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Day 1 - Tuesday March 17
The Show Opens Today!
Saltador ORO Claims the Dressage SH Andalusian Championship
The 70th Pin Oak Charity Horse Show, presented by Haras Dos Cavaleiros and Irish Day Farm, began today at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy, Texas. This year's competition features more than 850 horses and a roster of compettiors from throughout the United States and Mexico.
Judy and Walter Henslee had the honor of winning one of the first two championships awarded today to kick off the 2015 series. Their Saltador ORO earned the Dressage Sport Horse Andalusian Championship with handler Ruperto Vasquez.
Haras Dos Cavaleiros' Holstana DC, a 3-year-old filly, earned the Half Andalusian Championship for the second consecutive year with handler Tiago Ernesto.
Judy and Walter, of Rancho Del Lago in McDade, Texas, co-own Saltador (by Indiano 18) with breeder Gina Rae Hogan. The 14-year-old stallion has provided his connections with a decade-long show record that few horses of any breed or discipline have matched—and he’s still going strong.
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This P.R.E. Andalusian has amassed more than 150 championship, reserve championship, High-Point and Movement Awards from 2004–2014. He’s a 13-time National Champion in four divisions, and he’s been awarded Best Movement of Show 18 times. Additionally, Saltador has more than two dozen first-place wins in open dressage shows and multiple USDF Sport Horse Grand Championships and USDF All-Breed Awards.
“He’s won more than 150 championships, and he’s a Teddy bear,” said Judy. “We can put children on him under saddle. He’s so gentle. He’s what anybody would want in a horse.”
Hogan sent Saltador to the Henslees as a sales horse in 2004, but from the moment Walter saw the elegant gray, he knew selling him would be a mistake.
“The night he arrived, we put him on a line to look at him, and I called Gina and said, “You don’t want to sell this horse,’ ” Walter recalled. “She said, ‘Yes, I do. I don’t do the stallion thing, and he’s too closely related to my mares.’ And I said, ‘Gina, sell your mares. Trust me, this is a once-in-a-lifetime horse!’”
Even with Saltador’s impressive record, the Henslees cherish each and every win. And this, his 13th championship at the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show (with four reserve championships), is especially meaningful coming in their home state.
In addition to his stellar performance career, Saltador excels in passing on these qualities to his get. He has more than 60 foals on the ground, and of those that have shown all have been champion or reserve champions regionally or nationally.
“I guess we’ve always had a different philosophy about showing,” said Walter. “Our self-worth isn’t all tied up in ribbons and trophies. So it doesn’t wreck us if we don’t win. One of our very good mentors, early when we started, said, ‘You’re not much of a breeder if you need a show judge to tell you what you’ve got. You should have known what you had before you went to the show.' And you don’t syndicate your stallion because one judge likes it, and you don’t geld it because some judge hates it.”
The Henslees also strive to follow the art and science of breeding, which is to create offspring that are better than the sire and dam. Saltador has proven that he’s able to pass on his talents to his get.
“A great horse isn’t necessarily a great sire, but the thing that’s extraordinary about him is all three gaits are fantastic,” said Walter. “He has a huge overreach at the walk. He’s capable of 18 inches of overreach. If you look at show motion video of his suspended trot when he’s really moving, his overreach is three feet. People measure overreach in hooves. His is two or three feet. And his canter is a very gentle uphill canter.”
And while Saltador is one of the most decorated performance horses at Rancho Del Lago, he also has one other special talent.
“He’s actually the second-best lesson horse on the property,” said Walter with a smile. “Visitors took lessons on him two days ago. The best lesson horse is our 18-year-old senior stallion, who is a three-time national champion!”
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Haras Dos Cavaleiros' Holstana DC
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Haras Dos Cavaleiros' Holstana DC
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Hunters & Jumpers Start Tomorrow!
Pin Oak features a full line up of Hunter/Jumper competition, which begins on Wednesday March 18! Check in tomorrow for coverage of the $10,000 Welcome Stake and the open hunter sections.
