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Pin Oak 2015 Week II Day 5
Douglas Claims $30,000 Walter Oil & Gas Grand Prix
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Dorothy Douglas knew what she had to do. She went fourth in the first round, was the first to post a clear round and was the first to return in the six-horse jump-off during the $30,000 Walter Oil & Gas Grand Prix.
"It feels like for those 42 seconds I actually knew what I was doing!" said Douglas, whose winning jump-off time couldn't be caught.
The class was the featured event on March 28 during Week II of the 70th Pin Oak Charity Horse Show, presented by Irish Day Farm.
"I went early in the order, so the good thing about that was your mind doesn’t get muddled with what everyone else is doing," said Douglas. "You walk the course, you do the plan and that’s it. The same thing with the jump-off. I went in first, and Mike [McCormick] said, 'Do this, this and this,' and I did it."
A field of 29 started over Bob Ellis' 13-fence, 15 effort challenging track, and six managed to jump clean to qualify for the tiebreaker.
After posting a clear round in a speedy time of 42.88 seconds with S&L Elite, Douglas waited at the in-gate with trainers McCormick and Tracy Fenney to see where the chips would fall. In the end, Douglas led the victory gallop for her second grand prix win. Colleen Acosta and Diamond placed second, with Matt Cyphert and Lochinvar claiming third.
"For sure, the biggest thing is that it’s all Mike and Tracy," she said. "From what I do in the warm-up with Mike, to what Tracy says at the gate, it’s crazy the amount of information they give you. So you hope just by practice and mistakes, things do fall into place, and they did tonight."
Douglas and S&L Farms' S&L Elite, a 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood (by Action-Breaker), won their first grand prix at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center last November, so the victory tonight was particularly meaningful.
"I’ve never had a grand prix horse or jumper, and Mike and Tracy are the ones who have given me the opportunity," said Douglas, who has worked for MTM Farms for three years. "Like I said, it’s all Mike and Tracy; that’s why I’m able to do this."
Douglas, 27, of Flower Mound, Texas, traveled to Pin Oak on Tuesday after competing in the Great American $1 million Grand Prix at HITS Ocala (Florida).
"I was 21st in the million. I had two jumps down, but I was so happy," said a tearful Douglas. "I did my first grand prix a year ago, and now I’m doing the million and winning, too. This just doesn’t happen."
Douglas paused and added, "The tears are more because it doesn’t seem real. How did I just do that? You look up to all of these people: a) being in the class with them, and b) keeping the jumps up and riding fast. My problem has been that I don’t know how to do the jump-offs. I have rails, and I’m too slow. So tonight it all fell into place...I love my horse. He’s awesome!"
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Odom Excels in Equitation at Pin Oak
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Rebecca Odom had a busy 24 hours. After showing Christabel and Everest in the $30,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby last night, Odom woke up bright and early for the first class in the Valobra Ring.
Aboard Christabel, Odom topped the ASPCA Maclay with 16 competitors and the Pessoa/USEF Hunter Seat Medal with 21 entries.
The 13-year-old liver chestnut, owned by Girling Farm LLC of Austin, Texas, is a multi-talented mare.
"I got her when I was 10 as my 3’ horse," said Odom. "She had never jumped over 3’ when I bought her, and we got her as something I could learn how to ride on and then we'd buy a junior hunter. But she ended up being able to take the 4’6” options in a derby without any problem."
Odom, who trains with Susan and Bill McMorris of Rio Vista Farm, returned second for testing in the Medal and moved up for the win with a precise ride that included exceptional turns and rollbacks.
"I’m very competitive. If I’m sitting second, I think about what I can do to bump myself up," she said. "I took some tight turns and just basically did everything I could to move up that one spot.
"She really is an awesome horse," Odom added. "Last night she was riding really well into my hand. She was just exactly how I wanted her to ride. Then, this morning she went into the ring just as good. It’s mostly her and a little bit of me."
Odom, who trains with Susan and Bill McMorris of Rio Vista Farm, has already had a successful show season with her hunters.
Everest won the USHJA International Hunter Derby at Great Southwest Winter Series II in Katy, Texas, and Christabel won the USHJA National Hunter Derby at the Christmas Horse Show (Texas). She's now carried Odom to multiple ASPCA Maclay and USEF Medal wins as well. Christabel also placed fifth overall in the USHJA International Hunter Derby at the Gulf Coast Sunshine Classic V in February.
"She’s a honestly a freak of nature. I’ve never been on anything like her," said Odom smiling. "She does whatever I ask of her. I’ve taken her in jumper [equitation], and she jumps the jumper fences, too."
Odom said she'd like to go to the equitation finals some day, but her current focus is more on the derbies. "The equitation is just something I can do just to get her out of the stall and have fun with her," said Odom. "She's just perfect."
