Katy, Texas – March 31, 2019 – Saturday’s daytime schedule at Week II of Pin Oak 2019 was full of equitation medals, giving many of Pin Oak’s top junior riders a chance to shine. To add to the excitement, a cold front brought on by a series of early afternoon showers caused an abrupt change in weather that had many of the horses feeling particularly frisky. Riders cooled down while it was still hot during Saturday’s Ice Cream Social sponsored by Healing with Love and Woodway Equestrian, which wrapped up just as the warm weather began to fade into chilly showers.
Despite pouring rain, Grace McReynolds of Colorado Springs, Colarado and her own Kabaltic were crowned the winners of today’s Dover Saddlery/USEF Hunter Seat Medal.
“I felt pretty good going into the medal,” Grace commented. “All of the lines walked pretty straightforward, so that was nice. It was pouring down rain, but my horse was awesome and our course felt super smooth. My horse was great up the first line, stepping right up, and then the rest of the course really just flowed from there,” she continued.
This is Grace’s second time at Pin Oak and her final year showing as a junior. Grace is excited to compete in the Dover Saddlery/USEF Hunter Seat Medal Final at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show this fall.
Owen McWilliams and Tour Eiffel Du Mesnil, owned by Cold Spring Farm Investments, LLC, topped the WIHS Equitation Jumper Phase while Brooke Brombach and Spygate, owned by Show Hunter Investments, LLC, took the blue ribbon in the WIHS Equitation Hunter Phase.
However, it was Bella Kay, winner of Friday afternoon’s $30,000 Walsh and Albert USHJA International Derby, and her SWS Questionnaire who were consistent enough to earn the top prize in the overall WIHS Equitation.
Izabella Millimet won this week’s Hamel NHS 3’3″ medal on her own RVF Carlyle.
Hannah Buskin and Fedor, owned by Ava Williams, came out on top of a fiercely competitive class of 31 riders in the THIS National Children’s Medal. After earning first round scores in the 80s, all four riders proved their position in the challenging work off.
After a long day of fun, lots of riding, and hard work, riders were excited to watch Saturday night’s Hildebrand Fund $30,000 Grand Prix. Pin Oak’s equitation riders are anticipating Sunday’s ASPCA Maclay, USHJA 3’3” Jumping Seat Medal, and Platinum Performance Talent Search. Meanwhile, the junior hunter and jumper competitors are looking forward to classic day as well as the chance to earn tricolors as their divisions wrap up on Sunday.
Katy, Texas – March 30, 2019 – Week II of the 2019 Pin Oak Charity Horse Show is flying by as the week wraps up with big wins before the weekend.
The jumper ring shined during the first part of the week with the $10,000 1.45M Welcome Stake on Wednesday evening and the $25,000 Walter Oil & Gas Corp. Grand Prix and Bedoya Ringside Reception Thursday afternoon.
BKS Horse Farms, LLC’s Dante with Faces of Pin Oak rider Briley Koerner finished 5th in the Welcome Stake, as well as winning the 1.45M Under 25 for the Welcome Stake.
NKH Caruso owned by NKH LLC and ridden by Mathis Schwentker were victorious in Thursday afternoon’s $25,000 Walter Oil & Gas Corp. Grand Prix while Vigo Du Levant, owned by L.O.O. LLC and ridden by Jaelynn Downing, rode to the top honors in the 1.45M Under 25 Grand Prix.
Meanwhile, ‘Derby Day’ at Pin Oak 2019 Week II featured the Baggett Family $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby Friday morning and the Walsh and Albert $30,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Friday afternoon accompanied by the Bluebonnet Feeds Margaritaville party.
Amidst light springtime showers on Friday morning, Kelley Buringa rode Bottom Line Equestrian, LLC’s Valentine to the win in the Baggett Family $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby.
Valentine and Kelley led the class following the classic round with a score of 91. The pair remained consistent, scoring a 94 in their stellar handy round.
“This was our first derby together. And we just had our very first class together last Thursday,” Kelley explained. “He was just spot on today. There was, of course, some pressure coming back on top, and I knew I had to make the inside turn to the trot fence since everyone else had done it. But he was right there with me every step of the way. It was a great feeling and a really fun class,” she continued.
Hoopla, ridden by Peter Pletcher and owned by Hollis Grace, took home the red ribbon in Friday morning’s National Derby while Jennifer Alfano and All Ferraris, LLC’s Enzo W took third. Brooke Brombach was the highest placing junior rider finishing in fifth place with scores of 88 in both the classic round and the handy round aboard Erica Moe’s Classico.
