Tryon 2018 World Equestrian Games
Tryon, North Carolina, USA
September 9 – 24, 2018
FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018
About Asheville,
Asheville is a lively small city in the Blue Ridge. It is a summer get-away spot in the cool mountains and has developed as a center for the handmade arts and crafts of the region with 4000 craftspeople, numerous artists, a wonderful collection of restaurants, an active night life and a large selection of craft beer pubs. We hope you enjoy your free evenings exploring the city.
Sunday, September 9 – Welcome to Asheville!
If you are flying in, please arrive at Asheville (AVL) Airport. We will have transfers scheduled until late afternoon. If you are driving, you will find the Renaissance provides convenient parking. On arrival at the Asheville Renaissance, please check in at the front desk, then see us at the Equestrian Tours Welcome Desk. This evening join us for our welcome reception, followed by a delightful dinner and introduction to our program.
Monday, September 10 – Introduction to Asheville and the Blue Ridge Mountains
Breakfast is included each day of your stay. You will find the breakfast buffet, with eggs cooked to order, quite extensive. You may also have room service breakfast, if you wish.
An introductory tour of Asheville this morning, stopping at the River Arts District with time to explore. Then travel along the Blue Ridge Parkway, seeing what brought so many people to the area, and to Grandfather Mountain. Lunch here (included) and have time to walk the bridge to the top of Grandfather Mountain. The views are spectacular. Returning to our Asheville accommodations, stop at the Folk Art Center, with its display of crafts of the Southern Appalachians and a lovely gift shop. Late afternoon return to Asheville.
We will have a visit to Biltmore House and Gardens this evening. Built by George Vanderbilt in the late 19-c., Biltmore is the largest private home in the U.S., with 250 rooms, and is certainly one of the most beautiful.
Proceed to Biltmore from the Opening Ceremonies, where we can have a “private opening”, following which enjoy a wine & cheese reception, just adjacent to the house. Biltmore produces quite pleasant wines. This will be a memorable evening.
Tuesday, September 11 – TIEC for Opening Ceremonies
Morning at leisure. The opening ceremonies are scheduled for 2:00pm, but I would like you to have time to explore, so we will depart at 11:00am for the Tryon International Equestrian Center. Have time for lunch and visit the market place, get the layout of the various stadiums and you’ll be ready for the coming week.
Wednesday, September 12 – Dressage, Reining & Endurance Championships
Parking will be away from the competition site and there will be shuttles. Hopefully, coaches will be allowed to deposit passengers directly at the competition site, saving an unnecessary morning shuttle. Evening shuttles will bring you back to the collection point to join our coach and return to Asheville. We anticipate the Endurance Championships will be ending in the Main stadium and the first medals of the 2018 WEG will be presented. Our final coaches will depart following the medals ceremony.
Thursday, September 13 – Dressage, Reining and Eventing Dressage Phase
Today the Eventing Championships begin with the dressage phase; the Dressage and Reining Championships continue. If the past is any indication, today should be the completion of Dressage Grand Prix Team Championships and the individual qualifying, as well as Reining.
Friday, September 14 – Dressage and Eventing Dressage Continue
Reiner’s and their horses have a rest day today; Eventing dressage continues today and Dressage Championships continue, we expect with the GP Special .
Saturday, September 15 – Eventing Cross Country and Reining Finals
The Reining Individual Finals and medals ceremony take place today as well as the Eventing Cross Country phase. We will depart early to insure everyone has a chance to get to their favorite fence.
Sunday, September 16 – Eventing Final Show Jumping and Dressage Freestyle
I would expect that the Dressage scheduled for today will be the Freestyle and it will be scheduled for the morning with the final Eventing show jumping phase and medals presentations in the afternoon.
This evening return to our Asheville accommodations and have time to freshen up before our farewell drinks reception with what I hope are sufficient hors d’oeuvres that no one will feel the need for dinner. It will be a wonderful opportunity to enjoy old friends and new before many of you return home tomorrow.
Monday, September 17 – Week I Departure
Today is departure day for our Week I guests. There will be scheduled airport transfers this morning. If you are driving home, be safe. Hope you all will join us again soon.
