Spring 6 Friday Update: Tryon Spring Series presented by Fields Auto Group

Hunter Kay is Number One in $10,000 USHJA Open National Hunter Derby Aboard Galileo 

Grace Gallo and Penten’s Icy Sail to a Win in $1,500 USHJA Pony Hunter Derby presented by Fabbri Boots

$10,000 USHJA National Junior/Amateur Hunter Derby Champions: Madeline Rubin and Colin MR

Fernando Cardenas Triumphs in $6,000 Speed Stake CSI 2*

Trip of the Day Awards

For Immediate Release

Rette Solomon and Sarah Madden Taylor for Tryon International 

Management’s Note: Friday evening’s $20,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby has been rescheduled to 7:30am Saturday morning, June 7, due to weather.

June 6, 2025 – Hunter Kay (Columbia, SC) and Galileo (Unknown x Unknown) took charge in the $10,000 USHJA Open National Hunter Derby, winning the first of three Hunter Derbies hosted Friday during Tryon Spring 6 and Tryon Riding & Hunt Club Charity Horse Show. The team dominated over 13 contestants on the Derby Field, scoring 182 points. Riding Meredith Huddle’s Bluewater (Unknown x Unknown), the 2017 Dutch Warmblood gelding, Liza Boyd (Camden, SC) secured the reserve rosette on 176 points. Jennifer Bliss (Wellington, FL) took Wailea, the 2014 Dutch Warmblood mare owned by Ohana Equine LLC, to third place with 173 points on the board. 

Hunter Kay and Galileo
©Trinity Keterer for Natalie Suto Photography

“He’s a 15 year old gelding that we’ve had for 10 or 11 years now,” Hunter Kay said of his winning mount, Galileo. “I know him quite well, and have been riding him since he was five. His main job is doing the Amateur-Owners with his owner, Ann Rice Ervin. She couldn't be here this week, so I was lucky enough to show him in the class today.”

Liza Boyd and Bluewater
©Trinity Keterer for Natalie Suto Photography

With the morning’s Hunter classes competing on the grass, Kay used the Derby Field to exhibit the 2011 Warmblood gelding’s skill. “It's a large field, so I wanted to be able to pick up, maintain pace, and be handy,” he detailed. “In the handy portion, there were a couple places you could make some inside turns, so I wanted to be neat and then show off a good gallop.”

Kay acknowledged that the gelding’s handiness through the inside turns contributed to the team’s high-scoring performance. “In a space like this, he really shines when he's able to pick up a good gallop. I think his expression and gallop are what really showed him off today.”

Jennifer Bliss and Wailea
©Trinity Keterer for Natalie Suto Photography

Kay intended to show under the lights for the first time with Jack in the Friday evening $20,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, which was unfortunately rescheduled due to weather and will now take place at 7:30am Saturday morning.

Hunter Kay and Galileo in their presentation ceremony.
©Trinity Keterer for Natalie Suto Photography

“We love always coming to Tryon!” Kay concluded. “I think they have a nice variety of different special classes that they showcase. It's nice getting to do the National Derby out on the grass, and there's not many [horse shows that have] under the lights classes anymore for the hunters, so it's really fun to be able to do that tonight.”

For full results from the $10,000 USHJA Open National Hunter Derby, click here. 

$10,000 USHJA National Junior/Amateur Hunter Derby Champs: Madeline Rubin and Colin MR 

June 6, 2025 – Madeline Rubin (Mooresville, NC) rode her own Colin MR (Cash And Carry x Eleanor), her own Holsteiner gelding, to victory on a score of 177 in the $10,000 USHJA National Junior/Amateur Hunter Derby. The Hunt-N-Go competition format featured a course designed by Joseph Carnicom and JP Godard. On Karen Dickman’s King Kong (Karajan x Quick Step), Jessica Gulden (Toano, VA) and the 2019 Hanoverian gelding jumped to 175.5 points to take second. Caitlyn Andresen (Charlotte, NC), owner and rider of the 2012 Hanoverian Gosford Park (Grey Top x Queen Eastern), earned third place on a score of 174.5. 

