Katy, TX – Jacqueline Ruyle kept her hometown hot streak alive on Thursday, March 24, claiming both first and second in the $10,000 Welcome Jumper Stake during the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show, held at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center (GSEC) in Katy, TX.
Ruyle earned the victory aboard her own Cyramo Z and the second-place honor aboard San Chano, the same mount she rode to victory in the $100,000 Galvin Agency Lone Star State Grand Prix at the GSEC Texas Winter Series less than a month ago.
This time, it was Cyramo Z who was not to be beat. The 11-year-old Zangersheide mare was the very first to contest the course set by Manuel Esparza, and she turned in an immediate jump-off round that would prove uncatchable through the remainder of the 18 total entries.
With Ruyle coming the closest to catching her own time aboard San Chano for second place, third place went to Shawn Casady and RMF Chacco Top, owned by Ashland Farms.
For Ruyle the secret to her recent string of successes – which includes back-to-back grand prix wins and another one-two finish at the Texas Winter Series – is increased confidence.
“I used to go in the ring and be a little tense, and then you lose your momentum a little bit,” said Ruyle, 28. “Just relaxing, really focusing, and having good confidence that I can get around makes a big difference. It feels like things slow down, and you can make decisions.”
Ruyle, who trains with Bedoya Training Stables, keeps her horses at home in Seabrook, TX, and, as a nearby Houston native, Ruyle has a long history with the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show.
“I think I’ve been to Pin Oak every year since I was 15, so it’s probably about my 12th time here,” said Ruyle. “I just love it. I love the hospitality; they do a great job. They always bring great course designers, and really step up the game at this show.”
Now, Ruyle will look ahead to Saturday night’s $30,000 Third Coast Bank Pin Oak Charity Grand Prix and the remainder of the three weeks of the 76th annual Pin Oak Charity Horse Show.
The Pin Oak Charity Horse Show is one of the oldest and most prestigious horse shows in the United States, and today features three weeks of top hunter, jumper, and American Saddlebred competition. Founded by J.S. Abercrombie in 1945, it’s also a unique social and fundraising event, supporting the healing of sick children through financial donations, outreach, and volunteer support for Texas Children’s Hospital. The Pin Oak Charity Horse Show was the first show in the country to be designated as a Heritage Competition by the United States Equestrian Federation.
This year’s 76th annual event continues through April 10, with highlight events of Week I including a $30,000 United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) International Hunter Derby on Friday, March 25, and the $30,000 Third Coast Bank Pin Oak Charity Grand Prix on Saturday, March 26 at 7 p.m.
General spectator admission is free for all events. Learn more about the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show by visiting www.PinOak.org, and find the horse show on Facebook and Instagram for the most recent updates. To purchase competition photos, visit www.AndrewRyback.com. For full results of Thursday’s $10,000 Welcome Stake, visit www.horseshowsonline.com.
