Category Archives: Hunter / Jumper

Allison Kroff Kicks Off Pin Oak Charity Horse Show With a Win in $10,000 Kroff Stables Welcome Stake

Katy, TX –Allison Kroff was already guaranteed to be in the presentation photo for the $10,000 Kroff Stables Welcome Stake as the class’ presenting sponsor, but she earned an even better spot in the photo as the winning rider as well. Kroff and T-Quick Hurricane Z topped a 17-horse field to clinch the win on Thursday, March 30, at the 77th Pin Oak Charity Horse Show in Katy, TX. 

Kroff and “Fifi” were one of nine entries to jump without fault over the first-round course designed by Oscar Soberon. They then laid down a jump-off time of 40.670 seconds that would prove uncatchable. Finishing in second place with a time of 41.271 seconds were Martien van der Hoeven and Mefisto Il Mondo, owned by Brieanne Dofort. Rounding out the top three with a time of 41.399 seconds were Jacqueline Ruyle and her own Cyramo Z.

Allison Kroff and T-Quick Hurricane Z were presented as the winners of the $10,000 Kroff Stables Welcome Stake. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography

“[T-Quick Hurricane Z] is amazing!” said Kroff of the 11-year-old Zangersheide mare, owned by TC Sport Horses LLC. “She’s very opinionated, as am I, so we always say that we’re quite similar in that we don’t want to be told what to do. We typically have to – when we’re flatting and stuff like that – not get at each other because I know the truth is she’s trying so hard and so am I; we’re on the same team. It’s been cool to develop her a little bit [over the past year]. She did the 1.30m and 1.40m in Europe; we stepped up to the 1.50m, and she’s been amazing.” 

Kroff hails from Scottsdale, AZ, where she operates Kroff Stables as a boutique show barn with clientele ranging from pony hunters to grand prix riders. This winter, she made her first trip to the Great Southwest Equestrian Center, and she quickly knew she had to come back to the venue for the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show. 

“We wanted to try something new, and we’d heard such great things about it,” said Kroff. “This is just phenomenal – this facility, the way they dress it up, the ambiance, everything about it is amazing.” 

In addition to the lion’s share of the prize money, Kroff received an Antarès Reference helmet with an Eclipse Visor for her win in the $10,000 Welcome Stake. For full results of the class, visit www.HorseShowsOnline.com.

Running through April 16, the 77th Pin Oak Charity Horse Show features top hunter, jumper and equitation competition while benefitting the Texas Children’s Hospital. Highlight events of Week I include the $30,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, presented by Leaving One Out LLC, on Friday, March 31, and the $30,000 Texas Children’s Hospital Grand Prix at 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 1. To learn more about the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show, visit www.PinOak.org.

For media inquiries, please contact Emily at [email protected].

About the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show
Recognized as a US Equestrian Heritage Competition, the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show is one of the oldest and most prestigious horse shows in the United States, and today the show features three weeks of top hunter/jumper competition at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy, TX.

Founded by J.S. Abercrombie in 1945, it’s also a unique social and fundraising event. Since making the very first donation to Texas Children’s in 1947 to begin the planning and building of the hospital, the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show has continued its legacy of giving, now having donated nearly $7 million to the renowned medical institution. To learn more, visit www.PinOak.org.

Nada Wise and Kelly Lorek Claim Leading Hunter Rider Bonuses at Great Southwest Texas Winter Series

Katy, TX – Following four weeks of top-caliber hunter competition at the Texas Winter Series, Nada Wise and Kelly Lorek are going home from the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy, TX, with the largest hunter rider bonus checks.

A total of $30,000 in hunter rider bonuses was awarded, with $15,000 given during Week III to the top five horse and rider combinations competing at the “international height,” $10,000 distributed during Week IV across the top five combinations at the “national height” and one $5,000 bonus going to the series’ overall high-point horse and rider duo. 

Wise claimed the top spot – and a $6,000 bonus check – in the international height hunter rider bonus standings after earning top results in the Performance Hunter 3’6” division with Stevie Ray. Wise and the 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding, owned by Samantha Brown, also finished fifth in the $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby held during Week III to add to their point tally. Wise additionally finished third in the standings with Chesterfield, owned by Stacey Thompson.

