Spotlight: Jessica and Doug Payne Reflect on 10 Years at Tryon International
Emma Skelton and McKenna Honeycutt for Tryon International
As Tryon International celebrates its tenth anniversary, we're spotlighting riders who have been with us since the beginning in 2014. Jessica and Doug Payne, owners of Payne Equestrian, a training facility in Rougemont, North Carolina, are among these long-time participants. Competing in Jumpers, Hunters, and Eventing, the Paynes have been integral to our community. Learn more about their journey and experiences at Tryon International below!
Tell us more about your program.
Jessica Payne: Our base is in Rougemont, North Carolina, near Durham. We mostly work with our own clients, many of whom travel with us. We're a full-service facility focused solely on training and competition. We have 26 stalls and 30 acres, including a cross country field for all disciplines and a 125’x200’ all weather arena including a 6’x70’ mirror wall. Currently, we have a diverse group, including two event horses at the 5* level and jumpers from babies to the FEI Grand Prix level. We have a wonderful group of clients ranging from beginners to those competing in the 1.40m classes.
How did you get your start?
Doug Payne: I grew up in New Jersey, near Gladstone, in a family deeply involved in equestrian sports—my mom judged at the Beijing and Rio Games and my sister is a 5* eventing professional. Initially, I pursued a degree in mechanical engineering, not expecting to make a career out of riding. But when the opportunity arose, I made the most of it and haven't looked back.
Jessica Payne: I started riding as a child, doing everything from barrel racing to hunter/jumpers and eventually eventing up to the five-star level. I studied equine science and planned to become a vet. But when the time came to apply for vet school or the Beijing Olympics, I chose the latter and was shortlisted for the Canadian team. You can always go back to school, right? Then I met Doug, and now we have a full business together.
What are some of your biggest achievements?
Doug Payne: I competed in the Tokyo Olympics, where I was the highest-placed American in Eventing, and also being the USEF Five-Star National Champion in 2022, along with several FEI Grand Prix wins. We work with a variety of horses, most of whom we've raised and developed from a young age. Tryon has been a key part of our journey, influencing our decision to settle in North Carolina. We're here about 10-12 weeks a year.
What was your first show at Tryon like?
Doug Payne: Our first experience was a pre-show event where I competed in the Grand Prix.
Jessica Payne: At our first show, rings one and two weren't even built yet, and Barn One was still being finished. We showed in the arenas with screens up above and all around the ring. It was a pre-show, not FEI-sanctioned, with a $50,000 or $75,000 Grand Prix in ring four. The facility has grown so much since then.
What has been your favorite memory at Tryon?
Jessica Payne: We love Saturday Night Lights. It's so fun to come with the kids. We come at four or five o'clock. Our kids are four and six, so they love to get their face painted. I think they know their days of the week so that they can count how many days until Saturday Night Lights! It's fun to watch them run around; it's a lot of fun.
What's your favorite part about coming to Tryon?
Jessica Payne: The people. Honestly, it's so fun. It's so easy to show, it's easy to come into the rings. We're a very efficient barn; we move very fast, and Tryon allows us to keep doing that. We can be at multiple rings all at one time. It's like a second home to us.
Doug Payne: It's the most efficient showground that we go to, period. We can get a lot done without a crazy number of staff. The other nice thing is we can use the hill for fitness, say, for the event horses going into a five-star. Everybody's just so accommodating, and it makes it easy. It's a super relaxed environment and that's so helpful.
To learn more about our ten year history, click here.