to Europe and his talent and scope drove her to cancel an original flight home and travel across Germany to try the horse for herself. She explained, “One of our agents over there showed him to me and I bought him on the same trip that I bought It’s Me. It turned out to be very worthwhile,” she laughed.

“He had done quite a bit in Europe and had won as a young horse. He was cut late and I got on him not too long after he was gelded. I watched him jump some pretty big courses and when I sat on him I thought that there is no way they can build anything on a Saturday night at Derby Finals that will phase this horse.”

“There is no horse that can do things like he does in the handy. It’s really unbelievable. He is the most beautiful and rideable horse. Anywhere you put him he’s going to go. I knew that he would walk into any derby ring and win,” she added.

Farmer also commented on her second and third place rides, noting that both horses performed well, while Baltimore’s third place finish makes him the fastest earning hunter to reach $100,000 in prize money.

“Baltimore was a really good boy and I made a little bit of a mistake, which pushed down our score and it was my fault, but Point Being was great. He still can get a little bit green, especially at night,” she elaborated. “He wants to try so hard and he’s such a careful horse. He’s an overachiever and he gets a little overwhelmed at night, but that’s just him and that’s what I love. He just has an intensity that you don’t typically feel and is what makes him so special.”

Karl Cook Bests the Competition aboard Caillou 24 to Secure a Win in the $35,000 1.45m Horseware Ireland Speed Stake CSI 5*

Karl Cook (USA) quickly crossed through the timers to secure victory in the $35,000 1.45m Horseware Ireland Speed Stake CSI 5* aboard Caillou 24 at the Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC). Cook rose to the top of the leaderboard with an efficient time of 65.10 seconds to secure the win. Richie Moloney (IRL) trailed closely behind with a time of 65.80 seconds with his mount Slieveanorra, while Shane Sweetnam (IRL) and Cyklon 1083 rounded out the top three with a time of 67.31 seconds.

Karl Cook and Caillou 24
Karl Cook and Caillou 24

Cook and Caillou 24 tackled Alan Wade’s (IRL) track with a smooth and quick effort, as the pair used the opportunity to gain valuable experience at the 1.45m height. Wade has built competitive and educational courses throughout the week and Cook noted that the design was very suitable for the strengths of his horse.

He elaborated, “The way Alan [Wade] set the course made for the riders to take exciting turns instead of having to protect the front rails. It allowed us to flow down the lines and it was very nice to ride.”

Caillou 24 is a talented and young mount for Cook, as the pair has just started to regularly compete at the FEI level together. Caillou 24, a 2007 Holsteiner gelding (Casall x Corrado I), previously campaigned to the FEI CSI 3* level in Europe before Cook took over the ride early in 2014. Taking his time training the gelding at home, the pair have built confidence and a stronger relationship over the past year. After concluding a successful winter campaign, Cook felt it was time to gain more experience in a major FEI competition atmosphere.

“We have been protecting him a little bit and trying to teach him how to jump the way we want. But, at the same time, they also need to learn how to go fast and the only way to do that is by competing,” he explained. “He’s very good because he turns extraordinarily tight yet has a huge stride to leave out in a lot of the lines too. Normally you never get those two together in a single horse, so it’s a great feeling to have in the ring.”

Cook is based year-round out of Woodside, CA and spoke about what motivated his team to travel to TIEC for the venue’s first ever FEI CSI 5* week. Eric Navet (FRA), who Cook trains with year-round, also made the trip east with several horses.

“I had heard rumors about the place and wanted to see it for myself. My first impression of the venue was just wow, to be honest,” said Cook. “It has taken an incredible and obvious amount of foresight and investment to bring this facility to where it is. The thing is, this area is closer than people on the back home would think. You’re only five hours from Kentucky and it’s in a really great location for travel.”

“You also have to acknowledge the huge amount of prize money available at this venue. It is modern jumping. You are jumping on consistently good footing and the jumps are great,” he added. “Everything is really convenient for everyone and that’s what is important. It’s not just rings and barns; it’s so much more. Nothing about this venue is bad for our sport; it’s only going to do great things for it.”

Cook and his team will head back to California once the week concludes on Sunday, but will make arrangements to return to the venue in 2017 for next season’s competitive spring series. Once his string is back and settled, the team will look to finish a very strong summer and fall season, which will include several FEI World Cup Qualifiers, which will now be hosted on the West Coast.

“We are going to head home and work with the horses because you can’t really train them at the show the best you would like to.” Cook commented. “We might come back to do Central Park and possibly loop that in with the Million in Saugerties. I felt like we needed to come out here and feel it out. We will be back for the Spring Series here next season for sure,” he added.

For more information on the events and activities at TIEC, please visit www.tryon.com.

Wordley Goes Two for Two with Win in $130k 1.50m Suncast Welcome CSI 5* aboard Casper

Sharn Wordley and Casper. Photos: ©FlyingHorsePhotography.

Mill Spring, NC – June 9, 2016 – Sharn Wordley (NZL) continued his dominance at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC), earning his second consecutive win during the FEI CSI 5* week at the venue. Wordley piloted Casper to a commanding victory in the $130,000 1.50m Suncast® Welcome CSI 5* finishing the track in 46.34 seconds. Andrew Bourns (IRL) collected second place aboard Hyakari with a time of 48.65 seconds, while Richie Moloney (IRL) and Carrabis Z crossed the timers in 52.15 seconds for third.

A series of special of events at TIEC will begin Friday, June 10, in celebratory anticipation of the first FEI CSI 5* Grand Prix in venue history. The $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby presented by Mirimichi Green will begin at 7:00 p.m., while legendary show hunter Brunello will be honored between the first and second rounds of competition. During the ceremony Breyer will present owners Janet Peterson and Liza Boyd, as well as groom Alberto Ramirez, with the first manufactured model horse of Brunello. The highlight event of the week, the $380,000 Horseware Ireland Grand Prix CSI 5* for the Governor’s Cup will begin at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 11. Gates will open to the public at 6:00 p.m. General admission and parking are free for all events throughout the weekend.