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WEEK I TITLE SPONSORS
We are thankful to our returning Week I Title Sponsors. For two years in a row, Haras Dos Cavaleiros and Carnan Properites, have come together in support of Pin Oak. We appreciate the international flair Haras Enterprises brings to the show through IALHA competition and the emerging discipline of Working Equitation.
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WEEK II TITLE SPONSORS
It has been the good luck of Pin Oak to have Irish Day Farm as a Title Sponsor for three consecutive years. The owners, Katie Lambert Boone and Hans Boone, and the clients of IDF have joined forces to make it a three-peat in their support of the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show and the charities we benefit.
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Exciting Grand Prix Events for 2015
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In our 70th year, we look forward to our Grand Prix events and ringside social fun!
Sponsors will enjoy ringside receptions for the Week I Hotze Health and Wellness on March 19 and Week II Superior Energy Grand Prix on March 26.
Our Grand Prix Saturday Nights are shaping up to be incredible this year with special entertainment prior to the competition each Saturday Night to honor our 70 year tradition of excellence and legacy of giving and divine ringside galas.
March 21: Ringside Gala Dinner featuring the $30,000 Hildebrand Fund Grand Prix with pre-competiton entertainment of Lead Line, Carriage Presentation, Houston Highlander Pipe Band, Catalena Cowgirls, and our Week I Honored Hero Salute to Julianna Lynn.
March 28: Wells Fargo - The Private Bank Gala Dinner featuring the $30,000 Walter Oil & Gas Grand Prix has an entertainment line up that includes a special performance by Purple Songs Can Fly from the Texas Children's Cancer Center, the famed Wells Fargo Stagecoach to carry our Week II Honored Hero - Abigail Gonzalez, as well as the Houston Highlander Pipe Band and the Catalena Cowgirls.
THANK YOU TO OUR 2015 GRAND PRIX SPONSORS
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Pin Oak Charity Horse Show I
Featured Events For March 18-22
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$10,000 Jumper Welcome Stake (Wednesday)
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Texas Pre-Green Super Stake (Thursday)
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USHJA Pre-Green Incentive (Thursday)
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$25,000 Pin Oak Charity Grand Prix I (Thursday)
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American Saddlebred UPHA Classics (Thursday)
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All-Breed Working Equitation Championship (Friday)
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$10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby (Friday)
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$25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby (Friday)
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$30,000 Hildebrand Fund Grand Prix (Saturday)
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All-Breed Working Equitation Championships (Saturday)
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Andalusian High-Point Awards (Saturday)
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American Saddlebred Stake Classes (Saturday)
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Pin Oak Equitation Championship (Sunday)
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Saddle Seat Equitation Championship (Sunday)
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Junior and Pony Hunter Championships (Sunday)
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Week I $25,000 Grand Prix Sponsor
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Week I $30,000 Grand Prix Sponsor
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Special Exhibitor Functions
Special hospitality and exhibitor functions this week include:
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Exhibitor Breakfast Provided by River Oaks Donuts (Daily)
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Sponsor's Club Ringside Grand Prix Reception (Thursday)
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Exhibitor's Club Reception Hosted by Babin's Seafood House (Thursday)
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Max Bowl Center USHJA International Hunter Derby Reception (Friday)
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Sponsor's Club Ringside Meet the Riders & Pin Oak Club Reception (Friday)
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Sponsor's Club Breed Championship Party & Championship Dinner Sponsored by Bluebonnet Farms (Saturday)
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Haras Working Equitation Finals Luncheon (Saturday)
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Pony & Junior Exhibitor Pizza Party (Saturday)
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Sponsor's Club Brunch (Sunday)
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Pin Oak Collegiate Invitational Luncheon (Sunday)
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Week II $25,000 Grand Prix Sponsor
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Week II $30,000 Grand Prix Sponsor
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Thank you to Wells Fargo - The Private Bank for sponsoring the Week II Grand Prix Gala Dinner and making it possible for all to enjoy the Wells Fargo Stagecoach!
