Category Archives: Tryon

Taylor Land and Get Go Take Top Honors in $5,000 Horseware Ireland Welcome Stake

Taylor Land and Get Go ©TIEC/Reagan Ibach.

Mill Spring, NC – September 26, 2021 – Taylor Land (Atlanta, GA) and Get Go added more wins at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) to their list of successes at the venue by landing first place in the $25,000 Tryon Resort Grand Prix and the $5,000 Horseware Ireland Welcome Stake during Tryon Fall 1. Land and Get Go, owned by Pinetree Farms Inc, took the grand prix win with a jump-off time of 35.221 while Abigail McArdle (Wellington, FL) and Sweetwater Jumpers LLC’s Golden Quality, the 2011 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Quality Time TN x Quasimodo Z), followed closely behind in second with a score of 35.99. McArdle also placed third with Samuel Parot Jr.’s I&H Boogy Woogy, the 2006 Hungarian gelding (Faldo x I&H Vanilla Fudge), earning a time of 36.872 seconds, as well as fourth on Victorio 5, owned by Victorio Equine Group LLC, with 37.542 seconds.

Land spoke highly of the course design by Nick Granat (Wellington, FL) that challenged 13 pairs, with only four returning for the jump-off.

“I thought the first course was really fun! Everything came up pretty quick out of the turn, which is always challenging. The triple was early in the course, which can be difficult, but I thought my horses handled it very well today. I really enjoy Nick Granat’s courses. He provides a lot of options and his courses aren’t trappy. I did two horses today and I really enjoyed it with both of them.”

With McArdle competing on three horses, Land was able to preview how the jump-off course rode for McArdle before taking her turn in the ring.

“I was very lucky that Abigail was in the jump-off with three horses. I was the only other competitor, and she went before me on two horses, so I got to see her go and how the track rode. I didn’t really change my plan based on her rounds, but I knew where I needed to be fast and that’s always such an advantage. She had a rail with the first horse, but she had a really nice round with the second horse, so I just looked for a few places to shave time. I think I was a little faster in two of the rollbacks, and that was about it. I was just trying to nick away at her time because she had a really good jump-off.”

For more info and results, visit www.Tryon.com.

Tryon Fall Horse Trials: Boyd Martin Aces Advanced

Boyd Martin and Wabanaki ©Shannon Brinkman Photography.

Mill Spring, NC – September 13, 2021 – Boyd Martin (Cochranville, PA) and Wabanaki conquered the White Oak Cross-Country Course to win the Advanced A Division at the Tryon Fall Horse Trials at Tryon International Equestrian Center & Resort (TIEC) with a final score of 47.3. Sitting fourth after the Dressage and Show Jumping phases, Martin stepped up to the occasion and put in the fastest Cross-Country round of the day to add only 7.2 time penalties and take the win. Wrapping up her weekend in second place with a final score of 51.1 was Lillian Heard (Cochranville, PA) and Dasset Olympus, the 2013 Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Debbie Greenspan. Third place honors were awarded to Lucienne Bellissimo (Wellington, FL) and Atlantic Vital Spark, the 2010 Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Horse Scout Eventing LLC with a score of 51.6.

Martin, who topped the competition aboard Wabanaki, the 2011 Hanoverian gelding owned by The Dawnland Syndicate, began on top after a Dressage test that earned the duo a score of 32.1. Though the tough competition proved to be no big deal for Wabanaki, Martin shared that his mount is still new to the Advanced division: “It’s his third crack at the level. He was absolutely fantastic for where he is in his training. He still needs to grow, learn, and get more seasoned. Tryon put on a spectacular event. Obviously, it was a difficult and tough competition, but it was a great learning experience for the young ones.”

Martin galloped to a time of 6:43 seconds in the cross country phase of the competition, over ten seconds ahead of Heard’s time of 6:54 seconds. The White Oak Cross-Country Course with tracks set by Captain Mark Phillips (GBR) offered Martin the perfect number of challenges, while still building Wabanaki’s confidence. Martin commented, “There were a lot of difficult combinations followed by easier fences. It was good for the young ones to have a tough question and then nice and easy ones to keep them confident.

