The action at the Tryon International Equestrian Center has been non-stop all summer. Spectators and competitors have dubbed it WEF on steroids, with every imaginable amenity for the horse enthusiast! Tryon is the brainchild of equestrian mogul Mark Bellissimo (Chronicle Of The Horse & WEF) and is marketed as The Most Significant New Equestrian Lifestyle Destination in the World! Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in NC, the 1400 acre resort is also home to multiple discipline horse shows, FEI level events, polo fields, a sports complex, a fabulous resort all in proximity to local tourist attractions.
We recently caught up with Wordley Martin co-founder Sharn Wordley, who has been traveling back and forth to Tryon all summer with his wife Ashley (Fleischhacker) Wordley, from their home base at Ashland Stables in Lexington, Kentucky. Recently married, Sharn and Ashley are lifelong equestrians with equal passion and devotion to their chosen profession and lifestyle. Sharn has represented New Zealand at numerous Nation Cups and the 2008 Olympics. Ashley also is very accomplished in her own right, competing in the high Amateur owner classes in show jumping and helps manage the family’s Ashland Stables, located in Wellington, Florida and Lexington, Kentucky. The Fleischhaker family is also world renowned for their support of the world’s most infamous horse and rider partnership, Hickstead and Eric Lamaze.
This husband and wife team have enjoyed a highly successful spring and summer 2015 season at both the Split Rock series in Lexington and also the Tryon Equestrian Center in North Carolina. They’re grabbing the attention of the media here in the US as well as New Zealand, recently announcing Ashley’s plans to seek dual citizenship as a Kiwi, with hopes that she too can work towards a spot on her husband’s home country’s team!
A recent excerpt from Horsetalk NZ made mention of the couples hot streak.
“New Zealand show jumper Sharn Wordley has sped to victory at the Split Rock Jumping Tour in Lexington, Kentucky at the weekend. Wordley topped an international field of 20 to take out the $35,000 Amalaya Investments CSI3* Speed Cup on Saturday, and for good measure, his wife, Ashley, won the Brook Ledge High Junior/Amateur-Owner class.”
Sharn has had one of his best years on record, rocketing up the FEI standings as the Most Improved FEI rider last month, moving up from 1200th to just inside the top 300! Sharn’s current upper level string of horses include Popstar Lozonais, Casper and Corina. His short term goal is to remain on the New Zealand Elite Squad with his sites set on being named as an individual for the 2016 Olympics in Rio! (Sidenote: New Zealand has chosen not to send a team, just individuals)
In addition to Sharn’s success in Tryon, several of our Wordley Martin arena clients have also been enjoying the continued success in the Grand Prix CSI 3* classes. Check out last week’s press release from the COTH and Tryon Equestrian Center: