Tryon World Equestrian Games Official Mascots Is Pair of Miniature Horses

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Star and Huck, miniature horses that are official mascots of the World Equestrian Games in Tryon. © Madison Ibach

TRYON, North Carolina, May 11, 2018–Two miniature horses named Star and Huck were announced Friday as the official mascots of the World Equestrian Games that open in Tryon, North Carolina in four months.

Star and Huck were adopted in 2016 by Mark and Katherine Bellissimo, managing partners of Tryon Equestrian Partners, after being rescued by the Peeps Foundation, an organization dedicated to rescuing miniature horses and giving them a forever home.

The duo has been inseparable ever since adoption, and have been regular fan favorites at the Tryon International Equestrian Center, where the WEG is being staged Sept. 11-23, since they began attending events there in 2017.

As rising social media influencers, the minis have an official Instagram account, @starandhuck, so fans can follow their journey as the official WEG mascots. Part of Star and Huck’s mascot training includes practicing the skill sets needed for each of the eight FEI disciplines, most of which are performed in a playful, comedic spirit as they strive to emulate their FEI horse role models.

Star and Huck are set to have a full calendar of public appearances as the official WEG mascots, including several in-person appearances at TIEC throughout the summer to interact with the local community. During the two-week event, the minis are scheduled to attend Community Day, Monday, Sept. 17, with other potential dates to be determined.

“We are delighted that two of our four-legged family members will be able to partake in the Games,” said Katherine Bellissimo, Chief Marketing Officer and Partner of Tryon Equestrian Partners. “We’ve brought them to a few events here at TIEC and down in Wellington, Florida, and every time I am impressed at how they touch people’s lives. Their size and personalities makes them so approachable, and they thoroughly enjoy interacting with the crowds. It will be fantastic to have the two of them here for the fans to engage with during the WEG.”

In addition to their personalities, Star and Huck have a variety of flamboyant outfits, and will be adding to their already expansive wardrobe for the Games. They will sport discipline-specific outfits, as well as mini coolers to match the official WEG coolers.

Fans will be able to purchase a variety of Star and Huck merchandise, including a plush toy version of each mini horse along with a variety of other mascot-branded items that will be available online and on-site during WEG.