Katy, Texas – Jacqueline Ruyle claimed the top two spots in the $25,000 ReRide Tack Grand Prix with San Chano and Cyramo Z, respectively, on Thursday, February 24, at the Texas Winter Series Week IV in Katy, TX.
From a field of 26 horses, 12 navigated the first-round, Oscar Soberon-designed course without fault, with 10 of them electing to return for the jump-off. As the third to return, Ruyle and her own San Chano set the early time to beat at 36.949 seconds, and that time would prove to be uncatchable.
Ruyle came the closest to besting her own pace, finishing in second with a time of 38.401 seconds aboard her own Cyramo Z. Third place by just three one-hundredths of a second went to Savannah Hemby and Juju VDM, who stopped the clock in 38.404 seconds, and Taylor Land and Falco V rounded out the top four with a clear time of 38.596 seconds.
“It feels awesome [to win]!” said Ruyle, who trains with Bedoya Training Stables. “It feels wonderful. [San Chano] and I have been showing in Florida for the past couple of weeks, and we’ve had one rail, one rail, one rail, so it’s nice to pull it together finally!
“Everything just flowed really nicely from the first jump to the last,” continued Ruyle, who has been partnered with San Chano for several years. “I kind of found everything forward, and it was just a nice float.”
The 28-year-old Houston native grew up competing at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center, and while she now frequently also travels to compete on the East Coast, she always looks forward to returning to her hometown venue.
“It’s nice to come home and show in our hometown,” said Ruyle. “I’ve been really impressed with the footing improvements that they’ve made. I really like the way that they’ve been preparing the footing in the warm-up in the jumper ring here that I’ve been showing in; I’m enjoying it.”
Ruyle will now look toward the featured event of the Texas Winter Series Week IV, Saturday’s $100,000 Lone Star State Grand Prix.
Other highlights of the week include Friday’s $10,000 1.25m Jumper Classic and $5,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby. Re-watch the $25,000 Grand Prix and watch the remainder of this week’s featured classes live on Horse & Country TV here!
In addition to hosting the Texas Winter Series, the Great Southwest Equestrian Center is home to the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show, to be held March 23- April 10, 2022. Learn more about the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show here, and visit the Great Southwest Equestrian Center’s website here.
For full results of Thursday’s $25,000 ReRide Tack Grand Prix visit horseshowsonline.com.