Wordley and Casper took a bold approach to the Alan Wade (IRL) designed track, which rode appropriately for the class according to many of the participating competitors. The course was large and technical, but incredibly fair. Wordley reiterated his comments from Wednesday, giving another testament as to why Wade is one of the best course builders in the world.

“I think the course rode exactly how it walked. It was a tough course and I knew that there weren’t going to be too many clears. The time allowed was quite tight and I was clear on my first horse too, but finished with time faults,” he said. “You had to go fast but you had to have your horse short as well into the tight lines. He did a brilliant job building a course that was big enough, technical enough, and took skill to ride, but was still very safe.”

Comparing his win Wednesday aboard Barnetta with his win Thursday with Casper, Wordley explained the differences between the two rides, but also described his individual approach to each horse in order to generate the most success in the ring.

“Barnetta rides very long so I have an easy go at making up some of the time with him in open lines. With Casper, he’s so careful; I have to keep him a bit closer with me. I added a stride today in one of the lines in the jump-off, but still made a go at the course. I didn’t get to see Andrew [Bourns] ride. I only saw it for a bit on the monitor, but it was hard to tell how fast I needed to go,” he commented. “I didn’t plan on going two seconds faster, but Casper is just such a quick horse.”

The course proved to be a difficult test, as only five combinations of 41 entries finished clear and inside the time. Shane Sweetnam (IRL), Carlos Ramirez (COL), and David Raposa (USA) each finished the afternoon with a single time fault, while Wordley piloted his other two mounts, Auckland De L’Enclos and Barnetta, to tenth and eleventh place, respectively.

Casper is an incredibly talented mount for Wordley, and at only ten years old, there is a very bright future for the 2006 Oldenburg gelding (Contender x Baloubet du Rouet) owned by Sky Group. Wordley also noted that Casper will be his potential mount poised for a run to the FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) in 2018.

“He’s been a very special horse for us and I still think there is so much more that he’s capable of. I’m really pleased with the way we finished today,” he commented.

Andrew Bourns and Hyakari
Andrew Bourns and Hyakari

Andrew Bourns, who finished in second in the class, originally sourced Casper from Belgium and competed him up to the CSI 3* level before Wordley took over the ride with Sky Group as the new owners in late 2015.

“It’s great to watch Sky Group and Sharn have so much success with this horse and watch him start to reach his real potential. They’re so supportive of the sport and we all appreciate people like that coming in and helping it to grow,” said Bourns. “It’s a great feeling to see them do so well here and if there’s any pair that I am fine with taking the class ahead of me today, it’s Sharn and Casper.”

Wordley has worked with the gelding on developing a more open stride, but his innate quickness and agility always places them close to the top of the leaderboard. Wordley commented, “He’s a really smart horse. His weakness may be that it’s hard to leave out down a line where someone else may be able. His stride is a little bit short, but it helps him in the first round. When people do double leave outs, I can’t get to that on him, but he is so careful and is such fast horse anyway that I rarely find that to be a problem.”

Aside from this week’s competition, Wordley plans to contest some of North America’s biggest competitions this season with Casper in hopes of continuing their success at the CSI 5* level together. Less than a year into their partnership, it is obvious that there is tremendous success on the horizon for the duo.

“He’s only ten and this horse has done so much for me already. This is his second 5* show and he was second in Wellington, FL at WEF in the 5* night class. Just this year I’ve started to go quicker with him and ask for a bit more. We’ve worked on jumping bigger so that he could learn to believe in himself at the top levels. He feels so confident now and that’s why I’ve been able to go for it in these classes,” he added.

Competition will resume at TIEC Friday with the $35,000 1.45m Speed Stake beginning at 12:00 p.m., while the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby presented by Mirimichi Green will begin at 7:00 p.m. Only a few table reservations in Legends Club remain available for Friday evening. Please contact legendsclub@tryon.com for more details or call (828) 863-1130. The $380,000 Horseware Ireland Grand Prix CSI 5* for the Governor’s Cup will begin at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 11, with gates opening to the public at 6:00 p.m. General admission and parking are free for all events.

For more information and to see a full list of results, please visit www.tryon.com.

Wordley Pilots Barnetta to Win $35,000 1.45m Horseware Ireland Open at TIEC

Sharn Wordley and Barnetta. Photos: ©FlyingHorsePhotography.

Mill Spring, NC – June 8, 2016 – Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) ushered in the first ever FEI CSI 5* week, as spectators watched Sharn Wordley (NZL) take the win in the $35,000 1.45m Horseware Ireland Open aboard Barnetta with a time of 41.985 seconds. Shane Sweetnam (IRL) and Cyklon 1083 collected second place, finishing in 43.219 seconds, while Karl Cook (USA) and Caillou 24 rounded out the top three, crossing the timers in 44.231 seconds. Competition at TIEC continues Thursday with the $130,000 1.50m Suncast® Welcome beginning at 12:30 p.m. in the George H. Morris Arena.

Wordley has secured a number of top finishes at TIEC throughout the Tryon Spring Series, rotating a strong string of four horses through the winner’s circle. The track, designed by Alan Wade (IRL), who will build the FEI courses for the remainder of the week, saw nine combinations of twenty original entries move forward to the jump-off round. David Raposa (USA) and Eric Navet (FRA) both voluntarily withdrew from the short course, which left seven pairs to vie for the win.

“The course was just fantastic. Alan always builds beautifully and he’s one of the best course builders around. Very rarely do you ever say anything negative about his courses,” said Wordley. “I didn’t feel a ton of pressure going into the jump-off. He’s jumping well and I was able to go last so I had the chance to see what everyone else did.”

As the last pair to enter the jump-off round, Wordley felt that Barnetta’s large stride would come into good use, which is how he felt they secured the win. He explained, “I think I made up the time in a few places here or there around the course because he covers a lot of ground. He stayed very smooth for me and it was a course that you had to ride that way. It suited him very well and I was happy with the way he performed, especially since it’s the first time I’ve really asked him to move in the jump-off.”

