Tryon Duke “Jump for the Children” Benefit I

Fernando Cardenas and Balou’s Honora Car ©Kirsten Hannah Photography

Fernando Cardenas Rides Three Entries to the Jump Off in the $25k LeMieux Welcome Stake

November 6, 2025 – Fernando Cardens (New Hill, NC) qualified his three entries for the jump off in Thursday’s $25,000 LeMieux Welcome Stake and came out on top with Balou’s Honora Car (Balou Du Rouet x Ursula Car). Michael Kocher (Lynn, NC) and his 2017 Zangersheide gelding Dexterity Z (Dominator 2000 Z x Can Can of Windsor Z) stopped the timers at 38.33 seconds for the second-place position. Doug Payne (Rougemont, NC) also qualified his three entries for the speed round and secured third place just behind Michael with 38.546 seconds aboard the Payne Equestrian 2011 Holsteiner gelding Quintessence (Quinar x Victoria’s Secret).

As the only team to break into 37 seconds, Fernando Cardenas spoke of his 2017 Hanoverian mare. “She has incredibly fast foot speed, and I told myself just trust that because I put in more strides than other people! She is also very hot, so it favored her to go at the end because the warmup was not crowded, and she doesn’t like traffic.”

Cardenas knows all his mounts inside and out as “they’re all homebred.” When asked if his strategy differed from horse to horse, he answered, “They’re very different horses. We have a fast horse, a big horse, and a scopey horse, so you have to ride them totally different!”

Cardenas was not the only one excited about his win in the Tryon Stadium, giving a special shoutout to his groom, Sam Parker, and his father Fernando Cardenas, Sr. “She [Sam Parker] loves the horses so much, and they love her! She puts her heart into this and I’m very happy for this win for her, because it shows her work! My dad’s the one that’s bred these horses, and so he’s the next person I’m going to call, because he’ll be very happy.

“Tryon is my home show, and I’m really happy to see the Duke show here!” Cardenas concluded. He will be competing in Saturday’s $50,000 Henri De Rivel Tryon Duke JFTC Grand Prix with all three of his entries.

$10,000 USHJA Junior/Amateur National Hunter Derby Names Parris Collins and Miss Magnolia Champions

November 7, 2025 – Parris Collins (Vass, NC) and Miss Magnolia (Number One x Conturano I) were the only pair to break into the 180s during the $10,000 USHJA Junior/Amateur National Hunter Derby. The Reserve Honors title was awarded to Audrey Muscari (Germantown, TN) and Emerson Van De Meulenberg Z (Emerald Van’t Ruytershof x Cheng Lee Van Berkenbroeck), the 2017 Zangersheide Gelding, for their 177-point performance. The 2012 Holsteiner gelding Bon Voyage (Captain Chancy x Cayetano L) with owner and rider Carleigh Carter (Virginia Beach, VA) completed the top three with a 174.5 two-round score.

Stepping into the Tryon Stadium for the first time under the lights was Parris Collins and her 2014 Holsteiner mare. “I was really pleased with her; she just stepped in and marched around. I couldn’t have asked for anything more!”

Partnered together for a few years, this duo moved from the jumper ring into the hunter ring which took some getting used to. “It’s taken maybe a little bit longer than maybe some horses, but lots of trail rides and relaxed rides and she really has become a nice Hunter!”

Collins didn’t have much of a strategy going into the first round, but was the only rider to break into the 90s. Wanting to keep their momentum going into the handy round, Collins shared, “I saw a couple of horses a little backed off going to the first fence, so I knew that I had to definitely be strong and right up there. I also wanted to do the inside turn, but I wasn’t 100% sure, just because I didn’t know how she was going to feel going into the second round, but she ended up being very rideable!

“I love Tryon! One, it’s just such a great layout; there are things for the kids to do, and it’s nice that there are restaurants. Everything’s convenient, and it’s a well-done show!” said Collins. She concluded with a special thank you: “Thanks to Mike Rosser and his whole crew. I have the best cheering section at Reynard’s Ridge. I’m very lucky to have everyone behind me!”

Tiffany Cambria Takes the Lion’s Share in $10,000 USHJA Open National Hunter Derby

November 7, 2025 – Scoring a 185 in the $10,000 USHJA Open National Hunter Derby, Tiffany Cambria (Upperville, VA) and Sarah Hellman’s 2008 Holsteiner gelding Not to Worry (Casall x Flora VI) took the lion’s share. Earning the highest handy round score for a 181-point total aboard Return to Me (Twister x Opal), the 2011 Warmblood gelding owned by Laura Hunt, was Ashley Conkle (Wellford, SC). Fabian Herrera (Charlotte, NC) rode Clearplay PS (Clear Heart x Quiggy Z), the 2019 Oldenburg gelding, to a pair of 88s, which earned them a 176.

Madison Kondracki Races to the Finish in the $2,000 GSS Marketing 1.25m Open Jumper Stake

November 7, 2025 – Producing a 32.182 second jump off, the quickest of the $2,000 GSS Marketing 1.25m Open Jumper Stake, aboard Onyx (Numero Uno x Carletta), her 2014 Belgian Warmblood mare, was Madison Kondracki (Deland, FL). McKenzie Clayton (Roxboro, NC) rode Doris Leventhal’s 2014 Warmblood mare Intense Royal Z (Inshallah De Muze x Sofia) into second place on 35.486 seconds in the speed round. Producing a yellow ribbon ride with 36.063 seconds on the clock was Ciaran Flynn (Apex, NC) and Eve Tonka Batilly (Canturo x Akorea Batilly), the 2014 Selle Français mare.

Learn more at www.Tryon.com.