“Hats off to Tryon, because the footing feels like the golf course it is. The footing out there is spectacular,” Martin emphasized. “I love Tryon and everything about it. The venue is world class from the Dressage rings to jumping under the lights last night in front of the crowd. There’s great stabling. The Cross-Country course takes a bit of riding because it used to be a golf course, so it has those mounds and dips, which is good practice,” Martin relayed. “Tryon has been unbelievable with the irrigation system. Walking out on the course, the grass was all spongey, which the horses love.”

For full results from the Tryon Fall Horse Trials, click here.

For more info and results, visit www.Tryon.com.

David Blake and Dy Zento Score $25,000 Tryon Resort Grand Prix Win

David Blake and Dy Zento ©Madison Ibach, TIEC.

Mill Spring, NC – August 15, 2021 – The singular Hunter/Jumper competition of the 2021 August Series saw the triumphant return of Doug Payne from Tokyo to Tryon, a win in the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby for Alexis Gallati, and David Blake topping the $25,000 Tryon Resort Grand Prix at Tryon International Equestrian Center & Resort (TIEC).

David Blake (Wellington, FL) and Dy Zento saved the best for last in Sunday’s $25,000 Tryon Resort Grand Prix, stopping the short-course timers in 30.416 seconds for the win. The duo edged out Doug Payne (Rougemont, NC) and Quintessence, the 2011 Holsteiner gelding (Quinar x VIctoria’s Secret) owned by Jane Dudinksy, on a time of 32.057 seconds. Cara Dayton (Chesapeake City, MD) and Deborah Dayton’s Curby Du Seigneur, the 2008 Belgian Warmblood gelding (Dore Van’t Zorgvliet x Victoria Du Seigneur), produced a clear jump-off time of 32.712 seconds for third place. Blake was also the trailblazer for the short course aboard Pine Hollow Farm’s Keoki, taking a conservative approach to finish in fourth on a time of 37.003 seconds with the 2009 Holsteiner gelding (Catoki x Tilba-Tilba).

Blake called the short-course contest a “nice, competitive jump off” that saw four pairs return to Tryon Stadium after eight horses initially toured the Skip Bailey (Wellington, FL) track. Blake and the 2008 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Zento x Selien) owned by Pine Hollow Farm used their place in the order of go to their advantage. “I was lucky enough to be last to go on the horse who won,” Blake reflected. “On [Keoki], I was just planning to give him a jump around for his fitness, so I gave him a nice round for the jump off. I knew the other two would be pretty quick, and then I was last, so I knew exactly what to do.”

The plan was simple: take advantage of Dy Zento’s massive stride and leave out a step in the first line. From there, it all fell into place for the duo, Blake explained. “I decided to do one less stride up the first line. My horse is a bigger horse, so I thought that if I carried on with enough pace the rest of the way, that would be enough to do it.”

After aiming Dy Zento at this class in particular, Blake was thrilled that his short trip to Tryon was successful. “It’s been good here. All the horses are jumping great. Obviously, we’re happy we won today, since that was the main thing we came here to do. We’re happy with that!”

For more info and results, visit www.Tryon.com.

Richie Moloney and Rocksy Music Impress in $137k Horseware Ireland Grand Prix CSI 3*

Richie Moloney and Rocksy Music ©Sportfot.

Mill Spring, NC – July 24, 2021 – Richie Moloney (IRL) and Rocksy Music rocked the short course during the Tryon Summer 6 $137,000 Horseware Ireland Grand Prix CSI 3* at Tryon International Equestrian Center & Resort (TIEC), finishing first with a time of 38.574 seconds. Brooke Kemper (USA) and Arpeggi, the 2010 Westphalian gelding (Arpeggio x Lancer III) owned by Caroline Blum, finishing just 0.2 seconds behind Moloney, claimed second place with a time of 38.714 seconds. Third place honors were awarded to Santiago Lambre (MEX) and Easy Girl, the 2011 Oldenburg mare (Conthargos x Nintender) owned by Mario Onate, after a clear round and a jump-off time of 39.252 seconds.