This was the first win for Wordley and Barnetta at TIEC this season, but the 2004 Westphalian gelding (Baloubet du Rouet x Polydora) owned by Sky Group, has always finished close to the top of the leaderboard. Barnetta handled the track and added pressure well, according to Wordley, which is what he has been working on since taking over the ride a year ago.

“He feels fantastic. That was the first time I’ve gone fast with the horse because last year I was really just trying to build his confidence in the grand prix classes,” he commented. “That was my main focus last season, but he’s had some great finishes too. He was second in Central Park and he was third in a big class at WEF, so he has the talent.”

Shane Sweetnam and Cyklon 1083
Shane Sweetnam and Cyklon 1083

Sweetnam and Cyklon 1083 led late in the jump-off order and looked to have a firm grasp on the win before Wordley maneuvered Barnetta to a quick right turn after the Adequan® one stride to secure the victory.

“We’ve found that he prefers jumping three classes when we bring him out. It’s better for him and he just keeps jumping better with each class. I’m really looking forward to this week with him. He has a big stride so I can kind of just float around the courses with him,” he added.

Wordley has three horses competing in FEI this week and is motivated to add top finishes to his overall record with Barnetta, Casper, and Auckland De L’Enclos, while improving his world ranking, in which he currently holds 79th place. The three horses competing under Wordley’s guidance this week each have a unique strength of their own, but Wordley’s top mount, Casper, will be one to watch during the $380,000 Horseware Ireland Grand Prix CSI 5* for the Governor’s Cup on Saturday, June 11.

“Barnetta has been a really great horse for me. He’s going to jump the class tomorrow and then will have Friday off before we bring him back out on Sunday,” he noted. “Casper and Auckland will both go in the $130,000 class tomorrow, along with Barnetta, and then Casper will do Saturday night for certain. We’ll have to see how the rest of the week plays out.”

Competition at TIEC continues Thursday with the $130,000 1.50m Suncast® Open Welcome beginning at 12:30 p.m. For more information on TIEC and to see a full list of results, please visit www.tryon.com.

Juan Ortiz and Nenuphar’Jac Win $25k Lodge on Lake Lure Grand Prix at Tryon Spring 7

Juan Ortiz and Nenuphar’Jac. Photos: ©FlyingHorsePhotography.

Mill Spring, NC – June 5, 2016 – Juan Ortiz of Wellington, FL and Nenuphar’Jac captured the $25,000 Lodge on Lake Lure Grand Prix at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) with a time of 41.317 seconds to conclude competition at Tryon Spring 7. Kyle Timm of Apex, NC and Georgie B finished in second, crossing through the timers in 40.287 seconds, while Sharn Wordley of Wellington, FL and Corino collected third place, finishing in 41.31 seconds. Competition at TIEC resumes on Wednesday, June 8, with the start of the first FEI CSI 5* week in venue history, which will feature the $380,000 Horseware Ireland Grand Prix CSI 5* on Saturday, June 11.

Ortiz and Nenuphar’Jac, owned by Stransky’s Mission Farms, Inc., completed the only double clear effort of the day, as the other three combinations in the jump-off dropped rails on the short course. Nenuphar’Jac is a well-known mount who has been campaigned at the highest levels of the sport with a number of professionals.

“I think that the course rode a little bit bigger than we had anticipated for a national class, but as soon as I walked the course I knew I had a horse with the experience and talent to handle it and do well.”

The gelding has amassed notable international success throughout his career and Ortiz is excited to have taken over the ride. He explained, “Liliane Stransky acquired him for me from McLain Ward so that I could have a second horse to jump in the bigger classes. This was my sixth class with him, but I don’t use him too often and only bring him out when I know he has a chance to win.”

Kyle Timm and Georgie B
Kyle Timm and Georgie B

The pair have only contested a few classes together as Ortiz is ensuring that he takes the necessary time to understand Nenuphar’Jac and has chosen to only compete the experienced 2001 Selle Francais gelding (Cumano x Anemone du Col) in specific classes.

“We’re really happy with this result. Every time this horse goes into the ring I’m getting to know him better and better. It’s been about creating a match with each other, but I want to make sure that I’m allowing him to perform perfectly in the ring,” he added.

Ortiz capitalized on the difficulty of the track with his skilled mount, riding a fast and efficient round, even though he was unable to stick to his original plan the whole way through the course.

“I thought I was a little bit slow in the rollback turn to the last line and I left the door open there, but fortunately I was able to jump clean. That’s the most important part of completing a jump-off round, making sure you’re clean and fast,” commented Ortiz. “That’s what got me the ribbon. I was able to set a fast and clean pace, which made it difficult to catch.”

Ortiz plans to bring Nenuphar’Jac back to TIEC for the Tryon Summer Series and will compete his other mount, Dulien van de Smeets, who is also a top contender, in next week’s FEI CSI 5* competition.

“I will bring her out next week and right now she’s a reserve for the Olympics for the Venezuelan team. I also jumped her today and she jumped clean, but had a time fault,” he commented. “She jumped very well and I think we’re ready for the 5* next week.”

For more information on TIEC and to see a full list of results, please visit www.tryon.com.

Taylor Land and Nepal Earn First Place Finish in $25,000 Under 25 Grand Prix

Taylor Land and Nepal. Photos: ©FlyingHorsePhotography.

Hunter Holloway and Entourage Take Top Honors in $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby

Mill Spring, NC – June 3, 2016 – Taylor Land of Atlanta, GA and Nepal collected a first place finish in the $25,000 Under 25 Grand Prix at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC), completing the jump-off in 40.795 seconds for the win. Luis Larrazabal of Wellington, FL finished in second place aboard Quintus Fabius, crossing through the timers in 41.623 seconds, while Bryn Sadler of Santa Fe, NM and Cezarro earned third with a time of 42.012 seconds. Competition at Tryon Spring 7 continues Saturday with the $130,000 Ariat® Grand Prix CSI 3*. Gates open at 6:00 p.m. and the class is set to start at 8:00 p.m.

