Resources
Equestrian Organizations
Blue Ridge Hunter Jumper Association Promoting hunter/jumpers in western North Carolina with sponsored shows, The objective of this Association is to create, stimulate and maintain interest in regional horse shows; to promote cooperation between horse shows and exhibitors; to help improve the caliber of regional shows; to maintain proper records in connection with the sport for the use of its members; to arbitrate disputes between management, exhibitors and/or judges; and to assist in the settlement of conflicts of show dates. www.brhja.com
Carolina Mule Association: The purpose of the Carolina Mule Association is to encourage and promote the mule and donkey industry through education, participation, and fellowship in a family oriented environment. Holly Fisher, 828-894-5783 www.carolinamuleassociation.com
Carolina Carriage Club: An active organization founded to promote carriage driving in western North Carolina and South Carolina. The club hosts several shows and clinics annually. www.carolinacarriageclub.com
Collinsville Area Trail Association: Private trail system open to Collinsville Area property owners and their guests only. Ivey Sumrell, Pres. 828-516-6518
Cowboy Mounted Shooting: Promotes the sport of mounted shooting. Meets locally and holds practices and competition. Contact: John Thurow 828-863-2572
FENCE (Foothills Equestrian Nature Center) Non-profit 320 acres with an equestrian center, including stabling for 300 horses, covered arena, 2 lighted show rings, warm up rings, cross country course and home of the Block House Steeplechase. Tracie Hanson, 828-859-9021 www.fence.org
FERA (Foothills Equine Rescue Association – a division of Foothills Humane Society) The equine arm of the Foothills Humane Society. Investigates cases of neglect and abuse. Contact: Margo Savage 828-863-4924
FETA (Foothills Equestrian Trail Association) Nonprofit group promotes the responsible use of trails through privately owned land in the Tryon and Landrum area. Yearly memberships by application. www.fetatrails.org
Contact: Kathy Nebel, President 828-894-0775
Foothills Riding Club (FRC), formerly Foothills Dressage and Combined Training Association, FRC sponsors schooling shows for dressage and combined training as well as a spring and fall schooling horse trials and cross country schooling. Monthly meetings with speakers are held at FENCE. Other activities include a Winter Doldrums Party, clinics and the sponsor of the Foothills Equine Directory. Contact Cathy Schwartz, pres.
Goodwin Hounds: Jefferson “Tot” Goodwin and his wife Colleen have established a new hunt, the Goodwin Hounds, which is registered to the MFHA. The hunt will hunt country in Inman, Statesville, and Union, North Carolina. The country was previously hunted by the Stonebroke Hounds which disbanded in the late 1990s. Landowners welcome the return of foxhunting to the area.
Contact: Tot Goodwin 828-817-2121
Green Creek Hounds: Founded in 1988 by Margaret "Peg" Secor. Her intention was to get back to the grassroots of foxhunting, providing good sport as a natural part of the rural environment. Today, Green Creek Hounds has one of the finest pack of hounds in the country today. Green Creek Hounds starts it's cubbing season in mid-July. The attire is casual during cubbing and the focus is on exciting, safe hunting. Tot encourages members and guests to ride close to him, giving them excellent views of hound work and first hand experience with foxhunting. The pack consists mostly of Crossbreds with some English, American and July hounds. We hunt native red and gray fox, coyote and bobcat. Green Creek's Charter extends through Polk and Cleveland Counties in North Carolina and Greenville and Union Counties in South Carolina. The hunt country is a medley of hills, streams, logging roads, vineyards and narrow wooded trails. For further information call the Hunt Hot Line : 828-863-2753 or one of the Masters: Anna Dalton MFH 864-978-0314
Anne Troppmann MFH 513-706-2979
Donald (DJ ) Jefferis Jr. MFH 484-889-2289
Greenville Foothills Pony Club: Local chapter of the United States Pony Club, serving members from the Greenville, SC area and North Carolina. USPC teaches youth riding skills on the flat and over fences. Club
activities include mounted and unmounted meetings. Disciplines include dressage, show jumping, eventing, polocrosse, tetrathalon, fox hunting and mounted games.
Guiding Reins: offers PATH certified Equine Assisted Therapy throughout the year with one-on-one sessions and/or groups of up to six participants consisting of Veterans, Active Duty Personnel and/or First Responders.
Contact: Diane Prewitt 864-457-3575
Harmon Field Equestrian: Owned by the Town of Tryon and established in 1927, Harmon Field has been fully renovated (thanks to the efforts of The Farm House) in the past few years and hosts a variety of horse shows throughout the year. Stabling for 140 and 4 rings, show office and concessions.