A thunderstorm that began midway through first-round action Saturday evening paused the competition, which resumed Sunday morning. Thirty-four riders attempted the first round of the Ken Krome (USA) course, with six riders qualifying for the shortened second round of the competition; three riders qualified during Saturday night’s competition and three qualified Sunday morning. Moloney earned his ticket to the jump-off on Sunday morning, and acknowledged that the delay was a benefit to his mount. “The weather helped me a little bit, I think!” Moloney said. “He’s a little bit more up under the lights, so he was more relaxed this morning.”

Moloney and Rocksy Music, the 2008 Irish Sport Horse gelding (Ars Vivendi x Diamond Serpent) owned by Equinimity LLC, have competed together for the last five years. “I’ve had him for five years, since he was an eight-year-old, actually!” he explained enthusiastically after his win. “He’s been jumping really well lately, so I’m really happy I got this win.”

As the Tryon Summer Series comes to an end, Moloney will be taking a vacation before maintaining the momentum of his win once he returns to competition in a month. Moloney concluded by saying, “I just want to thank the owners of the horse. I’d like to thank the groom and everyone that helped with this. It’s a team effort; there’s a lot of people involved!”

For more info and results, visit www.Tryon.com.

Santiago Lambre and Dingeman Dash to Win $37k Horseware Ireland Welcome Stake CSI 3*

Santiago Lambre and Dingeman © Sportfot.

Mill Spring, NC – July 22, 2021 – Santiago Lambre (MEX) and his mount, Dingeman, took first place honors in the Tryon Summer 6 $37,000 Horseware Ireland Welcome Stake CSI 3* at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC), stopping timers at 28.935 seconds. Caelinn Leahy (USA) and Coldplay 31, a 2009 Westphalian gelding (Cassini ll x Phantom) owned by Steve Schaefer, took second place on a clear jump-off performance of 29.585 seconds, while Aaron Vale (USA) and Elusive, a 2009 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Rodrigoo x Capfucino) owned by Thinks Like A Horse, claimed third-place honors on a fault-free effort in 29.773 seconds.

The Ken Krome (USA)-designed course saw 37 horse and rider combinations in the first round, with 15 pairs returning for the jump-off. Lambre and the 2008 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Nintender x Darnels), owned by Aurora Rangel De Alba and Gestut Lewitz, were first to go in the shortened second round, so he took all risks once he walked into the ring, ensuring he would not be bested by the competition. “It was all or nothing to win; there was no room for adding strides!” he said with a grin.

For more info and results, visit www.Tryon.com.

Conor Swail Conquers Tryon Summer 5 with Trio of Wins

Conor Swail and Koss Van Heiste ©Sportfot.

Mill Spring, NC – July 18, 2021 – Conor Swail (Wellington, FL) and Koss Van Heiste claimed a win in the $25,000 Tryon Resort Sunday Classic at Tryon International Equestrian Center & Resort (TIEC) after clearing the jump off in 35.49 seconds, also grabbing reserve with Count Me In on a time of 36.2 seconds. It was a winning week for Swail, who dominated Saturday evening’s $73,000 Cleghorn Gun Club Grand Prix CSI 2* aboard Vital Chance de la Roque, as well as Friday’s $6,000 Speed Stake CSI 2* with Theo 160. Though Swail and Vital Chance de la Roque didn’t win the $37,000 Horseware Ireland Welcome Stake CSI 2* Thursday, they did collect reserve honors to set themselves up for a win under the lights in Tryon Stadium.