Land and Nepal, a 2002 Argentine gelding (G.S. Raimundo x Rye Grass Finest RP H-31) owned by Jay Land, went early in the order, entering the ring as the third pair to test the track set by Michel Vaillancourt (CAN). Land and Nepal led with a clean effort on the first round track, moving them forward to the jump-off round. Brittni Raflowitz, of Palm City, FL and Baloumina Du Ry, followed after Land, also securing a place in the jump-off and ultimately finishing in fourth.

“He’s fourteen and we’ve had him for nine years now. He’s like a family heirloom,” laughed Land. “He’s been passed around between me, my sister, and my dad, and he’s just been a great horse for us all around.”

The duo rode a crisp first round, which demanded technical attention and skill, as it included several tight turns and two forward combinations. According to Land, Nepal has made great strides since her family bought him as a young horse, and he has steadily made his way through the ranks with several members of the Land family.

“We started him when he was five and he hadn’t jumped any bigger than 1.20m at the time. I’ve done so much with him and he’s been such a great horse for me,” explained Land. “We’ve done NAJYRC and Spruce Meadows together and really anything we ask of him he’ll always do.”

This is the duo’s top finish to date at TIEC this season and Land was pleased with their rides in both rounds, noting that the gelding felt fresh and mentally prepared for the class even before they entered the ring.

“This is our first class this week, but we’ve been here for three weeks so he felt like he was ready to go,” she noted. “My plan was to try and be smooth and clear in the first round and I think we accomplished that.”

Land went first in the jump-off round and attacked the course with a forward and bold round in an effort to seal the win, knowing that only three riders followed her in the order. She explained, “Since I had to go first in the jump-off I knew there weren’t so many people behind me and I decided to go fast and really go for it. It was either going to be first or fourth for us, but it worked in our favor today.”

The duo will stay and compete next week at TIEC, before taking a small break ahead of the summer season. Land explained, “We’ll be here next week for the CSI 5* and then I think head home for a bit of a rest. I love showing here though because the atmosphere is just incredible. The bigger classes on Saturday always have a great crowd and I love the feel of the ring. It just feels really intense all of the time.”

Hunter Holloway and Entourage Take Top Honors in $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby

Hunter Holloway of Topeka, KS continued her momentum from Tryon Spring 6 into this week’s competition, capturing top honors in the $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby hosted at TIEC aboard Entourage, owned by Hays Investment Corp., with a total score of 173. Blythe Marano of Franklin, TN and Fondant, owned by Virginia Ingram, finished in second with a total score of 172.5, while Daniel Bedoya of Magnolia, TX and Playbook, owned by Monica Hanks, collected third place, receiving a 170.5.

Hunter Holloway and Entourage
Hunter Holloway and Entourage

Holloway and Entourage received a score of 82 in the first round from the judges, before returning in the handy round to receive an impressive 91. Marano and Fondant sat atop the leaderboard after the first round, earning an 88 from the judges, but a score of 84.5 in the handy would ultimately drop them to second place.

“He’s seven and we got him a year ago. He moved up to the Junior Hunters towards the end of the season in Ocala and has been really awesome ever since. He just keeps stepping up,” commented Holloway. “He scored a 90 last week and a 91 today so I’m feeling pretty good about how he’s going right now.”

Holloway rode the handy round beautifully, piloting Entourage to a smooth and accurate round, showcasing his athleticism and attentiveness. She entered the round with a plan to take advantage of the numerous inside turns on course, which helped her to secure the win.

“There were a lot of inside turns that were options and I felt like I had ground to make up from the first round so I decided to go for them,” she said. “I wanted to take the chance and really go for it. He handled it very well. He was up for the task all the way around and I was really impressed.”

Entourage began his derby career this past spring with Holloway guiding from the irons and he’s displayed a sense of consistency and bravery that has impressed everyone at Equi-Venture Farm.

“He’s very easy and is a really straight forward horse. We’re hoping for a good summer season and success at indoors in the fall,” she smiled.

Competition at TIEC continues Saturday with the $130,000 Ariat® Grand Prix CSI 3*. Gates open to the public at 6:00 p.m. and competition begins at 8:00 p.m. Parking and general admission are free! For more information on TIEC and to see a full list of weekly results, please visit www.tryon.com.

David Blake Wins $25,000 Odom Engineering, PLLC Grand Prix at Tryon Spring 5

David Blake and Baron. Photos ©ManciniPhotos.

Kelley Farmer and Baltimore Capture Top Honors in $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby; Trapp O’Neal and Quilona Z Earn Victory in $25,000 Suncast® Welcome Stake

Mill Spring, NC – May 24, 2016 – David Blake continued his dominance at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) this past week, picking up another grand prix win aboard Baron in the $25,000 Odom Engineering, PLLC Grand Prix on Saturday, May 21. Blake, of Wellington, FL, piloted Baron to a quick jump-off round, finishing in 33.855 seconds to nudge Harold Chopping of Southern Pines, NC and Basje to second place, as they crossed the timers in 34.69 seconds. Manuel Torres of Leesburg, VA and Christofolini H rounded out the top three with a time of 36.826 seconds. Competition at TIEC continues this week with the start of Tryon Spring 6 on Wednesday, May 25.

Blake has finished atop the leaderboard with three different horses in the past two weeks, earning top finishes in the Tryon Spring 4 $10,000 Suncast 1.40m Open Welcome aboard Bella Donna, the Tryon Spring 4 $25,000 Tryon Resort Grand Prix aboard Park Lane, and this past week’s $25,000 Odom Engineering, PLLC Grand Prix with Baron, all owned by Pine Hollow Farm.

“This was Barons third time jumping under lights and each time he’s performed very well,” said Blake. “He loves the atmosphere here and really steps up during the bigger occasions. His form has been great these past couple of months and I knew he was knocking on the door for a nice win.”

The course, designed by Pierre Jolicoeur (USA), saw 20 entries test the first round track, while six combinations tackled the first round with ease, to move forward to the short course. Only the top three finishers completed the evening under the light in the George H. Morris Arena with a double clear effort.