In the national height standings, the top honor and a $4,000 bonus went to Lorek and Tomorrowland, owned by Priya Alvarez. Lorek and the 7-year-old Oldenburg gelding rode to top finishes in the Green Hunter 3’3” division throughout Weeks II-IV to also secure the overall High Point Horse/Rider Award and an additional $5,000 bonus check.

Amy Uniss-Coleman of the Great Southwest Equestrian Center presented Kelly Lorek with checks for the national height hunter rider bonus and the overall hunter rider bonus. Photo by RandolphPR

“I’m super excited; I’m going to Disneyland!” joked Lorek, who operates Southern Way Farm out of Austin, TX. “It’s my first time getting to win anything like this, so it’s just been a great feeling. It’s great competition and a great horse show, so it’s fun to do.”

Lorek also finished second in the international height hunter rider bonus standings with CR Ocean Mist, owned Adelaide Shenkir, earning her a total of $14,170 in bonus money.

“It’s awesome to be able to have bonuses like this,” said Lorek. “It promotes clients bringing their horses here and wanting their horses to show. The prize money has been great for all the divisions.”

Points for the international height hunter rider bonus were earned in the Week III $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby and in the following divisions during Weeks I-III: High Performance Hunter, Performance Hunter 3’6”, Green Hunter 3’6”, Green Conformation Hunter and High Performance Conformation Hunter.

Points for the national height hunter rider bonus were earned in the weekly USHJA National Hunter Derby classes and in the following divisions throughout Weeks I-IV: Green Hunter 3’, Green Hunter 3’3” and Performance Hunter 3’3”.

Points were computed for first through six place finishes as follows, with derby results receiving double points: 10, 6, 4, 2, 1, .5. Full results are shown below.

$15,000 International Height Hunter Rider Bonus

Ranking  Rider                     Horse                                                 Bonus Amount         
1          Nada Wise                Stevie Ray                                         $6,000
2          Kelly Lorek                CR Ocean Mist                                 $4,500                       
3          Nada Wise                Chesterfield                                       $3,000                                   
4          Happy Comly            Ginkgo CSH                                      $1,000                       
5          Trapp O’Neal             Parbleu van de Mispelaere             $500                                      

$10,000 National Height Hunter Rider Bonus

Ranking  Rider                         Horse                                             Bonus Amount         

1          Kelly Lorek                    Tomorrowland                              $4,000                       
2          Morgan Van Nortwick  Corduroy                                       $3,000                       
3          Mindy Coretz                Tipsy                                              $2,000                       
4          Kelly Lorek                    MTM Limited Edition                   $670                          
5          Natalee Haggan           MTM In Love                                $330              

Nicolas Gamboa Gets the Win in $100,000 Lone Star State Grand Prix

Katy, TX – Nicolas Gamboa rode away with the top two spots in the $100,000 Lone Star State Grand Prix, sponsored by American National Insurance, on Saturday, February 25, in an exciting conclusion to grand prix competition at the 2023 Texas Winter Series in Katy, TX.

Gamboa clinched the win aboard NKH Mr. Darcy, owned by Neil Knox, and finished second riding Gin, owned by Ella Heineking.

Gamboa’s entries made up two out of six horses from the original 17-horse starting field that qualified to come back for the jump-off, designed by Michel Vaillancourt. As the second to return, Gamboa and Gin set the early clear time to beat at 40.042 seconds. That time would only be toppled when Gamboa returned two horses later aboard NKH Mr. Darcy and tripped the timers in 39.460 seconds.

Colleen Acosta and Lancome, owned by CAAcosta LLC, were the second-to-last to return, and while they looked like they could have the time, they ultimately finished just off Gamboa’s pace to take third with a time of 40.364 seconds.

Nicolas Gamboa rode NKH Mr. Darcy to the win in the $100,00 Lone Star State Grand Prix. Photo by Jerry Mohme Photography

Finishing in fourth place was Leah Curtiss riding Fortuna, owned by Kent Farrington LLC, and both fifth and sixth place went to Alwaleed Alrashid riding RSH Grand-Dessert and RSH Freedom, respectively.

