Katy, TX – March 29, 2025 – Nada Wise and Chesterfield are no strangers to the winner’s circle at the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show, and they returned there again on Friday, March 28, after taking the top honor in the $30,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, sponsored by R-C Ranch.
Wise and the 9-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding, owned by Stacey Thompson, led the class from beginning to end, as scores of 85 and 84 – coupled with all four high-option bonus fences taken – shot them straight to the top of the leaderboard with a total score of 177 in round one.
From there, they returned to the Tellepsen Arena at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center to cement their win with a score of 182 (84.000 + 4 + 2, 87.000 + 4 + 1) in the handy round and an overall total score of 359.
Finishing in second place with scores of 170 and 185 for a 355 total were Jef Lauwers and Hallpass, owned by Sue Copeland. Third place went to Jennifer Alfano who rode her own Ivy League to a 163 and a 187 for a 350 total.
“This horse has been with me since he was 5, and I’m really lucky I’ve been able to keep him in my barn,” said Wise, who also rode Chesterfield to victory in the $25,000 Olde Oaks Farm Open Hunter Classic at the 2024 Pin Oak Charity Horse Show. “He has so much heart and so much ability, and we’ve really become a team. When I walk in the ring, he gives me all the confidence to do exactly what I need to do, and he always puts all of his heart into it.”
Wise continued, “[In the handy round], I feel like I was a little bit safe. Everyone had been very good before me. I had a lot of competition, and they had been very slick, so I wanted to make sure I rode correctly every step of the way. He answered everything I asked him to answer and then some.”
For Wise, who operates Rendezvous Farm in Tomball, TX, is her “hometown horse show” and one she looks forward to each year.
“You get a good feel of support here, which is really nice,” concluded Wise. “It’s great that we can give back to the community…Being able to give back a little bit and hopefully get the community involved a little bit more is really nice.”
For full results of the $30,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, sponsored by R-C Ranch, click here. To learn more about the 79th annual Pin Oak Charity Horse Show, visit PinOak.org.
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. Today, the show features three weeks of top-caliber hunter/jumper events and one week of breed show competition at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy, TX.