“The time allowed in the first round was a little tight so you had to be thinking about that when you were going around,” he explained. “He [Pierre Jolicoeur] had an interesting open water option in the first round, which he also included in the jump off that was quiet unusual and was definitely something different than what you typically see in a jump-off.”

“It was quicker to jump the open water around the short course, but it made the inside turn afterwards quiet sharp, so it definitely added an aspect of difficulty if you were planning on taking the quickest route,” he continued.

Baron has been a reliable mount for Blake, as he competes the gelding in FEI ranking classes aside stable mate Binkie, who Blake has also experienced success aboard at TIEC. Baron, a 2006 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Ukato x Vera van Veecaten), finished the winter circuit with several top finishes, and Blake noted that the gelding feels confident and ready to tackle some of the bigger tracks this summer.

“He is probably the most rideable of my upper level horses, which makes it much easier to execute your plan around a technical course,” commented Blake. “It is a comfortable feeling for a rider to know you can shorten and lengthen his stride to overcome the more difficult aspects that a course of that size and nature will present.”

With a carefully planned schedule for each mount, Blake will continue to rely on both Baron and Binkie in upcoming FEI competitions that will begin at the venue the first week of June, while continuing to accumulate valuable mileage with Park Lane, Bella Donna, and Casinjo Ex Z.

“Baron will show again next week and we’ll look to secure another strong result in that class. Right now I want to get him more experience under the lights, specifically in preparation for some of the upcoming FEI weeks too,” he noted.

Kelley Farmer and Baltimore Capture Top Honors in $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby

Kelley Farmer of Wellington, FL and Baltimore, owned by Jane Gaston, made an impressive statement in the $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby hosted at TIEC on Saturday, May 21. The competition, intended to begin under the lights in the George H. Morris Arena on Friday, May 20, was postponed to Saturday, May 21, after inclement weather forced a schedule delay.

Kelley Farmer and Baltimore
Kelley Farmer and Baltimore

Farmer, who has ridden Baltimore to several top finishes already this season, completed the two rounds of competition with a total score of 394 for the win. Jennifer Bliss of Wellington, FL and Poker Face, owned by Harris Hill Farm, LLC, collected second place with a combined score of 378, while Erica Quinn of Maineville, OH rode Need I Say, owned by Kelley Farmer, to third place with a score of 375.

“We got him [Baltimore] I would say maybe midway through the winter circuit in Florida and he’s been nothing but an absolute superstar,” commented Farmer. “He has really stepped up to the plate on all occasions and is just a super horse. He never lets you down and if he doesn’t win it’s not his fault.”

The winning duo earned consistent scores throughout the Classic and Handy rounds, which would ultimately give them a strong hold on the class. Farmer entered the Handy round in the lead aboard her veteran partners Mindful, but a small rider error led to an unfortunate stop on course.

Farmer explained, “With my handy round on Mindful, I really meant to approach the turn the same way I had on Baltimore, but I really didn’t give him enough time and it was my fault. There was a little bit of bad luck there, but I was really pleased with the way that they all went.”

Baltimore has been a strong addition to Farmer’s talented string of top hunters and Farmer believes that he has all of the right qualities to make him a strong contender in some of the larger derby classes approaching this summer and into the fall indoor season.

“He tries so hard for you in the ring and he always seems to do very well. He’s extremely careful and light on his feet so you can really do whatever you want with him in the ring,” she continued. “He’ll do Devon next week and then I’m thinking that I will bring him back for the $50,000 Derby here in Tryon in a few weeks since he enjoyed this class so much.”

For Farmer, the schedule change worked in her favor, as she originally was going to specifically choose which mounts she thought would excel in the electric atmosphere that the George H. Morris Arena provides under the lights. Instead, she was able to pilot four mounts, while Erica Quinn, who works for Farmer and Lane Change Farm, guided Need I Say to a respectable third place finish.

“I was really pleased with all of the horses to be honest. Erica rode Need I Say beautifully and it was really great. We came here last year for the big derby and the ring is just lovely,” commented Farmer. “We came in with a game plan for the night class, but all four horses ended up getting to compete, which was good. They all handled it very well and I was thrilled with everyone’s performance.”

Farmer will be back to the venue with a strong string of horses in just a few short weeks in attempt to repeat derby victories, as she will contest the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby presented by Mirimichi Green on Friday, June 10.

“I cannot say enough good things about this horse show. The ring is fantastic; the footing in beautiful. I thought the jumps looked spectacular. Everyone here at Lane Change Farm absolutely loves showing at this venue and we’re really looking forward to coming back in a few weeks,” she noted.

Trapp O’Neal and Quilona Z Earn Victory in $25,000 Suncast® Welcome Stake

Trapp O’Neal of Hockley, TX and Quilona Z, owned by Carolyn M. Elsey, captured the $25,000 Suncast® Welcome Stake with a time of 37.982 seconds. Manuel Torres of Leesburg, VA and Christofolini H, owned by Andrea Torres Guerreiro, finished in second with a time of 38.093 seconds. Fifty Shades, ridden by Andrea Torres Guerreiro of Waterford, VA, collected third place with a time of 38.72 seconds.

O’Neal and Quilona Z laid down the fastest of five double clear rounds to earn first place, while O’Neal also piloted Capitano owned by TKO Partnership, to fourth place with a time of 40.39 seconds. The class saw 24 entries tackle the first round, which was designed by Pierre Jolicoeur (USA), while 12 combinations moved forward to the jump-off round.

Jumper Highlights

Lauren Hester of Lexington, KY and Daister L, owned by Hester Equestrian LLC, finished atop the division in the Adequan® Open Jumper 1.30m division, while Manuel Torres of Leesburg, VA and Lily, owned by Santa Catalina Farm, took reserve honors.

In the Limo Zen Children’s Jumper 1.10m division, Caitlin Howie of Atlanta, GA and Couture Z picked up divisional champion awards, while Sarah Boston of Owings Mills, MD and Herminas finished in reserve.

