Pin Oak I Weekend Wrap Up

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.


Tiramisu, ridden by Trapp O’Neal and owned by The Eddyanne Ranch Family Limited Partnership, was the fastest four-faulter, receiving the red ribbon.


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.