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Tomball, Tx. Many thanks to the event organizers John Deleyer and wife Marsha, as well as all the volunteers for putting on a great show at North Fork Farm in Tomball, Texas. Meisterider Equestrian is proud to have sponsored several classes in the jumpers as well as hunter classes with prizes and merchandise. Below are some of the pictures from the show. Enjoy !

Action Photos

Miscellaneous

It’s spring time, and in the Houston equestrian world, it means it’s time for the annual Pin Oak Charity Horse Show, the oldest and most prestigious competition in the area. The show’s first week of competition got underway on Wednesday, March 23, 2011 with the show’s main jumper class, the Pin Oak $30K Grand Prix scheduled for Saturday evening.

Renowned Olympic course designer Linda Allen was in charge of designing this year’s course for the twenty four horse/rider combinations vying for the title of Pin Oak champion. Ms. Allen set to work and came up with a challenging and technical course including a wall, and a tough triple combination set up as the last fence of the course. This triple combination (fences 13A, B & C) would prove the most demanding of the course. Arranged as a vertical/oxer/vertical (all at a distance of one stride) combined to see a lot of downed rails, dashing the hopes of many to move into the jump off round. As a matter of fact, 13 competitors had faults at this triple, a full 54% of the field (some with more than 4 faults).

It’s worth to note that the field included several teenage riders, including Jordan Appel who at thirteen years old was also the youngest; Ryan Genn – 14 years old; Margaux Wheeler – 16 years old and Megan Bifano – 17 years old and competing in her first Grand Prix.

It took until the 11th competitor to take the field, Mike McCormick and MTM Remington, to see the first clean round of the night earning a loud applause from the audience. Several more riders tried their luck, but could not manage a clean round until perennial Pin Oak winner Tracy Fenney riding MTM Centano recorded the second clean round of the night, making it a husband and wife jump-off affair ! Previous Pin Oak winner Wilhem Genn took notice and recorded the third clean round aboard his reliable mount Happy Z. Immediately after, the fourth and final clean round was posted by Martien Van Der Hoeven and his thoroughbred Southbound.

First to tackle the jump off was McCormick, ending the night with 8 faults and the eventual 4th place finisher. Wife Fenney came next, and posted the jump-off’s quickest time at 38.771 albeit with 4 jumping faults which earned her 3rd overall. Genn and Happy Z came next and posted a clean round with a final time of 40.435 temporarily putting them in the lead. The next and last rider was Houston based Van Der Hoeven who also posted and clean round and bested Genn’s time by almost a second, stopping the clock at 39.391 and claiming the $9,000 check for first place.

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Place Prize Horse Rider Owner
1 $9,000 South Bound Martien Van Der Hoeven Martien Van Der Hoeven
2 $6,600 Happy Z Wilhelm Genn Wilhelm Genn
3 $3,900 MTM Centano Tracy Fenney MTM Farm
4 $2,400 MTM Remington Michael McCormick MTM Farm
5 $1,800 MTM Timon Tracy Fenney MTM Farm
6 $1,500 Copyright 3 Wilhelm Genn Wilhelm Genn
7 $1,200 Alamo Erin Davis October Hill Hunter & Jumpers
8 $900 Ariado Theo Genn Abby Albritton
9 $900 Paradox Theo Genn Thomas Bruinsma
10 $600 Marlo Ryan Genn Wilhelm Genn
11 $600 River of Dreams Christian Heinekig Kai Handt
12 $600 Uno Martien Van Der Hoeven Cindy McCampbell-Wilkerson

Twenty one horse/rider combinations saddled up to tackle a tough and technical Grand Prix course at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center’s Winter Series II “A” show, held on Saturday, February 12, 2011  and set up by course designer Michel Vaillancourt.

First on the course was German born rider Christian Rogge aboard Carl Loui TSP, finishing the course with only 1 rail down.  This score would hold the lead through past half of the field, as rider after rider found themselves with multiple faults due to downed rails or refusals.

The triple combination at fence 7 (two verticals with an oxer at 7C) proved to be a challenge, with many riders leaving rails on the ground. Immediately after this difficult combo, Vaillancourt set up a hard right to a narrow vertical at fence 8 that also saw many downed rails.

It was not until teenage rider Jordan Appel and her horse Einstein (13th in the jump order), who managed to put up the first clean round of the evening. It is worthwhile to mention that she also held the distinction of being the youngest rider in the field!