Friday afternoon’s $30,000 Walsh & Albert USHJA International Derby was run in the ‘Hunt and Go Format,’ newly offered at Pin Oak 2019. The Hunt and Go format is similar to a power and speed class in the jumper ring; all riders continue directly on to the handy round following their classic round without stopping or exiting the arena. This format is great news to riders of younger horses or those new to riding in derbies since all competitors proceed to the handy round rather than only the top 12 horses being called back. Friday’s Hunt and Go derby included a total of 14 fences, eight fences in the classic round and six in the handy. Riders were to pass through two standards following the end of the classic round to mark the beginning of the handy portion of the course.
While spectators and exhibitors enjoyed the Bluebonnet Feeds Margaritaville party, amateur and junior competitors topped the field of 25 horses. Symbolic, owned and shown by junior rider Bella Kay, won the class scoring 348 points overall, following an impressive second place finish in the USHJA International Derby the week prior. MTM Do Right took second place with owner and amateur rider Didi Mackenzie while Miramar, ridden by amateur Isabella Littlejohn and owned by Nancy Littlejohn, took third.
When asked about her experience with the Hunt and Go format, Bella Kay joked, “I did a Hunt and Go derby once in Florida. I didn’t ride as well in that one, so the format wasn’t my favorite, but now I love it!”
“Actually, it’s nice because you don’t have time between rounds to overthink, but it can be hard to go so long. It helped that my horse gets excited and perks up when we start doing the handy turns, so it wasn’t as hard to keep going,” she continued.
“For me, today was really just about going around, being smooth, and doing our best. I was so happy when we were second in the International Derby last week, and I wasn’t expecting to be better than that, especially with how many professionals are here and how many incredible horses were in the class,” she said when asked about her win in the International Derby.
“[Symbolic] loves the derbies. They’re his favorite class. Well, no matter what class it is, he always goes wanting to win. He is definitely my once-in-a-lifetime horse. He always gives me 100%. No, actually it’s more like 200%.”
Bella purchased Symbolic three years ago to be a fun, confidence building mount. “This Thursday I will have had him three years. We got him to be a fun horse for me because the green pony I had at the time was not so fun. He has definitely taught me a lot and helped me build confidence. The win will be a great way to mark our anniversary,” she said.
For Symbolic and Bella Kay, this marks another milestone as it is Symbolic’s first International Derby win as well as Bella’s. The pair started doing International Derbies in the fall of 2017. They won a USHJA National Derby in Saugerties in 2017 but have never bested International Derby competition. “He came in second a few times with Kelly Farmer before I owned him but had never won. He was definitely a derby pro, but he had never had a derby win, so I’m very excited we could achieve this together,” Bella explained. Bella is also looking forward to riding Symbolic at the USHJA International Derby Finals in Kentucky later this year.
As Week II of Pin Oak 2019 enters the weekend, junior riders are looking forward to another fun weekend of showing while jumper riders and spectators are excited for Saturday’s big event – the Hildebrand Fund $30,000 Grand Prix and Avalon Advisors Ringside Gala.
On Saturday evening during the Grand Prix, we got to meet one of the most amazing little boys, Ben. Ben is blind, but was SOOOO excited to be at the show! Even though he could not see what was going on, he was cheering on the riders and whooping and hollering louder than most everyone else.
Ben really wanted to meet a horse and Vantage Point Farm, LLC was kind enough to let him meet their superstar, Sammie. (You may remember him as one of the 2018 Horse of Pin Oak.)
It’s the little things like this, that remind us what the show is all about. Thank you to Candlelighters Houston for introducing us to this incredible little boy and his family.
Daniel Bedoya and Quattro topped the $30,000 Pin Oak Grand Prix, sponsored by Oasis Petroleum
The 74th Annual Pin Oak Charity Horse Show wrapped up Week I, March 20-24, at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy, Texas. The action-packed schedule included Hunters, Jumpers and American Saddlebreds, sponsored by Bluebonnet Farm, taking centerstage during this prestigious USEF Heritage horse show.
This year, Pin Oak offers Premier Hunters and the USHJA World Championship Hunter Rider competition Weeks II and III, three USHJA International Hunter Derbies with $90,000 in prize money, three USHJA National Hunter Derbies, sponsored by the Baggett Family, Booth Show Jumpers, Brookside Pine Farms and Walsh & Albert with $35,000 in total prize money.
