Spring 1 Midweek Update: Tryon Spring Series presented by Fields Auto Group
Hayley Waters Wear and Genuine Sail to First in $10,000 USHJA National Junior/Amateur Hunter Derby
Kolbie Watson and J.L. Bean on Top in $2,500 USHJA Pony Hunter Derby presented by Fabbri Boots
Colin Syquia and Jasper De La Tour Get the $10,000 USHJA National Open Hunter Derby Win
Kristen VanderVeen Chases Down a $30,000 LeMieux Welcome Stake Win
For Immediate Release
Rette Solomon and Sarah Madden for Tryon International
Mill Spring, NC – May 2, 2025 – The Tryon Spring Series presented by Fields Auto Group, BMW Asheville, Mercedes Asheville and DEFENDER kicked off with a slew of Hunter action, crowning Hayley Waters Wear (Sparr, FL) and Genuine (Diarado x Kampari W) as the $10,000 USHJA National Junior/Amateur Hunter Derby champions. The winning pair finished the morning with a score of 178 points. Finishing second overall with 175 points was Grace Loughlin (Austin, TX), riding Loughlin Sport Horses’ Briljant Z (Balougran Z x Robijn), the 2008 warmblood gelding. Lilly Sonneborn (Washington, DC) and the 2016 Holsteiner gelding, Big Country (Lord Fauntleroy x Turin 1), owned by Caroline Ingalls, completed the top three on 169.5 points.
“I call him Ralphie,” winner Hayley Waters Wear said of her 2015 Oldenburg gelding. “I’ve had him for three years, and he’s ten now. He’s just the best and most dependable guy ever!”
Hayley Waters Wear and Genuine
©Ariel Berrios for Natalie Suto Photography
The course built by Jasen Shelley challenged the endurance of horse-and-rider teams in the Hunt-N-Go format. “[The course] was a little bit long, so by the end, I thought [Genuine] was a bit tired. I just tried to keep the momentum, but it rode great,” Waters Wear explained.
Grace Loughlin and Briljant Z
©Ariel Berrios for Natalie Suto Photography
With a growing family, Waters Wear is savoring the win. “I’ll actually be having a baby in September, so I don’t know how much longer I’ll get to show!” she shared. “It’s so nice to come here this week and get this result.”
Lilly Sonneborn and Big Country
©Ariel Berrios for Natalie Suto Photography
After a brief hiatus from competing in the Foothills of North Carolina, Waters Wear has had a successful return to Tryon International. “I love Tryon,” she concluded. “We haven’t been back since the pandemic, so it’s really nice to be back again. I think my horses have been jumping great here!”
For full results from the $10,000 USHJA National Junior/Amateur Hunter Derby, click here.
Kolbie Watson and J.L. Bean on Top in $2,500 USHJA Pony Hunter Derby presented by Fabbri Boots
May 2, 2025 – On the return of the $2,500 USHJA Pony Hunter Derby presented by Fabbri Boots, 11 horse-and-rider teams challenged the Skip Bailey-designed course, with Kolbie Watson (Youngsville, NC) ultimately securing the win. Watson collected 160 points over two phases aboard J.L. Bean (JLA Sir William x Penny’s Bonnet), the 2011 Welsh Pony Cross gelding. Claiming reserve in the pony derby was Alston McLane (Birmingham, AL), earning a total of 155 points with Gryffindor, the self-owned 2013 British Riding Pony gelding (Turberry Top Cat x Stanley Grange Revelation). Genevieve Long (Greenville, SC) took third on a total of 153 points, along with her equine partner Mr. Right, the 2014 Dutch Warmblood gelding (Orchard Red Prince x Sabine) owned by High Meadow Equestrian LLC.
“[J.L. Bean] is a catch ride of mine,” derby winner Kolbie Watson explained, riding for Logan Elizabeth Smith. “We qualified last year for Pony Finals. I’ve been riding him for a while, and we’re just trying to get him qualified [again].”
Kolbie Watson and J.L. Bean
©Bill Hunter for Natalie Suto Photography
Marking 85 points in her first trip, Watson detailed her winning strategy. “In the first round I was just trying to keep it classic and clean. [The scores] got close at the end, so I did some more inside turns to set myself apart from everyone else.”
Alston McLane and Gryffindor
©Bill Hunter for Natalie Suto Photography
“It’s been super good,” Watson said of her Tryon experience. “I’ve been coming here since [Tryon] opened, and it’s great!”
Genevieve Long and Mr. Right
©Bill Hunter for Natalie Suto Photography
For full results from the $2,500 USHJA Pony Derby presented by Fabbri Boots, click here.
Colin Syquia and Jasper De La Tour Get the $10,000 USHJA National Open Hunter Derby Win
May 2, 2025 – The first in a trio of derbies hosted during Tryon Spring 1, the $10,000 USHJA National Open Hunter Derby welcomed 17 competitors to the Reynolds Family Grand Hunter Ring, with Colin Syquia (Wellington, FL) emerging as the winner with Jasper De La Tour (Dollar Du Rouet x Hymne Van Spieveld), the 2019 Selle Français gelding owned by Constance Hunter. The winning team scored a pair of 88 points on the Jasen Shelley track to find the top of the podium with a 176 point total. Also taking second, Syquia piloted Saloua (Chacoon Blue x Balunuschka) Chilmark Farm LLC’s 2018 Belgian Warmblood mare, to earn a score of 172 points. Cooper Dean (Fayette, AL) and Star Struck (Bisquet Balou VD Mispelaere x Espoir D’Api), the 2013 Belgian Warmblood gelding owned by Alston McLane, ended on a score of 168 points, earning the pair third place in the derby.
Colin Syquia and Jasper De La Tour
©Ariel Berrios for Natalie Suto Photography
For full results from the $10,000 USHJA National Open Hunter Derby, click here.
Kristen VanderVeen Chases Down a $30,000 LeMieux Welcome Stake Win
May 1, 2025 – Kristen VanderVeen (Wellington, FL) took first place in Thursday’s $30,000 LeMieux Welcome Stake, outjumping a field of 27 in Tryon Stadium aboard Bull Run’s Celestial (Cicero Z x Celest). VanderVeen and Bull Run’s Celestial, the 2015 Zangersheide gelding owned by Bull Run Jumpers Inc., navigated the Manuel Esparza-built jump off track in 36.24 seconds for the win. Luke Jensen (Denton, TX) claimed the final two podium spots, recording a time of 36.26 seconds to take reserve with Buzz L'eclair Teamjoy (Conrad x Picabia Du Restic), the Selle Français gelding, owned by North Run. Jensen then recorded a jump off time of 36.52 seconds with Heineken (Spartacus x Marlou), Katherine Pugliese’s 2012 Dutch Warmblood gelding, putting the team third on the podium.
Kristen VanderVeen and Bull Run’s Celestial
©Bailey Beck for Natalie Suto Photography
For full results from the $30,000 LeMieux Welcome Stake, click here.
As part of the Tryon Spring Series presented by Fields Auto Group, BMW Asheville, Mercedes Asheville and DEFENDER, Tryon Spring 1 continues through Sunday, May 4. Don’t miss our first Saturday Night Lights presented by Skyla Credit Union, featuring the $75,000 IHSA Grand Prix in Tryon Stadium at 7pm. Explore all Tryon International has to offer by visiting www.Tryon.com/allevents!
Photos ©Natalie Suto Photography (Ariel Berrios, Bill Hunter, and Bailey Beck, as noted) unless otherwise 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 TIEC, contact media@tryon.com.