Welcome 2 Results: Tryon Welcome Series presented by Rug & Home

Wilhelmina Horzepa Doubles Down in $20,000 Tryon International Grand Prix

Avery Craven and Kingston TM Crowned Winners of $1,500 USHJA Pony Derby presented by Fabbri Boots

Doug Payne Goes Two-For-Two in $5,000 LeMieux Welcome Stake

Betsy Aliffi and Talk To Me are Best in $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby 

For Immediate Release
Rette Solomon for Tryon International

Mill Spring, NC - March 30, 2025 - Part of the Tryon Welcome Series presented by Rug & Home, Tryon Welcome 2 concluded Sunday with the feature class in Tryon Stadium, the $20,000 Tryon International Grand Prix. 21 entries contested the Seth Clayton (Lakeville, MN) course design, with Wilhelmina Horzepa (Millstone Township, NJ) taking top honors on two of her Grand Prix mounts. Horzepa piloted Mac Mittens (Don Diablo HX x Anabelle S) to top honors, clocking 37.03 seconds in the jump off. Horzepa’s second place entry, her own College Fund (Unknown x Unknown), the 2011 Holsteiner gelding, stopped jump off timers at 39.08 seconds. Finishing just behind Horzepa, Florian Ferry (Williston, SC) rode Agathe Heurteux’s Balkan De Riverland (Unknown x Glycine Des Bois II), the 2011 Selle Français gelding, to third with 39.67 seconds in the jump off. 

Teaming up with the Grand Prix newcomer, Wilhelmina Horzepa was thrilled with the 2017 Dutch Warmblood gelding. “Mac Mittens is owned by a friend of mine and a client, Nicole Iannarone. He is just turning eight, and he's only done a small amount of classes over a 1.30 meters, so this is a pretty big accomplishment for him.”

Wilhelmina Horzepa and Mac Mittens
©Sarah Sturgis for Natalie Suto Photography

“[College Fund] is a horse I've had for about seven years,” Horzepa said of her veteran showjumper. “I actually bought him as a 2’6 hunter, and found out that he's more talented than that. He's done nothing but good things for me over the years!”

Wilhelmina Horzepa and College Fund
©Sarah Sturgis for Natalie Suto Photography

Horzepa toured the jump off track with College Fund first, setting the pace for the rest of the field before recording the winning time with Mac Mittens. “[Mittens] is pretty talented, and tends to surprise us, as long as he can stay rideable. He stayed rideable enough, was careful, and he definitely was trying his hardest.”

Traveling up the east coast from Florida, Horzepa made Tryon International a stop on her way back home. “I've always wanted to come here, and it’s really exciting to be this competitive here. Last week, I jumped the [Grand Prix], and the horses each had a four fault round, which is really respectable. But it’s great to step up and be able to now win!”

Florian Ferry and Balkan De Riverland
©Sarah Sturgis for Natalie Suto Photography

A first-timer at Tryon International, Horzepa and her string of talented horses have enjoyed their fair share of success. “We’ve been very happy,” the rider said of the Tryon experience. “Everyone's nice to deal with, and the setup is phenomenal. We like it, we're going to come back!”

Wilhelmina Horzepa, Mac Mittens, and College Fund in their awards presentation.
©Sarah Sturgis for Natalie Suto Photography

For full results from the $20,000 Tryon International Grand Prix, click here. 

Avery Craven and Kingston TM Crowned Winners of $1,500 USHJA Pony Derby presented by Fabbri Boots

March 29, 2025 – With 20 pint-sized entries competing Saturday morning, Avery Craven (Monroe, NC) and Kingston TM (Unknown x Unknown) emerged as winners of the Welcome Series’ first $1,500 USHJA Pony Derby presented by Fabbri Boots. Craven and Kingston TM, owned by Jordan Ayres, commanded the Hunt-N-Go style derby, scoring a 169 for the win. Brynn Garrett (Linden, NC) filled the remaining podium positions, earning 167 points with Frog Pond Stables’ Cambridge (Unknown x Unknown), the 2013 Welsh Pony gelding, for second place, and collecting 159 points with Stonewall Bright Light (Gayfields The Thief x Hillcrest’s Silver Lining), the 2015 Welsh Pony mare owned by GC Ponies, LLC. 

Avery Craven and Kingston TM 
©Bailey Beck for Natalie Suto Photography

Avery Craven and Kingston TM have enjoyed a short yet fruitful partnership in the hunter ring, with the young rider reintroducing the 2016 German Riding Pony to derby competition. “He came to us just two weeks ago, and this is his first show with us,” Craven explained. “This is his first derby at this height in a while – he’s very talented!”