Madeline Rubin and Colin MR
©Ariel Hughes for Natalie Suto Photography

For full results from the $10,000 USHJA Junior/Amateur National Hunter Derby, click here.

Grace Gallo and Penten’s Icy Sail to a Win in $1,500 USHJA Pony Hunter Derby presented by Fabbri Boots

June 6, 2025 - Grace Gallo (Virginia Beach, VA) and Penten’s Icy, the 2014 Welsh Pony mare (Kaviford’s Infinity x Allegra) owned by Ayla Widmer, scored 167 points in their Hunt-N-Go performance to champion the $1,500 USHJA Pony Hunter Derby presented by Fabbri Boots. Tatum Pelok (Columbus, OH) rode As It Was, the Cumberland Acres owned 2013 Welsh Pony gelding (Valerio x Korien), to a score of 163 and reserve honors. Hayden Hunter (Fort Mill, SC) combined with Pitch Perfect Paul, the self-owned 2017 German Riding Pony gelding (Pitch Perfect x Vita Vital), claimed third with a score of 161 points. With her second ride, Gallo also claimed fourth place of 17 trips aboard Park Avenue, the 2016 Crossbred Pony mare (Cusop Jovial x Maple Side Demitasse) owned by MC&G Equestrian LLC , scoring 160 points.

Grace Gallo and Penten’s Icy
©Trinity Keterer for Natalie Suto Photography

For full results from the $1,500 USHJA Pony Hunter Derby presented by Fabbri Boots, click here.

Fernando Cardenas Triumphs in $6,000 Speed Stake CSI 2*

June 6, 2025 - Three riders completed the $6,000 Speed Stake CSI 2* course Friday morning, with Fernando Cardenas (COL) riding Balou's Honora Car, his own 2017 Hanoverian mare (Balou Du Rouet x Galiani CH), to a time of 78.72 seconds for the win. Amanda Flint (USA) and her own Irvington VDL, the 2013 Zangersheide gelding (Dallas x Quickstar), stopped the timers in 82.75 seconds for two time faults and second place. Kristen VanderVeen (USA) toured the course in 92.59 seconds with top mount Bull Run’s Jireh, the Bull Run Jumpers Inc. 2014 Holsteiner gelding (Uriko x Colman), collecting 12 time faults in 92.59 seconds.

Fernando Cardenas and Balou’s Honora Car
©Bailey Beck for Natalie Suto Photography

For full results from the $6,000 Speed Stake CSI 2*, click here.

Trip of the Day Awards

The $500 "Trip of the Day" Prize is given to the highest-scoring Hunter rider each day at Tryon Spring 6/Tryon Riding & Hunt Club Charity Horse Show competition, in any division. In addition to the prize money, the daily top-scoring rider will also receive a special commemorative ribbon.

To view previous days’ Trip of the Day Winners, click here. 

Bridget Hickton in her presentation ceremony.
©Rette Solomon for Tryon International

Friday’s Trip of the Day Award presented by DB Equestrian Services was named to Bridget Hickton aboard Serenade (Unknown x Unknown), the 2013 Warmblood gelding. The duo scored a 91 in the USHJA Hunter 2’9 Division.

Tryon Spring 6/Tryon Riding & Hunt Club Charity 1 Horse Show continues through Sunday, June 8, with highlight classes including the $20,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby at 7:30am Saturday in Tryon Stadium, as well as Saturday Night Lights presented by Skyla Credit Union featuring the $70,000 Main Street Insurance Grand Prix CSI 2* at 8pm. To learn more, visit www.Tryon.com/allevents. 

Photos ©Natalie Suto Photography (Ariel Hughes, Bailey Beck, and Trinity Keterer), 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.