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2015 SPONSORS' GUIDE
The 2015 Sponsors' Guide is available online to view or download. For our Sponsors, it is all you need to know to enjoy Pin Oak to the fullest! We thank each and every sponsor for their support and look forward to seeing all of our sponsors in the 2015 Sponsors' Club! CLICK HERE for PDF.
LIVE STREAM of HUNTER / JUMPER EVENTS!
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IDK Media Group – Streaming your Imagination
IDK Media Group is sponsoring the LIVE Video streams for the 70th Pin Oak Charity Horse Show. They will provide coverage for the Grand Prix and Welcome Stake’s, National and International Derbies and other hunter jumper classes from select rings.
IDKMediaGroup is excited to work with Pin Oak Charity Horse Show to provide streaming and video services to its competitors, sponsors, owners, parents and followers. Live Stream will be available through http://www.idkmediagroup.com/IDKMGvideoplayer
During the show, go to the link or scan the QR Code.
SHOWCASE your barn or business to reach the lucrative equestrian market! Advertising opportunities for this years IDKMediaGroup-Pin Oak video player are still available. Contact them at horse@idkmediagroup.com or Ask for Jacob at 603-465-1920.
IDKMedia group partners with many Industry leaders in platform support, streaming software, replication networks, as well as marketing and advertising firms to position their video content for world wide distribution.
IDKMediaGroup Wishes every rider the very best of luck!
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LIVE STREAM for ASB and IALHA COMPETITION
American Saddlebreds as well as Andalusian and Lusitano exhbitors showing in the Irish Day Farm Ring will be LIVE STREAMED by EventMix thanks to breed show supporters from March 18 - March 22.
Access to the live streaming is through www.eventmixlive.com FREE of charge. Live streaming advertising is available. Please contact Event Mix Promotions if you are interested in advertising.
Exhibitors you can order videos of your classes prior to the show on line at www.eventmixpromotions.com.
Exciting news for our breed show which culminates with Breed Championships on March 21, 4 PM. Our thanks to Bluebonnet Farm for once again sponsoring the Breed Championship Party that opens at 3:30 PM in the Sponsors' Club.
Looking forward to outstanding competition again this year!
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Michael Vermass (above) of San Antonio TX was the IALHA Professional Horseman of the Year in 2014 as well as Pin Oak Champion for many consecutive years. American Saddlebred competition in 2014 was most exciting and 2015 is looking to be a stellar year! Photo Credits: Casey McBride and Tricia Booker Photography
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A Gift for Pin Oak Exhibitors!
ATTENTION ALL EXHIBITORS!
CLICK HERE FOR YOUR $25 REWARD FROM CHARLOTTE'S SADDLERY
Our thanks to Charlotte's Saddlery, Sponsor of the Week I $5,000 Pre-Green Super Stakes and Pin Oak Club Partner, for this wondeful gift.
Trot over to Charlotte's today to get ready for Pin Oak!
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Derbies Anyone?
Pin Oak 2015 is thrilled to host more Hunter Derbies thanks to the generosity of our Derby Sponsors. Week I, all will enjoy "Derby Day" on Friday, March 20.
The day will open with the $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby presented by the Holstead Family and PJP Farm followed by the $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby presented by Max Bowl Center.
Week II finds Derby competitors taking to the ring on March 26 for the $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby presented by Georgia Carter and John Brown. The $30,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby presented by Valobra complete with ringside dinner and Hatter Derby is slated for March 27.
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Week I $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Sponsor
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Ladies, and Gents, don your magnificent chapeau and join the 2015 Hatter Derby, March 27th!
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Week II $30,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Sponsor
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The 2015 Spectacular Silent Auction
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Don't miss the splendid new items now open for bid for the 2015 Pin Oak ONLINE Silent Auction at BIDDING FOR GOOD. Items featured each week of Pin Oak!
Ladies, how about Shoes (for a year!) & Champagne from LUCHO or Gents, LUCHO custom ties for a year? Love the idea of a "Country Ride" on horseback? We have that captured in an original painting by Georgia Carter, a Pin Oak exhibitor and Sponsor and more.