Town Hall: 828-859-6654 Park office: 859-5784
HERD (Helping Equine Regain Dignity)
Local 501(c)3 rescue. The charitable organization rescue's horses primarily in slaughter pipeline, evaluates their health, rehabs and places in loving, forever homes.
Partnership with Horses
The goal of Partnership with Horses is to network, support local instructors, veterinarians, horsemanship clinics and riding events; and share information on how to develop a mutual respect with horses through understanding, listening and communicating using the least amount of interference, forced submission or fear. they meet the 2nd Tues. of each month at FENCE at 6:30.
Contact: Elise Rogers partnerhsipwithhorses@yahoo.com
PEER (Polk Equine Emergency Rescue)
established as a not for profit, 501(c)(3) in 2007, continues to offer the community medical ambulance services specializing in the rescue of equines and other large animals from life threatening situations. All volunteers are trained and certified in large animal emergency rescue techniques. The ambulance serves individual cases as well as providing services to shows, hunter paces, local hunts and steeplechase. Call POLK COUNTY 911 for emergency service. For all other information call Diane
Pisgah Trailblazers: The Pisgah Trailblazers meet once a month to organize volunteer workdays in Pisgah Ranger District, the DuPont State Forest (in western North Carolina) and Croft State Natural Area (in upstate South Carolina). We do trail work, litter pickups, monthly work weekend campouts & other projects in order to keep our trails open. Our meetings are being held at Calverts Restaurant in Columbus, N.C. Our monthly meetings are held on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 6:30 pm to eat & 7:30 pm to meet.
Contact: membership@pisgahtrailblazers.org
Polk Animal Rescue: A project by the Polk Animal Cruelty Investigators and Animal Control to provide the equipment needed for the rescue and emergency transportation of all animals. Contact: Patti Lovelace
Contact: Patti Lovelace 828-817-3508
River Valley Pony Club: Serving Polk, Spartanburg and Greenville Counties, RVPC is a local chapter of the United States Pony Club. Mounted and unmounted meetings with instruction focus on riding with a balanced seat and horse management. The club participates in regional clinics and rallies.Denise Ritacco, District Commissioner, www.rivervalleypc.org
TROT (Therapeutic Riding of Tryon)
A riding program teaching horsemanship skills to adults and children with physical and developmental difficulties in a safe, friendly and supportive environment. TROT is a Premier Accredited Center of the North American Riding For The Handicapped Association. Contact: Alison Rhyne, Director FENCE 828-859-9021 www.fence.org
Tryon Foothills PHJA: Bringing professionals together to solve mutual problems and to protect the professional hunter jumper farms. Contact: Vick Russell, 828-863-4472
Tryon Hounds: One of the region's oldest foxhunting clubs, Tryon Hounds was formed in the 20’s under the leadership of Carter Brown as a drag hunt and was recognized by the Masters of Foxhounds Association in 1935. Since the 1930’s the Hunt has retained professional huntsmen to enhance the quality of the sport. Tryon Hounds, through careful breeding, has built a fine pack. Social activities include the Blessing of the Hounds, Presentation of Colors, the Hunt Ball, sponsor of several horse shows and a hunter pace. Today, the hunt remains active and involved in the overall equestrian community. Contact Honorary Secretary Mrs. Dean McKinney 864 457-5497 www.tryonhounds.com
Tryon International EquestrianCenter:
Newly constructed, the state-of-the-art venue will most likely take its place as one of the premier facilities in the world, featuring world class competition.
Tryon Riding and Hunt Club: Founded in 1925 by the father of Tryon’s equestrian scene, Carter P. Brown, TR&HC sponsors several horse shows, recognized horse trials, The Any & All Dog Show, and the Block House Steeplechase. It has served as a mainstay of Tryon social and equestrian life for years. Contact TR&HC at office@trhc1925.org or 828-863-0480, www.trhc1925.org and www.blockhouseraces.com
Western Carolina Hunter Pace Series:
Hunter pace series in spring and fall when competitors can ride in Field Hunter or Trail Riders divisions. It's a fun way to get out with our horses, enjoy trails we normally don’t have access to and compete in a friendly game. As with recent seasons, the Western Carolina Hunter Pace & Trail Ride Series Events will normally be between six (6) and twelve (12) miles in length. The individual flyers should also give you some brief info as to the terrain and any other particularities to that individual Event.
Photo credit: Elizabeth Sher
Photo credit: Hoofclix/mark Lehner