There were several riders who would eventually finish with 4 faults total, including Stephanie Tropia and CR Napoleon, Rogge, and Erin Davis aboard Alamo. They would go on to claim spots 3rd through 5^th respectively. The crowd in attendance had to wait until the very last rider to find out whether there would be a jump off. That last rider was Heineking on the irons of his second mount of the night “River of Dreams” owned by Kai Handt. The dapple grey and his rider putting a classic clean round, well within the time allowed, to earn the second and last spot on the jump-off.

So that left only NTEC’s Heineking and his student Appel on the jump-off.  Jordan was the first to go, and put a quick round of 48.084 sec. but had an unfortunate rail at the last fence, and thus would claim second place overall. Heineking, her trainer and competitor was next, and put in his second clean round of the night, stopping the clock at 47.560  to claim the blue ribbon.  Overall, a great evening for North Texas Equestrian Center (NTEC).

The Fall Classic USEF “A” rated show wrapped up at The Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy, Texas with their customary $10K  1.35 Meter Classic. A total of seventeen horse rider combinations tackled the course consisting of 12 challenging fence arrangements including a triple and  double combinations. Of the first three riders, two had refusals at fence #9, a Liverpool/Oxer  that appeared to rattle some horses. It was not until the fourth entrant, Martien Van Der Hoeven and his first mount of the evening S&L Walter Farley, that the first clean round was posted.  Several more riders challenged the course, but the audience had to wait until the eleventh entrant, Jessica Law and sangria, recorded the second clean round of the night. Two riders later, Stephanie Tropia and CR  Napoleon also recorded no faults and earned a spot in the jump off. Magnolia, Texas resident Tony Font has a smooth, clean ride aboard Calotta, but 2 time faults would keep him out of the jump off. His effort would ultimately earn the pair a 5^th place. Martien Van Der Hoeven and his second mount UNO, would claim the final spot in the jump off.

The jump off proved tricky also, with the first three riders posting jumping faults. As the last rider on course, Martien Van Der Hoeven knew that time would not be a factor if he could ride a penalty free round. Posting a solid, and uneventful round, that is exactly what he did. In the end, Martien grab the two top spots aboard his mounts, leaving the rest of the ribbons to Stephanie Tropia in third, and Jessica Law in fourth.

Wilhelm Genn continued his winning ways, this time by taking the two top spots at the $30,000 National Standard Grand Prix in Katy, Texas. It’s becoming a bit of a broken record (not that the German rider minds a bit!) but the top spot at the weekly Grand Prix held at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center was again taken by Genn and one of his mounts.

 A technical, but smooth flowing 1.50 Mt. course set up by two-time Olympic course designer Olaf Petersen tested a total of twenty one horse/rider combinations on the first round. First to go clear was visiting rider from Mexico John Perez aboard Twister La Cantera. Magnolia, Texas rider Tony Font with Carmen immediately followed with another clean round to put himself in the jump-off. Local junior rider Eirin Bruheim put in a solid round, and was poised to join them at the jump-off, but a single rail at the challenging triple combination at No. 11 would keep them out of contention for the lead. Her effort would eventually be good enough for a 10^th place overall finish. A total of seven riders would eventually qualify for the jump-off including Tracy Fenney and MTM Timon, and Christian Heineking joining Genn and Font.

 The jump-off was set up with 8 fences including an interesting figure 8 pattern between fences 2 to 4 and a double combination at fence no. 7. The first rider in the arena was John Perez/Twister La Cantera going clear with a final time of 46.310   Next, Tony Font & Carmen went also clear with a slightly slower time of 47.479  Tracy Fenney aboard MTM Timon had her sights on the overall lead, and posted a fast time of 43.602 while also going clear. Her efforts would eventually give her a 4^th place finish overall.  The next riders would up the ante by finishing clear and lowering the overall times to the 41 second range including Genn and his first of two mounts Chantal, and Heineking aboard River of Dreams. With tension mounting, the best was yet to come. Wilhelm Genn and her trusty partner Happy Z were last on the order, and they did not disappoint. The pair put in a blistering time of 41.552 to take the overall lead and the $9,000 top prize. At the final tally, Genn occupied the two top spots, followed by Heineking, Fenney and Perez.

