The best way to describe Tryon Riding and Hunt Club’s (TR&HC) Morris the Horse Trials is “strengthening its roots as it looks to the future.” This year’s event on October 22 & 23 at the Foothills Equestrian Nature Center (FENCE) marks 47 years of the competition set in the picturesque North Carolina Foothills. Part of Morris’s “roots” are exemplified by this year’s organizer Molly Bull and technical delegate Erin Stormont, both of whom grew up competing at this same event.
For 2022, Morris’ new course designer Beth Perkins brings the credentials of being a local resident, an “R’ rated course designer, an international competitor, and a member of one of the earliest eventing families. (The USEA Lady Rider of the Year Trophy is perpetually awarded in honor of Beth’s mother, Essie Perkins.)
A new course builder, Dylan Barry, with international credentials, will work alongside Beth to produce a confidence-building and fun course. Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) has loaned cross-country jumps to update the Morris cross-country track.
Encouraging the Camaraderie
TR&HC is hosting a Competitor’s Low Country Boil dinner on Friday evening. Additionally, Morris is following the USEA’s lead by offering Intercollegiate Teams and the Interscholastic Leagues who receive a free tack stall. Through the T.I.P. awards, Morris acknowledges those who have retrained Thoroughbreds to become event horses.
Responding to the Competitors
Feedback from competitors and trainers led to the decision to add an “Intro” level this year with jumps at a maximum of 18 inches. This is in keeping with the low-key and friendly atmosphere of Morris, which is the hallmark of its hometown - Tryon!
More information on Morris the Horse Trials is available at tryonridingandhuntclub.org and the Omnibus (Area III).
After not running in 2020 and 2021, the MARS Bromont CCI Three-Day Event returned to the Bromont Olympic Equestrian Center in Quebec, Canada, in 2022. America's Jennie Saville (née Brannigan) and Twilightslastgleam won the CCI4*-L, as the chestnut Thoroughbred gelding (National Anthem x Royal Child) bred and owned by Nina Gardner moved up from eighth after dressage into the lead after cross-country with the fastest round on wet ground over the tracks designed by Derek di Grazia. Canada's Lindsay Traisnel and Bacyrouge, a bay Selle Français gelding (Mylord Carthago x Lelia) owned by Patricia Pearce, finished second, and they are among four from the top-10 in the CCI4*-L in 2022 that return in 2023.
Hannah Sue Hollberg of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, was on a winning streak at the Essex Horse Trials on Sunday, claiming victory in both the $10,000 Open Intermediate and Open Preliminary divisions with two horses that are fairly new to her. Some difficulty on cross-country did not stop her mount Hachi from claiming victory in the Open Intermediate with a score of 101.6, while Open Preliminary partner Rockster finished on his dressage score of 27.3.
The great football coach Vince Lombardi said, “We win our games in practice.” With the goal of having the most effective practices possible for horses, their riders, and their coaches, Cathy Wieschhoff explains some signs that can indicate when horse and rider should repeat an exercise, switch it up, or be done with that activity. Wieschhoff brings perspective as a five-star rider that has competed at the Kentucky Three-Day Event and Burghley Horse Trials, a USEF “R” Course Designer for eventing cross-country and show jumping, a former Area VIII chair and member of the USEA Board of Governors, and a Level V USEA ECP Certified Coach based out of Carriage Station Farm in Lexington, Kentucky.
The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team for the FEI Eventing Nations Cup Poland CCIO4*-NC-S at the Strzegom Horse Trials (Poland) from June 21-25, 2023. The team will be under the direction of USEF Eventing Emerging and Development Coach Leslie Law.