Madeline Thatcher of West Bluffdale, UT and Skilliane de Varnel, owned by Pony Lane Farm, topped the Tryon Estates Amateur Owner Jumper 1.20m division, while Allison Epstein of Dix Hills, NY and I Watch, owned by R. J. Equestrian Group collected reserve.

Hunter & Equitation Highlights

Jennifer Bliss of Wellington, FL and Face the Music, owned by Harris Hill Farm, LLC, finished with a first place in the $1,000 USHJA Pre-Green Hunter Incentive with a score of 91. Jennifer Hannan of Wakefield, RI and Best Regards, owned by Patricia Fulchino, earned second place with a score of 87, while John Barker of Middleburg, VA and Calistro, owned by Sherri Crawford, rounded out the top three with a score of 86.

In the $1,000 Junior Hunter 3’6″ Classic, Bergen Sanderford of Santa Rosa Beach, FL finished in first and second place, respectively, winning aboard her own Mystical with a two round total score of 172 and placing second with her own Confidential with a 169. Devin Seek of Ocala, FL piloted At Last, owned by Century Performance Horses LLC, to third place with a score of 168.

Emma Marlowe of Lake Balboa, CA and Spalding, owned by Donald Stewart, took top honors in the $1,000 Junior Hunter 3’3″ Classic with a score of 172. Claudia Pollex of Troutman, NC and her own Mylo Xyloto earned second place with a 165, while Marlowe also picked up third place aboard Just Sayin, owned by Fairfield Farms LLC, with a score of 162.

Madeline Thatcher of West Bluffdale, UT and Jewel, owned by Pony Lane Farm, took top honors in the $1,000 Amateur-Owner Hunter 3’3″ & 3’6″ Classic with a score of 169. Thatcher also picked up second place aboard Summer Place, also owned by Pony Lane Farm, with a score of 168. Lynn Seithel of Johns Island, SC and her own Walk the Moon rounded out the top three with a score of 161.

In the WIHS Pony Equitation class, Jessie Marie Spade of Terrell, NC and her own With Applause captured top honors, receiving an 88, while Libbie Gordon of Statesville, NC and her own Tiffany Blue finished in second with a score of 86. Gigi Manigault of Charleston, SC and Marvel Comic, owned by Patti Manigault, earned third place with an 84.

Julia Schaumann of Palantine, IL and her own Cavallino rode to victory in the Ariat Adult Medal, receiving a score of 80. Courtney Canizares of Coventry, RI and her own Keira collected second place with a score of 79, while Madeline Pierce of Columbus, OH and Manhattan, owned by Arris Farms, Inc., finished in third place with a 78.

Carly Hoft of Rolesville, NC and her own Cashman took home a major win in the Platinum Performance USEF Show Jumping Talent Search 2*, while Melissa Deryn Foster of Langley, BC and Startin’ Monday, owned by Donald Stewart, finished in second place. Julia Curtis of Villa Rica, GA and her own Rocoso earned third place in the competitive class, which saw 14 entries.

For more information on Tryon International Equestrian Center and to see a full list of results, please visit www.tryon.com.

David Blake Finishes Winning Week at TIEC Capturing Two Major Victories during Tryon Spring 4

David Blake and Park Lane. Photos ©ManciniPhotos.

Mill Spring, NC – May 16, 2016 – David Blake of Wellington, FL finished a winning week at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC), capturing two major stake classes during Tryon Spring 4, taking the $10,000 Suncast® 1.40m Welcome Stake aboard Bella Donna and the $25,000 Tryon Resort Grand Prix with Park Lane. Blake crossed through the timers in 44.15 seconds aboard Park Lane to steal the win from Cesar Almeida and Chaco 34, who finished the short course in 45.556 seconds. Carlos Ramirez and Happy Wandor Van T Roosakker earned third place, with a time of 51.452 seconds. Competition at TIEC continues this week with the start of Tryon Spring 5 on Wednesday, May 18, which continues through Sunday, May 22.

Blake and Park Lane, a 2005 Scottish Sport Horse gelding (Pall Mall x Nistrea) owned by Pine Hollow Farm, have steadily risen through the ranks at TIEC, and have become a competitive pair in many of the larger classes offered at the venue. Park Lane, who is part of the strong cast of Blake’s growing string, also finished in third place in the $10,000 Suncast® 1.40m Welcome Stake, behind barn mate Bella Donna, who took first.

“I had three in the Grand Prix and I thought I had a pretty good chance at doing well because all three jumped great in the Welcome on Thursday,” said Blake. “They’re all in great form and when I walked the course I thought it was nicely set and that it would suit them.”

The course was designed by Hector Loyola (PRI) and welcomed 23 entries who tested the first round, while six pairs moved to the jump-off round. Amanda Flint found herself narrowly edged from the jump-off after accumulating the only single time fault round aboard VDL Wittinger.

Cesar Almeida and Chaco 34
Cesar Almeida and Chaco 34

“Hector [Loyola] said that the time was going to be neat and it was, but also very quick, just not too tight. I had a fair plan as to what I wanted to do with all three of them. My first ride, Bella Donna, who won the Welcome, had one down, so I knew how I wanted to approach the course for my next two rides,” he continued.

Blake piloted both Park Lane and Casinjo Ex Z to the jump-off round and noted that both horses gained valuable experience under the lights in the class. Casinjo Ex Z, a newer mount for Blake, finished the evening with a rail in the jump-off, which placed them fifth.

“I got to see a few rides before I went and everyone was quick, but the track was quite open. There were some long runs between the jumps and Park Lane has become very dependable,” noted Blake. “I had the last jump down on Casinjo, but I didn’t want to leave too much to chance with Park Lane. I pushed the last little bit to try to go for the win.”

The Pine Hollow Farm team took advantage of their time at TIEC last summer, as Blake amassed some of his biggest career victories in 2015 aboard his top mount Binkie. With a talented string also moving into the top levels of the sport, Blake felt pleased with the performance of his three mounts, and is looking forward to a strong spring and summer campaign.