In speaking of his win, Gamboa was quick to first acknowledge Gin and NKH Mr. Darcy.  

“They’re super, super horses,” said Gamboa, who hails from a family of equestrians and rides representing Colombia. “Those horses, those people on the ground, the entire team – that’s what makes the difference.”

Gamboa began riding for Heineking Show Stables in 2021, and the 22-year-old earned his first grand prix victory less than a year ago at the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show, also aboard NKH Mr. Darcy. In the months since then, Gamboa has impressively notched more than half-a-dozen additional grand prix wins.

“That horse, [NKH Mr. Darcy], and Neil Knox, the owner, have changed my life,” said Gamboa. “I want to say one big thank you to the whole Heineking family and October Hill Farm and the whole team there; I can’t do it without them.

“Tonight, first I wanted to go clean. The first horse I had in the jump-off, Gin, he’s a fairly new mount,” said Gamboa of the 10-year-old gray Hanoverian gelding. “He jumped great in the first round; he felt really confident toward the end. I wanted to test him a little bit in the jump-off but also just give him a good round. With Darcy, I’ve known that horse a little while now. He had a bit of a break, so he’s a bit fresh, and he’s game for anything.”

Gamboa will head next to California before returning to the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy, TX, for the 77th annual Pin Oak Charity Horse Show, to be held March 29 through April 16.

For full results of the $100,000 Lone Star State Grand Prix, click here.

Avery Erickson and Chacco Lait Lead the Way in $25,000 Double Oak Tack Grand Prix at Texas Winter Series

Katy, TX – The young riders were the ones to beat in Thursday, February 23’s $25,000 Double Oak Tack Grand Prix at the Great Southwest Texas Winter Series in Katy, TX. Following a five-horse jump-off, the top two spots went to 20-year-olds Avery Erickson and John Gilpin, respectively.

“It was awesome [to win],” said Erickson, who, along with Gilpin, trains with Colleen Acosta at Fairway Farm. “[Chacco Lait]’s been so good these past two weeks, so it’s really nice to pull it all together. I loved today’s track. The jump-off was perfect for him. There weren’t really any tight turns, it was just galloping around, and he was amazing. He’s great at that. He likes to just gallop and run around. That’s his favorite.”

Erickson has been partnered with Chacco Lait, her 16-year-old Oldenburg gelding, for nearly five years, and together the duo has climbed the ranks from the Low Junior Jumpers to the grand prix ring. 

“I know him like the back of my hand,” said Erickson. “He tries really hard for me. As he gets older, it’s crazy, he just keeps jumping better.”

Avery Erickson and Chacco Lait were presented as the winners of the $25,000 Double Oak Tack Grand Prix. Photo by Jerry Mohme Photography

Following her win on Thursday, the sophomore at Southern Methodist University now has her sights set on the finale event of the Texas Winter Series at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center: Saturday night’s $100,000 Lone Star State Grand Prix.

For full results of the $25,000 Double Oak Tack Grand Prix, click here.

Allison Kroff and T-Quick Hurricane Z Storm to Victory in $20,000 Pyranha Welcome Stake at Texas Winter Series

Katy, TX – Arizona’s Allison Kroff rode T-Quick Hurricane Z to victory in the $20,000 Pyranha Welcome Stake, held on Wednesday, February 22, during the Great Southwest Texas Winter Series in Katy, TX.

Kroff and the 11-year-old Zangersheide mare, owned by TC Sport Horses LLC, were one of four entries to navigate the first-round, Michel Vaillancourt-designed course without fault to advance to the jump-off. When the pair entered the ring, the short-course time to beat had been set at 40.180 seconds by Hannah Colligan and her own Jazelly VDL. However, that time was quickly toppled, as T-Quick Hurricane Z made short work of the track, tripping the timers in 37.921 seconds.

With Kroff clinching the win and Colligan finishing in second, third place went to Alwaleed Alrashid and RSH Freedom.

Allison Kroff and T-Quick Hurricane Z were presented as the winners of the $20,000 Pyranha Welcome Stake. Photo by Jerry Mohme Photography

“[T-Quick Hurricane Z] is so fun,” said Kroff of the mare that she has been partnered with since mid-2021. “She’s always game, always wanting to be the winner, so we kind of have to reel it back in some of the classes, not just go flat out.”

