By Judy Jennings, Contributing Writer
Tryon – Clay and Cherokee County Special Olympic athletes participated in the Special Olympics of North Carolina State Equestrian Tournament at the International Equestrian Center.
They also were able to attend the Tryon International Equestrian Center’s Saturday Night Lights Grand Prix Horse Jumping Show. Special Olympic events ran Sept. 22-24.
Competition included Equitation, Pole Bending, Dressage and English Trails. Athletes Lana Foster and Elizabeth Jennings represented Clay County. Marian Carter, Christina Zimmerer, Joshua Mills, Nathan Young and Keisha Carter represented Cherokee County.
Coach Lauren Dilts led the combined team to bring home:
- Five gold medals.
- Three silver medals.
- Eight bronze medals.
- Three fourth-place ribbons.
- One fifth-place ribbon.
- One sixth-place ribbon.
The local team also won the Most Creative Tack Room award for the 2023 Equestrian Tournament. A big thank you to the Greenwald family, as their entire family volunteered the whole weekend keeping the stable area clean as well as decorating and designing the stable display.
In order for this opportunity to be available, High Lonesome Therapeutic Equestrian Center provided coaching, training and volunteers, as well as traveling with two of their horses, Little Bob and Daniel. Clay County Special Olympics of North Carolina is grateful for the support, equestrian expertise, dedication and endless hours of hard work the entire team of volunteers put in this fall season and especially during the tournament weekend.
Anyone interested in getting involved in Special Olympics in Clay County, email clay@sonc.net. Anyone interested in getting trained to volunteer and be a part of the equestrian center, email highlonesomestables@gmail.com.