Inspiring Conversations with Lucille M. Sullivan of Navillus Dressage & Sport Horses

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lucille M. Sullivan. She and her team shared her story with us below:

Lucille M. Sullivan started her equestrian journey at just nine years old; Lucille has an extensive background in equestrian sport with a deep love and passion for horses. She started in the Hunter and Jumper rings and then fell in love with Dressage after college and has continued ever since. The New York native wanted to be closer to the TIEC (Tryon International Equestrian Center) action, so she moved down to Rutherfordton, North Carolina, in 2018, where she and her husband, Brian Glenn, built a dream facility just a stone’s throw away from TIEC. 

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The road to this point has not been an easy one; there have been many obstacles along the way. Navillus Dressage & Sport Horses, LLC was initially started in June 2012 on Long Island, New York. High cost of living, excessive regulation, and the decline of the equine industry on Long Island made it cost-prohibitive to grow the business in New York. In April 2018, they made the decision to relocate and rebuild. Relocating to North Carolina has made it possible to build a covered arena, continue with the training and teaching aspect of the business and expand the breeding aspect of the business. Travel is easier in North Carolina, but horses remain unpredictable and risky regardless of the location. While they have many young prospects, there have been career-ending injuries that have postponed goals. This is the nature of the equine industry, and if you do not have the determination and fortitude to press on then you are in the wrong industry. 

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Navillus Dressage & Sport Horses, LLC is a dressage-focused show farm in Rutherfordton, NC. We are located 9 miles from the Tryon International Equestrian Center. Our client base are generally women who keep their horses in full training and are interested in advancing their own dressage education as well advance their horses up the levels. Our Hanoverian breeding program is focused on producing horses with high trainability and correct gaits for the amateur market. We are available to start young dressage prospects, and our facility lends itself to the proper development of young dressage horses. We boast a regulation-size covered arena, large airy stalls with mattresses, fans, and waterers. All of our stalls have dry lots attached to allow horses 24/7 access to the outside in all weather conditions. The farm is 46 acres with rolling hills and trails for conditioning outside the arena. We have a quality feeding program and treat each horse as if they were our own. 

What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
The equine industry in the Tryon, NC, area has evolved since the Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) opened in 2017. It has always been an area that had the hunt and a variety of recreational horses. The development of the TIEC turned the spotlight onto the competitive equine disciplines. I would expect this trend to continue. The towns in the upstate of South Carolina and western North Carolina continue to expand with residents that are relocating from areas all around the United States. The bucolic countryside around TIEC provides the perfect place for these residents to board their horses and get away from their busy lives. 

Contact Info:

• Website: www.navillusdressage.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/navillus_dressage
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/navillusdressage
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/@lucillesullivan2070

Image Credits
Devan Marie Photography
Joanna Jodko Photography
Photography by KRae