Achieving great things requires a dedicated team. Tryon International and its affiliated brands have an average of 250 full-time employees, expanding to over 500 staff during peak seasons. Each month, we will highlight some employees who are celebrating five years or more with Tryon International, recognizing their outstanding contributions. Here are (just a few!) of our May anniversary team members.

Tryon Spring 4 competition marked the first FEI competition of the season at Tryon International Equestrian Center and Resort (Tryon International), highlighted by the $62,000 Earl Scruggs Music Festival Grand Prix CSI 2*. Paul O’Shea (IRL) and Hellcat claimed the win in a time of 33.94 seconds in an exciting jump off competition under the lights in Tryon Stadium. Richie Moloney (IRL) and Skelwith Diamond Lady, the 2014 Anglo European mare (Kalaska de Semilly x Balou du Rouet) owned by Equinimity LLC, received second place honors for their 34.7-second performance, while third place went to Marilyn Little (USA) and La Contessa, the 2015 Mecklenburg mare (License x Cornet’s Prinz) owned by the Palm Beach Show Jumping Group, after stopping the clock at 35.01 seconds. 

the 2024 Yanmar America Eventing Series at Tryon International kicked off with the Tryon International Three-Day Event May 8-12, featuring competition at the international levels CCI 1* through CCI 4*-L. A record 200 entries converged at the Tryon International venue, contesting the White Oak Cross-Country course with designs by Helen West, Beth Perkins, andJeff Kibbe as well as Show Jumping course designs by Bernardo Cabral.

Atop an all-female podium in Saturday night’s $30,000 Nutrena Grand Prix, Delaney Flynn (Windsor, SC) took both first and second with her equine partners. Posting two clear rounds, Flynn marked the fastest time of the night aboard Julieta (Canstakko x Zum Felde), with 39.69 seconds on the clock. Also going double clear to take second with Windsor Show Stables’ 2014 Holsteiner mare Cassinnia (Casilito x Senora), Flynn secured her second place podium spot with a jump off time of 40.90 seconds.

 Yanmar America is thrilled to announce its sponsorship of Tryon International for the 2024 Eventing season, beginning with the Tryon International Three-Day Event presented by Yanmar, May 8-12 in Mill Spring, NC. This prestigious event highlights top-notch equestrian talent across various levels of competition, including CCI 1* -S, CCI 2*-S, CCI 3*-S, CCI 4*-S, CCI 2*-L, CCI 3*-L, and CCI 4*-L. As the Official Sponsor of Tryon International, Yanmar’s support underscores its commitment to the equestrian community and the International Federation of Equestrian Sports’ (FEI) 2024 calendar. 

Tryon Spring Dressage 2 was action-packed amid an already-packed showgrounds, bringing the spotlight to Dressage competition alongside Hunter/Jumper competitions and intercollegiate Equitation and Reining for IHSA Nationals. ‘S’ judges Beverly Rogers and Judy Downer were in the boxes from sunrise to sunset on Saturday and Sunday, judging classes of all levels from Introductory to FEI. 

In conjunction with the first edition of the season of Saturday Night Lights presented by Stuller Power Solutions at Tryon International, Jimmy Torano (Wellington, FL) and Kochio Z (Kannan x Datura Z) dashed to first to win the $75,000 Tryon Grand Prix. The only double clear of the night, Torano and the 2014 Zangersheide gelding took on Manuel Esparza’s track to mark a jump off time of 41.72 seconds. Continuing a successful week aboard her own Otto BH (Norton D'eole x D-armel Van't Kamerveld) to take second in the Grand Prix was Amanda Derbyshire (Wellington, FL). Derbyshire and the 2012 Zangersheide stallion incurred one jumping fault with a time of 39.10 seconds. Completing the top three was Luke Jensen (Denton, TX) and ABC Quantum Cruise (O.B.O.S Quality OO4 x Ardnehue Diamond Cruiser), the 2009 Irish Sport Horse. Jensen and the gelding owned by Wyndmont Inc. incurred eight jumping faults and finished with a time of 42.43 seconds.

