Simon McCarthy Got a Win at Pin Oak Week 3

April 10, 2026 – Katy, TX – Simon McCarthy and Gotcha got a big win and the majority of the $25,000 prize pot in Thursday’s Pin Oak Grand Prix sponsored by Irish Day Farm. They returned second-to-last in the jump off, and knowing they had Martien Van Der Hoeven as the last to go, McCarthy put in a lightning fast round in 37.544 seconds.

McCarthy and his fantastic partner, Gotcha, the fifteen-year-old Holsteiner mare by Stakkato out of Zicchini have had so much success together, and this was their first time competing at the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show. “Gotcha is a phenomenal athlete. I’ve had her for quite a few years now. She’s coming off a big injury, she fractured a bone last year, so this is a real testament to her fight and mentality that she’s coming back to her winning ways and to my team for rehabbing her,” McCarthy spoke of his teammate.

The Grand Prix course was designed by Manuel Esparza of Mexico and out of twenty-six competitors, there were five clears after the first round. McCarthy galloped up to the last fence in eight strides to take the win. “I didn’t pay too much attention to what was going before me because I knew I was going to have to be quite quick with [Martien] coming after me. I think I just got him to the last jump. My mare has a big step so I was able to gallop up in eight,” McCarthy commented of his jump off strategy.

Trapp O’Neal and his strong teammate Incredible Loma, the thirteen-year-old KWPN gelding by Numero Uno out of Zenaloma, put in two quick and clear rounds, finishing in second with a time of 38.879s. O’Neal already had a big win with this horse during Pin Oak and is always a crowd favorite.

Hannah Rohrbach and Luck Be a Lady LLC’s Lady Like, the ten-year-old Holsteiner mare by Lint out of E-Calma, put in a smooth effort with a double clear ride and crossed the timers in 40.416s in the jump off for the pair’s second podium finish this week.

The $25,000 Grand Prix was sponsored by Irish Day Farm, led by Katie Lambert-Boone and Hans Boone, which offers hunter/jumper training with a focus on strong fundamentals, communication, and empathy. They have a proven track record of developing skilled, confident riders who excel in horsemanship and succeed in the show ring.

McCarthy is here at Pin Oak for the first time, working with Berry Porter and the Brookside Pine Farms team. “I’m loving it here at Pin Oak. It’s my first year here. I’m helping out Berry Porter and Brookside Pine and we’re having an incredible two weeks and I’m glad I came. The facility is really cool, the arena is great and has a good atmosphere. It was a good choice to come here.”

Results

Placing – Horse – Rider – Owner – Faults/Time
1 – Gotcha – Simon McCarthy – Rock Ridge Farms – 0/0/37.544
2 – Incredible Loma – Trapp O’Neal – TKO Sporthorses – 0/0/38.879
3 – Lady Like – Hannah Rohrbach – Luck Be A Lady LLC – 0/0/40.416
4 – El Hosdi Van Beek Z – Martien Van Der Hoeven – PBC Equine Investments LLC – 0/4/38.648
5 – Irish Du Caillou – Allison Kroff – TC Sport Horses LLC – 0/4/42.781
6 – Oreo FS – Trapp O’Neal – Cathy Potts – 2/80.003
7 – Twilight – Nicolas Gamboa – Ella Heineking – 4/71.585
8 – Contendro Star – Genevieve Gilmore – Genevieve Gilmore – 4/73.399
9 – Connor 69 – Olivia Cliver – On The Mark Equestrian LLC – 4/74.298
10 – Galanthos SHK – Peter Petschenig – Petschenig Showjumping LLC – 4/74.852
11 – Quite Cute 3 – Trapp O’Neal – Whitney Wickes – 4/78.515
12 – Domino Van De Fruitkorf Z – Trapp O’Neal – Cathy Potts – 7/81.780