There are five Grand Prix events, sponsored by Oasis Petroleum/Amalaya Investments, The Hildebrand Fund and Wells Fargo/Abbot Downing, Irish Day Farm and Walter Oil & Gas Corporation, as well as two U25 events sponsored by Summer Hill Farms and Fab Finds by Sarah. Pin Oak also sends out a big “thank you” to the ring sponsors for this year: Irish Day Farm, Memorial Park Hunters and Saddle Shoppe.
In the first week’s featured grand prix, Daniel Bedoya and Quattro topped the field in the $30,000 Oasis Petroleum Grand Prix on Saturday night before a packed house.
Sixteen competitors tried their hand at the first-round course designed by Manuel Esparza, with five competitors moving to the jump-off. In the end, Bedoya and Quattro posted the only double-clear performance of the night. Tiramisu, ridden by Trapp O’Neal and owned by The Eddyanne Ranch Family Limited Partnership, was the fastest four-faulter, receiving the red ribbon.
Going fourth in the order with no clear rounds on the board, Bedoya knew what he had to do, and his plan worked to perfection.
Daniel Bedoya and Quattro
“In the jump-off, I didn’t want to get him going too fast,” said Bedoya of Quattro. “He’s a big horse, and sometimes I lose control of his stride.”
Bedoya was especially pleased with his ride, because at the end of the course he was able to slow down, make a great turn to the last fence and finish without a rail hitting the ground. “I wasn’t the fastest, but I was clear,” he said. “I think by going clean, I put a little pressure on Trapp (who went last). He was a lot faster than me, but his horse made one little mistake. That’s all it takes.”
Bedoya, of Magnolia, Texas, and who rides for Bolivia, has had the 13-year-old Quattro since he was a 5-year-old.
“I took him to his first horse show, his first grand prix, his first FEI grand prix and his first grand prix win,” said Bedoya. “I’ve done everything with him—his first World Equestrian Games, too. He’s also the horse my wife Lindsay jumped her first grand prix on, and he’s the first horse my daughter trotted and cantered and went over a pole with me as a baby. So, he’s a special horse for my family and a part of the family.”
Bedoya and Quattro were Pin Oak’s Leading Grand Prix Horse and Rider in 2018 as well as 2015.
“He’s won five or six grand prix events now. He’s not the fastest, but he’s placed in over 70 grand prix classes,” said Bedoya proudly. “He’s always there. He’s so big that sometimes the smaller horses can beat him.”
Bedoya was thrilled to win once again at Pin Oak. “I love it here,” he said. “I want to thank Pin Oak! They’re doing a great job. They put a lot of work into it here, the venue and the new footing is awesome; and we had a great course designer. It’s one of my favorite horse shows.”
Daisy Ford and Gatsby
Daisy Ford and her Gatsby finished fifth, which gave them the win in the $10,000 Under 25 Grand Prix, which ran concurrently, while Briley Koerner placed sixth with BKS Horse Farms, LLC’s For Jef VD Wezelse, earning her second place in the U25 section.
Julie Cleveland Beam, who piloted Anastasia Stewart’s Lancelot to victory in Thursday night’s $10,000 Welcome Stake, received the Grand Prix Style Award at Saturday’s event. Beam was pleased with Lancelot’s performance in the Welcome, because he arrived at Pin Oak and needed some time to settle.
“He’s been a little bit nervous since he’s been here, with a lot to look at,” she said. “He’s always a spooky horse, so he was making me work a little extra hard, but he stepped up to the plate when I needed him to, and he was great.”
Beam went early in the class of 14 entries in the Welcome and had to wait to see if anyone could catch her jump-off time.
“I wasn’t sure,” said Beam of her win. “I did plan to go around (one fence) because he was being so dodgy, so I knew that was a little bit of a deal breaker possibly for the win, but you never know. Then, I looked at my time when I finished, and it was pretty close to what Trapp just did. and he went inside, so I thought maybe we had a chance of keeping it.”
Julie Cleveland Beam and Lancelot
Beam, of Hillcrest Farm in Argyle, Texas, has had the gray Lancelot for a little over a year and has carefully nurtured his talents as he’s gained confidence in the ring. “He’s been a project. He’s a very mental horse, and he is very dependent on his rider, so he looks to you to help him. But he’s really starting to come into himself, and I’m really pleased,” she said.
