United States Eventing Association

Tryon International Equestrian Center's Cross-Country Tracks Ready for the AEC

Dear Eventing Enthusiasts,

We are looking forward to hosting the Nutrena USEA American Eventing Championships presented by Land Rover (AEC) at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) in four short weeks. It is exciting to know that at this time we now already have over 500 entries for this year’s event. The cross-country course is ready and we are doing the final grooming and preparation for the AEC.

Next week, we will release course maps for the AEC along with an aerial drone series outlining each track. At last week’s U.S. Pony Club (USPC) Championships East, Preliminary, Training, Novice and Beginner Novice courses were run on the derby field and adjoining all weather arenas. Course designer, Mark Phillips, along with USPC, felt this layout would work well for the USPC Championships East, offering a challenging course while also making it very spectator friendly. It is true that the courses did not extend to the new cross-country tracks.

One of the new Tryon gallop tracks to be utilized at the AEC. Lisa Slade Photo

We are now focused on the AEC and from our learning at the USPC Championships East, we will make our guest experience even better. We will be using the entire newly constructed and highly engineered gallop tracks recently reported on by The Chronicle of the Horse. We are finishing up the strategically placed hospitality and viewing areas along the course and ensuring we have ease of traffic flow both by car to TIEC and by foot, shuttle or golf cart once on the property. In addition, we are making multiple changes in our food venues and food offerings that are sure to be well received.

There was significant interest in the cross-country portion of eventing and the spectator stands were full for the event, as visitors familiar and unfamiliar with the sport cheered on riders as they made their way through the course. Riders and parents, alike, expressed appreciation for the visibility and spectator support. We anticipate larger crowds for the AEC and will be prepared to accommodate them.

In regard to our general plans for eventing, we fully embrace the traditional cross-country course design in a natural and open setting. To that end, we have invested over 2 million dollars in the new cross-country tracks, most of which will be used at the AEC as mentioned above. In the future we also intend to use some area of the property encompassing what was initially designed as a premier 18-hole golf course. This area of parkland encompasses varied terrain, a large permanent lake for water obstacles and outstanding footing, as one would expect on a golf course.

TIEC is committed to producing quality events for all disciplines in which we undertake, including eventing, and we are sure competitors at the AEC will be enthusiastic about the footing and the courses once they have arrived.

Some have said we are attempting to introduce the showcase format to replace the traditional understanding of cross-country. That is not true. Both formats of the sport hold importance in bringing new fans, new owners and new riders to equestrian sport. We have a deep appreciation for the effort and athleticism needed for the traditional format of cross-country, and as an organization, look forward to hosting the AEC to experience this spectacular sport first hand.

- Sharon Decker
Chief Operating Officer, Carolina Operations
Tryon Equestrian Partners