World Equestrian Games in Tryon
Every four years, the world championship of horse sports is held, alternating with the Summer Olympics. About sixty countries participate, and disciplines like jumping, dressage, acrobatics, and cross country. are judged for medals. This is a very prestigious event, and has only been held one time before in the United States. This year, the F.E.I. World Equestrian Games is being held in the small town of Tryon, North Carolina, and this may just be the largest event ever staged in Mountains.
Fox hunting is the original basis for the sport, and jumping hedges and fences in pursuit of the elusive critter, with the help of a few hounds, required a special skill with the horse. I’m not going to pass judging about the humaneness of the sport, but I will give credit for NOT being the rodeo, which I detest, and horse racing which requires whips and running at break neck speeds, often at great danger to the animal.
I will concentrate on the beauty of the magnificent animals, and the skill of the very experienced riders. The tradition of the sport is a colorful one, and, like it or not, it is a piece of our history, and horses played a major part of that history.
Tryon Mountain
Para Dressage for physically challenged riders…
Medal Ceremonies for the challenged riders…
Each winner was awarded a Longines watch, one of the major sponsors…
It may be awhile before the Mountains see another event of this magnitude. It surely has put the North Carolina Mountains on the international map, and that can’t be that bad.
Living in The Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina- A Blog 
Great pictures and must have been a wonderful experience……………thanks for sharing, Patsy
You are so lucky that the hurricane did not effect the mountains and the event was able to take place. Looks like you had a wonderful time.
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