Kara Chad (CAN) and Igor GPH claimed a win in Thursday’s $39,000 ProElite Welcome Stake CSI 3* at Tryon International Equestrian Center & Resort (Tryon International) at Tryon Fall 5, stopping the jump off timers in 40.43 seconds to win by two seconds. Richie Moloney (IRL) piloted Ermes di Tai, the 2014 Selle Français stallion (Canturano x L'arc De Triomphe) owned by Frog Pond Stables, to a time of 42.50 seconds to claim reserve honors. Caroline Mawhinney (USA) rode to a time of 43.23 seconds and third place with Dance du Buisson Z, her own 2011 Zangersheide mare (Dutch Capitol Z x Favoritas XX). 

Nayel Nassar (EGY) and longtime mount Coronado were the sole horse-and-rider pair to go double clear in Tryon Stadium as part of Saturday Night Lights presented by Tryon Horse & Home, scoring the winning payday in the 328’000 CHF Land Rover Asheville Grand Prix CSI 4* in a time of 45.24 seconds. Dropping one rail and posting a time of 43.45 seconds, Paul O’Shea (IRL) and Imerald Van’t Voorhof, the 2008 Belgian Warmblood gelding (Emerald x Bacardi Orange De Muze) owned by Imerald Partners LLC, rode to reserve honors.

In a thrilling evening class under the lights of Tryon Stadium, Amanda Derbyshire (GBR) and Otto BH (Norton D’eole x Toulon) were crowned the winners of the 112’500 CHF ProElite Welcome Stake CSI 4* in a jump off time of 41.17 seconds. Just a breath behind to take reserve was Conor Swail (IRL) and Vital Chance (Diamant De Semilly x Rivage Du Poncel), the 2009 Selle Français gelding owned by Mannon Farm, recording a time of 41.18 seconds. Rounding out the Welcome Stake podium with a time of 41.46 seconds was Shane Sweetnam (IRL) and James Kann Cruz (Kannan x Cruising), the 2013 Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Gizmo Partners, LLC.

The WCRA (World Champions Rodeo Alliance) closed out the final leg of their 2023 WCRA Triple Crown of Rodeo (TCR) Sunday evening at the inaugural Rodeo Carolina in Mill Spring, North Carolina at Tryon International. The event marked Saddle Bronc rider Isaac Diaz’s (Desdemona, Texas) third stop en route to winning the Triple Crown of Rodeo.

Recording a jump off time of 33.37 seconds, the $78,000 Nutrena Grand Prix CSI 2* win was collected by Aaron Vale (USA) and Elusive (Rodrigo x Capfuncino), the 2009 Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Thinks Like A Horse. Stopping the jump off timers at 34.11 seconds to take reserve honors was Sharn Wordley (NZL) and Della Wordley’s 2008 Hanoverian gelding, Mick Jagger (Chacco Blue x Acentora). Rounding out the podium with a 34.28 second jump off round was Luiz Francisco De Azevedo (BRA) and HFG Quaman (Diamant De Semilly x Quidam’s Rubin), the 2013 BH gelding owned by Santa Cecilia Stables LLC. 

October 5, 2023 - Mill Spring, NC - Competing against fifty-one preliminary entries, Kristen Vanderveen (USA) aboard Bull Run's Jireh (Uriko x Colman) dominated the jump off with a time of 35.71 seconds $39,000 ProElite Welcome Stake CSI 2*. Claiming reserve honors, marking 36.87 seconds in the jump off, was Aaron Vale (USA) with I.adermie R 4 (Den Ham Blue R x Namelus R), the 2013 Dutch Warmblood mare owned Thinks Like A Horse. Nicky Galligan (IRL) riding the 2013 Belgian Warmblood mare VDL Nikita Van De Leeuwerk (Zavall VDL x Argentinus), owned by the Santa Rosa Group stopped jump off timers at 37.56 seconds to complete the podium. 

Saturday Night Lights presented by Tryon Horse & Home saw yet another thrilling night of show jumping featuring the $30,000 WCRA Grand Prix. Twenty-six competitors competed under the lights of Tryon Stadium, with Sharn Wordley (Citra, FL) and Mick Jagger being crowned the champions.

Ahead of the WCRA’S (World Champions Rodeo Alliance) inaugural Rodeo Carolina in Mill Spring, North Carolina, the richest rodeo East of the Mississippi, the organization today announced the 207 athletes who will compete at the final 2023 Triple Crown of Rodeo (TCR) event, as the intense battle to be crowned a WCRA Triple Crown of Rodeo victor approaches a climactic end October 6-8 at Tryon International Equestrian Center & Resort.

