After an action-packed weekend of competitors vying for the top spot at the Katydid CDE (Combined Driving Event) at Tryon International, Raymond Helmuth (Cambridge, IA) and his own Kendro (Globetrotter x Genderose) were crowned champions of the 3* Single Horse division and earned the USEF Combined Driving National Championship for Advanced Single Horses. Placing first across the board in all three phases, Helmuth and Kendro finished out the weekend with 128.35 points. Leslie Berndl (Lexington, KY) and Impressive (First Class x Olizandra), her 2013 Dutch Warmblood gelding, claimed second in the group with 150.31 points. Collecting 158.36 points to take third was Jennifer Thompson (Lodi, WI) and Lexus (Grote Wonder x Werina), her 2016 Dutch Harness Horse gelding.

Tryon Cares presented by iHeart Media, the community outreach initiative of Tryon International, in partnership with valued sponsors Pavillon, CooperRiis, and St. Luke’s Hospital Mental Health and Wellness, is proud to present Mental Health Awareness Month presented by Pavillon, with programming throughout the month of May at the venue. All events are open to the public and showcase the importance of taking care of mental health and wellbeing alongside physical health.

the 76th Tryon Block House Steeplechase hosted more than 3,000 people at the Green Creek Race Course in Green Creek, NC, just minutes from the Tryon International Equestrian Center (Tryon International) and the Tryon Riding & Hunt Club (TR&HC), who partner to produce the historic steeplechase event each spring. Five races took place on good turf track conditions around the 1.16-mile irrigated track.

Tryon International is pleased to announce Glenn Petty has joined the Tryon International team as General Manager, Equestrian Operations, beginning March 18. Petty comes to the venue with a wealth of management experience in the equestrian industry. He served as Manager of the Governor James B. Hunt, Jr. Horse Complex in Raleigh and managed the all-breed and discipline NC State Fair Horse Show for 24 years beginning in 1983. He has most recently been CEO of the Virginia Horse Center. Prior to that, he served as EVP of the Arabian Horse Association.

Earl Scruggs Music Festival will return to Mill Spring, NC August 30-September 1 with a trifecta of outstanding talent, supreme amenities, and family friendly entertainment. This morning, organizers announced the 2024 lineup will include “Delta Dawn'' hitmaker Tanya Tucker, seminal string band Old Crow Medicine Show, country and bluegrass mainstay Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives, Colorado jamgrass ensemble Yonder Mountain String Band, and many more first-class pickers.

February 10, 2024 - Winterfest presented by Stuller Power Solutions offered attendees who visited Tryon International’s drive-through light show November 17-December 31, 2023 a unique opportunity: spot the Grinch before he could turn off the lights, scan the QR code, and enter to win a free generator. More than 7,000 entrants participated in the giveaway, and Meghan Crews of Rutherfordton, NC was the lucky winner of the 22k Home Standby Generator by Generac, on offer from Stuller Power Solutions.

Tryon International Equestrian Center & Resort (Tryon International), together with Stuller Power Solutions, presenting sponsor of 2023 Winterfest at Tryon International, gathered together with members of the media and representatives from Duke Energy and Safelight to present a check for nearly $9,000 to the Western NC nonprofit.

Tryon International is proud to partner with Stuller Power Solutions as the title sponsor of Winterfest 2023, also benefiting local nonprofit Safelight through the giveback initiative, Tryon Cares presented by Duke Energy. This give back initiative recognizes and promotes the work of several local charities and supports fundraising efforts in partnership with Tryon International’s corporate sponsors.

Tryon International Equestrian Center & Resort (Tryon International) is proud to announce the return of Tryon Cares presented by Duke Energy as part of 2023’s Winterfest powered by Stuller Power Solutions. The holiday give-back initiative will support local non-profits in our communities through corporate sponsorships. In addition to the benefits of the Winterfest Sponsorship Package, sponsors were given the opportunity to select a non-profit to support this holiday season.

Drawing an enthusiastic crowd to celebrate the close of the fall show series at Tryon International Equestrian Center & Resort (Tryon International), the $78,000 Biltmore Winery Grand Prix CSI 2* ended in another win for Cathleen Driscoll (USA). The thirty-year-old rider was once again aboard Idalgo (Catoki x Quidam’s Olga M), Sher Al Farm’s 2013 Dutch Warmblood gelding, recording a jump off time of 36.53 seconds. Sharn Wordley (NZL) and Della Wordley’s Mick Jagger, the 2008 Hanoverian gelding (Chacco Blue x Acentora), earned second, stopping jump off timers at 37.17 seconds. Marking a 37.87 second jump off time, Alexandra Worthington (USA) and De L’oiseliere, a 2013 Selle Français gelding, would take third on the podium for Turn A Blind Eye LLC.

With fifty competitors vying for victory at Tryon International Equestrian Center & Resort (Tryon International), Cathleen Driscoll (USA) and Idalgo (Catoki x Quidam’s Olga M) claimed the win in Tryon Fall 6’s $39,000 ProElite Welcome Stake CSI 2*. Driscoll and Idalgo recorded a winning time of 41.83 seconds in the jump off. Kristen VanderVeen claimed the remaining podium spots, marking a time of 42.54 seconds to take reserve honors with Bull Run's Faustino De Tili (Berlin x Darco), her own 2005 Belgian Warmblood stallion.

Management has announced three series of rated Hunter/Jumper competition on the 2024 calendar at Tryon International, with more dates and details still to come. All dates are subject to USEF approval. Read below to learn more and plan your competition vacation!

Saturday Night Lights presented by Tryon Horse & Home hosted 60 entries under the lights in Tryon Stadium for the $146,000 Coca-Cola Grand Prix CSI 3*, with Gonzalo Busca Roca (ESP) riding Classified to victory in a time of 38.65 seconds in jump-off competition. Luiz Francisco De Azevedo (BRA) and Collin, the 2007 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Colandro x Amethist), sped through the timers in a time of 38.96 seconds to earn reserve honors. Rounding out the podium, Aaron Vale (USA) and Carissimo 25, the 2013 Holsteiner gelding (Cascadello x Clinton), posted a time of 39.17 seconds for third place.

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.