Spring 3 Midweek Update: Tryon Spring Series presented by Fields Auto Group
Victoria Free on Top in Spring Series First $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby
Havens Schatt and Haku Crowned Winners in $15,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby
Anna Tyler Finds the Top Two in $15,000 USHJA Junior/Amateur Hunter Derby
Samuel Hutton and Casalltano PS Score $25,000 LeMieux Welcome Stake Victory
For Immediate Release
Rette Solomon and Sarah Madden Taylor for Tryon International
Mill Spring, NC — May 16, 2025 — Cruising across the derby field, Victoria Free (USA) scored a win in Tryon International’s first 2025 $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby aboard Step Up. With 14 teams challenging the Archer “Skip” Bailey-designed course on the grass, Free and Step Up collected 378 points to take home the winner’s rosette. Riding Front Page, (Vigo D’Arsouilles x Cartagena Indias Ecaussinnes) for Cynthia Sulzberger, Colin Syquia (PHI) claimed second in the international derby with the 2014 Belgian Warmblood gelding, scoring 367 points over two rounds. On a score of 361 points, Lauren Schweppe (USA) and Cynthia Boudreau’s 2012 Swedish Warmblood gelding, Cataumet (Cabachon x Gaya) earned third place.
Victoria Free and Step Up
©Leyla Ceynak for Natalie Suto Photography
Earning a remarkable 193 points from two judges in the handy round, Free and the 2016 Hanoverian gelding (Cabana x Speak Up) owned by Andrea Block walked into the second phase of competition in the lead and clinched the win by receiving a 99 and 94 - a special score and a special result, she revealed:
Colin Syquia and Front Page
©Leyla Ceynak for Natalie Suto Photography
“It feels pretty incredible! That was definitely our highest score, and our first Derby win. I love that they've added back in the handy points for these International Derbies, so you can see those scores,” she elaborated. “It was really incredible and surreal. I'm thankful because he has a great owner who really supports us, and he's been really fun to develop from the bottom up, a bit. We've developed him through the 3'6 Greens, and then the 3'9, and now the High Performance, and we did one of our first Derbies here,in Tryon Stadium. [Today] has been a long time coming.”
Free’s strategy in the first round was similar to the method by which she’s produced her horse: consistency. “ I wasn't really worried about the grass or the jumps, because he's generally a very brave horse. The big thing is just consistency: if you keep the canter consistent, all the jumps tend to show up really nicely. So we went in with that in mind for the first round,” she explained, “and I think that that worked out for us.”
Lauren Schweppe and Cataumet
©Leyla Ceynak for Natalie Suto Photography
Step Up “has a thing for the handies,” Free acknowledged, which gave her a boost of confidence walking onto the course for her second round. “He'll do anything I ask of him; he's special that way. I think that just having that partnership and belief in him, that was the biggest part.”
Victoria Free, Step Up and team in their presentation ceremony alongside Glenn Petty, Tryon International General Manager of Equestrian Operations, and JP Godard, Competition Manager.
©Leyla Ceynak for Natalie Suto Photography
Free has been competing at Tryon International throughout its entire history as a venue, from Amateur divisions and beyond. “I’ve come here since the beginning. I did the Amateurs, and then transitioned into the professional role, and then, started doing the national derbies, and then even with this horse, being able to bring him up to a derby at this level is really fun. We love it here. I'm really thankful that Tryon puts on these classes for us,” she concluded.
For full results from the $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, click here.
Havens Schatt and Haku Crowned Winners in $15,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby
May 16, 2025 — Bookending the $15,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby podium, Havens Schatt (Georgetown, KY) and Haku claimed first place with a score of 188 points, while Schatt also collected third place aboard Chacoon’s Rouet PS, the 2018 Oldenburg gelding (Chacoon Blue x Saralina), scoring 180 points over two rounds of derby field competition. In second place, Colin Syquia (Wellington, FL) rode Jasper de la Tour (Dollar Du Rouet x Hymne Van Spieveld), the 2019 Selle Français gelding owned by Constance Hunter, to 182 points.
Havens Schatt and Haku
©Leyla Ceynak for Natalie Suto Photography
Schatt and Haku, the 2018 Oldenburg gelding (Chacoon Blue x Unknown) owned by Caroline Moran, topped the field of 13 entries by scoring 92 and 96 over two rounds of competition.
“I started showing [Haku] last year in Florida,” Schatt said of Haku. “He's got enough experience where I expect him to go out there and do his thing, but at the same time, he's only done two other derbies. To go on the grass like that was new for him. I feel this year that's going to be kind of his thing to get ready for next year, doing the 3’6 Greens and the international derbies.”