Sunday’s $25,000 Tryon Resort Sunday Classic one-two finish was icing on the cake for Swail after a victorious week, and he walked into the ring aboard Count Me In, the 2007 Hanoverian gelding (Count Grannus x Sherlock Holmes), with only himself to beat. The Guilherme Jorge course design tested 24 entries in the first round, with only one pair challenging Swail’s two jump-off mounts: Harold Chopping (Southern Pines, NC) and Geronimo SCF, the 2011 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Veron x Mary Louise) owned by Diane Halpin, who earned third place on a time of 37.093.

Swail was first to test the jump-off track with Koss Van Heiste, the 2010 Belgian Warmblood gelding (Breemeersen Adorado x Contact Van de Heffinck) owned by Eadaoin Aine Ni Choileain, an experienced and longtime ride of his. They could have had an even faster round than their winning time, Swail admitted: “It wasn’t the round I wanted, to be honest. I wanted to be a little quicker than that! I gave Harold a little window there.” After Chopping finished his clear round with the leaderboard unchanged, however, Swail was free to ride Count Me In, a mount he’s been riding for only a few weeks, to a clear round and second place.

“It’s nice when you’re going [into the ring] last and you know that you’ve won the class anyway,” Swail admitted. “He’s a new horse to me, so I just didn’t over-ride him too much, and I had a nice round on him. We’re just getting to know each other a little better, and trying to build a good relationship and trust each other. That’s the first bigger class I’ve done on him, so I’m very pleased with him.”

For more info and results, visit www.Tryon.com.

Aaron Vale Begins with a Bang in $37,000 Horseware Ireland Welcome Stake CSI 2*

Aaron Vale and Prescott ©Sportfot.

Mill Spring, NC – July 15, 2021 – Aaron Vale (USA) and Prescott soared to victory in the $37,000 Horseware Ireland Welcome Stake at Tryon International Equestrian Center & Resort (TIEC), conquering the jump-off course with a time of 38.307 seconds. Vale also claimed the yellow ribbon along with Elusive, the 2009 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Rodrigoo x Capfucino) owned by Thinks Like A Horse, with a time of 38.954 seconds. Conor Swail (IRL) and Vital Chance de la Roque, the 2009 Selle Francais gelding (Diamant de Semilly x Rivage Du Poncel) owned in partnership with Adeline Hecart, rode to second place with a time of 38.642 seconds.

The course, designed by Guilherme Jorge (BRA), challenged 53 horse-and-rider combinations in the first round of competition. Twenty pairs jumped clear to return for the second round jump-off. Vale and Prescott, the 2012 Holsteiner gelding (Lordanos x Unknown) owned by Thinks Like A Horse, re-captured the lead after Elusive’s clear round and previous winning time was bested by Swail.

Vale’s plan going into the jump-off with Prescott, a less experienced horse than Elusive, was to leave out strides and go as efficiently as possible, he shared. “I was really fast! I probably did two strides fewer to the combination. He was balanced, jumped it easily, and was really quick coming out of the combination. We left one out of the next vertical. And at that point, I felt like I was up by quite a bit, so I felt like I just wanted to stay in my rhythm and not press it. I felt if I left the last three jumps up, I’d done enough to win it, and that was how it played out!”

For more info and results, visit www.Tryon.com.

TIEC to Host USEF CCI4*-L Eventing National Championships for 2021 and 2022

Lexington, KY – June 24, 2021 – US Equestrian is pleased to announce that the USEF CCI4*-L Eventing National Championship will return to the Tryon International Equestrian Center in Mill Spring, N.C. in 2021 and 2022. The National Championship will be held in conjunction with the Tryon International Three-Day Event.

The USEF CCI4*-L Eventing National Championship was held at TIEC for the first time in 2020, and competitors had high praise for the facilities at the venue and the staff’s dedication to producing a world-class event. Tryon’s White Oak cross-country course was created for the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games™ and is known for its scenic rolling terrain in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

“We are very excited to host the Tryon International Three-Day Event CCI4*-L again this November,” said Sharon Decker, President of Tryon of Tryon Equestrian Properties, Carolinas Operations. “Our 2020 event was extraordinary, and with spectators welcomed this year, we will have the chance once again to showcase the highest levels of this sport on what many of our riders have declared one of the best cross-country courses in the world. We cannot wait!”

