Edited Press Release
Katy, TX – April 5, 2025 – Ritz is a barn favorite at Matt Cyphert’s Woodhill Farm, and on Friday evening, April 4, at the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show, the gelding showed why. With Cyphert in the irons, Ritz jumped to the win in the $25,000 Open Hunter Classic, sponsored by Leaving One Out LLC, and held during Pin Oak Week 2.
A field of 21 horses took on the two-round class at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center, and at the end of the opening round, Cyphert and Ritz sat in second place on a score of 174 (87+87). The pair then replicated that performance over the second-round, Kevin Holowack-designed course, again earning dual scores of 87 to take over the lead with an overall score of 348.
Second place went to Nada Wise and Stacey Thompson’s Chesterfield. The duo led the way after the first round with a score of 177 (89+88), and they coupled that with a score of 167.50 (83+84.5) in the second round for a total score of 344.50. Rounding out the top three on a score of 342.5 were Courtney Lenkart and Chicoletto, owned by Mercedes Flett.
“Ritz has been in our barn for about four years now, and he’s really become family,” said Cyphert of the 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, owned by Katie McDonnell. “He’s a barn favorite; he’s all the trainers’ favorite. He’s just a trier – wonderful attitude, loves his job. His owner, Katie, is the same. She’s one of our favorite people. It’s just a great pairing of two wonderful people and animals, and it just sort of makes the whole thing work.”
If You Believe, He Believes: MTM In Love and Natalee Haggan Win $10,000 USHJA Open National Hunter Derby
The $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby, sponsored by EPIC Sporthorses, was in high demand on Friday, April 4, at the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show. With more than 50 entries, the initially scheduled class was held as two separate classes for professional and junior/amateur competitors. Natalee Haggan and MTM In Love, owned by MTM Farm, did not let the stiff competition throw them off their game, winning the $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby – Open with a score of 177 (85 + 92).
Far from deterred by the bustling atmosphere, Haggan said she enjoys being surrounded by all the activity at the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show. “I love the atmosphere. I love the decorations, the number of people that are here. I like the intensity in the jumper classes because there’s almost 40 in each one, so it’s really good competition. It keeps you on your toes,” she said.
Close behind Haggan was Allison Dodd’s Call Me Cool, ridden by Kelly Lorek, taking home second place with a score of 175 (88 + 87). Jennifer Alfano rode Linda Cowden’s Pendleton to third place with a score of 167 (90 + 77).
While MTM In Love is Haggan’s favorite horse, she only gets to ride him on rare occasions.
“I’ve been riding for several years now for Erin Jarvis, his trainer. He’s my favorite horse!” Haggan said. “I usually only get to ride him when I meet up with Erin, and that’s usually here at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center, which I’m very fortunate to get the opportunity to do. My best guess is I probably won’t get to ride him again until the fall.”
After a slight adjustment to their plan during the classic round, Haggan knew she had to bring her a-game in the handy round. “In the first round, I didn’t get down the first line like I had planned on, and I was hoping that my score wasn’t going to reflect that because it walked in eight, and I did it in nine,” Haggan said. “But it seemed to match everywhere else. So, it turned out well!”
The 12-year-old Warmblood gelding was able to draw from his experience as a seasoned competitor at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center to shine in the handy round. “The handy – that’s his game. He’s into that. He’s ready to do all the things I ask, and at that point, he’s usually settled in with the course. So, when I ask him to do really tricky, handy turns, he gives it his all,” Haggan said.
Despite limited practice time together, Haggan and MTM In Love didn’t let that deter them from taking a few risks in their second round. “Turning from the hay bales straight to the wall I thought was maybe a little bit risky, but I know his background and training from Mike [McCormick] and Tracy [Fenney] at MTM Farm, and I thought, ‘He’s got this,’” Haggan said.
True to form, the grey gelding did indeed ‘have it.’ Haggan and MTM In Love confidently tackled all the high-option fences in both rounds, adding a total of eight points to their score. While Haggan may make MTM In Love look confident and effortless as he floats through the course, she says he is not quite as brave as he looks – but if you believe he can do it, he’ll try his heart out.
“He’s not the bravest horse by nature, but if you believe, he believes. The expression he gives you in the ring is just priceless. You can tell he loves his job, and if you give confidence, he will do anything that you ask,” Haggan said.
Haggan is keeping busy at the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show, with a full string of horses. “I have 16 horses here – one sort of counts because it’s my daughter’s mini. I have four students. They’re all great, very hard workers, and they ride really well,” Haggan said. “I’m excited to be here showing with them.”
One of those students, Bernadette Mulliken, took to the ring shortly after Haggan, to bring home another win for the team. Aboard her own Momentous, Mulliken rode away with the win in the $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby – Junior/Amateur, also sponsored by EPIC Sporthorses.
Mulliken took the top call with scores of 87 and 86 for a 173 overall total. Second place with scores of 77.50 and 85 for a 162.50 total went to Elle McNear and her own Caracalla. Rounding out the top three with a score of 157 (84+73) were Kristen Pribilski and Next Chapter.
For complete results of the $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby – Open, click here, and for results from the $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby – Junior/Amateur, click here.
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.
