Did you know that for the very first time, the National Horse Show competition will be held right here in North Carolina?

That's right, and what's just as exciting as the event is the venue.

Let's take a look.

[horse whinnying] - The town of Tryon in Western North Carolina has a long history of equestrian heritage.

It goes way back, specifically back in the 1950s.

The town of Tryon was a training grounds for the Olympics equestrian teams.

And so it was just a natural fit when the partnership came to this area and purchased the property here.

The first shows took place the summer of 2014, and then our first full season was the 2015 season, and we've been going strong ever since.

- For the exhibitors, this is a unique facility because of all the amenities that are actually on the grounds.

Eight restaurants, lodging, 200 full-service RV spots, and we have roughly 10 competition arenas, two indoors, a stadium, which we're at now.

We're set up to where we can have multiple events on the grounds at one time.

- My wife and I run a training operation just north of Durham, and been lucky enough to represent the US internationally.

I was on the Pan American Games team and as well as the Tokyo Olympic team.

We've got 16 horses with us this week in particular.

All show jumping now.

This is a horse called Quintessence.

He's been with us since he was four.

He's 15 now.

He's jumped through the five-star level, and we're gonna be jumping tonight.

- This particular week, we have 900 stalls filled with hunters and jumpers.

We have horse trials, which is a three-day event, and we're happy to say that we've just been awarded the contract for the National Horse Show, for 100 years, was in Madison Square Garden, and this coming October, it is here.

- So some of our premier events, like Earl Scruggs Music Festival, held Labor Day weekend every year.

It's become a regional bluegrass festival that's one of the biggest in the areas.

We were just awarded the Bluegrass Festival of the Year.

Some of the other events, too, the Professional Bull Riding, PBR.

That'll be in the fall this year, in September, and then we'll move into our winter indoor track season as well that's been a real big addition for us.

So Saturday Night Lights is kind of our premier events every year, so we kick off in May every season.

Six Saturday nights in a row with exceptional professional sport that takes place, Grand Prix, Under the Lights, and then the atmosphere that you have with Saturday Night Lights is for everyone.

So we have kids' activities, there's food, music, just a true family experience.

- For the horses, I think it's exceptional.

There's not many places that you can get the environment like you would on a Saturday night here.

I think the horses end up really benefiting 'cause our goal is to train these guys and hopefully represent the US at some point.

All of the international championships are gonna have a huge sort of stage that you're gonna be on, and so to be able to get them in that on a week-over-week basis is really, really helpful.

- I love coming out to Tryon.

I come out here as often as I can.

There's just so much.

I also like Saturday Night Lights, which is what we've got going on tonight, and get a little bit of food, and watch the ponies go around, and see some really, really nice animals and riders.

- It's pretty exciting, and every time I come here, we learn something new.

It's definitely worth it.

- Tryon International, it's more than just the sports.

It truly is a lifestyle destination.

We love that feeling when people come here for the first time.

They're usually very surprised and in a very positive way.

Nothing would make us more proud that when they leave, that they wanna come back.

(upbeat music) - Tryon International is located at 25 International Boulevard in Mill Spring.

For event schedules, lodging information, and hours, visit tryon.com.