The 2021 Tryon International Three-Day Event is set to take place November 10-14. The event will host CCI1*-L, CCI2*-L, CCI3*-L, and CCI4*-S divisions in addition to the CCI4*-L. Additionally, the East Coast Final for the inaugural Adequan® USEF Eventing Youth Team Challenge will be held in conjunction with the event, making for an exciting week of late-season eventing.

For more information, visit Tryon.com/eventing.

Evana Somareddy and Goldrush Win $10k USHJA Pony Hunter Derby

Evana Somareddy and Goldrush ©Sportfot.

Mill Spring, NC – July 10, 2021 – Ponies stepped into the spotlight in Tryon Stadium during Tryon Summer 4/Tryon Riding & Hunt Club Charity II at Tryon International Equestrian Center & Resort (TIEC) during Saturday’s $10,000 USHJA Pony Hunter Derby presented by Star Stable. Evana Somareddy (Clearwater, FL) aboard her own Goldrush took first place honors with a combined score of 170. Elle Boyd (Camden, SC) received second and third place honors on Finally Farm’s Sugarbrook Pink-N-Blue, the 2007 medium Welsh Pony (Blue Who x Tropical Breeze) producing a score of 168, along with Baby Blue, the 2003 small Welsh Pony (Blue Rain x Unknown), who earned a two-round total of 167.

Thirty-six pony riders cantered around the Andres Christiansen course resulting in a handy cutoff score of 76. Somareddy and the 2008 medium Welsh Pony Cross with unknown breeding tackled the classic round with a score of 85, and earned another 85 in the handy round to come out on top. Somareddy said she owes all success to “Monty,” who was “perfect” and “so much fun.” Somareddy enjoyed riding the course, saying, “I kind of was just going around saying, ‘Okay! We’re doing this! First line is done. I love this!’ And before I knew it, it was at the end and we were jumping through the two-stride! And I was just like, ‘Good boy!’”

Somareddy walked in the ring with a mix of jitters and confidence, saying, “I was kind of nervous because I’ve never shown in a big stadium before. But Monty just came in for me and he was amazing. Also, I just want to give my thanks to Schuler Dayner for helping me prep Monty and making him perfect. It was really so much fun! I couldn’t have done it better.”

For more info and results, visit www.Tryon.com.

Harold Chopping and Catchphrase Collect $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Win

Harold Chopping and Catchphrase ©Sportfot.

Mill Spring, NC – July 9, 2021 – Tryon International Equestrian Center & Resort (TIEC) hosted its second $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby of the season during the Tryon Summer 4/Tryon Riding & Hunt Club Charity II Horse Show, with top honors earned by Harold Chopping (CAN) and Catchphrase, who combined for a two-round total score of 384. Havens Schatt (USA) and Cascartini, the Holsteiner gelding owned by Ken and Amy Wexler LLC, were named to reserve after their two-round score of 378. Finishing on a score of 374, Dorothy Douglas (USA) and MTM Lolah LOL, the 2013 Westphalian mare (Los Angeles x Palma) owned by Abigail Davenport, took home third-place honors.

Chopping and the 2010 Zangersheide gelding (Marome NW x Prelude) owned by Barbara Scott were leading on a score of 181 after the classic round, and navigated the Andres Christiansen (USA) course design with a past loss in mind to maintain their lead, Chopping revealed.

“Years ago, I remember I was leading by quite a bit going into the handy round on a horse that I really trusted – he was really a winner – and I was a bit conservative and I ended up second. I cannot forget riding around in the ring that night because it drives me crazy that I didn’t just walk in there and try and win both rounds,” he explained. “So, my strategy this time was to just be aggressive and try and put in a good score.”

For more info and results, visit www.Tryon.com.