Tryon Duke “Jump for the Children” Benefit II

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

Fernando Cardenas Crowned Back-to-Back Winner in $25,000 LeMieux Welcome Stake

November 13, 2025 – Mill Spring, NC – Fernando Cardenas (New Hill, NC) ended Thursday night two-for-two with $25,000 LeMieux Welcome Stake wins, once again claiming the victory with Balou’s Honora Car (Balou Du Rouet x Ursula Car). Riding for Fernando Cardenas Sr., the team landed on a jump off time of 37.16 seconds, topping a field of 29 competitors. Holding the lead until Cardenas’ clear round, Ciaran Flynn (Apex, NC) slotted into second place aboard Apex Equestrian Center’s Calvin Harris 3 (Calatos x Stutbuch 1), marking 76.09 seconds with the 2014 Oldenburg gelding. Brooke Kemper (Reddick, FL) rode Arpeggi, the 2010 Westphalian gelding owned by The Arpeggi Group, to third place on a 37.44 second jump off time.

Horses are a family affair for Welcome Stake winner Fernando Cardenas. The longtime Tryon International competitor revealed the unique family connection in the name of his winning mount, Balou’s Honora Car. “My dad likes to name our horses after friends and family members, so she is named after my niece,” he shared. “She’s a rider as well – big shout-out to her!”

Tackling the Martin Otto-designed jump off track with three homebred horses, Cardenas elaborated on the familial strengths and history of his equine teammates. “They all trace back to Quincy Car, who was my original horse who we jumped at the World Equestrian Games here at Tryon.”

Comparing Balou’s Honora Car to Quincy Car, Cardenas detailed that “she’s a lot hotter, a lot cattier, and very clever. In today’s world, you need fast horses to win. She’s got plenty of stride and plenty of scope, but at the same time is incredibly hot. She turns very fast – all you need to do is steer; you don’t really have to push!

“She has a very fast footspeed, so I added [a stride] to the first line, and I didn’t leave a stride out to the last [fence]. She has enough footspeed that I trusted that [plan]. I tried to have a very smooth track and stay out of her way!” Cardenas noted, describing his winning jump off strategy with the 2017 Hanoverian mare. “The consistency [comes from] just putting her in the right spot, and she’ll take care of the rest.”

Bringing a strong team of equine athletes, the 3H Sport Horses team was made proud in Tryon Stadium. “It’s a good day to own a ‘Car!’” Cardenas quipped.

Victoria Free: Last Out the Gate and First on the Leaderboard in the $10,000 USHJA Open National Hunter Derby

November 14, 2025 – Stepping under the lights of Tryon Stadium to tackle the Kerry Kocher $10,000 USHJA Open National Hunter Derby Hunt N Go course were twenty-one trips. However, it was the last team to enter the stadium that came out on top. Victoria Free (Fayetteville, GA) and Step Up (Cabana x Speak Up) produced an impressive winning performance with the highest handy phase score of the night. Just a point and a half behind the leaders was Tiffany Cambria (Upperville, VA) with Not to Worry (Casall x Flora Vi), Sarah Hellman’s 2008 Holsteiner gelding, who received reserve honors on their score of 176. The only other pair to break into the 170s was Return to Me (Twister x Opal), the 2011 Warmblood gelding owned by Laura Hunt and ridden by Ashley Conkle (Wellford, SC), who earned third with 172.5 points on the scoreboard.

The “solid” 2016 Hanoverian gelding put up an 87.5 in the classic and a 90 in the handy for a total score of 177.5. Rider Victoria Free detailed, “I knew that if I could just put myself together, he would be here for me, and he’s a pretty good handy horse!” Thankful to Andrea Block [Step Up’s owner], “he [Step Up] has really good owners that support me and have let me develop him into the derbies,” Free added.

The last trip of the course is unusual for Free. “I really like to go first, so going last for me was not really stressful, but it wouldn’t normally be my pick.” However, the order of go seemed to not phase the winning duo. “It was exciting – the course was fairly simple and straightforward, so at the end I tried to make a little bit of a handy turn to catch the judge’s eye!”

Placing third in the Tryon Fall 4 $15,000 USHJA International Derby a few weeks ago, Free mentioned, “It was really exciting to get back here and get under the lights with a little bit of a smaller jump!”

No stranger to Tryon International but participating in the Duke Shows for the first time, Free was happy with the horse show environment. “We were planning to go to Raleigh, and then we were really excited that it was here, and even more excited to have a derby under the lights! Tryon did a good job making it feel special, and the kids are excited to be here and get to show in the stadium.”