The first fall edition of Saturday Night Lights presented by Tryon Horse & Home welcomed an enthusiastic crowd to the Tryon Stadium for the $25,000 ProElite Grand Prix, with Brittni Raflowitz (Palm City, FL) and Spitfire (Numero Uno x Volympia Van’t Heike) taking top honors in a time of 34.56 seconds in the jump off.

The Fork at Tryon International presented by Yanmar America celebrated its debut on the September calendar at Tryon International Equestrian Center & Resort (Tryon International), welcoming more than 200 horses and riders to compete at the national and international levels.

Gladys, Va. ­– Sept. 8, 2023 – The Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association (IHSA) leadership has signed a three-year agreement with Tryon International in Mill Spring, North Carolina, to host the IHSA National Championship starting this season. The 2024 event will be held May 2-5, 2024. IHSA Nationals at Tryon International will host nearly 500 riders from across the U.S. and Canada competing in all levels of hunter seat equitation and Western divisions, including horsemanship, ranch riding and reining.

Tuesday, September 5, 2023 (Columbus, OH) – The Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) is proud to announce that they will host the 2024 Intercollegiate Dressage Association (IDA) National Championships alongside their own IEA Hunt Seat and Dressage National Finals on April 25-28, 2024 at Tryon International Equestrian Center in Mill Spring, North Carolina. 

Visit Tryon International for an unforgettable girls’ getaway for all who love horses. Situated in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the 1,600-acre resort is conveniently located an hour from Asheville and Charlotte, North Carolina, and Greenville, South Carolina, for endless exploration.

As Tryon International’s Official Photographer for all Hunter/Jumper shows at the venue, Natalie Suto can be seen all across the showgrounds photographing competitors in the show ring and capturing unique behind-the-scenes moments. Natalie began taking photos at Tryon International in 2021, and employs a talented team of photographers to capture equestrian athletes’ photos and all their favorite moments. We sat down with Natalie to learn more about her journey as a young entrepreneur, her history with Tryon International, and how she got started in photography.

Wrapping up the Tryon Summer Finale 1, Penny Brennan (Ocala, FL) aboard Vertigo Delorme (Chacco Blue x Faretana) claimed a win in the $15,000 1.30m Mini Prix at Tryon International Equestrian Center & Resort (Tryon International). Earning reserve honors with a jump off time of 35.337 seconds was Doug Payne (Rougemont, NC) and The Windwood Group’s 2008 Dutch Warmblood stallion Damokles (Ukato x Orindy). Rounding out the podium with third place was the 2011 Holsteiner gelding Vintage (Verdi TN x Wanda VI) owned by Blue Trim LLC and rider Juan Ortiz (Loxahatchee, FL), completing the jump off in 37.262 seconds. 

While the world-class arenas and barns of Tryon International Equestrian Center & Resort (Tryon International) typically host Hunter-Jumper, Eventing and Dressage competitions, western sports arrive at the venue October 6-8, 2023, for World Champions Rodeo Alliance (WRCA) Rodeo Carolina. The east coast’s best rodeo athletes will vie for a guaranteed payout of over $400,000 over three days of competition, including bareback riding, women’s breakaway roping, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, team roping, tie-down roping, barrel racing, and bull riding. 

Teddy has been one of Tryon International’s trusty hobby horses since the very start of the North American Hobby Horse Series™, participating in every single event Saturdays in July and October. As the official “catch ride” stick horse of the American Hobby Horse Series presented by Young Rider, Teddy is ready to step in should a competitor need to borrow a hobby horse. He can be distinguished by his bright blue bridle, white blaze, chestnut body and brown mane. Teddy was kind enough to allow an interview between his busy training schedule. 

Tryon International Equestrian Center & Resort (Tryon International) is the ultimate destination for all who love horses, outdoor living, and an active lifestyle. We offer first-class facilities for equestrian events of all levels and disciplines, located in the Blue Ridge Foothills of Mill Spring, NC.

Earning gold in the USHJA 1.40/1.45m Platinum Jumper Champ Team Final was Team Constantine which consisted of Leah Curtiss (Mobile, AL) riding Fortuna from Zone 7, Natalee Haggan (Copper Hill Cir, TX) aboard MTM Hyperion Z from Zone 7, and Kacy Smith (Ashburn, VA) with Chicago M from Zone 3. Receiving silver was Team Augustus from Zone 3 who consisted of John Angus (Mooresboro, NC) riding Dominator, Kama Godek (Fairfax Station, VA) aboard Conny 409, and Addison Reed (Mechanicsville, VA) with Goliath.