Katy, TX –In an exciting conclusion to the $30,000 Texas Children’s Hospital Grand Prix at the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show, Jacqueline Ruyle and Cyramo Z claimed victory by just 0.004 seconds.
The Houston, TX, native and her longtime partner, Cyramo Z, were one of eight entries to advance to the jump-off on Saturday night, April 1, at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy, TX. As the second pair to return for the Oscar Soberon-designed short course, Ruyle and Cyramo Z blazed across the finish in 37.423 seconds.
Four horses later, Arizona’s Allison Kroff and T-Quick Hurricane Z, owned by TC Sport Horses LLC, flew through the finish in a nearly identical time of 37.427 seconds to take second place. Finishing in third place were Martien Van Der Hoeven and Mefisto Il Mondo, owned by Brieanne Dofort.
“It’s awesome!” said Ruyle of her win at her hometown horse show. “My family’s here. My brother’s here, and his new wife is here. It’s really cool because my family can just drive in and watch; people that really haven’t seen me compete before can watch.”
Saturday night marked Ruyle and Cyramo Z’s second Pin Oak grand prix victory in as many years as the duo first topped the $50,000 Hildebrand Fund Grand Prix in 2022. Since that inaugural Pin Oak grand prix victory, Ruyle and Cyramo Z’s winning resume has grown exponentially. In July of 2022, they earned their first FEI win, and they have since racked up several others.
“[Cyramo Z] is so fast and so brave,” said Ruyle of the roughly 15.1-hand, 12-year-old Zangersheide mare that she has been partnered with for the past five years. “We had a very successful winter circuit in Wellington. We won almost every class we entered – we won the welcome, we won the prix, we won the next welcome. Actually, I just found out today that I had the fastest jump-off time of all the WEF 2023 circuit, so that was a huge accomplishment!”
Ruyle continued, “I came in [to the $30,000 Texas Children’s Hospital Grand Prix] maybe not feeling so confident in the first round after taking a month off and having everybody here, but [Cyramo Z] just can hold your hand and keep jumping. She’s just so fun to have. We’ve had a long partnership, and I just love riding her.”
With Ruyle, Kroff and Van Der Hoeven rounding out the top three, fourth place went to Maddie Chenoweth on Navaro Van’t Verahof, owned by Triple C Equine LLC. Taking fifth place were Tessa Downey and Isabelle, owned by Horse Orchard LLC. As the highest-placed under-25-year-old rider, 17-year-old Downey also earned the win in the $10,000 U25 Grand Prix, sponsored by American National and held concurrently with Saturday night’s featured class.
For full results of the $30,000 Texas Children’s Hospital Grand Prix, visit HorseShowsOnline.com.
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.