Colin Syquia and Jasper de la Tour
©Leyla Ceynak for Natalie Suto Photography
As the rider and owner of her third-place mount, Chacoon’s Rouet PS, Schatt praised the gelding’s adaptability throughout the week. “This was only his fourth horse show, and he started the week quite nervous in the main ring,” she explained. “Today he went in there like he'd done it his whole life, so I'm really proud of him! He's come a long way – he was a jumper in Europe, and we've only had him since February, so I have really high hopes for him.”
Havens Schatt and Chacoon’s Rouet PS
©Leyla Ceynak for Natalie Suto Photography
With the variety and environment Tryon International’s grass derby provides, many riders, including Schatt, used the opportunity to prepare their equine athletes for the future. “That's one reason we came here instead of Kentucky!” Schatt explained. “The two horses [of mine] that got ribbons today, they're ready for that kind of experience – not just the same rings or the same jumps. They're ready to do something different. They're not able to jump higher yet, because you’ve got to protect their Green year, but they're ready for other things than just a normal hunter ring at 3’3.”
Havens Schatt and Haku in their presentation ceremony alongside Glenn Petty, Tryon International General Manager of Equestrian Operations, and JP Godard, Competition Manager.
©Leyla Ceynak for Natalie Suto Photography
“Skip did a really nice job. I think he took into consideration that it might be a little slippery, or [there would be riders with] younger horses,” Schatt noted, hailing the Archer “Skip” Bailey-designed course. “It was a very friendly, nice track with some good riders and good horses. This is a fun week for the hunters – we love it!”
“Coming to Tryon was really something I pinpointed for those classes on the grass. We’ve come probably once a year for the last three or four years, and it's always great. People are always so nice, and the rings are always prepared nicely,” Schatt concluded.
For full results from the $15,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby, click here.
Anna Tyler Finds the Top Two in $15,000 USHJA Junior/Amateur Hunter Derby
May 16, 2025 — Commanding the $15,000 USHJA Junior/Amateur Hunter Derby on two mounts, Anna Tyler (Raleigh, NC) found herself leading the victory lap on Friday. Collecting a pair of 91 points for a total score of 182, Tyler and Your Welcome BC (Toulon x Kara BC), the 2017 Belgian Warmblood stallion owned by Donald Stewart, climbed to the top of the podium to best a field of 26 competitors. Aboard Falcon Ridge Stables’ Viscolano (Unknown x Unknown), the 2015 Warmblood gelding, Tyler marked a 173 and took home reserve honors. Emma Gurley (Rutherfordton, NC) and her own 2005 Swedish Warmblood gelding (Lasandos x Adora MB), Latino, completed the Junior/Amateur Hunter Derby top three, on 171 points.
Anna Tyler in her presentation ceremony alongside Glenn Petty, Tryon International General Manager of Equestrian Operations.
©Leyla Ceynak for Natalie Suto Photography
For full results from the $15,000 USHJA Junior/Amateur Hunter Derby, click here.
Samuel Hutton and Casalltano PS Score $25,000 LeMieux Welcome Stake Victory
May 15, 2025 — Samuel Hutton (Herentals, NY) and Casalltano PS (Casallco x Chacco’s Gladys) teamed up to clock a winning time of 32.88 seconds in Thursday’s $25,000 LeMieux Welcome Stake. Aboard the mount for AS Trading BV, Hutton and the 2015 Oldenburg gelding took the top spot ahead of 25 entries. Jaqueline Ruyle (Navasota, TX) rode her own Cyramo Z (Clarimo x Cyprus) to second, stopping jump off timers in 34.13 seconds. On a time of 36.11 seconds with another equine partner, Hutton scored third with Zidan 10 (Zinedine x Sabbrina) the 2014 Hanoverian gelding owned by AS Farms USA, Inc.
Samuel Hutton and Casalltano
©Laci Matthews for Natalie Suto Photography
For full results from the $25,000 LeMieux Welcome Stake, click here.
The Tryon Spring Series presented by Fields Auto Group, BMW Asheville, Mercedes Asheville and DEFENDER continues with Tryon Spring 3 through May 18. Join us on May 17th for Saturday Night Lights presented by Skyla Credit Union, featuring Touch-A-Truck night and the $35,000 Bobcat Grand Prix in Tryon Stadium at 8pm. Explore all Tryon International has to offer by visiting www.Tryon.com/allevents!
Photos ©Natalie Suto Photography (Leyla Caynak and Laci Matthews, 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.com. With questions regarding photography at TIEC, contact media@tryon.com.