Derby Day at Pin Oak Charity Horse Show II

April 3, 2026 – Katy, TX – Hunters took center stage on Thursday at the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show II. Between the $25,000 Open Hunter Classic and the $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derbies for both open and junior/amateur competitors, the day was filled with beautiful horses, great competition, and a lot of prize money!

Twenty-three horse and rider combinations competed in the $25,000 Open Hunter Classic sponsored by Cloverfield Trail in the main arena on Thursday night. Ultimately it was Matt Cyphert and Ritz who put in a phenomenal second round to move up and take the win for the second year in a row with a total score of 338.75.

Cyphert is no stranger to Pin Oak or to winning this class, and he and Ritz make a phenomenal pair. “He’s been in our fam for five years now and he’s with his second owner in the barn. He does the junior hunters with their daughter and he’s one of our favorite horses we’ve ever had,” Cyphert commented of the eleven year old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Latour VDM out of Gavanta.

“We were coming from middle of the pack so there wasn’t any reason not to give it our best shot and we were rewarded for that,” Cyphert spoke of his second round, “I really just had to find the jumps and hope he jumped it well. I just tried to give him the best ride and he just absolutely stepped up in the second round.”

Getting to watch the hunters competing in the main ring under the lights makes for such a special evening here at the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show, “There’s an electricity to an evening class and especially at the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show.”

Will Roberts rode Quartz, the beautiful gray ten-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding by Cicero Z and owned by Teriann Miller, to two lovely rounds. They earned a 169 and 166 to finish in second place.

Rounding out the podium with a total score of 334.75 was Kelly Lorek and her good friend MTM Swerte, the eleven-year-old gelding by Cariscar out of Frarzi.

We are thrilled to have Cloverfield Trail as a sponsor for the $25,000 Open Hunter Classic, an equine consultancy providing 30-Day fully customizable training in Magnolia, Texas and Traverse City, Michigan. Specializing in young horse development, the scope encompasses producing and maintaining top equine athletes in all life stages by using a holistic approach to wellness, soundness, and understanding based on the individuality of each horse. Cloverfield Trail’s riding club offers riders of all ages and levels an opportunity to further their education in an exclusive “home-based” environment with first-class care.

Twenty-four talented professionals and horses competed in the $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby sponsored by Pine Hollow Farm. Nada Wise put in two stellar and consistent rounds to take the win with In Touch Semilly, Mallory Hensley’s eight-year-old Selle Fracais gelding by Untouchable out of Olympic Girl Semilly.

Wise and In Touch Semilly were in sync, “In Touch Semilly is an eight year old that’s owned by a family from Oklahoma who rides with me at the horse shows. He does the modified adults with his owner and I get to do him in the derbies. He was spectacular. He stepped in like he had done it his whole life. He had all the confidence and heart and we enjoyed ourselves so much in the ring today.”

Wise has had some amazing memories and results at the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show, “Texas is my home state. I remember the first time I came to Pin Oak and how special it felt. Being able to come back and support it every year has been an honor. I love the community and support we get from everybody here and that we are able to give back as well,” Wise commented.

Jennifer Alfano continued her derby success and rode Bonmare, the seven-year-old KWPN mare by Comthago out of Uzella and owned by Jane Baysore to the reserve championship honors, scoring a very competitive 177.5.

The yellow ribbon went to Allison Kroff and Ruby Ransco’s Ayrton, the seven-year-old Holsteiner gelding by Del’Arko D’Henvet out of Hella II. The crowd was excited to see Kroff competing in the Hunter Ring after all of her success in the Jumpers so far at Pin Oak with a great young on her string.

Pine Hollow Farm was the generous sponsor of the $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby – Open. Whether you’re an equine veteran or a first-timer, Pine Hollow Farm has the training program for you. They train hunters, jumpers, and equitation riders at all levels. Will Roberts has trained and developed top-quality performance horses who have been trained and sold across the country.

In the Junior/Amateur $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby, sponsored by The Wild Animal Sanctuary, it was Vivian Smith who shined brightest. She rode her own MTM In the Stars, a nine-year-old Holsteiner gelding by Livello out of Renaissance 6. This duo put in two brilliant rounds for a total score of 172.

The competition was tight, with Emily Wolfkind and A Little Less Conversation, a ten-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Elvis Ter Putte out of Ursula I and owned by Emily Wolfkind, finishing just one half of a point behind in second.

Finishing on a total of 170.5, Hannah Klinedinst and Equestrian Closet, LLC’s MTM Brando rounded out the top three. Brando is a fourteen-year-old gelding by Diarado out of Bregne.

The Wild Animal Sanctuary protects Colorado wild horses through stewardship, conservation, and space to roam on 30,000 acres of open range sanctuary. They work to honor the American Mustangs and their contribution to our nation’s history.