Liza Towell Boyd (Camden, SC) and Crooner Brimbelles Z (Windows VH Costersveld x Rare des Brimbelles Z) claimed top honors in Friday’s $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby presented by Equiline, scoring 366 points over two rounds. Boyd also piloted Ondine D’Orleans (Vigo D'arsouilles x Coco Chanel Z), the Finally Farm, Inc.’s 2014 Belgian Warmblood mare, to a score of 358 for reserve honors. Victoria Free (Fayetteville, GA) and Step Up (Cabana x Speak Up), the 2016 Hanoverian gelding owned by Andrea Block, rounded out the podium on a score of 347 points. 

WELLINGTON, Fla. - Oct. 22, 2024 - The former majority owners of Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, Mark Bellissimo, Marsha Dammerman, Lisa Lourie, and Roger Smith (“the Partners”), formed a new entity called WI FL Acquisition, LLC (“the Company”) to acquire Wellington International. The Company announced today that it signed a binding agreement to acquire Wellington International from Global Equestrian Group (“GEG”). Effective upon close of the transaction, Murray S. Kessler will lead Wellington International as Chief Executive Officer.

Aboard St. Bride’s Farm’s Baloutinue, Laura Kraut (USA) jumped to first place in Thursday’s Premier Equestrian Grand Prix Qualifier CSI5*, besting 41 total teams. Kraut put 36.33 seconds on the clock for the win, ahead of Tryon Fall 5’s feature Major League Show Jumping classes this week. Ashlee Bond (ISR) rode Donatello 141 (Diarado x Lamoureux I), her own 2011 Westphalian gelding to second place in the class, with a time of 36.54 seconds. Taking third with Vital Chance De La Roque (Diamant De Semilly x Rivage Du Poncel), Conor Swail (IRL) piloted the Mannon Farm-owned 2009 Selle Français gelding to a jump off time of 37.02 seconds. 

Notching another victory under the lights of Tryon Stadium with a win in the $120,000 Stuller Power Solutions Grand Prix CSI 3*, Jacqueline Ruyle (USA) layed out a double clear effort, partnered with San Chano (Sandro Boy x Chacco-Blue). Ruyle and San Chano toured the Nicholas Granat (USA) jump off course in 37.24 seconds to claim the top podium spot. Conor O’Regan (IRL) rode the 2012 Belgian Warmblood gelding, Manchester (Quidam De Revel x Codex), owned by Delshore Horses LLC, to reserve honors on a time of 38.71 seconds. Joining his fellow Irishman on the podium, Richie Moloney and  Equinimity LLC’s Coco Beach (Casall x San Patrignano Corrado), the 2012 Holstiener mare, marked 39.46 seconds in the jump off to place third. 

Note: this is the final of our daily updates regarding Hurricane Helene relief efforts. Stay tuned for periodic updates still to come!

Wednesday October 9 concluded our drive-through emergency supply center operations at Tryon International, with more than 9,876 people served since October 3, by our best estimates. The response of our community, with both donations and helping hands, has been absolutely overwhelming for our team to witness. 

Since Wednesday, our team of staff and volunteers have begun sending any remaining supplies to other nonprofits, shelters and supply distribution points throughout the region so that they can be utilized in the best possible way. Unless otherwise previously coordinated, we are not accepting any donations of human supplies at this time. 

The Tryon International Fall Three-Day Event & Horse Trials, originally scheduled for October 31-November 3, has been canceled due to damage incurred on the White Oak Cross-Country Course by Hurricane Helene. The remainder of the property was largely unaffected.

Today, Wednesday October 9, concluded our drive-through emergency supply center operations, with more than 9,876 people served since we opened on October 3, by our best estimates. The response of our community, with both donations and helping hands, has been absolutely overwhelming for our team to witness. 

Our work is not over! Recovery for the region as a whole will be a long process, and we are not going anywhere. In collaboration with our friends at Red Bell Run Sanctuary and Fleet of Angels, we will continue to accept donations and distribute animal feed and other livestock supplies daily from 10am-4pm at the Indoor Arena. Our partners are helping ensure that feed, shavings, hay, fencing and other crucial needs are being met throughout the region and in our own backyard. 

To coordinate a donation or pickup of livestock supplies, contact sanctuary@redbellrun.org. 

Click here for a list of locations accepting donations.

Volunteers are still needed to help process remaining supplies for redistribution. Sign up here.

MILL SPRING, N.C.- Due to the unprecedented impacts of Hurricane Helene across Western North Carolina and the greater Atlantic region, WCRA (World Champions Rodeo Alliance), PBR (Professional Bull Riders), and Tryon International have canceled the 2024 Rodeo Carolina. Following the storm, the event had been rescheduled for October 30-November 2 in Mill Spring, North Carolina at the Tryon International Equestrian Center and Resort.

Wednesday, October 9 will be the last day for distribution of human emergency response supplies to individual drive-through vehicles. With careful consideration with the county, in light of numerous organizations in the area that are providing food, water, personal hygiene and home care supplies, our Emergency Relief efforts in this specific capacity will wrap up at 4pm Wednesday. 

All remaining products at that time will be distributed to non-profits in the region that have long term opportunities for distribution or use of these items. Tryon International will, however, continue to distribute hay, feed, all livestock feed, chicken feed, dog food, cat food, cat litter, etc. daily from 10am-4pm. 