Beam has been showing at Pin Oak since the early 1990s. “It’s a special show with good competition. The atmosphere is a little more competitive than other Texas shows, and everybody has their A game on. It’s a nice challenge. I think they’re doing a great job here, a and they make us feel we’re a part of it.”
A Winning Derby Debut
In the featured $30,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby on Friday night, Jennifer Alfano once again led the victory gallop. This time, however, it wasn’t aboard one of her past derby veterans, such as Jersey Boy or Miss Lucy. Instead, Alfano piloted a complete rookie named Capriati to the top placing.
Jennifer Alfano and Capriati won the $30,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby
“There were a lot of firsts for Capriati (nicknamed J.J.) this week—it was his first show as a hunter, his first show in the United States and his first Derby and his first win,” said Alfano of the 13-year-old chestnut warmblood.
Capriati arrived in the United States 2 ½ weeks before Pin Oak after being imported by John Jamieson and Carly Campbell Cooper. “I can’t thank them enough,” said Alfano. “I was kind of whining because I didn’t have a derby horse to bring to Pin Oak, and they said, ‘Oh, we just got this one in, and we think he wants to be a hunter. You could take him.’ So, a huge thank-you to them. It’s a win-win for all of us.”
Alfano, of Ocala, Florida, registered Capriati with the USEF on Tuesday and started him in the 3’6” Green Hunters at Pin Oak on Wednesday, since in his former life he’d been a 1.45m jumper.
“I have to say, the first day, Wednesday in the first class, I was like, ‘OK, maybe the Derby on Friday isn’t quite the plan,’” said Alfano, laughing. “Then, even from the first to the second class on Wednesday was a huge improvement. And then from the first day to the second day was another huge improvement. He’s a smart horse, and I think he really likes this job. By the time Friday rolled around, he was like, ‘I got this!’”
Jennifer Alfano and Capriati
Alfano and J.J. topped the card in the Classic Round and then repeated for victory in the Handy Round for the overall title.
“I honestly had no idea what to expect,” said Alfano. “There was no pressure, and I was so relaxed. I’m usually all keyed up and nervous for these derbies and pacing up and down. Going inside (the Tellepsen Arena) with all of the people, I thought he might get a little up with the atmosphere. But he went in there like he’s been doing it his whole life.”
After the first round, Alfano figured there was no need to be cautious, so she went in to cement the victory.
“in the Handy, I rode him like one of my seasoned derby horses, which was amazing for his first one,” she said. “I’ve always had good luck here—Lewis (Jersey Boy) and Lucy have both won a couple of derbies here—and I have pretty good luck with the chestnut derby horses!”
Symbolic and Bella Kay
Symbolic, owned and shown by junior rider Bella Kay, was seventh after the Classic Round and posted a superb Handy Round to vault up to second place overall. Kay also excelled in the equitation ring. Aboard her SWS Questionnaire, Kay won the WIHS Equitation Hunter Phase, the Dover/USEF Hunter Seat Medal and the Platinum Performance USEF Talent Search class.
Jessica Law rode Jana Arnoldy’s Krunch to victory in the $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby
Friday’s Derby Day at Pin Oak also included the Brookside Pine Farms $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby in the afternoon. Jessica Law rode Krunch, owned by Jana Arnoldy, to top honors over a sprawling course designed by Alan Lohman that was set in the Memorial Park Hunters combined Mega Ring I and II. Alfano guided All Ferraris LLC’s Enzo W to second place, and Natalie Geller rode Beluga LLC’s Can’t Buy Me Love to third.
Champions and Classic winners went hand-in-hand this week, with Greetings and owner/rider Haley Hammer winning the 3’6” Junior Hunter Classic and the tricolor in the 3’6” Junior Hunter, 16-17, section.
Likewise, MTM Inside Scoop, owned and ridden by Didi Mackenzie, topped the 3’6” Amateur-Owner Hunter Classic and earned the 3’6” Amateur-Owner Hunter championship.
MTM Inside Scoop and Didi Mackenzie
A clean sweep went to Wesley Clingman’s Deluxe, shown by Courtney Lenkart. The pair captured every blue ribbon in the 3’3” Green Working Hunters and, as icing on the cake, took two more as the winners of the USHJA 3′-3’3″ Green Incentive Stake and the Texas Green Hunter Super Stake.
Lenkart has had the ride on Deluxe for about a year after Clingman relocated from Atlanta to Dallas last spring to attend Southern Methodist University.
