Spring 3 Results: Tryon Spring Series presented by Fields Auto Group
Hunter Holloway and Henry Jota Ariel Best the $35,000 Bobcat Grand Prix
Avery Craven and Kingston TM Top $1,500 USHJA Pony Hunter Derby presented by Fabbri Boots
Tryon Spring 3 Division Results
For Immediate Release
Sarah Madden Taylor and Rette Solomon for Tryon International
Mill Spring, NC - May 18, 2025 - The $35,000 Bobcat Grand Prix at Saturday Night Lights presented by Skyla Credit Union handed top honors to Hunter Holloway (Ocala, FL) and Henry Jota Ariel (Picadilly Tame x Henry Jota Atlantis), stopping the short course in 38.74 seconds to edge out the competition. Samuel Hutton (Herentals, NY) and Casalltano (Casallco x Chacco’s Gladys), the 2015 Oldenburg gelding owned by AS Trading BV, flew around Tryon Stadium in 39.13 seconds to take home reserve honors. Ramiro Quintana (Wellington, FL) and Jones (Carrera VDL x Cinderella), the 2014 Dutch Warmblood gelding owned in partnership by Quintana Show Stables LLC and Esperanza Imports LLC, cleared the short course in 42.383 seconds to take home third place.
Hunter Holloway and Henry Jota Ariel
©Bailey Beck for Natalie Suto Photography
Holloway and the 2015 Warmblood mare owned by Hays Investment Corp were one of 21 entries to navigate the course design set by Nick Granat, and one of four pairs who qualified for the jump-off test. “My first round was not probably our prettiest round we've ever had, to be honest, but my horse jumped amazingly,” Holloway recapped, “and she put in really solid efforts.”
Samuel Hutton and Casalltano
©Leyla Caynak for Natalie Suto Photography
Riding one of the top horses in her string, Holloway’s aim was to use the national level competition to help Henry Jota Ariel practice competing at speed, utilizing the exciting atmosphere of Tryon Stadium to mirror the pressure of high-profile classes she will contest in the future.
“I'm working on getting her more comfortable going quickly. So, having the big atmosphere of this horse show, I think for us, was really helpful tonight, to give her that same really big, high pressure feeling, but without as much pressure as some of the big jump offs we've had. We were able to go in a little more relaxed, and she rose to the occasion really well.”
Ramiro Quintana and Jones
©Leyla Caynak for Natalie Suto Photography
According to Holloway, the jump off rode exactly to plan, creating the smooth performance she needed to shave seconds off the clock. “I was able to stick to my plan quite well. You know, I had a number in mind from one to two, and we got that easy,” she shared. “We were able to shape the six nicely, and stay calm to the vertical. We were slick to the oxer in the middle. And she was really, really smart, and jumped the combination by the in-gate great, and put a little curve in it for the eight coming home. So I think all of it just went to plan every step of the way.”
Lilly Turner was awarded the Groom’s Award presented by Regal Downs for her care and dedication to Henry Jota Ariel.
©Bailey Beck for Natalie Suto Photography
Holloway and her team can be found throughout the show rings at Tryon International multiple times a year, she commented. “I come to Tryon every year, I love it! I'm a regular… we come every spring, summer, and fall. I always love it here.”
Hunter Holloway, Samuel Hutton, and Ramiro Quintana in their presentation ceremony alongside (L-R) Glenn Petty, Tryon International General Manager of Equestrian Operations, Aaron, Andrea, and Liliana Hurd of Bobcat Company, and Doug Grondahl, Tryon International COO.
©Bailey Beck for Natalie Suto Photography
In addition to her mount’s efforts, Holloway took a moment to conclude by acknowledging her team for their contributions to her win. “I'm thankful for our team of grooms and staff that work so hard every day to make things like this possible, and so grateful for our sponsors and owners that support us. We know none of this would be possible without all of them. They all play such a big part, and they maybe don't always get as much recognition as they should.”
For full results from the $35,000 Bobcat Grand Prix, click here.
Avery Craven and Kingston TM Top $1,500 USHJA Pony Hunter Derby presented by Fabbri Boots
May 17, 2025 – Avery Craven (Monroe, NC) and Kingston TM (Unknown x Unknown) dominated the $1,500 USHJA Pony Hunter Derby presented by Fabbri Boots Saturday morning, scoring 170 points in the Hunt-N-Go format. Ava Bates (Canton, GA), rider and owner of Gabbana (Unknown x Unknown), the 2009 Warmblood mare, scored 166 points to receive reserve honors. Taking third with a total score of 154 was Zava Jackson (Aiken, SC) and Captain Jack Sparrow (Clainfair Seven Seas x Telynau Gwenora), the 2007 Welsh Pony gelding owned by Jackson Creek Stables, LLC.
Avery Craven and Kingston TM
©Bill Hunter for Natalie Suto Photography
Riding for Jordan Ayres, derby winner Avery Craven acknowledged the ups and downs of horse showing and the ultimate bounce back to secure the win. “We didn’t have the greatest day yesterday, so I was just hoping to have a better day today; and we did!” Craven shared. “[Today] ended up being a better day, and it was just luck.”
Ava Bates and Gabbana
©Bill Hunter for Natalie Suto Photography
While Craven expects Kingston TM to be leased out or sold to a new partner in the future, she noted that her partnership with the 2016 German Riding Pony gelding has flourished. “It’s been great!” She detailed. “He’s only getting better, and he’s the coolest pony.”
Zava Jackson and Captain Jack Sparrow
©Bill Hunter for Natalie Suto Photography
For full results from the $1,500 USHJA Pony Hunter Derby presented by Fabbri Boots, click here.
Tryon Spring 3 Division Results
The Adult Equitation Division saw Eve Westfall (Boulder, CO) and Kasteel WS, owned by Trotting West Equestrian LLC, champion for the weekend, with Eleese Shillingford (Alpharetta, GA) riding her own Simply Stated to reserve honors.
Champion title and honors were named to Taylor Tanaka (Wetumpka, AL) and Michael Britt-Leon’s Cairo in the Foothills Hunter 3’ Division, with a two-way tie for reserve. Hope King (Mt. Pleasant, SC) and Ashley Hurteau’s So Be It shared reserve honors with Kelsey Barbour McArdle (Fletcher, NC) aboard Q for Lillian Lanzon.
The Open 1.40m Jumper Division named Ibrahim Barazi (Leesburg, VA) as champion with Kristin Holloway’s Khan VD Kattevennen Z, with reserve going to Samuel Hutton (Herentals, NY) and Kall Me Baby Boy Sunbeam, owned by AS Trading BV.
Austin Cumming (Bishop, GA) rode Liddy Strickland’s Bugatti to the champion rosette in the High Performance Hunters 4’ Division, and Victoria Free (Fayetteville, GA) piloted Step Up for Andrea Block to reserve honors.
For full division results from Tryon Spring 3, click here.
The Tryon Spring Series presented by Fields Auto Group, BMW Asheville, Mercedes Asheville and DEFENDER continues with Tryon Spring 4 hosted May 20-25. The week marks the start of FEI competition for the spring, showcasing CSI 2* competition. See all upcoming events at www.Tryon.com/allevents.
Photos ©Natalie Suto Photography (Bailey Beck, Bill Hunter, and Leyla Caynak) 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.