RINGSIDE WITH THE PLAID HORSE
BY EMILY RANDOLPH/RANDOLPHPR
Katy, Texas – April 3, 2021 – Mackenzie Hudson rode her own Ekyra Fortuna to victory in the $5,000 1.30 m/ 1.40 m Amateur-Owner (AO)/Amateur (Am.) Jumper Classic on Saturday, April 3, to conclude Week II of the 75th Pin Oak Charity Horse Show.
Hudson was one of 19 entries to contest the first-round track set by course designer Bernardo Costa Cabral at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy, TX. Of the 19 entries, four produced clear efforts to advance to the jump-off and three jumped double clear. The fastest of those three, Hudson stopped the jump-off timers in 26.519 seconds.
With a time of 27.309 seconds, second place went to Jacqueline Ruyle and her own Lucille, and a close third place with a time of 27.330 seconds went to Mikayla Linder aboard Chine van’t Schanshof.
“I have so much confidence with [Ekyra Fortuna], I was able to really let her go in the jump-off. She’ll do anything that I ask her to,” said Hudson of the 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare that she has now been partnered with for six years. “I was 15 when we got her, and she was six, so we’ve really come up together.”
While Hudson and “Ekyra” were previously jumping at the grand prix level, the pair took some time off during the COVID-19 pandemic and are now working their way back up the levels.
“This was our second time back in the 1.30 m,” explained Hudson, 21. “She was awesome. She definitely wants to go. In the first round, you really have to hold her back so that you can then in the jump-off, let her go and really go with it. She’ll leave strides out; she’ll add strides. She’ll do whatever you ask her to.”
Hudson, who currently trains with her mother Lacy Hudson at Manor Equestrian in Austin, TX, has been attending the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show since she was six years old and looks forward to it each year.
“I showed my first large pony in the short stirrup here and have been coming ever since!” concluded Hudson. “I like that this show has everyone from Texas but then more. It really feels like a family community here. Everyone’s so inviting and so welcoming.”
In addition to the $5,000 1.30 m/ 1.40 m AO/Am. Jumper Classic, Saturday’s schedule featured a full line-up of both jumper and hunter classics. In the $5,000 1.30 m/1.40 m Junior Jumper Classic, the win went to Genevieve Munson and Charlene, and the $2,500 1.20 m Junior Jumper Classic victory went to John Gilpin and Arobase des Champs. Earning the win in the $2,500 1.20 m AO/Am. Jumper Classic was Anna Marie Mayes riding Balou Bailando. For full results, visit www.horseshowsonline.com.
While Saturday marked the conclusion of Week II of the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show, competition resumes on Wednesday, April 7. Running through April 11, the 75th annual Pin Oak Charity Horse Show features three weeks of top hunter, jumper and American Saddlebred competition while benefitting the Texas Children’s Hospital.
Learn more about the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show by visiting www.PinOak.org, and find the horse show on Facebook here. To purchase competition photos, visit www.AndrewRyback.com. For additional coverage throughout the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show, follow The Plaid Horse on Facebook and Instagram.