“He does the 3’3” Greens with me and the 3’3” Amateur-Owners with his mom, Wesley,” said Lenkart. “He started out the year really well and was champion in Wellington (on the Winter Equestrian Festival circuit) before coming to Pin Oak. He’s got all the parts; he’s really a cool horse.”
Lenkart, who won the USHJA 3’-3’3” Green Incentive Program 2018 National Leading Rider Award with $32,975 in earnings, has high hopes to continue her momentum this year. She has several promising Green hunters coming up the ranks, with Deluxe already winning several Incentive classes.
Courtney Lenkart and Deluxe won the USHJA 3′-3’3″ Green Incentive and the Texas Green Hunter Super Stake
“He’s a beautiful jumper and mover and so pretty between the jumps,” she said of the elegant bay. “He always carries his ears right, and he’s just really classy the way he goes. The USHJA Green Incentive Championship (in Kentucky in August) is definitely on our goal list.”
In the Hunter Breeding section, Rachelle Goebel’s Will Emblazon captured the 3-year-old class and Best Young Horse title under judge Linda Andrisani.
The impressive bay Oldenburg (Willemoes–-Anastazia) was bred by His Cat Farm and handled by Goebel, of Montgomery, Texas.
Will Emblazon comes from a line of successful Hunter Breeding horses, and his dam, Anastazia, was crowned Best Young Horse at the Devon Horse Show in 2004 and ’05. Will Emblazon placed third at Devon as a yearling and finished fifth in the USEF Horse of the Year standings and won the Zone 7 championship as well as the Texas Super Series grand championship.
Best Young Horse Will Emblazon with Rachelle Goebel
Goebel purchased Will Emblazon as a 5-month-old, and she and her sister, Felicia Carroll, have shown him together. He remains undefeated in 2019 and currently leads the USEF National Horse of the Year standings in the 3-year-old Hunter Breeding section. In addition to Pin Oak, Will Emblazon earned the Best Young Horse titles each of the four weeks of the Great Southwest Winter Series.
During Week I, the American Saddlebred divisions, sponsored by Bluebonnet Farm, took their turn around The Irish Day Farm Main Indoor Arena.
Chris Tresten, of Houston, Texas, claimed victory in the hotly contested ASB Three-Gaited Country Pleasure Championship. She rode her It’s Wing KA Hammer to an impressive performance over a field of nine competitors after also taking the ASB Three-Gaited Country Pleasure Adult win earlier in the week.
“I’ve had him since he was 3, and he’s 15 now. He was five-gaited his whole life until this show— and we went to Country Pleasure and won both classes. Who would have thought? For him to stand and halt, I couldn’t believe it. I was so amazed. He seems to love it.”
Tresten, an amateur rider who trains with Milo Jones and Koren Mercer of Lone Star Saddlebreds, credited them for the successful transition of It’s Wing KA Hammer to a new division with some different challenges.
Chris Tresten with Ready Or Nut
“We had asked him to be gaited his whole life, and we thought maybe after 10 years we’d let him down a little bit and let him be a Country Pleasure horse,” she noted. “He had to walk and halt and all that, but Milo got him ready, and he was so good in there. He did everything I asked him to do.”
Tresten also piloted Paul Mattson’s Ready Or Nut to victory in the ASB Three-Gaited Ladies class and then earned the reserve championship in the ASB Three-Gaited Stake.
“I’m just catch riding this one, and it was a last-minute decision at home,” she said. “We decided a week ago, and I hadn’t ridden her, so we put on the double bridle and said, ‘Oh, I think this is going to work!’ So, we tried it, and she went great. She was really good in the first class and then the championship went great.”
For Tresten, competing at Pin Oak is very special. She’s a former chairman of the board and past president. “I’ve been involved with Pin Oak for 25 years, doing the Ronald McDonald House and involved in the charity work,” she said. “Lynn Walsh (also a Pin Oak past president and successful amateur hunter rider) and I retired last year. We’ve been doing it for 25 years, and we felt it was time for someone else to take the reins. We’ve had many roles at Pin Oak over the years, and now we’re riding, riding, riding! We’re like riding machines, and we just smile all the time!”
Michael Beasom also had reason to smile at Pin Oak. He captured the Three-Gaited Stake aboard Oak Hill Saddlebreds LLC’s The Rhumba after winning the ASB Three-Gaited Open class. In addition, Beasom collected a variety of top ribbons for Oak Hill Saddlebreds, including the Fine Harness Championship with Jack And Coke in a highly competitive class. He also trained Open First and Catherine Street to top honors in the ASB Five-Gaited show Pleasure Championship among others.
