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Day 3 - Thursday March 19
Cox Wins Wire-to-Wire in $25,000 Hotze Health and Wellness Grand Prix
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When Katie Cox was 6 years old she sat in the stands at the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show in Katy, Texas, and said, “One day I’m going to ride in the grand prix here.”
“Everyone was like, ‘Right, Katie. Whatever.’ Well, I rode in it as a 13-year-old, and that was the first time I did the Pin Oak Grand Prix. And today, this is my first grand prix to win at Pin Oak. It’s been a long road, but it’s been a great road,” she said.
Cox, 21, of Tally Ho Farm in Conroe, Texas, piloted Twilight to a wire-to-wire victory during the $25,000 Hotze Health Grand Prix, the featured show jumping event on March 19 during Week 1 of the Pin Oak Charity.
Cox was the first rider to post a clear first round over the challenging course designed by Alan Wade. Therefore, she was the first of six to return for the jump-off course.
“For the jump-off, my goal was to be clean,” said Cox. “He’s a naturally fast little horse, so I wanted to stay clean and positive. And I kind of have this issue where I gallop to the last fence and start pulling all the way there. So, today I just let go and galloped, and I did it finally! He turns awesome and does the slices, and it’s the gallop that we finally got down tonight.”
Her clear round in 39.37 seconds set the pace. Afterward, she had a nervewracking wait to see if anyone else could catch her.
“I knew what was coming behind me,” she said. “I knew I had a good round, so it was see where they fell. I kind of was worried about Tracy [Fenney] and Andy [Kocher], those were the two that would be really fast. Andy won the Welcome Stake on his first horse, so when that one was a little slower, I thought, ‘I might actually have this now.’”
In fact, no one could top her performance with the talented gray gelding owned by her mother and trainer Kim Cox, and Kocher finished second with Ufarno, yesterday’s Welcome Stake winner.
“I’ve had Twilight four years now. I call him a little spastic, but it’s kind of awesome,” she said with a smile. “He’s my kind of ride, so it’s amazing. He’s 14 this year, and he is, unfortunately, for sale, but he pays the bills, so it’s not a big push to sell him. He loves carrots, food and jumping. That’s what he lives for--anything else is the in between!”
A special thank you to Dr. Steven Hotze of Hotze Health and Wellness for sponsoring tonight's fantastic Grand Prix and Ringside Reception.
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American Saddlebreds Shine at Pin Oak
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The American Saddlebreds and Andalusians took centerstage Wednesday night in the Irish Day Farm Ring with stunning performances in front of a boisterous and appreciative crowd.
Danny and Kathy Cummins' Speak No Evil captured the American Saddlebred Five-Gaited Open victory under rider Jack Magill, pictured above.
American Saddlebreds returned to the ring Thursday morning with a variety of classes featuring western, driving and pleasure.
Houston-based Nancy Moreno and The Sherman Show captured the competitive American Saddlebred Western Country Pleasure Junior/Amateur victory.
Moreno, who trains with Dan Flowers, has been showing the 9-year-old black gelding for about 1½ years and enjoys competing in the western, saddle seat, driving and pleasure classes.
“That’s the beauty of our American Saddlebreds; they are so versatile,” said Moreno, who was first attracted to The Sherman Show for his typey good looks. “He represents the breed well, but he also shows the versatility of the breed and that we can do the western gaits,” she said.
Moreno was especially pleased with their performance in today’s event. “This was a challenging class,” she said. “We had a couple of time outs, so it was longer than usual. But every horse show and class is different. He’s still learning, and so that’s always a challenge, which again is what keeps us all in horses. There’s always something to learn and new ways to grow.”
Moreno has been attending the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show for more than 20 years.
“I don’t think I’ve missed many when I’ve had the opportunity to show,” she said. “I think Pin Oak does a better job at exhibitor hospitality and making people feel welcome and making the horse show special—more than any other horse show we attend.
“It’s important to remember that Saddlebreds were the original breed for the Pin Oak show,” she continued. “It originated with the Abercrombie family and Pin Oak Stable, and they were a Saddlebred establishment. There was a time when Pin Oak was the premiere Saddlebred horse show in the country, and exhibitors from everywhere came to show here. So some of the best horses in the breed were here, and it’s so great for them to continue to be represented.”
Special thanks to show photographer Casey McBride Photography.
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Harding is Picture Perfect in Working Equitation
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Pin Oak Horse Show breed photographer Lisa Marie Harding put down her camera briefly to tack up a horse and compete in the All-Breed Working Equitation Dressage Phase, presented Haras Dos Cavaleiros.
Thankfully, she had plenty of friends attending the event to help her, including friends with cameras to take her winning photo. Harding topped the Advanced Level today aboard Randy Byers’ Carbon.
“I’m just ecstatic. I can’t even articulate how exciting this is,” said Harding.
Harding, of Tomball, Texas, showed Carbon, an 11-year-old PMU Quarter Horse, just once at a schooling show before traveling to Pin Oak. “We were second out of two,” she said laughing.
“I came here and wanted to fix the mistakes I made in the schooling show and make as few errors as possible,” she said. “I would say that there were some weaknesses [in today’s test], but our pirouettes were stronger, the flying changes were better, and the things we put work into improved.”
Harding, a professional equine photographer, used to watch the Pin Oak Horse Show as a child, but this is the first time she’s competed.
