Theresa Tolar Dominates the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby with a Clean Sweep

Andrea Torres rides Picara Polka Amouretta to the Top in the LeMieux $15,000 Welcome Stake

GSS Marketing $3,000 Open Jumper Stake Win goes to Fabian Herrera aboard Accelerator

For immediate release

Leyla Caynak for Tryon International

Mill Spring, NC - September 26, 2025 - It was a clean sweep for local rider, Theresa Tolar (Forest City, NC) during the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby. There were ten trips to complete the Seth Clayton course, and Tolar claimed the top three spots with her three separate mounts. The excitement of Tolar’s tricolor achievement had not set in yet, but she expressed “I'm just proud that all three of those horses gave their all today!”

Theresa Tolar and Eagle Rare K Z in their Tricolor Presentation Photo
©Chelsey Somohano for Natalie Suto Photography

First in the order-of-go and first in the class with a score of 168, was Eagle Rare K Z (Joly Spot K Z x Carafree K), owned by Stephanie Easler. Still fairly new to the derby world, the 2017 Warmblood gelding surprised rider Theresa Tolar the most - “He’s done a handful of derbies, but that was definitely his best one! For him to hold the lead the whole time was really impressive.”

Theresa Tolar and Eagle Rare K Z
©Chelsey Somohano for Natalie Suto Photography

It was Tolar’s first time showing Ahron EP (Acorado's Ass x Seven Wonders) in the hunter ring. Recalling her performance with the Laura Leigh Lewis mount, “That was probably my favorite trip of the day! He is really handy, and jumps really well.” The 2014 Rhineland gelding scored the highest handy round score of the class, 91 points, and earned reserve honors.

Theresa Tolar and Ahron EP
©Chelsey Somohano for Natalie Suto Photography

“Every class is fun on that one” is how Tolar described her partnership with Stephanie Easler’s Vanilla Ice (Light My Fire X Korinna). The “reliable” 2017 Hanoverian gelding earned third place after their 165 point performance, just one point behind Tolar’s other mount Ahron EP. “I'd like to extend a big thank you to their [Eagle Rare K Z, Ahron EP, and Vanilla Ice] owners, because I really had a lot of fun today, and I appreciate them letting me ride their horses!” Tolar concluded.

Theresa Tolar and Vanilla Ice
©Chelsey Somohano for Natalie Suto Photography

For the full results from the $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby, click here.

GSS Marketing $3,000 Open Jumper Stake Win goes to Fabian Herrera aboard Accelerator

September 26, 2025 - Fabian Herrera (Charlotte, NC) and his 2012 Warmblood gelding Accelerator (Accelerator x Bazylia), jumped for the win - with the fastest dash for the cash in the jump-off round, stopping the timers at 31.968 seconds. Earning second place aboard Stella Stinnett’s 2017 Dutch Warmblood gelding VDL Morning Star (Carrera Vdl x Unknown) was rider, Flip De Wandel (Mechanicsburg, PA). Also stepping onto the podium during the Fall 1 GSS Marketing Open Jumper Stake, Amelia Nowicki (Inman, SC) piloted her 2014 Belgian Warmblood gelding, Oh Say Can You See (Diktator Van De Boslandhoeve x Miss Independent) to a yellow ribbon.

Fabian Herrera and Accelerator
©Trinity Keterer for Natalie Suto Photography

For the full results from the GSS Marketing $3,000 Open Jumper Stake, click here.

Andrea Torres rides Picara Polka Amouretta to the Top in the LeMieux $15,000 Welcome Stake

September 25, 2025 - Competing fifth out of the eleven entries and maintaining their lead in the LeMieux $15,000 Welcome Stake was Andrea Torres (Wellington, FL) aboard Picara Polka Amouretta (Kannan x Wolinda). Producing one of only two double-clear rounds, Torres claimed the blue. Filip De Wandel (Mechanicsburg, PA) rode the Five Way Farm LLC 2018 Belgian Warmblood gelding mount Strongbeau (Mosito Van Het Hellehof x Jennatrice Dw) to the second double-clear performance of the afternoon, receiving the reserve honors title. Completing Thursday’s podium, was the Ponce Tidwell Jr. entry 2013 Belgian Warmblood gelding, Ballon Bleu (Amaretto D Arco x Papilon) and rider John Brown (Mill Spring, NC) with the fastest of the four jumping fault rounds.

Happy to have the 2015 Belgian Warmblood mare by her side for the past three years, Andrea Torres shared some insight to their partnership “She's [Picara Polka Amouretta] always been so amazing, so competitive, so quick off the ground, and a very very careful horse. She's just one that goes in there and wants to do her best!”

With their goal of “stepping up to the FEI level” Torres commented on her performance, “ I just tried to go in there and be as smooth as possible. I saw that the jump off combination was causing a lot of issues, so I made sure that we got there just right, with a little bit of patience.” Torres continued, “She [Picara Polka Amouretta] was fantastic, as she’s naturally quick! At the end I relaxed, and everything came around right on stride - it worked out for us!”

Explaining their Tryon International experience as their “favorite show in the U.S.” and “It’s absolutely refreshing!” Torres concluded, “We always stop on our way up to New York, and it's just the perfect place to just set up the horses for a fantastic summer. On the way back from New York, we always stop for the Fall, and it's just incredible, my favorite shows are in the fall!”

For the full results from the LeMieux $15,000 Welcome Stake, click here.

You can look forward to watching Andrea Torres and Picara Polka Amouretta compete in this weekend’s LeMieux $30,000 Grand Prix at 7:30PM! The Saturday Night Lights festivities presented by Skyla Credit Union will begin at 4:00PM, so come out to enjoy free family-fun activities, delicious bites-to-eat, and thrilling equestrian competition! Special performance by Double Dan Horsemanship will be held at 5:00PM in Ring 1. Learn more at www.Tryon.com/snl.

The Tryon Fall Series presented by Coca-Cola continues through Sunday, October 26th and features Hunter and Jumper competition. View details and learn more about ongoing events at Tryon.com/allevents.

Photos ©Natalie Suto Photography (Chelsey Somohano and Trinity Keterer as noted). These photos may only be used once, in relation to this press release. Competitors may view and purchase competition photos at www.nataliesutophotography.shootproof.com. With questions regarding photography at Tryon International, contact media@tryon.com.

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GSS Marketing $3,000 Open Jumper Stake Win goes to Fabian Herrera aboard Accelerator

Andrea Torres rides Picara Polka Amouretta to the Top in the LeMieux $15,000 Welcome Stake

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