In the competitive THIS Children's Medals, Alissa Brandt took the blue ribbon in the 14 and under class, while Sophia Stouse won the 15-17 section.
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Pin Oak Week II Full Results
For full results of the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show Week II, please visit www.horseshowsonline.com.
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Haag Fashions a Win in the NAL/WIHS Adult Amateur Jumper Classic
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Megan Haag has a few projects in the works, and today the equine side paid dividends when Moonraker, owned by Five-H Partners, claimed the blue ribbon in the NAL/WIHS High Adult Amateur Jumper Classic.
Haag, of The Woodlands, Texas, went last in the order and guided the 6-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare (by Mezcalero) to the fastest clear jump-off round.
"I watched the Children's and some of the Adults go before me, and the course looked more difficult than it walked," she said. "Luckily for me, everything came up as it should have. There were some places where I had to adjust her more intensely than I would have liked, but she came back to me nicely and just jumped higher, which was nice. So, for me it was a good class."
Haag purchased "Moon" as a 4-year-old from breeder October Hill Hunters and Jumpers and has brought her slowly up to the 1.15m level. They started in the Adult Amateur section over the winter, and Pin Oak was their fourth outing under the watchful eye of trainer Martien van der Hoeven of Augusta Pine Farm.
"She’s still very green, and I really just started doing her in the past year, really November," she said. "It’s all still very new. She’s a baby, so I don’t push her and let her have a day here or there to regroup. She had yesterday off, went today and will go Sunday in the $10,000 class. We'll just see how it goes; babies are good one day and might come out the next day and be completely different."
Haag, 29, balances her showing passion with a new business she's established with fellow rider Meagan Nusz. They're working with MasterMind Equestrian Apparel on a new line of riding clothes.
"It’s coming out soon, and it's been fun," she said. "We partnered with the ladies at Mastermind. They have the breeches, and we’re doing jackets and show shirts. Those should be out by World Cup in Vegas [in April]. It’s been a year in the making, but we’re really excited to release the line and develop more pieces once we get through this first production."
Haag's goal is for both of her ventures to grow and develop, and she sees Moon jumping to greater heights in the not-to-distant future.
"In the past I’ve done the North American Young Rider Championship and the Pin Oak Grand Prix on a horse named Mr. Nobody, who is now retired," she said. "So, I’ve done some of the bigger classes. I had Pippa and did the Low Amateur-Owners on her and won a lot here, and she recently retired. They’ve all hit older age, so I’m starting over again. I'm kind of hoping to build her up and do the High Amateur-Owners in the future.
"For now, though, I’m still learning her, and she’s still learning me," she added. "But it’s been fun. I just hope tomorrow goes the same way!"
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WEEK II OPENS MARCH 24
Week II of the 70th Pin Oak Charity Horse Show is presented by IRISH DAY FARM and all rings are filled with Hunters and Jumpers. 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.
Thanks to all at Irish Day Farm!
Carole, Jim, Chrissy and Francie Looke . Dan, Ruth and Jazz Hawk . Ther Herbert Family . The Jeff B. and Katherine Love Foundation . Mark, Mary and Sarah Rothwell . The Silberman Family . Katie Lambert Boone and Hans Boone . Mary Kempner Daniel . Rich, Mary, Emily and Ellen Jones . JR, Susan and Sarha Sult . The Cary Family . Tracey and Gerald Cox . Felicia Bures and Michael Grow . Kathy, Criag, and Kathryn Taylor . Joe, Kelly and Catherine Coselli . Heidi Hottinger and Mike Williams . Rita Junker Pickar . Lynda Lighthouse Transier . The Uerling Family . Maggie Brown . Gregg, Allison and Haley Hammer . Tracy T. McAdoo . Melissa Mishler . The Tully-Martinsen Family
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A Thank You 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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2015 Spectacular Silent Auction
Don't miss your chance to own something spectacular and benefit the charities of Pin Oak. Week I items are now SOLD, but Week II items are yet to be won. Featured items for Week II are:
BID to WIN at Bidding for Good - Auction CLOSES March 28th
LUXURIOUS SAFARI - ULTIMATE TANZANIA
A bespoke journey by Ker & Downey
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Sponsor Hospitality Week II in Sponsors' Club:
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Daily Sponsor Luncheon - 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM except Thursday, March 26 lunch is at Valobra Ring for Derby Luncheon
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$25,000 Superior Energy Grand Prix Reception and Night in the Vineyard Wine Tasting by LangeTwins Wine, Thursday, March 26 - 5:30 PM
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$30,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Ringside Reception and Dinner (for Sponsors' with table benefits), Friday March 27, 5:30 PM
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Wells Fargo - The Private Bank Gala Dinner featuring $30,000 Walter Oil & Gas Grand Prix, Saturday, March 28, 6:00 PM (Sponsors with Table Benefits for this gala)
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70th Year Celebration Sponsor Brunch, Sunday, March 29, 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
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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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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