April 6, 2024 – Katy, TX – Nada Wise and Chesterfield were the very first pair in the ring for Friday night’s $25,000 Olde Oaks Farm Hunter Classic, and they led the class from beginning to end to clinch the win in the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show’s Week II highlight hunter event.
The first round of the two-round classic saw 21 entries taking on the Alan Lohman-designed course at the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy, TX. From there, the field was narrowed to the top 12 to return in reverse order of their standings for the second round.
For Wise and Chesterfield, first-round scores of 88 and 86 from the two judging panels – for an 87 average – secured them the lead and the final returning position.
Just before Wise returned, young rider Logan Jacobson and her own MTM Crossed My Mind had turned in what would prove to be the highest scores of the second round: dual 88s from both judging panels. With those scores giving Jacobson an impressive 172.75 total, the pressure was on for Wise and Chesterfield.
Chesterfield, however, has a knack for rising to the occasion, and he did it again on Friday night. With scores of 87 and 87.5 for a second-round average of 87.25, Chesterfield secured the win with a 174.25 total. Following Wise and Jacobson, third place with a score of 170.5 went to Kelly Lorek and MTM Campedu, owned by Emersales LLC.
“Chesterfield was unbelievable,” said Wise of the 8-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding, owned by Stacey Thompson. “We were the first ones to go, and he felt so relaxed and so comfortable. He jumped so well through his body and so high. I couldn’t have asked him to be any better. Then to come back as late as he did in that second round – he just blew it out of the park. He was so good.”
Wise has had the ride on Chesterfield since he was imported three years ago, and together the pair have contested numerous featured hunter events and derby classes – including at the USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship and at the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show where Wise has been competing for the past 14 years.
“I moved here about 15 years ago. I remember my first time showing here; it was such a big deal,” said Wise, who this year has 18 horses competing at Pin Oak with her Rendezvous Farm. “I felt overwhelmed, but now it feels like home. It’s a special place. It’s a special show. All of my clients are here, and they all like to support and sponsor. It’s really nice. We love coming back every year.”
Also earning major hunter wins on Friday were Ann Marie Cowdrey on Zest and Morgan Parasher on Pendleton. Cowdrey and Zest topped a competitive field of 45 entries to win the $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby – Junior/Amateur, while Parasher and Pendleton were the best of 27 entries in the $10,000 USHJA National Hunter Derby – Junior/Amateur, sponsored by Leaving One Out LLC.
For full results from all of Friday’s competition, click here.
The Pin Oak Charity Horse Show continues through Sunday, April 14. To learn more, visit www.PinOak.org.