Brynn Garrett and Cambridge
©Bailey Beck for Natalie Suto Photography

In preparing for Saturday’s pony derby, Craven shared that Kingston TM, owned by Jordan Ayres, was allowed plenty of rest and relaxation leading up to the big win. “We did a lot of flat work,” Craven said. “He did a lot of sleeping in his stall, relaxing, and keeping his energy up, because he’s a bit lazy.”

Brynn Garrett and Stonewall Bright Light
©Bailey Beck for Natalie Suto Photography

Capitalizing on the team’s 82 point total in the “hunt” phase with 87 points in the “go” phase, Craven emphasized how Kingston TM‘s handiness helped them stand out. “We’re usually stronger in the “hunt” phase, but today our “go” was our better half. He loves turning and following, so the “go” was where he shined today!”

For full results from the $1,500 USHJA Pony Derby presented by Fabbri Boots, click here.

Doug Payne Goes Two-For-Two in $5,000 LeMieux Welcome Stake 

March 28, 2025 – Friday’s $5,000 LeMieux Welcome Stake saw total domination by Rougemont, NC’s Doug Payne and his team of equine athletes. Aboard Issy Kelly’s Chaccolate RFB (Chacco Blue x Oklund), the 2013 German Sporthorse gelding, Payne breezed through the jump off timers at 32.46 seconds to win the class. Chasing his own jump off time, Payne then claimed second with Quintessence (Unknown x Unknown), the 2011 Holsteiner gelding owned by Payne Equestrian, on a time of 32.74 seconds. With Allen Nabors (Ocala, FL) in the irons for Dutch Valley Equestrian LLC, Master Clinton DVE (Clinton x Diona V/D Wezelse Heihoeve VM), the 2012 Belgian Warmblood gelding, was part of the third-place team, marking 37.74 seconds in the jump off. 

Doug Payne and Chaccolate
©Sarah Sturgis for Natalie Suto Photography 

For full results from the $5,000 LeMieux Welcome Stake, click here. 

Betsy Aliffi and Talk To Me are Best in $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby

March 28, 2025 – At the conclusion of the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby, it was Betsy Aliffi (Marietta, GA) and her own Talk To Me (Biscayo x Dolcevita) who climbed to the top of the podium, besting a field of 32 entries. Aliffi and the 2013 Dutch Warmblood gelding took a commanding lead in round one, putting 90 points on the board, and continued into the handy round to score a 92, leading to a win with a 182 point total. Earning second place on a score of 175 points was Sarah Nelson (New Bern, NC), and Riveting (Roc USA x Natalya), the 2013 Oldenburg mare owned by Rebecca Rose. Ashley Conkle (Wellford, SC) rode Laura Hunt’s 2011 gelding Return To Me (Twister x Opal) to third place, collecting 174.5 points. 

Betsy Aliffi and Talk To Me
©Kristen Anchors for Natalie Suto Photography 

For full results from the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby, click here. 

Tryon Welcome 2 Division Highlights:

Riding Matinee for Briar Field Farm LLC, Finley Morgan (Concord, NC) was awarded the week’s champion in the Large Pony Hunter Division. Hayden Hunter (Fort Mill, SC) and her own Pitch Perfect Paul claimed division reserve honors. 

Mila Stacey (Pelham, ON) teamed up with Blobby, owned by Cydney Pavan, to win the 1.0m Junior/Amateur Jumper Division champion, with Cristina Pinnow (Winston Salem, NC) and Studd’s Moneypenny taking home reserve. 

The Adult Equitation Division saw Alexis Gallati (Rockford, TN) at the top, partnered with her own Citizen Mezz. Division reserve champion went to Braidee Foote (Knoxville, TN) and Ivanhoe V'T Winkenshof Z.

Charlotte Haney (Hillsborough, NC) piloted Catherine Ludwig’s Goodness Knows to Children’s Hunter Pony 2’/2’6 Division champion, with Reese Wiley (Gaffney, SC) and Exuberance, owned by Madeline Rubin, following up as reserve champions. 

Gastonia, NC’s Olivia Farris ended Tryon Welcome 2 as winner of the .90m Non-Pro Jumper Division, aboard her own Magnolia, with division reserve champion awarded to Clara Mas (Allentown, NJ) and Coco Chanel. 

For full division results from Tryon Welcome 2, click here. 

For results by day from Tryon Welcome 2, click here. 

The Tryon Welcome Series presented by Rug & Home continues with Tryon Welcome 3 hosted April 2-6, with competition free and open to the public. View restaurant and shopping information, entertainment and the events calendar at www.Tryon.com. 

Photos ©Natalie Suto Photography (Sarah Sturgis, Bailey Beck, and Kristen Anchors as noted). These photos may only be used once, in relation to this press release. Competitors may view and purchase competition photos at www.nataliesutophotography.shootproof.com. With questions regarding photography at TIEC, contact media@tryon.com.