Mill Spring, NC – July 14, 2016 – Adam Prudent (FRA) and his veteran partner Vasco took home top honors in today’s highly competitive $35,000 1.50m Suncast® Welcome CSI4* at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC). The pair secured the win with a jump off time of 34.566 seconds, while legendary talent Margie Engle (USA) and Royce earned themselves second place honors with a speedy time of 34.933 seconds.
Sharn Wordley nearly kept his streak alive, this time aboard mount Barnetta, but ended in third with a time of 35.076 seconds. Competition continues throughout the weekend highlighting the $216,000 Hollow Creek Farm Grand Prix CSI 4*, which will take place on Saturday, July 16, beginning at 8:00 p.m. Gates will open to the public at 6:00 p.m. and entertainment will begin at 7:15 p.m.
Prudent and Vasco have experienced incredible success at TIEC since arriving for the 2016 Summer Series, as the duo also captured a similar win in last week’s $35,000 Suncast® Welcome. Along with the wins, the duo has consistently placed in the top ribbons, including a top two finish in the $130,000 Wellington Equestrian Realty Grand Prix CSI 3*. Prudent spoke of the first round, detailing the course design by Manuel Esparza (MEX). 
Adam Prudent and Vasco. PC: Liz Crawley Photography
“The first round was very straight forward. Everyone was doing the same numbers of strides in between the lines, so there was not much that I changed about my ride compared to the other competitors,” said Prudent. “It was pretty big for a Welcome class and it was technical enough, but I thought the jumps were much bigger today.”
Going into the jump-off, Prudent knew he had to be smart about his strategy on course in order to shave time on the clock, but also ensure the win. In the first line of the jump-off, the pair did not leave out a stride, but Prudent went on to explain why he felt this plan was better suited for Vasco.
Margie Engle and Royce. PC: Liz Crawley Photography
“Vasco is never one to leave out a stride in the first line. This allowed me to land collected and execute a very tight turn to the next fence,” commented Prudent. “I think that’s where I made up the majority of time; specifically it was in the last turn. I think I went two strides inside of where everyone else turned in that particular rollback.”
“That’s where I won the class,” he added with a smile.
Prudent and Vasco’s success can be attributed to experience and enthusiasm for competition. Prudent spoke of their strengthening relationship, saying, “He is an older horse, but he loves to show. We do every class of the week. We get him out everyday to stretch his legs and we spend a lot of time walking. I also work on a lot of laterally movements to stretch his old joints out.”
Sharn Wordley and Barnetta. PC: Liz Crawley Photography
“All in all, he comes out everyday fresh and happy. Vasco loves to do his job,” he detailed.
Vasco’s happiness and joy for life also comes from the love and immaculate care he receives from Prudent’s groom Emeline Heot. Heot is always with Vasco, whether it be in the barns, in the schooling ring, or standing beside him at the in-gate.
Adam Prudent and Vasco in their presentation ceremony accompanied by groom Emeline Heot.
“She is in love with him and he loves her too. She takes amazing care of him, which is a huge part of our whole success,” said Prudent, as he spoke of the affectionate relationship between Vasco and Heot. “He is a calm horse as soon as he is with her, but the moment I get on him, he fires up and is ready to go. She is Vasco’s down time.”
Tomorrow, Friday, July 15, will feature a $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby, a $10,000 Pre-Green Hunter Incentive, and a $35,000 1.45m Speed Stake. The third installment of the “Saturday Night Lights” of the 2016 Tryon Summer Series will be featured on Saturday, July 16, presenting the $216,000 Hollow Creek Farm Grand Prix CSI 4* with gates opening to the public at 6:00 p.m. and entertainment beginning at 7:15 p.m. Competition will commence at 8:00 p.m. For more information on TIEC and to see a full list of results please visit www.tryon.com.
Final Results $35,000 1.50m Suncast® Welcome
1. VASCO, 2002 Dutch Warmblood gelding by Andiamo x Clinton
ADAM PRUDENT (FRA), Plain Bay Sales: 0/0/34.566
2. ROYCE, 2004 Oldenburger Springpferd stallion by Café Au Lait x Grandilot
MARGIE ENGLE (USA), Elm Rock Partners, LLC: 0/0/34.933
3. BARNETTA, 2004 Westphalian gelding by Baloubet Du Rouet x Polydor
SHARN WORDLEY (NZL), Sky Group: 0/0/35.076
4. BABALOU 41, 2005 Oldenburg mare by Balou Du Rouet x Silvio I
TODD MINIKUS (USA), Two Swans Farm: 0/0/35.208
5. MARK Q, 2002 Irish Sport Horse Gelding by Obos Quality x Positively
KEVIN BABINGTON (IRL), Kevin Babington and Deirdre Bourns: 0/0/36.115
6. BULL RUN’S TESTIFY, 2004 Selle Francais gelding by Dollar Du Murier x Oberon Du Moulin
KRISTEN VANDERVEEN (USA), Bull Run Jumpers, Inc.: 0/0/37.771
7. A S D FARFALA, 2003 Holsteiner mare by Hyo Dario x Furioso II
PABLO BARRIOS (VEN), Americo Simonetti: 0/4/36.055
8. LADRIANO Z, 2008 Zangersheide gelding by Lawito x Baloubet Du Rouet
ILAN BLUMAN (COL), Blue Star Investments: 0/4/39.156
9. BINKIE, 2006 Dutch Warmblood gelding by Larino x Hors La Loi II
DAVID BLAKE (IRL), Pine Hollow Farm: 0/4/40.548
10. ANABELLE 28, 2006 Belgian Warmblood mare by Kashmir Van Schuttershof x Kannan
BENJAMIN MEREDITH (AUS), Shader Sporthorses LLC: 4/63.720
11. BULL RUN’S HOLY SMOKES, 2004 Belgian Warmblood mare by Wunder Boy Van de Zuuthoeve x Toulon
KRISTEN VANDERVEEN (USA), Bull Run Jumpers, Inc.: 4/64.520
12. CAYA, 2006 Holsteiner mare by Carolus I x Lancer II
ALI WOLFF (USA), Ali Wolff and John Wolff: 4/66.450