Kroff continued, “Today was really fun. We have come from outdoors; we don’t do a lot of indoors. So, while this is a big indoor, it rides a little bit differently. Last week, we really had to work on our track and stuff like that. It was really fun to see our homework pay off. Today she was really rideable in the corners and really listening.”

This year marks Kroff’s second year competing at the Texas Winter Series at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center, and she intends to be back.

“We came last year and loved it,” concluded Kroff. “We had such a blast. We were here for three weeks, and we definitely want to come back!”

For full results of the $20,000 Pyranha Welcome Stake, click here.

Daisy Ford and Gatsby Do it Again in $25,000 Great Southwest Grand Prix

Katy, TX – Daisy Ford and Gatsby led the grand prix victory gallop for the second week in a row at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center, this time after topping the $25,000 Great Southwest Grand Prix on Saturday, November 19 during the Great Southwest Final Chase.

“I was a little nervous again,” said Ford, who has owned Gatsby for eight years but just got the gelding back from a year lease in May. “I haven’t done this in a long time, and him being 16, we didn’t know if he would come back week two and still feel as good as he did week one. He did. I gave him off the entire week. This was the only class that he did. He was fantastic. He’s just one incredible horse!” 

Daisy Ford and Gatsby. Photo by Jerry Mohme Photography

Ford and Gatsby were one of 21 entries to contest the first-round course designed by Danny Foster, and they were one of eight to advance to the jump-off.

“I got lucky that I drew 19 in the order, so I was the last one to go in the jump off,” said Ford, who operates her own business, Ford Farms. “It was a really, really good course. It was technical, and the jumps were big enough. It was kind of an interesting jump-off, because you had the ability to go quick and leave some strides out in two areas. There were also three inside turns, and you had to do all three inside turns to win.”

Daisy Ford and Gatsby were presented as the winners of the $25,000 Great Southwest Grand Prix. Photo by Jerry Mohme Photography

Ford left out strides in both places to fly across the finish in 37.660 seconds, almost exactly two seconds faster than second-place finisher Alwaleed Alrashid who stopped the clock in 39.653 seconds riding RSH Grand Dessert, owned by Royal Sport Horses. Third place with a time of 40.303 seconds went to Lindsay Bedoya riding Daniel Bedoya’s Quattro.

“I was a little panicked because, in the rollback to the second to last jump in the jump-off, he slipped behind turning in the inside turn,” said Ford. I ended up having to slow down for a second to regain stability, so I was a little bit worried about the time there, but he’s just so fast across the ground!” 

For full results of the $25,000 Great Southwest Grand Prix, click here.

Morgan Van Nortwick and MTM Post Script Secure Victory in USHJA International Hunter Derby

Morgan Van Nortwick rode MTM Post Script to victory in the $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby held on Friday, November 18, during the Great Southwest Final Chase in Katy, TX.

A field of 18 horses contested the first round of the week’s highlight hunter class, and at the opening round’s conclusion, Van Nortwick and MTM Post Script sat in third place with scores 85.5 and 90 for a 172.5 first-round total score. Holding the lead with a score of 178 was Jef Lauwers on Hallpass, and Lauwers also sat in second place with a score of 175 aboard Reba.

With the top 12 entries returning in reverse order of their standings for the handy phase, Nortwick and MTM Post Script’s second-round score of 200 instantly shot them to the top of the leaderboard with a 375.5 overall total. A handy round score of 196 would give Lauwers and Hallpass, owned by Sue Copeland, a 374 total for a close second place. Lauwers and Reba, owned by Shadyside Farm, finished in third with a score of 362.

Morgan Van Nortwick and MTM Post Script, joined in their winning presentation by the Great Southwest Equestrian Center’s Wendy Harrison. Photo by Jerry Mohme Photography

Van Nortwick has spent the past few years working for Will Roberts at Pine Hollow Farm in New Caney, TX, and Roberts was highly complimentary of Van Nortwick and MTM Post Script’s performance and partnership.