Tryon 2018 WEG – Week II
September 17 – 24, 2018
Monday, September 17 –Week II Arrivals
Our Week II friends will be arriving today. If you are flying in, please arrive at Asheville (AVL) Airport. We will have transfers scheduled until late afternoon. If you are driving, you will find the Renaissance provides convenient parking. On arrival at the Asheville Renaissance, please check in at the front desk, then see us at the Equestrian Tours Welcome Desk.
We will have a relaxing day for those staying on for week II. This evening join us for our welcome reception, followed by a delightful dinner and introduction to our program. The Renaissance has an excellent chef!
Tuesday, September 18 – Para-Dressage & Vaulting; Asheville and the Blue Ridge
Throughout your stay here at The Renaissance, we have included breakfast each day. You will find the breakfast buffet quite extensive. You may also have room service breakfast, if you wish.
This is the only day that we can introduce you to the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Craft Center. There will be a coach going to the WEG site today for those who wish to take in the Para-Dressage & Vaulting. Others my wish to join us as we travel along the Blue Ridge Parkway, seeing what brought so many people to the area, and to Grandfather Mountain. Lunch here (included) and time to walk the bridge over the valley to the top of Grandfather Mountain. The views are specular. We hope for a clear day. Returning down the Parkway, stop at the Folk Art Center, with its display of crafts of the Southern Appalachians and a lovely gift shop. I anticipate returning to Asheville late afternoon. Those who spent the day at the WEG venue will have to return by 5pm in order to freshen up and join us for our planned evening activity – not to be missed.
We have planned a visit to Biltmore House and Gardens this evening. Built by Frederick Vanderbilt in the late 19-c., Biltmore is the largest private home in the U.S., with 250 rooms, and is certainly one of the most beautiful. We will depart the hotel at 5:30 for Biltmore, where we can have a “private opening”, following which we can enjoy a wine & cheese reception, just adjacent to the house. Biltmore produces quite pleasant wines. This will be a memorable evening.
Wednesday, September 19 – Para-Dressage, Vaulting and Show Jumping
Vaulting and Para-Dressage continue today and in the Main Stadium, the Show Jumping World Championships begin. There should be time today to explore the TIEC Village and shops.
Thursday, September 20 – Para-Dressage, Vaulting and Show Jumping
Transfer departures will be scheduled as necessary to insure all get to the venue in plenty of time for the competitions. If we find the restaurants on site are very busy, the hotel will be happy to organize take out lunches.
Friday, September 21 – Para-Dressage, Driving and Show Jumping
The Driving Championships begin today with their dressage phase and Para-Dressage continues. We anticipate that in the Main Stadium, Show Jumping will be having their final qualifier for the Final Four.
Saturday, September 22 – Para-Dressage, Vaulting and Driving Marathon
The Driving Championships, marathon phase takes place today which makes for a very exciting day. The Para-Dressage and Vaulting complete their championships today.
Sunday, September 23 –Jumping Finals, Driving Cones and Farewell Reception
I anticipate the Driving Cones phase will take place in the morning with the Show Jumping Final Four and Closing Ceremonies in the afternoon. I have always felt that this is the most exciting day of the WEG.
Following the medal presentations and closing ceremonies, return to Asheville. You should have time to freshen up before our farewell drinks reception. It will be a wonderful opportunity to visit with old friends and new before you return home tomorrow.
Monday, September 24 – Departure Day, Safe Journey and Good Memories
Hope you can enjoy a leisurely breakfast today. Airport transfers will be scheduled this morning. For those driving, be safe and ya’ll come back and see us again soon.
I anticipate that we will be able to purchase season tickets and opening/closing ceremonies as we have for the past seven World Equestrian Games and include those in our package – opening, dressage and eventing for week 1; show jumping, driving and closing for week 2.
With that in mind … Program inclusions:
Week 1 – 8 nights’ accommodations with breakfast daily; Week 2 – 7 nights’ accommodations with breakfast daily; sightseeing and special programs as outlined, daily transfers, one dinner and special receptions as outlined, season tickets as outlined above (pending Tryon 2018 policy) airport transfers and services of Equestrian Tours staff.
Program rates:
Week 1 – Twin or Double: $2,895; Single $3,895
Week 2 – Twin or Double, per person: $2,895; Single $3,695
Full program inclusions – 15 nights’ accommodations with all above week 1 and week 2 inclusions
Full program rates – Twin or Double, per person: $5,695; Single $7,195
