Leyla Caynak for Tryon International
Wednesday, August 13, 2025 10:10 am
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Emma Gurley, a longtime competitor at Tryon International Equestrian Center, and local to the area, could not be more proud of her hometown achievement. Competing for her collegiate team of Emory & Henry University, Gurley won the 2025 Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association (IHSA) National Championship for the Horseware Ireland Intermediate Equitation Over Fences Team Division at Tryon International Equestrian Center with a score of 90.
As a recent graduate from Emory & Henry University, where she earned a major in Equine Studies and a minor in Business Management, Gurley was excited to share what it meant to win a national championship in her hometown during her senior year. "Before I stepped in the ring, my coach gave me some words of encouragement, and I said to myself, 'oh my gosh, this is my last time going in the ring for Emory & Henry and competing for IHSA.' Instead of being nervous, I just focused on enjoying the moment instead of trying to rush through it."
"I learned so much being able to ride different horses every day at school, and then also being able to ride different and unique horses at other schools," Gurley noted. Competing on the Emory & Henry University collegiate riding team for four years not only prepared Gurley for this win, but for her future career plans in the equine industry. "It really has prepared me for my future professional career, because you just have to assess your horse quickly and get the job done as effectively and beautifully as possible." She continued, "I developed really close connections with a lot of people who are also planning to go into the industry, so I feel like that was a huge benefit to being on the team."
Utilizing her college education and collegiate riding experience, Gurley is interested in starting her own equestrian operation in Rutherfordton, North Carolina. She added, "I plan to eventually run my own operation, and mainly focus on developing young horses and sales." She also noted that current trainer Ashley Bailey of Anchor Wave Farm in Bluff City, Tennessee is a huge part of her success.
Finally, living only fifteen minutes down the road from Tryon International Equestrian Center, Gurley elaborated on her Tryon experience. "Tryon is my favorite show grounds! I think it is just the best facility that appeals to the horses and riders. It's so convenient; you have food here, the restrooms are nice, as well as the wash racks and everything. I think it was really designed well to accommodate horses and riders." Competing in the Indoor Complex for IHSA Nationals, Gurley concluded, "it was so much fun, because [we] were all right there [in the Indoor Complex]. The stalls are right there, and it was very accessible to watch your teammates as well as take care of the horses that we brought. I feel like it really just brought us all together and got to know other people that we wouldn't have known otherwise."