“Morgan works really, really hard, and I love working with her,” said Roberts. “I do greatly appreciate that. She’s a pleasure to be around, and the horses love her.”

MTM Post Script came into the barn in August as a sales horse, and Van Nortwick and the 10-year-old Warmblood gelding, owned by Cecilia Halsey, have meshed well in the few months since then.

“Much like almost every horse, he loves Morgan,” said Roberts. “Horses love her. They go out of their way to try hard and be good sports for her. He went really exactly the way that we wanted him to in both rounds.”

Roberts continued, “We kind of geared him toward this class. So, we showed him lightly the past couple weeks and then chose not to show him during the week this week just to target the derby, and when it works out like that, everybody’s happy!”

For full results of the $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, click here.

Brandon Howard and HF Costa Rica Coast to $10,000 Karinda K. Welcome Stake Win

Katy, TX – While an inside turn generally proves advantageous in a jump-off, this time, it was going around a fence that Brandon Howard credits with helping HF Costa Rica earn the win in the $10,000 Karinda K. Welcome Stake on Thursday, November 17 at the Great Southwest Final Chase.

“I decided to instead go around the jump,” explained Howard, who was one of nine entries from the 16-horse starting field to advance to the jump-off. “Watching everyone that went inside, they had to slow down so much, and it put them on such an angle to [the next fence] that they had to have a lot of scope to clear it to get down to the six-stride line. I opted to go around instead, which put me on a faster stride into that six-stride line down the middle. I ended up landing from the back of that line quicker than everyone else, and then went on the inside track.”

Brandon Howard and HF Costa Rica. Photo by Jerry Mohme Photography

Howard and HF Costa Rica crossed the finish in 32.175 seconds, which would hold up for the win. Finishing in second place with a close time of 32.766 seconds were Avery Erickson and her own MTM Checco. Third place went to Joshua Tabor who finished in 33.676 seconds riding Calispera, owned by the Carat Group LLC.

“[Costa Rica’s] definitely got a lot of blood and a lot of heart,” said Howard of the 14-year-old Hanoverian mare, owned by Homeward Farms. “I don’t think I could put a jump in front of her that she doesn’t think she could jump, but she doesn’t have a lot of scope. She really just finds scope in her heart. I have to carry the pace to help her out with that.”

Howard bought HF Costa Rica in Europe when the mare was seven and has progressed her up the ranks to the 1.40-1.45m level since then.

Brandon Howard and HF Costa Rica. Photo by Jerry Mohme Photography

“Originally, I got her as just a 1.30m horse to import and sell,” explained Howard. “Every time I put the jumps up, she kind of just jumped better and better. I leased her out for about a year and a half; I just got her back earlier this year.”

Also earning a headline jumper win during the Great Southwest Final Chase were Joshua Tabor and Concanto, owned by the Carat Group LLC. The pair topped a 19-horse field on their way to the win in the $5,000 1.25m Hygain Mini Prix on Friday, November 18. 

For full results of both classes, click here

Daisy Ford and Gatsby are Great in $25,000 Olde Oaks Farm Grand Prix

Katy, TX – In their first grand prix together in a year and a half, Daisy Ford and Gatsby captured victory in the $25,000 Olde Oaks Farm Grand Prix, held on Saturday, November 12, during the Great Southwest Autumn Classic in Katy, TX.

Ford and her partner of eight years were one of 10 entries to advance to the jump-off, designed by Canada’s Danny Foster. From there, speed was very much the name of game, with all 10 entries ultimately producing double-clear efforts.

As the seventh pair to return, Ford and Gatsby flew over the first vertical before slicing over an oxer in the middle of the ring and galloping down to another vertical at the opposite end of the ring.

“I was like, ‘If I can leave jump one up, I’m good,’” said Ford, 23. “He’s got such an enormous stride, and the oxers I don’t have to worry about. I only have to worry about the verticals because he jumps a little flat sometimes. I jumped fence one, looked at jump two, saw the flyer, jumped jump two, and then three came up perfectly. At that point, I knew as long as I kept on the track, he would be fine. I didn’t expect to take as much time off, but he was fantastic!”