The Tryon Spring Series presented by Main Street Insurance kicked off this week with Tryon Spring 1, hosted April 30-May 5. Coming off their reserve honors in Wednesday’s Open Jumper Classic, Amanda Derbyshire (Wellington, FL) and Otto BH (Norton D'eole x D-armel Van't Kamerveld) capitalized on their success to win Thursday’s $30,000 ProElite Welcome Stake.

Tryon International kicked off their spring in the sandbox with the first national dressage show of the season, Tryon Spring Dressage 1. Two arenas remained in full throttle from Friday to Sunday (April 19-21), all levels judged by four star judges Kristi Wysocki and Agnes Billington. Classes ranging from Grand Prix to FEI and national freestyles, and even a Pas de Deux, made for an exciting weekend for riders and spectators.

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.

It takes a Team to do incredible things. Tryon International and its brands employ an average of 250 full-time employees and more than 500 staff at peak seasons. Each month, we’ll be featuring some employees celebrating five years or more at Tryon International and celebrating the great work they do every day. Meet (just a few!) April anniversary team members below.

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.

Finding victory once again with her talented team of horses, Morgan Ashby (Ocala, FL) closed out Tryon International’s Welcome Series with a win in Sunday’s $20,000 Grand Prix. This time, Ashby was paired with her own Dutchess Carola (Contados x Korsika II). Ashby and her mare ended the day double clear, completing the jump off with 36.54 seconds on the clock. Following Ashby in second was Doug Payne (Rougemont, NC) and Issy Kelly’s 2013 warmblood gelding, Chaccolate RFB (Chacco Blue x Wolrusa). Regulars at Tryon International, Payne and Chaccolate RFB secured 37.55 seconds in the jump off. Capping off the top three with a time of 36.63, incurring four jumping faults, was Sophia Segesman (Aiken, SC), and Georgy Maskrey-Segesman’s Quitana 11 (Quick Star x Gina XII), the 2006 Holsteiner mare.

Once again seeing success in Tryon Stadium, Maryann Charles (Southern Pines, NC) closed out the third week of Tryon International’s Welcome Series in style. Charles and her 2008 Oldenburg mare Call Me Maybe (Canto x Clonee Temple 2) clocked 38.68 seconds in the jump off to be the fastest of the day. Paired with Ballon Bleu D’Arco (Amaretto D Arco x Papilon), Ponce Tidwell Jr.’s 2013 Belgian Warmblood stallion, John Brown (Mill Spring, NC) slotted into second place with a 40.04 second jump off time. Morgan Ashby (Denver, NC) marked 40.78 seconds to earn third place with Allen Nabors’ Bon Chatsworth Pierre (Revaou De La Bergerie x Little Star Z), the 2011 Zangersheide gelding.

Delivering fast and clean rounds in the $20,000 Grand Prix, Morgan Ashby (Denver, NC) claiming two of the top three podium placings in Tryon Stadium. Eliza Derstine’s Kilkenny Ecco was Ashby’s first mount in the jump off, laying down the winning round of 37.79 seconds. Hanna Toering (Waterford, VA) and Spy Coast Farm LLC’s Piranha SCF (Diktator Van De Boslandhoeve x Beluga), the 2015 Belgian Warmblood mare, were second in the class, putting 40.19 seconds on the clock. With a time of 40.76 seconds, Ashby rounded out the top three aboard her own Dutchess Carola (Contados x Korsika II), the 2011 Holsteiner mare.

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.

Finishing out Tryon Welcome 1 with a win in the $20,000 Mini Prix, Maryann Charles (Southern Pines, NC) and her own Call Me Maybe (Canto x Clonee Temple 2) were one of only two double clears, with a 38.70 second jump off. Marking 40.14 seconds in the jump off, Florian Ferry (Wiliston, SC) collected reserve honors with Chaccolady (Chacco Blue x Landlady), Agathe Heurteux’s 2010 Hanoverian mare. Claire Connaghan (Southern Pines, NC) and her own 2015 warmblood gelding Figment (Quincy Car x Filigree), stopped jump of timers at 38.88 seconds, incurring four jumping faults, to put them in third place.

From the top of a high green hill, Mark Bellissimo and Roger Smith looked upon a valley with rolling hills and wild terrain and envisioned a global equestrian resort that would become Tryon International. That dream now celebrates 10 years of hosting the world’s top equestrian sport and creating millions of dollars in economic impact. 

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.