United States Eventing Association

As we gear up for the summer, the competition season isn’t slowing down and it’s time for one of the staple events on the international calendar in the U.S., the Tryon International Three-Day Event (Mill Spring, North Carolina). This event hosts one of five CCI4*-L events on the U.S. calendar, and this year there are 13 competitors in the field. Continue reading below for more interesting facts pertaining to the event that kicks off this Thursday, May 8.

The CCI4*-S Field

• The CCI3*-S has the largest FEI field of the weekend with 42 pairs entered. The CCI4*-L is the smallest FEI division in terms of competitor numbers with 13.
• New FEI World Eventing No. 1 Boyd Martin is the only rider in the four-star long who has more than one horse entered. He will be riding the Barney Rubble Syndicate’s 11-year-old Hanoverian gelding Barney Rubble (Cador 5 x Gloria) in the horse’s CCI4*-L debut and Liz Halliday’s Paris Olympic Games Partner Cooley Nutcracker, the 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Tolan R x Ballyshan Cleopatra) owned by The Nutcracker Syndicate. Martin also has his longtime partner Tsetserleg TSF, the 18-year-old Trakehner gelding (Windfall II x Thabana) owned by Christine, Thomas, and Tommie Turner, in the CCI4*-S.
• Other first-time horses to the level include:
  • Cisco’s Calor Z owned and ridden by Christina Henrickson
  • Plain Dealing Farm’s Excel Cool Quality ridden by Lucia Strini
  • Redtail Penumbra, the homebred of rider Alexander O’Neal and his wife Elinor Macphail O’Neal
  • and Gabby Dickerson’s mount Traditionally Fernhill who is owned by Roland Millican.
• Woods Baughman and Mandarly Farm, LLC’s 12-year-old Zangersheide gelding (Herald III x Cado de Greenbay) Hopak de Greenbay Z are coming into the competition off of a win at the Advanced level last month at Stable View.

• Twelve is the popular age for horses amongst this field with four entries having turned 12 this year.
• The Irish Sport Horse reigns supreme as the most popular breed on the entry roster with seven entries.
• All of the riders but two are representing the stars and stripes. Lucienne Bellissimo is riding for her home country of Great Britain and Tim Bourke is riding for Ireland.

The Facts:

• Gary Parsnage (GBR) and Ricardo Perez are the technical delegates with Rick Caldwell (USA) assisting.
• Christian Steiner (AUT) is the president of the ground jury of the CCI4*-L and the CCI2*-S with Marilyn Payne (USA) and Nice Attolico Gulielmi (ITA) assisting. Debbie Adams (USA) will be the president of the CCI4*-S and CCI3*-L, assisted by Gretchen Butts (USA), and Sara Leary (USA) will head up the ground jury in the CCI2*-S and CCI1*-L with the assistance of Ashley Johnson (USA).
• Clayton Fredericks (AUS) designed the cross-country track for both four-star divisions, assisted by Elizabeth Perkins (USA), who designed the remainder of the courses.
• Emanuel Esparza (MEX) is the show jumping course designer.
• The CCI4*-S and CCI4*-L serves as a qualifier for the $60,000 Adequan USEA Advanced Final that will take place at the USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Nutrena Feeds.

The Competition Schedule:

Thursday, May 8

• 8:30 a.m. | First horse inspection for the CCI2*-L, CCI4*-L, and CCI3*-L
• Followed by CCI4*-L, CCI2*-L, CCI3*-L, CCI4*-S, and CCI3*-S dressage

Friday, May 9

• 8:00 a.m. | CCI1*-S, CCI2*-S, and CCI3*-S dressage
• 2:30 p.m. | CCI4*-S and CCI3*-S show jumping

Saturday, May 10

• 9:00 a.m. | CCI2*-L, CCI4*-S, CCI4*-L, CCI3*-L, and CCI3*-S cross-country
• 10:00 a.m | CCI2*-S and CCI1*-S show jumping

Sunday, May 11

• 8:30 a.m | Final horse inspection
• Followed by CCI2*-S and CCI*-S cross-country
• And CCI2*-L, CCI4*-L, and CCI3*-L show jumping

Helpful Links

• Tryon International Equestrian Center Website
• USEA Prize List
• Entries
• Schedule of Events
• Live Scores
• USEA’s Coverage

Can't watch the livestream? Follow the USEA event coverage on social media!

Facebook | Instagram | Threads | TikTok