Friday Trip of The Day: Jennifer Bliss and Face the Stars

For Immediate Release

Allie Hay for TIEC

Mill Spring, NC – June 12, 2021 – Dorothy Douglas (USA) and MTM Lolah LOL, owned by Abigail Davenport cantered their way to a score of 378 in Friday’s $50,000 International Hunter Derby during the Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) Spring Week 6/Tryon Riding and Hunt Club Charity Horse Show to secure the first place ribbon and the Duncan Family Perpetual Trophy. Claiming second with a total score of 365 was Poker Face, a 2005 Dutch Warmblood owned by Harris Hill Farm, LLC and ridden by Jennifer Bliss (USA). With just a one point difference, rider Hunter Holloway (USA) earned a total score of 364 to snag the third place ribbon on Ruby Tuesday, a 2011 Oldenburg mare (Icarus “Any Given Sunday” x Manna “S&L Sobeit”) owned by Hays Investment Corp.

Dorothy Douglas and MTM Lolah LOL
©Shannon Brinkman

The Dean Rheinheimer (USA) course tested 15 entries during the first round, with the top 12 scoring a minimum of 94 in order to qualify for the handy round. Douglas and the 2013 Westphalian mare (Los Angeles x Palma) walked out of their first round with a score of 180 and added 198 points in the handy round to win the class. “This is her second derby win this past year!” Douglas proudly admitted. “When you’re walking the course and you’re deciding steps or high options, it’s really cool to ride a horse that you know the bigger the jumps, and the spookier it is, the better she’s going to jump.”

Jennifer Bliss and Poker Face
©Shannon Brinkman

In addition to riding MTM Lolah LOL to the win, Douglas rode the 2012 Belgian Warmblood gelding (Cicero x Timoon van het Geelhof) owned by Meredith Lipke, Steel Away, to a total score of 338 and a green sixth place ribbon. Having two horses in the derby was helpful for Douglas “because it calms your nerves a little bit and it just gives you another chance.” Her second ride in the handy proved to be a success, as she walked out of the ring smiling and on the top of the leaderboards.

Hunter Holloway and Ruby Tuesday
©Shannon Brinkman

MPM Lolah LOL and Douglas have a strong partnership, and Douglas refers to her as a best friend. “[MPM Lolah LOL]’s like, ‘I got you, girl.’ She’s like one of your best friends that is always like, ‘I’ve got your back! I’m here for you!’” In the handy round, Douglas’ goal was to “jump all high options, make it look effortless, and she [did] it!”

Dorothy Douglas, MTM Lolah LOL and team in their presentation ceremony alongside Kent Holden and Angie Millon of Tryon Riding & Hunt Club and Ringmaster Steve Rector, receiving the Duncan Family Perpetual Trophy.
©Shannon Brinkman

The USEF Heritage competition now hosted at TIEC, Tryon Spring 6/Tryon Riding & Hunt Club Charity Horse Show, has proven to be a successful week for Douglas, she shared. “We love showing here!” she said. “We’re having a pretty great week so far!”

Friday Trip of The Day: Jennifer Bliss and Face the Stars

Jennifer Bliss in her presentation ceremony alongside Tryon Equestrian Partner Jennifer Smith.
©Reagan Ibach, TIEC

Jennifer Bliss and Face The Stars, owned by Harris Hill Farm LLC, claimed Friday’s Trip of The Day award presented by Jennifer & Roger Smith, a $500 check given to the highest-scoring Hunter rider each day of Tryon Spring 6/Tryon Riding & Hunt Club Charity Horse Show. The duo earned an impressive 90 to claim their check.

Tryon Spring 6/Tryon Riding & Hunt Club Charity Horse Show competition continues through Sunday, June 13, and features the $137,000 Cleghorn Golf & Sports Club Grand Prix CSI 3* at 8:00pm in Tryon Stadium, as well as the return of Saturday Night Lights. The $25,000 Tryon Resort Sunday Classic will be hosted at approximately 12:30pm in Tryon Stadium. Competitions are hosted rain or shine and are open to the public, with free live streaming available at www.Tryon.com/streaming. 

To view full results from the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, click here.

Replay the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby live stream by clicking here. 

Photos ©Shannon Brinkman. These photos may only be used once in relation to this press release. Competitors can view and purchase photos from Tryon Spring 5&6 as well as request photos for Tryon Spring 6 at Tryon.com/photos. With questions, email media@tryon.com