Three-Gaited Park Amateur Champion Eddie Norris and American Art
In the ASB Five-Gaited Stake, it was Judy Stubblefield’s By Some Miracle taking the victory pass with rider Sandra Currier. The pair also topped the ASB Five-Gaited Ladies class.
The Junior/Amateur exhibitors rode hard for their championships, as well, with Scarlett McDowell claiming the ASB Five-Gaited Amateur/Junior Exhibitor tricolor aboard Let’s Have Some Fun, with Currier training. Story Sinex bested a strong field to win the ASB Three-Gaited Amateur/Junior Exhibitor championship aboard Krista Sinex’s Fortunate Encounter, with Milo Jones training.
Katy, Texas – March 25, 2019 – Fun was had by all at Pin Oak 2019’s first Grand Prix, the Oasis Petroleum $30,000 Grand Prix, and Amalaya Investments Ringside Gala on Saturday Night. As is tradition at each of Pin Oak’s Grand Prix events, the Catalena Cowgirls, an iconic rodeo drill team of talented women and their paint horses, kicked off the evening with a fabulous performance.
Sixteen competitors tried their hand at the first-round course, with only five moving to the jump off. The crowd held their breath as Quattro, owned and shown by Daniel Bedoya, took home the win with the only clear jump off round. Daniel and Quattro were Pin Oak’s Leading Grand Prix Horse and Rider in 2018 as well as 2015. The pair also competed in the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games.
Daisy Ford and her Gatsby finished in fifth place, which gave them the win in the 1.45M Under 25 Grand Prix while Faces of Pin Oak rider, Briley Koerner, finished sixth in the Prix with BKS Horse Farms, LLC’s For Jef Vd Wezelse, earning her second place in the Under 25.
Julie Cleveland Beam and Anastasia Stewart’s Lancelot, winners of Thursday night’s $10,000 1.45M Welcome Stake, received the Grand Prix Style Award at Saturday’s event.
Prior to Saturday’s big event, complimentary massages were offered during the afternoon at the facility’s outdoor hospitality area, and The Shops at Pin Oak featured pre-event cocktails and a photobooth with fun Pin Oak props open to all.
On Sunday, the final day of Pin Oak 2019 Week I included a delicious sponsor brunch, complete with mimosas and a Bloody Mary bar.
Bella Kay aboard her SWS Questionnaire dominated in the equitation ring, winning the WIHS Equitation Hunter Phase, the USEF/Dover Hunter Seat Medal, and the Platinum Performance Talent Search.
Portya Muenke took the blue ribbon in the WIHS Equitation Jumper Phase and the red ribbon in the USEF/Dover Hunter Seat Medal and the ASPCA Maclay aboard her Gerico. Elizabeth Nestor proved to be the highest scoring overall in the WIHS Equitation with At Last owned by Claire Azar. Elizabeth Nestor and At Last also took home the blue in the USHJA 3’3” Jumping Seat Medal.
We spoke with Brooke Brombach following her win in the ASPCA Maclay on Spygate, owned by Show Hunters Investments. “I’m so happy with him. I was really looking forward to Pin Oak this year, especially following last year’s 3’6” Equitation Circuit Award, but I was concerned when a week before the show started I still hadn’t found an equitation horse to ride. Luckily, three days before Pin Oak, I found out that Spygate, an equitation horse I used to ride, was coming back from lease and being sent for me to show. He made it on Thursday evening, just in time!” The pair was also second in the WIHS Equitation Hunter Phase and third in the US Dover Hunter Seat Medal and the Platinum Performance Talent Search.
Macy White aboard Viva’s Glory, owned by Joan Hensen, took home the blue ribbon in the Hamel NHS 3’3” Medal, and Victoria Zahorik and her own Kalisto were crowned the winners in the THIS National Children’s Medal and Reserve Champion of the Children’s Hunter 14 and Under.
Khaki McCool and Kirby McCool’s Intrepido came out on top in the under saddle as well as both of Sunday’s Combined 3’6” Large Junior Hunter 15 and Under and Small Junior Hunter 16-17 classes, taking Champion in the division. “Today’s courses were very well-designed. I really enjoyed them, and my horse was perfect and jumping great,” Khaki said when asked about her wins. “We just started leasing him less than a year ago,” she explained of the 10-year-old Danish Warmblood. Central Park West owned and ridden by Jordan Cobb earned the Reserve Championship.