Final Standings

The annual Pin Oak Charity Horse Show closed its celebrations this past weekend with the prestigious $30,000 Grand Prix on Saturday night. Thirty three rider/horse combinations set to tackle another challenging 1.50 Mt. course set up by designer Linda Allen. Week I Grand Prix Winner Wilhelm Genn set up the pace with a clean round aboard Chantal.  Rider after rider tried to equal his first round success but to no avail. The technical course challenged every entrant and downed rails where the story of the night. A difficult triple combination at fence No. 8, coming of a tricky left hand turn, gave many riders headaches all night. Local rider Tony Font had a smooth clean round, but a single time fault kept him and his mount Carmen, owned by Deana Blackburn, out of the jump off but proved good enough for fourth place overall. Genn and his trusted mare Happy Z (winners of last week’s Grand Prix) were uncharacteristically off the pace, with several faults on course, and the German born Genn decided to withdraw her. Grand Prix rider standout Tracy Fenney, fresh from her success at HITS Ocala this year including a win at the $50,000 Purina Mills Grand Prix, was the second rider to go clean and it assured the crowd of a jump off. The third and final rider to earn a spot in the jump off was Mexico’s own Diego Romo Gonzalez aboard Venur.

In the jump off, Genn and Chantal set the pace with a clean round and a quick time of 35.401 Tracy Fenney and MTM Centano gave the crowd chills with another blistering round, stopping the clock at 34.283 but an unfortunate rail kept Genn at the top position. Third and last to tackle the jump off was Romo Gonzalez and Veneur, who finished the round with 8 faults on course, giving the combination the third spot, and assured Genn and Chantal as the winners with Fenney and MTM Centano in second place. Plans are already under way for another successful show next year!

Wilhelm Genn and Chantal

Final Standings – 2010 $30,000 Pin Oak Grand Prix – Week II

Unusually cold temperatures in the Houston area greeted both fans and competitors alike for the $30,000 Pin Oak Grand Prix on Saturday night. As fans scrambled to find any means to warm up, eighteen riders readied to take on a challenging 1.50 Mt. course designed by show jumping legend Conrad Homfeld. A triple combination, set up as the next to last effort, proved the undoing of many. German native Wilhelm Genn aboard Chantal was the first to post a clean round. It took several more riders until the second clean round was posted by Tony Font aboard Carmen. The course proved to be a tough one to master, and only Genn and his second mount of the night, the spunky mare Happy Z, were able to post the third and last clean round of the night.

Tony Font was first to go in the jump off, and had a clean round going until the latter part of the course when they dropped a rail and finished the course with four faults. Genn now  had the pressure off, and only needed a clean round to win the top spot at Pin Oak. He did just that aboard Chantal taking the lead. Next, he came back to the ring aboard Happy Z to try to better his first jumpoff effort. Posting another clean round and fastest time, Genn ended up first and second, with Font in third.

We are already looking forward to week two at the 2010 Pin Oak Grand Prix.

 Final Standings

Meisterider friend and International Grand Prix Dressage Competitor Marta Renilla will perform a Dressage Grand Prix exhibition aboard Presumido, a stallion owned by Rancho La Passion, during Houston’s Pin Oak Charity Horse Show this Friday evening. Way to go Marta!

Photo Courtesy of Norine Johnson

www.norinejohnsonphotography.com

We are sad to report that International Dressage Superhorse Blue Hors Matine was recently euthanized. According to news reports, the beautiful mare suffered a broken leg while out in her pasture. A great loss for Dressage and the equestrian world at large. Our thoughts and prayers are with those close to her. May she rest in peace.

The Woodlands Equestrian Club, a premier training and boarding facility in the Greater Houston Area, will be hosting an Open House on Sunday, December 13, 2009 at their facility located just north of Tomball, Texas.

 Meisterider™ Equestrian (www.meisterider.com) is proud to donate gift certificates to be raffled among the guests attending the event. All proceeds from the raffle will benefit the Pin Oak Horse Charity Show.  Held since 1945, the Pin Oak Horse Show is one of the oldest A Rated shows in the Country. Over the years, the show has raised millions of dollars to benefit the Ronald McDonald House of Houston®, as well as the Texas Children’s Hospital. We are proud to contribute to these worthy causes.

 Activities during the open house include a quadrille demonstration performed by the School of Equestrian Arts´ students riding Pure Spanish Breed horses, with music by Manolo Carrasco. The agenda also includes a dressage exhibition by International Dressage competitor Marta Renilla (www.martarenilla.com), and a Sevillanas and Flamenco show by Ainhoa Donat.