“These national weeks are very nice, especially because the classes are still at night and you can use some of the horses you wouldn’t normally use for the bigger classes, just because they’re younger with less experience,” he explained. “It’s nice to get them under the lights and this was Park Lane’s first time competing in this type of atmosphere and he really rose to the occasion. I felt like I got another gear out of him during the jump-off.”

“He’s a real trier and gives you everything every time you take him out. He just has so much heart. That’s an important quality to have in a horse when they want to win as much as you do,” he continued.

Blake and Bella Donna Finish With Win in $10,000 Suncast® 1.40m Welcome Stake

Blake and Bella Donna, owned by Pine Hollow Farm, powered to the top of the leaderboard in the $10,000 Suncast® 1.40m Welcome Stake at TIEC on Thursday, May 12, finishing with a time of 42.28 seconds. Bryn Sadler of Santa Fe, NM and Cezarro crossed through the timers in 42.584 seconds for second place, while Blake secured third with a solid performance from Park Lane with a time of 43.573 seconds.

Pleased with his ride aboard Bella Donna in the $10,000 Suncast® 1.40m Welcome Stake, Blake felt the 2005 Warmblood mare displayed her true potential and outperformed his expectations, as it was their largest class together to date and she tackled the track with ease.

“We got her just before the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) and just worked with her during the winter circuit on her rideability in the ring. We kept her in the 1.35m classes and this was her first large class with us and she really rose to the occasion,” said Blake.

“She’s a bit smaller for me, but she’s a very correct jumper and has a great technique. She’s overall just a very competitive horse and is really useful for these types of classes and it was great experience for her,” he continued.

While Bella Donna seems to be peaking at the right time for Blake, he and his team continue to be meticulous with timing, making sure that each horse is performing to the best of their ability while also balancing time off.

“I really try to focus on building them up and doing a few big classes and then they each will get a few weeks off. I’ll show a few in the national classes next week as well, but it’s very nice to have a couple ready and peaking for each class. It makes for an exciting season,” commented Blake.

“We really enjoy it here in Tryon and they all always seem to jump well. We’re going to have more horses at the top levels this year and hopefully we’ll be back to where we finished last season with some strong placings in the FEI classes throughout the season,” he noted.

Jumper Highlights

Francesca Damasceno of Palm Beach Gardens, FL and her own Watermill Time secured a win in the 1.15m Open Jumper presented by Beval Saddlery, besting the class with a time of 58.228 seconds. Bryn Saddler of Santa Fe, NM and Cinderella, owned by Showcase 81, LLC, took second with a time of 64.001, while Sara Green piloted Chanel, owned by Sloan Hodges, to third place.

The Adequan® Open Jumper 1.30m division saw Cesar Almeida finish with champion honors aboard San Quinta SN, owned by Macro Antonio Alencar. Amanda Flint of Long Valley, NJ and Daisy Chain VT, owned by J&J Imperatore, LLC, finished with reserve champion honors.

Miguel A. Ventura of Murfreesboro, TN and Coulance, owned by Kenya Greenburg, took champion honors in the Nutrena Open Jumper 1.40m division at TIEC, while Ilan Bluman of Wellington, FL and Hector by Picobello, owned by Daniel Bluman, earned reserve honors for the division.

Laura Lindner of Warren, NJ and Carrara 11, owned by Helen Krieble, finished as champions in the Tryon Estates Junior/Amateur Owner Jumper 1.20m division, while Rebecca Bergman of Durham, NC and her own Dyon earned reserve champion.

Hunter & Equitation Highlights

John Barker of Middleburg, VA and Carlotta, owned by Ashley Hodges, were victorious in the USHJA National Hunter Derby at TIEC this past weekend, capturing the win with an overall score of 176. Sara Green and Carabello collected second place honors with a 170, while Donald Sheehan of Maryville, TN and Kenan, owned by EHM Equestrian LLC, finished in third.

Barker and Carlotta, a 2008 Warmblood mare, led from start to finish, earning an 88 in the first round, and putting another strong trip in the second round to repeat the score of 88. Green and Carabello finished with an 89 in the handy round, the highest score of the afternoon.

Isabel Stettinius of Washington, D.C. and Balenciaga, owned by Doreen Toben, collected top honors in the $1,000 Junior Hunter Classic, with a score of 166. Elizabeth McKim of Knoxville, TN and Quintessential, owned by EHM Equestrian LLC, finished in second place with a final score of 160. Caitlin Heilferty of Waxhaw, NC and Skyfall, owned by Caron Stucky, took third, with a score of 147.

In the $500 NAL/WIHS Children’s Hunter Classic, Janie Ware of Middleburg, VA and Welcome, owned by Mary Elizabeth Cordia, topped the class with a score of 152, while also taking second place aboard her own Trump Card, receiving a 150. Jennifer Cahill of Charlotte, NC and Incognito, owned by Donna Marie Deyoung, finished in third place with a two trip score of 149.

Elizabeth McKim of Knoxville, TN and Casper van’t Gestelhof, owned by Patricia Garrett, found themselves atop the leaderboard in the ASPCA Maclay, while Lauren Lindner of Warren, NJ and Diomaro VDL, owned by Amanda Flint, finished in second place. Curry Sherard of Spartanburg, SC and Eloubet P, owned by Christi Israel, rounded out the top three placings.

The THIS Children’s Medal saw Grace Roberts of Knoxville, TN and Olivier de Upatoi, owned by Kathleen Harrigan, take the win, while Carson Odle of Fort Mills, SC and Cortina’s Allesandro, owned by Brian Stucky, took home second place. Catherine Sharp of Tryon, NC and her own Imperio, rounded out the top three finishers.

Please visit www.tryon.com or call (828) 863-1000 for more information.

Sharn Wordley and Casper Win Equis Best Presented Horse Award at Tryon

Sharn Wordley and Casper are presented with the Equis Boutique Best Presented Horse Award by Alex West of Equis Boutique. Photo by Meg Banks/TIEC.

