The inaugural “Saturday Night Lights” Grand Prix at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) served a monumental occasion for the venue, as a large number of members from the local community came to enjoy and support the first evening competition of the season. Brandie Holloway of Topeka, KS, and Lucky Strike topped the highlight class, The $50,000 Tryon Grand Prix. Holloway and Lucky Strike finished the jump-off just over one-hundredth of second faster than Nina Fagerstrom (FIN) and Flower who followed in second. Daniel Geitner and Kenwood finished in third, putting in a fast clear round in 44.719 seconds. Tomorrow marks the last day of competition at Tryon Spring 5. Competition at Tryon Spring 6 will begin Wednesday, May 20 and the Tryon Spring Series will continue through June 7.
Holloway and Lucky Strike have had somewhat of an unusual beginning to their partnership, as “Lucky” was originally purchased as an equitation horse for Holloway’s daughter, Hunter. The 2006 Holsteiner gelding (Lasino x Imandra I) is extremely talented and ended up exceling in the upper level jumpers with Brandie when Hunter took over the ride on her previous Grand Prix mount Any Given Sunday for equitation and hunter classes.
“We had originally bought him for Hunter as an equitation horse and he was sidelined with an injury during USET Finals, so she borrowed my Grand Prix horse Any Given Sunday for the equitation,” explained Holloway. “She took Sunny down to Palm Beach with her, which left me with Lucky, and I knew he was scopey so we started with the Level 6 and 7 jumpers and at the end of the month we were doing The HITS Million in Ocala.”
The gelding cruised around both rounds of the class, flying through the finish in 43.318 seconds in the jump-off to secure the win. Holloway was thrilled with Lucky Strike, who has brought her back to Grand Prix scene in top form.
“It’s been a while since I’ve been back into Grand Prix competition, and it feels awesome,” she said. “Even though he’s still somewhat green to this level, he is just the biggest hearted horse I’ve ever sat on. ‘No’ is not even in his vocabulary. I felt like it was a good course for him because he’s big and scopey, and he can be a little catty. You needed a real horse for this class.”
The Guilherme Jorge (BRA) designed course had some technical aspects, especially the oxer to oxer combination, which needed a forward and well-balanced ride. Holloway attributes some of Lucky Strike’s performance to his excellent equitation background with her daughter Hunter.
“His equitation experience came in nicely because there were several areas where the strides were really open and then you needed to come back, especially from Fence 5 to Fence 6, and he did. He came back so nicely for me through there,” she commented. “I just felt like it would be a great course for him and when I saw Candice [King] go in the jump-off I knew I just needed a good gallop because he has a huge step and that was my thought process from there, just smooth and fast.”
As a true riding family, sharing is caring according to Brandie, as she detailed how she and Hunter tend to switch off horses and share depending on what they need throughout the season.
“She’s stolen a few of mine, and now I’m going to steal a few of hers,” laughed Holloway when asked if Hunter would now take Lucky Strike back for herself. “To be honest when we buy horses, we share them, we both ride them. We always try to buy something that both of us can ride, so if somebody’s away we can keep them in training and so forth. We try to buy really conventional horses, the ones that can do everything and do it well.”
Holloway and Lucky Strike are qualified for the Grand Prix at Devon Horse Show next week, which will be a highlight in their season schedule this year, but Holloway is looking forward to coming back to TIEC for more competition throughout the year.
“We qualified for the Grand Prix at Devon next week, and I didn’t ever plan on even competing there. A few months ago I never in the world would have thought that I would have a Grand Prix horse to do at Devon but here we are,” she smiled. “But we could not be happier here. This is absolutely beyond our expectations. We’re in a cabin down by the barn that is absolutely beautiful, and TIEC will be on our schedule for multiple weeks from here on out. The footing is incredible, and we are just so impressed.”
Final Results for $50,000 Tryon Grand Prix
1. LUCKY STRIKE, 2006 Holsteiner gelding by Lasino x Imandra I
BRANDIE HOLLOWAY, Hays Investment Corp.: 0/0/43.318
2. FLOWER, 2005 Belgian Warmblood mare by Bon Ami x Release vh Lindehof
NINA FAGERSTROM, Finca Horses Inc.: 0/0/45.493
3. KENWOOD, 2003 Oldenburg gelding by Kannan x Gertie
DANIEL GEITNER, The Kenwood Syndicate: 0/0/44.719
4. VALINSKI S, 2002 Dutch Warmblood gelding by Ninjinski x Rockina
CANDICE KING, Wyndmont, Inc.: 0/0/45.493
5. KISMET 50, 2001 Belgian Warmblood mare by Kannan x Famosa Z
CANDICE KING, Bellissimo LLC: 0/4/42.606
6. BON GIORNO, 1999 Swedish Warmblood gelding by Acacio 948 x Bon Ami
BRYN SADLER, Showcase 81, LLC: 0/4/44.074
7. BULL RUN’S TESTIFY, 2004 Selle Francais gelding by Dollar Du Murier x Marquise Des Monts KRISTEN VANDERVEEN, Bull Run Jumpers, Inc.: 1/80.673
8. BALOUMINA DU RY, 2003 Oldenburg mare by Balou Du Rouet x Drosselfee
BRITTNI RAFLOWITZ, ESI Show Jumpers Inc., 3/82.704
Amelia Zahn and Coco-Luxe Win THIS Children’s Medal
Amelia Zahn of Cary, NC, left the Carter P. Brown Ring with a larger than life smile after winning the Taylor Harris Insurance Services (THIS) National Children’s Medal class aboard Coco Luxe. The pair stole the show, leading the first round of the class on an 84 and performed a nearly perfect test to win the THIS Children’s Medal honors. Zahn, who has been riding for the past six years, was thrilled with her win today as it has pushed her one step closer to ultimate goal of winning the THIS National Children’s Medal Finals at Capital Challenge Horse Show later this year.
“This feels awesome! I’m really trying to qualify for the Finals so I was really happy to win this. He was so good,” she commented. “He’ll jump from anywhere, and he’s just so cool. He was great for me today.”
Coco Luxe, a Welsh/Thoroughbred cross, is owned by Ryann Stewart and filled in for Zahn’s original mount, who was unable to compete this week. Zahn, who trains with Laurel Tinney, hopes to go to compete at several of the upcoming medal finals this year.
“I hope that I’ll be able to still ride him, especially when we come back to TIEC in the next few weeks. I love competing in the Taylor Harris classes because I really like the test portion. It’s nerve-wracking, but it’s so fun at the same time,” she explained.
The test portion of the class tested riders’ communication with their mounts, as they were asked to halt after the trot fence and pick up the counter-canter out of the halt to the last fence. Zahn performed beautifully, finding the perfect distance for the final fence on course.
Miranda Parker, also of Cary, NC, and student of Laurel Tinney placed second aboard East Coast Sporthorses, LLC’s All The Right Moves with an 83. Stephanie Prill of Savannah, GA, and her own First Glance finished in third with a final score of 82.
For more information on TIEC and a full list of results, please visit www.tryon.com
Source: Press release