Greetings and owner/rider Haley Hammer bested all the 3’6” Junior riders, winning the combined 3’6” Junior Hunter Classic and taking Champion in the 3’6” Junior Hunter 16-17. Symbolic, second in Friday’s International Hunter Derby, and Bella Kay were Reserve Champion.
Gap Crown Horses, LLC’s Cassiopeia Cellestin, ridden by Kelley Buringa, and Chestnut Equestrian, LLC’s OTI, ridden by Ainslee Gregg, took Champion and Reserve Champion, respectively of the 3’3” Junior Hunter 16-17. Both horses are of Matt Cyphert’s, Faces of Pin Oak rider, Woodhill Farm.
Luke Jensen and Jill Barnett’s Coraggio PF were Champion in the 3’3” Junior Hunter 15 and Under and took home the blue in the combined 3’3” Junior Hunter Classic.
Children’s Hunter 14 and Under Champion Snickers owned by South Haven Farm while the Children’s Hunter Classic 14 and Under win was taken by Overture, owned and shown by Lola Hutchinson.
The Children’s Hunter 15-17 tricolor was earned by Caswell owned and ridden by Sydney Murdoch while Jordan Gilchrist’s Kingston, piloted by Ella Frahm, took the win in the Children’s Hunter 15-17 Classic as well as the division Reserve Championship. At the pony ring, we caught up with McKayla Brombach who was on fire, earning the Championship on all three of her rides.
Glenmore Tralee, ridden by McKayla and owned by Monarch Stables, earned the tricolor in the Small Pony Hunter division. When asked about the catch ride, McKayla said, “I’m really proud of this pony. She was fantastic. I am shocked that we were Champion against Sunbeam because Sunbeam is a really nice pony.”
Sunbeam, owned by Ticket to Ride, LLC and ridden by Carolyn Colter, took the Reserve Championship as well as the blue ribbon in the combined Pony Hunter Classic.
McKayla was also Champion of the Medium Pony Hunters with Colleen Brombach’s Morton’s Sassy Kat. “I’m finally figuring out how to ride this pony. I’m so blessed to have her and to finally be getting consistent rides on her,” said McKayla following her clean sweep of the division. Alexandra Keath’s Glenhaven Pick Me, ridden by Clara Keath, earned the Reserve Championship. The girls shared their Championship photo following the division.
McKayla’s third ride, Waltzing Matilda, owned by James Waldman, took the Championship in the Small/Medium Green Pony Hunter division. “This is only her second horse show,” McKayla explained, “I never thought we would be Champion. I was just super excited to get to show this new green pony when she came in for sale.” Carlysle Drosos rode her own Snoop Dogg to the Reserve Championship as well as the win in the WIHS Pony Medal.
McKayla’s older sister, Brooke Brombach, took her share of the blue ribbons at the pony ring as well, riding Isabella Mullan’s Poplar Place Pied Piper to the Championship in the Large Pony Hunter division. Touch Of Class, owned and shown by Kate Stark, took Reserve Champion.
The Large Green Pony Hunter Championship was earned by 14 Karat, owned by RGG Equestrian LLC and ridden by Reagan Gehm, while Martha Patterson’s Diplomat took the Reserve Championship.
Sunday was ‘Classic Day’ in the jumper ring, where white breeches were in full swing.
Take Two, owned and shown by Sydney Long, bested the Junior and Amateur Owner competition, winning the High Junior/Amateur Owner Jumper Classic as well as the High Amateur Owner Championship while Hannah Newton and her Athena were Champion of the Low Amateur Owner and winners of the Low Junior/Amateur Owner Jumper Classic.
Hallie Rush’s HRS Fortuna jumped to High Junior Jumper Champion, and Learning To Fly, owned and shown by Frances Barham, earned the tricolor in the Low Junior Jumper division.
Washington, owned and shown by Emma Flett, was Champion in the High Children’s Jumper division while Neon Trees, owned by Amanda Pierce and shown by Heather Cleveland, bested the High Adult Amateur competition in both the division and the High Adult Amateur Classic.
Elaine, shown by Mia Gradick for SCNC Investments, Inc. took home the tricolor in the Low Children’s Jumper as well as the win in the Low Children’s Jumper Classic. Adeline owned and shown by Marissa Rose took home the Low Adult Amateur Jumper division Championship title.
