Mill Spring, North Carolina, USA – July 21, 2019 – It was Roberto Teran Tafur (COL) aboard Dena Sienne that teamed up to win the $36,000 Classic CSI 3* on Friday during the sixth week of the Tryon Summer Series at the Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) in Mill Spring, North Carolina, USA.

The Colombian and the 2008 Dutch Warmblood mare (Van Gogh x Animo) with a fault-free jump-off effort in a time of 36.966 seconds to secure the victory.

Santiago Lambre (MEX) & Doloris

Santiago Lambre (MEX) and Doloris, a 2008 Dutch Warmblood mare (Harley VDL x Colorado D) owned by Aurora Rangel de Alba, earned second-place honors with no penalties and their effort of 37.906 seconds in the jump-off round.

Todd Minikus (USA) & Calvalou

Todd Minikus (USA) and Calvalou, a 2007 Oldenburg gelding (Calvaro F.C. x Baloubet du Rouet) owned by Todd Minikus, LTD., matched the clean scorecard of the previous two combinations, finishing third in 38.12 seconds.

A total of 22 riders contested the first-round course designed by Ken Krome (USA), with six pairs returning for the jump-off. “The course was really good,” Tafur explained. “It was a little technical. The course designer is very fair and very technical. All the horses jumped great, and I think the best horse won!

“I [was up against] Todd Minikus (USA), Santiago Lambre (MEX), Samuel Parot (CHI), and Juan Ortiz (VEN); every single one of them is a fast rider. I wanted to do my fastest course while trying to leave the jumps up, and everything just worked out for me,” Tafur shared of his strategy heading into the jump-off.

Although Tafur and the 2008 Dutch Warmblood mare (Van Gogh x Animo) owned by Walkman Horses BV were competing in the 1.50m divisions in Wellington this past winter, Tafur’s winter injury resulting in a broken knee put him and his mount out of the show ring for almost ten weeks. “This is her [Dena Sienne’s] second show back and finally she’s getting back into the groove [of things]. Sometimes, for horses that’s a little hard,” he continued. “She’s not ready for the Grand Prix this week. I have another one that’s going in it, but this one has had three days in a row [of showing] and I think that’s enough until the next show.”

Tafur concluded: “It’s a privilege for us to be here [at Tryon]. I have one horse in the Grand Prix and hopefully we will have a top three ribbon. This week is our last week here until we come back for the fall shows. I have been here many times. After this week, we will be back home in Pennsylvania for a week and then take the horses to Traverse City.”

For full results from the $36,000 Sunday Classic CSI 3*, please click here.

Source: Press release from TIEC – Tryon International Equestrian Center

Photos: © TIEC – Tryon International Equestrian Center