Pin Oak Charity Horse Show
Christian Heineking & NKH Calango
Barbara Bailey's West End Girl, with Robert Moyar handling
PIN OAK HIGHLIGHTS
The 73rd Annual Pin Oak Charity Horse Show wrapped up Weeks I and II at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy, Texas. It was twice the fun for Christian Heineking and Peter Pletcher, as each rider won the featured Jumper and Hunter competitions, respectively, both weeks.
The tradition that surrounds this USEF Heritage horse show con-
tinues in 2018, with the first week highlighting American Saddlebreds, sponsored by Bluebonnet Farm, in addition to Hunters and Jumpers. Pin Oak is also thrilled to welcome back title sponsors Irish Day Farm and PJP Farm, for weeks II and III, respectively. This year, Pin Oak offered Premier Hunters and USHJA World Championship Hunter Rider competition, three USHJA International Hunter Derbies with $110,000 in prize money, five Grand Prix events, sponsored by Oasis Petroleum/Amalaya Investments, The Hildebrand Fund and Wells Fargo, as well as two U25 events sponsored by Booth Show Jumpers. While celebrating Week II’s Northern Trust Fiesta Ringside Gala
on Friday night, Pin Oak proudly presented a check for $198,000 to Texas Children’s Hospital. Since 1945, the horse show has now donated more than $6.8 million to the hospital thanks to the generous support of sponsors and donors. During Weeks I and II, it was Christian Heineking who led the victory gallop in the Amalaya Investments/Oasis Petroleum $30,000 Grand Prix as well as the The Hildebrand Fund $30,000 Grand Prix. Heineking, of Hudson Oaks, Texas, won both weeks aboard NKH Calango, a 10-year-old, Belgian Warmblood gelding. And while his consecutive victories were impressive, what made the events even more special was that his family joined him center stage—Christian’s wife, Erin Davis-Heineking and “cousin” Daniel Bedoya finished right behind him in both Grand Prix classes. Bedoya was second riding Quattro each week and third with Quilona V Z during Week I, and Erin placed fourth aboard Leonie Week I and moved up to place third Week II. Peter Pletcher, of PJP Farm in Magnolia, Texas, topped the card both weeks in the $30,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby aboard Jamie Jarvis’ Mystique. Pletcher also took second and third places Week II with Bring It On and Quintessential. “I think it’s great that all three horses went as well as they did,” he
12 SouthWest Horse Trader May 2018
said. “Two of them are basically brand new rides, and Mystique is just getting really good at the derbies. She loves it, jumps great and is really careful. It all worked well.”
Pletcher also won the $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby
during Week 2 aboard Hollis Hughes Grace’s flashy chestnut Hoopla. Dana Vollbracht’s Davidson and Amberlee Wentz won the $10,000
USHJA National Hunter Derby Week I. Barbara Bailey’s West End Girl (Westporte—Sands Of Time) took
Best Young Horse honors both weeks with Robert Moyar handling. “She’s coming along nicely. She had a successful year this year and is about to get underway under saddle. We were blessed to have Oliver Brown join us, and what an exciting class,” said Moyar of the Virginia-based trainer/handler who traveled to Texas and earned the reserve Best Young Horse title with Diane Garza’s Rococo. “It was a wonderful victory, so we’re happy. I know Barb is extremely happy to have bred her, because you never know what you’re going to get in the beginning. And to see them grow and progress is really rewarding. This has been her year as a 3-year-old. She’s really blossomed.”
During Week I, the American Saddlebred divisions, sponsored by
Bluebonnet Farm, took their turn around The Lincoln Motor Company Main Indoor Ring. Jack Magill drove Roger Gibson’s Lulu Frost to the Fine Harness
Championship in a highly competitive class. Magill also claimed the Three-Gaited Stake aboard Ridgewood’s Special Agent for owner Mary Jean Hooper. In the Five-Gaited Stake, it was Janice Henderson’s Night Con- tender taking the victory pass with rider Paul Cates. The Junior/Amateur exhibitors rode hard for their championships, as well, with Catherine Street claiming the Five Gaited Amateur/Junior Exhibitor tricolor aboard Blue Curaco. Cathy Coleman topped a strong field of nine to win the Three-Gaited Amateur/Junior Exhibitor champi- onship aboard Alta Dare Farm’s Madeira’s Blue Ruby. And in the largest class of the show, the Three-Gaited Show Plea- sure Championship, it was Joan Cantrell earning top honors aboard The Musical Link under trainer Tommy Benton. Week III of Pin Oak ran April 3-8 and featured the $25,000 Pin
Oak Charity Grand Prix and Sponsor Reception presented by Brookside Pine Farms on Thursday, the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Der- by and Modern Luxury ‘Bourbon, Bowties & Big Hats’ Derby Recep- tion on Friday night, and the Wells Fargo $30,000 Grand Prix and Ring- side Gala on Saturday night. For all the action, please visit
www.PinOak.org. w
Don Trout Tricia Booker, Courtesy Pin Oak Charity Horse Show
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