Mill Spring, NC – Sharn Wordley (NZL) and Casper were honored with the Equis Boutique Best Presented Horse Award during CSI 3* week held May 4-8 at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) in Mill Spring, NC. Equis Boutique is sponsoring the “Best Presented Horse” Award at the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) Horse Inspection during all weeks of FEI-sanctioned competition at TIEC throughout the 2016 season.

Wordley and Casper, a ten-year-old bay Oldenburg gelding (Contender x Baloubet du Rouet) owned by Sky Group, were selected as Best Presented by the ground jury at TIEC, led by President Michael DeTemple of Brazil. Prepared for the horse inspection by Wordley’s barn manager, Charlie Miller, Casper was impeccably turned out and went on to finish second in the $35,000 FEI 1.50m Suncast® Welcome before ribboning in the $130,000 Asheville Regional Airport Grand Prix CSI 3* on Saturday.

“I was really surprised to win the award, but it’s a great idea,” said Wordley in reaction to the Equis Boutique Best Presented Horse Award. “I’ll be in Tryon for nine weeks this year, so all my horses will be braided, and I may even throw on a tuxedo if it means I can keep winning it.”

Wordley was presented with a commemorative plaque by Alex West of Equis Boutique, in recognition of the Best Presented Horse Award, as well as a set of boots from Equis Boutique partner brand Kentucky Horsewear. Already a fan Kentucky Horsewear products, Wordley was very pleased with the prize.

“I was planning to purchase a pair of [Kentucky] boots for this season anyway, so [Equis] saved me some money!” he said.

Casper has been the mount of Wordley for only one year, but he has big plans for the gelding that include the FEI World Equestrian Games in 2018. The pair is well on their way after a banner winter that included many top ribbons, highlighted by second place in the $380,000 Douglas Elliman Grand Prix CSI 5* during week nine of the 2016 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF).

“I brought him along slowly, but he has jumped some very good classes,” said Wordley. “Now I will start to use him more. He’s smart, careful, and has figured out how to jump the big, wide, five-star oxers, so he really believes in himself. He’s the best horse I have ever sat on.”

Equis Boutique will offer the Best Presented Horse Award again at TIEC during Tryon Spring 7 and 8, taking place June 1-5 and 8-12.

Equis Boutique is a shopping experience for the discerning equestrian and offers the most convenient and luxurious choice for top equine brands to dress the horse and rider. Featured brands include Parlanti, Manfredi Equestrian, KASK Helmets, Anna Scarpati, Kingsland Equestrian, Kentucky Horsewear, and Dy’on, as well as a variety of imported specialty bits and Official FEI and Just World International merchandise.

For more information on Equis, LLC boutiques, please visit EquisBoutique.com.  Email info@equisboutique.com for questions on the stores and their products.

Contact: Lindsay Brock
Lindsay@jumpmediallc.com

Farrington and Gazelle Take Back to Back FEI Wins at $130k Asheville Regional Airport Grand Prix CSI 3*

Kent Farrington and Gazelle. Photo Credit: ©SharonPackerPhotography.

Mill Spring, NC – May 7, 2016 – Kent Farrington (USA) piloted the talented Gazelle to another FEI victory at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC), as the pair finished atop the leaderboard in the $130,000 Asheville Regional Airport Grand Prix CSI 3* in front of a large crowd of spectators. Farrington and Gazelle demonstrated their efficiency, finishing the short course in 37.367 seconds. Fernando Cardenas (COL) and Quincy Car rode to second place with a time of 39.801 seconds, while Frances Land (USA) and For Edition earned third, crossing through the timers in 39.801 seconds.

The class saw 27 entries test the first round of the class, which was set by Manuel Esparza of Mexico. Seven combinations moved forward to the jump-off round, with only four earning double clear efforts on evening under the lights.

Farrington and Gazelle, who also took top honors in the $35,000 FEI 1.50m Suncast® Welcome on Thursday, found their rhythm early in the first round, tackling the track seamlessly. Farrington stated earlier in the week that the 2006 Belgian Warmblood mare (Kashmir van Schuttershof x Diva ‘Ter Elsen’), who he owns with Robin Parsky, is quickly learning the ropes of the larger classes.

“She’s jumped under the lights a few times and I try to take a lot of my horses and get them experience early on so that they’re used to crowds and larger atmospheres,” said Farrington. “I’m fortunate to have a great team of supporters behind me so that I can go to some of the best shows in the world.”

Saturday’s course found both seasoned competitors and talented amateurs tackling the track, and was designed particularly with that in mind, according to Farrington. He explained, “When you have a field like this, it’s kind of a mixed bag of horses and riders. He had to be clever with how he designed the course so that he has a good competition without giving it away. You also can’t make it too challenging that it over faces the younger horses and riders.”

“I thought that he had a good balance tonight. There’s always the element of a night class and a crowd for both young horses and riders that is a factor, other than just the course alone. I think that was a fair course for the field,” he continued.

While components of the track proved difficult for several pairs, including the Rolex triple combination and a spooky liverpool vertical, Gazelle handled each question on the course with ease. Slicing several fences on the jump-off track, the notoriously speedy Farrington sealed the win with nearly two seconds to spare.

“For me, it’s about measuring the class and feeling confident with what my horse can do and what that is going to mean on course. Samuel Parot is a very competitive rider and that horse is exceptionally fast,” he noted. “They went at the end of the class, so I had to do a faster plan that I would have liked. He’s won a bunch of World Cup Grand Prix classes on that horse and he’s never one not to count as a major competitor.”

“I tried to put enough pressure on him that he may have one down, which he did, so it worked out for us today,” he added.

Big plans lie ahead for Farrington, who was named to the Short List to represent Team USA on their quest for a medal at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, later this summer. Farrington has grown into the one of the strongest riders for the United States and is looking forward to a competitive summer season.

“I’m going to Europe after this and we’ll be jumping in Rome, which will be our next big show. We have a few more that we will use as preparation as well. Hopefully the horses and riders stay healthy and I think we have a great chance in Rio.”

Please visit www.tryon.com or call (828) 863-1000 for more information.