FOR THOSE WHO LOVE WINE!
Get in the California state of mind with a visit to Lodi, California at your choice of either wine-centric celebration, Zinfest or Sip & Savor Lodi. Begin your journey in style with airport transportation provided by Blue Sky Limo from anywhere in the Greater Houston Area; relax, your airfare on United Airlines is covered as well.
The highlight of your trip will be a private tour of LangeTwins Winery, which has been growing winegrapes in Lodi for 5 generations with a focus on sustainability, “because great wine starts in the vineyard.” You’ll sip, swirl, and savor hundreds of other regional wines from dozens of local wineries during the festive weekend events, and unwind at the award-winning Wine & Roses Hotel Friday and Saturday nights.
Your choice of either:
Zinfest May 15-17, 2015 OR Sip & Savor September 25-27
Value: $5,000, Experience - Priceless!
Our thanks to LangeTwins for joining the Pin Oak family of Sponsors and are the Official Wine of Pin Oak Week II.
BID to WIN on Bidding for Good, biddingforgood.com/pochs and something spectacular will be yours plus you help benefit the charities of Pin Oak - Texas Children's Hospital, Ronald McDonald Family Rooms, and Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Family Alliance.
Our thanks to our volunteer Silent Auction Co-Chairs, Alexis Caruselle and Patricia Reed, and to our volunteer Silent Auction Marketing chair, Megan Hotze!
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“Country Ride” 27x27 Oil on Canvas by Georgia Carter
As a native Houstonian, Georgia Carter has known about the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show her whole life. Over the past 6 year's she's competed in Pin Oak and says it is one of her favorite activities of the year.
Georgia says of this painting, "it is of a beautiful horse I saw at Pin Oak. The back ground just came to me when I was painting it on a yucky and rainy day." Take home this beautiful image of Pin Oak, as captured by Georgia!
Value: $600
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Amethyst, Diamond, and Pear Bracelet from Valobra Master Jewelers
This exquisite bracelet from the one and only Valobra Master Jewelers is comprised of sterling silver, 124.2 karats of amethyst, 1.02 karats of diamonds, fine pearls, and an exquisitely carved quartz flower.
Since 1905 Valobra has been creating and offering spectacular jewelry, designed and manufactured in Italy from the finest rare gems, pearls, and precious metals available.
Value: $25,000
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VOLUNTEERS - the other Pin Oak Champions!
Calling all volunteers! We need you to help make the 70th Pin Oak Charity Horse Show happen. The gift of your time and all talents is needed.
Please sign up on Volunteer Spot to join the Volunteer Circle of Champions or contact Jenny Conaway, jennyconaway@pinoak.org for more information.
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Get the Pin Oak App!
Get the Pin Oak App powered by Enertrade Electric! Put all things Pin Oak at your fingertips. Stabling will be loaded soon and Ring Schedules as the show nears. FREE Download for iPhone or Android devices!
We thank our App Sponsor, Enertrade Electric, Lucky Winged Solutions, and PWL Studio.
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PIN OAK CLUB - JOIN the FUN!
Join the Pin Oak Club and SAVE at the show!
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10% Stall Discount on ONE stall each week of the show
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10% off in the Pin Oak Boutique
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Invitations to the Pin Oak Club ringside reception each week
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A variety of exclusive benefits available from our Pin Oak Club Partners - click here for details!
Plus, all the social gatherings throughout the year.
The Pin Oak Club is your Passport to fun!
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A 70 year mission to help children!
For 70 years, the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show has had a unique focus. Through its world-class horse show, to give back to the community by helping support the healing of sick children. As the first donor to Texas Children's Hospital we are proud of our legacy of giving that spans decades. Join us in 2015 to benefit:
Texas Children's Hospital - Main, West, and the future Woodlands Campus
Ronald McDonald House Houston - Family Rooms inside of Texas Children's
Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Family Alliance in Texas Children's Cancer Center
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