Riders are looking forward to another fun week of horse showing and amazing Texas hospitality at Pin Oak Week II. Thursday evening will feature the Trainers Equitation Exhibition benefitting Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Family Alliance. World Championship Hunter Rider recognition makes Weeks II and III of the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show the place to be for many hunter riders, who can expect to face stiff competition. Meanwhile, jumper riders celebrate Week II and III’s addition of the Thursday night $25,000 Grand Prix to the already enticing schedule of jumper events.
“Derby Day” Celebrates Top Hunters with a Champagne Toast
Jennifer Alfano & Capriati
Katy, Texas – March 23, 2019 – Thursday and Friday at the 2019 Pin Oak Charity Horse show were jam-packed with fun and excitement as the show’s top competitors showcased their skills in both the jumper ring and the hunter ring.
Thursday afternoon, sponsors enjoyed the Bedoya Training Ringside Reception hosted in the Yellow Rose Whiskey Sponsor’s Club during the $10,000 1.45M Welcome Stake. Lancelot, owned by Anastasia Stewart and shown by Julie Cleveland Beam, took home the top honors while Kierland Farm’s Fourtina and Trapp O’Neal came in a close second finishing less than a second behind Lancelot in the jump off.
BKS Horse Farms, LLC’s For Jef Vd Wezelse and Faces of Pin Oak rider Briley Koerner finished fourth in the Welcome Stake and bested the under 25 competition taking home the 1.45M Under 25 Welcome Stake win.
Meanwhile in the hunter ring, Wesley Clingman’s Deluxe, shown by Courtney Lenkart, took home all the blue ribbons and was Champion with a clean sweep in the 3’3” Green Working Hunters as they continued Wednesday’s winning streak. The pair was also the winner of both the $1,000 USHJA Green Incentive Stake and the $2,500 Texas Green Hunter Super Stake.
The amateur hunter competition wrapped up on Friday afternoon. Who Dat owned by Maura Harrower and piloted by Rachel Campbell was Champion in the Adult Amateur Hunters 18-35. The day prior, Who Dat was also crowned Champion of the combined High Performance/3’9” Green Working Hunter with Sarah Rice.
The Adult Amateur Hunter 36-49 Championship was earned by L&W Equine Investments, LLC’s Echo Park ridden by Mercedes Flett, and Lightful, owned by La Primera Hacienda, LP and shown by Angela Dominguez, took home the Championship in the Adult Amateur Hunters 50 and over.
MTM Inside Scoop, owned and ridden by Didi Mackenzie, was Champion of the 3’6” Amateur Owner Hunters also taking home the blue ribbon in the $1,000 3’6” Amateur Owner Classic while Kathy Chiaf’s Sweetwater earned the tricolor in the 3’3” Amateur Owner Hunters.
Friday was ‘Derby Day’ at Pin Oak 2019 with the Brookside Pine Farms $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby in the afternoon. The $30,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby ran in the evening, accompanied by a ringside Churrasco International Derby Welcome Party and dinner.
Under Friday afternoon’s blue skies and perfect springtime weather, Jessica Law rode Krunch, owned by Jana Arnoldy, to win the Brookside Pine Farms $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby in the Memorial Park Hunters combined Mega Ring I and II. Jessica, Jana, and her adorable fleet of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels were ecstatic over the win. Jennifer Alfano and All Ferraris, LLC’s Enzo W took second in the National Derby as well as the Championship in the 3’3” Performance Hunters.
Capriati, owned by Jennifer Alfano and John Jamieson and ridden by Jennifer Alfano, jumped to the top prize amidst fierce competition in Friday evening’s $30,000 USHJA International Derby, winning both the classic and handy round. Symbolic, owned and shown by junior rider Bella Kay, was placed seventh after the classic round and excelled in the handy round, bumping the pair up to second place. DS Holdings, LLC’s Carrida, the 2018 Pin Oak Week III $50,000 USHJA International Derby winner, earned a fifth-place finish in tonight’s event with 2019 Faces of Pin Oak rider Frank Owens.
Following the victory gallop, all riders participated in a champagne toast to commemorate Pin Oak 2019’s first International Derby.
Junior riders are looking forward to the perfect springtime horse show weekend while spectators, sponsors, and exhibitors anticipate tomorrow night’s main event – the Oasis Petroleum $30,000 Grand Prix and Amalaya Investments Ringside Gala.
On Saturday evening during the Grand Prix, we got to meet one of the most amazing little boys, Ben. Ben is blind, but was SOOOO excited to be at the show! Even though he could not see what was going on, he was cheering on the riders and whooping and hollering louder than most everyone else.
