A horse and rider compete in a hunter competition.
TIEC founder Mark Bellissimo, above, is one of the country’s premier equine event promoters.
This sculpture welcomes guests to the Legends Club, a VIP area, and the Legends Club Grille, one of several eateries at TIEC.
With more than 800 stalls and a stadium that seats 5,000, the center is equipped to host events on a grand scale during both day- and nighttime.
And while most of the events are horse-centric, the center hosts other amusements, such as the Venetian carousel, musical concerts, craft beer festivals, shag-dance competitions, and classic car shows.
Last year, the center hosted a fund-raiser for the Peeps Foundation, an organization that rescues and finds homes for neglected miniature horses.
In addition to reinvigorating Polk County’s equestrian scene, TIEC has become a big economic driver for the area.