When Ford entered the ring, no one had yet broken the 40-second mark, but she and Gatsby made shaving nearly three seconds off of that time look easy, stopping the clock in 37.024 seconds for the win.

Natalee Haggan and MTM Hyperion Z, owned by MTM Farm, were the very next duo in the ring, and they tripped the timers in 39.100 seconds to take second place. Rounding out the top three with a time of 40.009 seconds were Alwaleed Alrashid and RSH Grand-Dessert, owned by Royal Sport Horses.

While Ford has been partnered with Gatsby for quite some time, he spent a year out on lease before returning to Ford in May of this year.

“I got him back in the beginning of May, and he’s older; he’s 16, so we gave him some time off,” explained Ford of the Oldenburg gelding that now resides in her backyard as she grows her business, Ford Farms. “This is my first grand prix back in a year and a half for myself and eight months for him. We were going back and forth on even if we should do it tonight. I got on, and he felt right. So, I was like, ‘Let’s go for it!’ I didn’t expect to jump clean, and he jumped clean. So, then I was like, ‘Well, I guess I have to go for it in the jump-off!’”

Ford continued, “It was a little technical, especially since I haven’t jumped at this height in a year and a half. I’ve had a young horse for the last year and a half, so I’ve been working on that. I was a little nervous coming in. I wanted to really be careful through the combinations. After jump three or four, I thought, ‘Alright, we’re good. He’s on.’ I got lucky.”

For full results of the $25,000 Olde Oaks Farm Grand Prix, click here.

Happy Comly and Derby CSH Dash to Victory in $10,000 Antarès Welcome Stake at Great Southwest Autumn Classic

Katy, TX – Happy Comly and Derby CSH dashed to an impressive victory in the $10,000 Antarès Welcome Stake on Thursday, November 10, at the Great Southwest Autumn Classic in Katy, TX.

Comly and the 9-year-old Warmblood gelding, owned by Comly Sport Horses, were one of 20 entries to take on the first-round track designed by Danny Foster and one of nine combinations to advance to the jump-off.

Happy Comly and Derby CSH. Photo by RandolphPR

When the pair set off on the short course, the time to beat had been set at 48.528 seconds by the first duo to jump off, Hannah Colligan and her own Jazelly VDL. Comly and Derby CSH made besting that time look easy, blazing across the finish in a lightning-fast 36.360 seconds. That time would prove untouchable, with no one else coming within two and a half seconds of Comly’s pace. Second place with a time of 39.037 seconds went to Frank Owens and Just Jeremy ES, owned by DS Holdings LLC. Rounding out the top three was Daniel Bedoya, who rode Monica Hank’s Jumpstar Uno to a jump-off time of 39.522 seconds.

Derby CSH was presented as the winner of the $10,000 Antarès Welcome Stake. Photo by RandolphPR

“We definitely made the time in the first three fences,” explained Comly, who has had the ride on Derby CSH for the past two years. “After that, I could pull on the reins a little bit and steady him because the first three jumps, we already had the time. He was so fast.”

Comly continued, “We call him the red dragon; he’s a fireball. When he’s good, he’s unbeatable. It’s like he shot out of a cannon. He’s crazy wild. He doesn’t really like to keep a lead, so he’s kind of cantering all over the place, but as soon as you point him at a fence, he’s going over. He wants to go clean, so I really don’t care what he does between the fences!”

For full results of the $10,000 Antarès Welcome Stake, click here.

Happy Comly and Kyra van de Doornhaag. Photo by RandolphPR

After topping the Welcome Stake on Thursday, Comly returned to the main indoor at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center on Friday to make it two in a row. This time, she claimed victory in the $5,000 Hygain Mini Prix aboard Kyra van de Doornhaag, owned by Foxglove LLC. Finishing in second place in the Friday featured class were Lindsay Buck on Whiskey Neat, and Hannah Colligan and Silhouette CF rounded out the top three.

“I love the people [here at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center],” concluded Comly. “Amy [Uniss-Coleman] takes care of us every time we come out here. We love it. Danny Foster’s a great course designer. He loves it when we go really fast and have a really game jump-off. For the people in Texas, it’s fun coming back home, after being gone all summer, and seeing everybody again.”