“Showing here is a huge honor,” she said. “The competition is amazing, and this is where the best of the Working Equitation comes. My favorite thing is the sportsmanship, and everyone roots for everyone. It’s almost like a team effort. We like to see everyone succeed and be their best.”
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Pletcher's Pre-Greens Star
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Peter Pletcher's Pre-Green hunters swept the 3-foot section today, with Samantha Greenbaum's Sweet (pictured right) taking the championship and Isabelle Collins' Amalie earning the reserve championship.
Both mares are relatively new to Pletcher's PJP Farm of Magnolia, Texas. He brought Sweet back from Florida, where he competed over the winter.
"She’s been off for a while, and this is her first horse show back," he said. "So she was really good, and we were very happy with her. It was so muddy and puddles everywhere, but she just marched right through. They both did."
Pletcher begain showing Amalie in Forida. "She’s gotten better and better. I think she did dressage first, so we’re just making her into a hunter," he said.
Pletcher also had success in the big hunter sections, with the dapple gray Cupid (pictured above) earning the First Year Green Hunter championship for owner Lindsay Holstead.
"He was ready for bigger jumps," said Pletcher who competed Cupid in the Pre-Greens last year. "I’m going to do him in the Derby tomorrow. I did one Derby in Florida at The Ridge, and he was really good out in that field. He was amazing. It will be a bit more confined here, but he jumps the bigger fences so much easier."
Rancho De Los Arboles LLC's Thanks For The Gold picked up another tricolor with Pletcher, this time in the Green Conformation Hunter section.
"He was good here, carrying on his winning ways," said Pletcher. "I was happy for him. He’s just made a big turnaround from a year ago to now. He didn’t really like this at first. He liked breeding better than showing! But he’s been really good and consistent, and now he’s got it."
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Moyar Sweeps Hunter Breeding
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Handler Robert Moyar earned the Best Young Horse and Best Young Pony championships at Pin Oak, capturing the two top Hunter Breeding Awards.
"It’s fabulous and great to return. Pin Oak has always been a wonderful show," he said. "I grew up in the area, so to return and be a part of Pin Oak is really awesome."
Moyar's first tricolor came with LF Eau My, a yearling Oldenburg (Escapade—Run Lucy Run) owned by Kimberly Morgan.
"She’s such a joy to work with," said Moyar. "She’s been a very good filly and champion or reserve every time out. She’s a very balanced, very modern type filly."
Moyar then returned to the ring for the Pony Hunter Breeding, where he handled the flashy Welsh 3-year-old stallion Glenhaven Sweet Serendipity for Waller Farms of Beaumont, Texas.
The Section A chestnut pinto (Vimpenny Sweet Sultan—Ceulan Sirius) is unique in that he's a purebred Welsh but also carries the homozygous sabino gene.
"There's no lethal genes, and he will produce color, so that will be cool," said owner Ashley Waller of the multiple World Champion who has won in the Welsh, Pinto and Hunter Pony rings. "He’s winning everywhere. We're collecting him now and shipping to Australia. He's also standing to the public. We think he'll cross well with Thoroughbreds for large ponies."
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Stay Tuned for Tomorrow's Coverage
It's Derby Day! Look for coverage of the $25,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby and the $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby in the Valobra Jewelry Ring. Other featured events include the All-Breed Working Equitation Ease of Handling Phase, the American Saddlebred Pleasure classes, the $5,000 Jumper Speed Stake and the Amateur-Owner Hunters to name just a few!
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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Pin Oak Charity Horse Show I
Featured Events For March 18-22
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All-Breed Working Equitation Youth 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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Exciting Grand Prix Events for 2015
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.
Week I $25,000 Grand Prix Sponsor
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Week I $30,000 Grand Prix Sponsor
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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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Special Sponsor Functions
Wednesday - Saturday - 11:30 am-1:30pm – Sponsors’ Luncheon, Ringside Sponsors’ Club, with delicious food prepared by Two Forks Catering, the Official Caterer of Pin Oak.
Wednesday-Friday evenings 6:30 – end of show, the Sponsor's Club will host Wine featured by Messina Hof, beer, signature drinks and light dinner food through the end of the performance (around 9:30 pm). Key events in the Sponsor's Club are:
Tuesday Night – 5:00 pm Haras Dos Cavalieros Ringside Reception Tapas and Beverages
Wednesday Night - 6:30 pm -9:30 pm Opening Night of Pin Oak Reception – “Boots & Bourbon” Ringside in the Sponsor’s Club, light bites and beverages.
Thursday Late Afternoon - 4 pm $25,000 Hotze Health and Wellness Grand Prix Reception. Regular Sponsor Club resumes at 6:30 pm
Friday Afternoon- Derby Day!
11:00 am-12:30 pm Derby Luncheon during the $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby in the Valobra Outside Ring Pavilion
2 pm –$25,000 Max Bowl Center USHJA International Hunter Derby Champagne Reception in the Valobra Outside Ring Pavilion.
Friday Night - 6:30 pm “Vintage Night” - Meet the Riders and Pin Oak Club Members and Sponsor reception. We will toast our founding year of 1945 and salute our veterans.
Saturday Afternoon-Evening - 3:30 pm - Breed Championships and 5:30pm- 9pm
$30,000 Hildebrand Fund Grand Prix and Ringside Dinner hosted by Bluebonnet Farm.
Sunday Brunch – Enjoy a ringside brunch from 10:30 am – 12:30 pm in the Sponsors’ Club
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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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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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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