Fernando Cardenas and Jairo Car Were High Scorers in the $10,000 USHJA Junior/Amateur National Hunter Derby

November 14, 2025 – Hunter action returned under the lights of Tryon Stadium on Friday evening with the $10,000 USHJA Open National Hunter Derby taking center stage. Fernando Cardenas (New Hill, NC) partnered with 2019 Selle Français stallion Jairo Car (Balou Du Rouet x Ursula Car) to put 180 points on the board to take the win. Reserve Honors recipient Sarasen Jablon (Charleston, SC) piloted her own Kingstown (Catoki x W-Carabella), the 2013 Holsteiner gelding, on a total of 172 points. Lyra Jocius (Hillsborough, NC) and Captivo (Cunningham x Rawton), her 2012 Holsteiner gelding, also collected 172 points, and the judges’ tie breaker decision landed them in third.

Madison Kondracki Conquers $2,000 GSS Marketing 1.25m Open Jumper Stake

November 14, 2025 – The top three in Friday’s $2,000 GSS Marketing 1.25m Open Jumper Stake produced the only double-clears of the class. It was Madison Kondracki (Deland, FL) aboard All In Horses Hulysse des Joncs (Captain Semilly x Cerise Des Joncs), the 2017 Selle Francais gelding owned by Matthias Vanmaekelbergh, who took home the win on the fastest jump off time. Claiming the red ribbon after their speed round effort was Megan Rosenthal (Charlotte, NC) and the Fairy Tale Farms, LLC 2017 Irish Sport Horse gelding Keamore Diamant (Diamant De Semilly x Keamore Hill Cruz). The Pine Tree Farms Inc. 2019 Holsteiner mare Minett (Del’ Arko D’ Henvet x Gofinett) and rider Taylor Land (Atlanta, GA) were just a hair behind that second place time, earning third.

Tiffany Cambria and Cabana Boy Claim Bye for Now Memorial Trophy

November 13, 2025 – With Tiffany Cambria in the irons, Cabana Boy (Casall x Miss Fehmarn) took home the Bye for Now Memorial Trophy, a Duke Hospital “Jump for the Children” special award presented to the highest point earning Green 3ʼ/3ʼ3 Hunter.

“‘Bam’ is what we call him! He’s a seven-year-old by Casal. He’s a sweet, genuine horse – he really wants to do the job and learn,” Cambria explained. “Katherine Butler is responsible as well for his development.”

With points over the two weeks of Duke “Jump for the Children” competition contributing to trophy winners’ overall scores, Cambria detailed that Ann Vaughters’ Holsteiner gelding consistently improved in the Hunter ring. “We were here last week, and he was really good! He won a class or two and got better and better as he went. This week, he came out, answered all the questions, and learned from what we did before.

“When we heard [the Duke shows] were moving to Tryon, we were really excited! We love the Tryon venue, and we love the Duke shows. The fact that we have two things that we really like to go to and experience was a win-win for us!” Cambria concluded.

Horseman’s Hero Trophy Awarded to Merilee Ventura

November 14, 2025 – On Friday evening, preceding the USHJA Hunter Derbies under the lights of Tryon Stadium, Merille Ventura was presented the Horseman’s Hero Trophy, awarded in memory of George Wallace, it was established in 2019 by Danny Robertshaw and Ron Danta.

Surrounded by her peers and applause, Merilee was announced the recipient of the Horseman’s Hero Trophy for making a difference in our horse community by showing kindness and compassion to both animals and people. Grateful for receiving this award, she responded, “It means the world to me! I am so honored and so appreciative of this award.”

Dedicating over 30 years to the Duke Jump for the Children organization, Merilee has enjoyed working with longtime organizer, Joan Petty. “Joan Petty has been one of the most benevolent people that I know, and she has done an unbelievable job organizing and doing this for so many years without putting a foot wrong!” She added, “It’s so wonderful that over all these years so much money has been raised for the Duke Children’s Hospital.”

Held in Raleigh, NC since 1984, the “Jump for the Children” horse shows arrived at Tryon International for the first time. Describing this change as an “end of an era”, Merilee shared her thoughts on the change in venue. “I think it’s absolutely wonderful! The horse show is lovely, and everything has been going beautifully. This is a new door opening, and having the availability of a different location, different people that can come to this horse show and support it, and the facility here is absolutely incredible! We all appreciate the fact that we have it.”

Describing Tryon International as “Disney for horses”, Merilee concluded, “I have clients with me that this is their first time being here and they’re absolutely loving every minute of it!”

Learn more at www.Tryon.com.