Supply Distribution Center: 
Tryon International Indoor Complex
2676 John Shehan Rd, Mill Spring NC 28756

Open DAILY 12-4pm
Tuesday October 8-Sunday, October 13

Free supplies are available to anyone who needs them, for humans, pets and livestock. This distribution center will operate as a drive-through, staffed with volunteers and Tryon International team members, as part of the Polk County network of disaster relief locations. Follow signs for drive-through pick up. 

Atrium Health’s Med-1 Mobile Hospital, located at Exit 170 at the roundabout, is FREE for anyone who needs medical care, access to prescriptions, and more. Open 24/7. Please spread the word!

Dear Neighbors and Friends: 

Your response to the request for supplies and goods that we could share with families across our region has been amazing. The numbers of volunteers that have come to assist, in the process of gathering and distributing, has been far beyond our expectations. THANK YOU! THANK YOU! By our best estimates, more than 5,588 individuals have received items from the distribution center October 3-6, and still many other bulk loads of supplies have been sent to various Western NC communities.  

Supply Distribution Center: 
Tryon International Indoor Complex
2676 John Shehan Rd,
Mill Spring NC 28756

Supply Distribution Center Open DAILY 10am-6pm through Sunday, October 13

Free supplies are available to anyone who needs them, for humans, pets and livestock. This distribution center will operate as a drive-through, staffed with volunteers and Tryon International team members, as part of the Polk County network of disaster relief locations. Follow signs for drive-through pick up. 

Supply Distribution Center: 
Tryon International Indoor Complex
2676 John Shehan Rd, Mill Spring NC 28756

Supply Distribution Center Open DAILY 10am-6pm through Sunday, October 13

Free supplies are available to anyone who needs them, for humans, pets and livestock. This distribution center will operate as a drive-through, staffed with volunteers and Tryon International team members, as part of the Polk County network of disaster relief locations. Follow signs for drive-through pick up. 

Supply Distribution Center Open DAILY 10am-6pm through Sunday, October 6
Extension to be announced based on community need

Free supplies are available to anyone who needs them, for humans, pets and livestock. This distribution center will operate as a drive-through, staffed with volunteers and Tryon International team members, as part of the Polk County network of disaster relief locations. Follow signs for drive-through pick up or drop off of supplies. 

Tryon International, in collaboration with county officials and community volunteers, is launching a multi-day supply and food distribution center at the venue’s Indoor Complex, open daily from 10am-6pm for both donation drop-offs and distribution to families in need. Read more about volunteer and donation opportunities, as well as more hurricane relief resources.

Tryon International continues to host first responders. The NC Emergency Management Field Hospital has been set up today, with operations beginning Wednesday. Beginning Thursday, October 3, a supply distribution and donation drop off point will be open from 10am-6pm daily for free supplies available to anyone who needs them, for humans, pets and livestock. This distribution center will operate as a drive-through, staffed with volunteers and Tryon International team members, as part of the Polk County network of disaster relief locations. Follow signs for drive-through pick up or drop off of supplies.

Tryon International continues to house emergency personnel on property, and power has been restored to property and to some of our neighbors as of 6:30pm Monday evening. We have plenty of places to charge phones and to connect to free Guest Wifi for our local neighbors who need to recharge or connect with loved ones.

The NC Emergency Management Field Hospital is currently being set up with completion expected on Tuesday and operations beginning Wednesday. 

A Letter from Tryon Equestrian Partners President, Sharon Decker

Dear Friends and Neighbors in Western North Carolina and the Upstate of South Carolina:

Tryon International has become an emergency command center for response to the devastation that has happened all around us.  We are thankful to be able to do this.  Since last Thursday, the day before the storm, we have housed and fed FEMA's Search and Rescue Team out of NYC, the National Forest Service, The US Border Service, Rutherford Electric and Co-Op Groups from the Southeast.  On Tuesday of this coming week, we will support the location of a NC Emergency Management hospital on the property.  We do not yet have power, as so many of you are experiencing, but once again, I am amazed by our incredible team that always seems to make things happen. 

Jacqueline Ruyle (Navasota, TX) kicked off the Tryon Fall Series presented by Coca-Cola with style, collecting a win in the $20,000 Cleghorn Golf & Sports Club Grand Prix with equine teammate Cyramo Z (Clarimo x Cyprus). Clocking in a double clear effort with her mare, Ruyle clinched the Grand Prix win on a jump off time of 37.87 seconds. Fernando Cardenas (New Hill, NC), who held the lead until Ruyle’s surge to the top, recorded a time of 39.75 seconds to claim reserve honors with Cool Ray NA, the 2014 North American Warmblood stallion owned by B&C LLC. Taking the third podium spot with 41.75 seconds on the timers, Brittni Raflowitz (Palm City, FL) rode Semilly F (Copyright C x Brisa De Ibio), the 2011 Spanish Sport Horse mare, for Ashlee Bond Show Jumping.

The Tryon International Equestrian Center hosted the 2024 USEF Combined Driving National Championship for Advanced Ponies last week, welcoming some of the country’s top driving athletes to compete among the full slate of driving classes at the Tryon Fall CDE.