Cyphert wins grand prix atop Lochinvar
Age ruled Saturday night as Matt Cyphert rode 13-year-old Lochinvar to Pin Oak Horse Show’s $30,000 grand prix championship.
“He loves these shows,” said Cyphert, who has taken Lochinvar around the country to compete.
When Lochinvar entered the Great Southwest Equestrian Center arena, he reacted as Cyphert expected.
“He’s a situational horse,” the Northlake owner/rider said. “He sees the crowd. He hears the cheering. He’s ready to go.
“I bought him eight years ago, and it has taken him this long to become as good as he is today. Just an amazing animal.”
Cyphert, who has been in the show horse business 20 years, said it’s rare to have a horse “who always knows when it’s time to compete.”
He added, “Of course, he’s spoiled, too. Just like so many of these horses. He’s very well managed. Right after competition, he’s back in his stall, getting ice, then a good bath.”
Kristin Hardin of New Cuyama, Calif., finished second.
Cyphert will not compete in Pin Oak’s other grand prix next Saturday. He is off to Omaha, Neb., for an international competition. But Lochinvar will not enter there.
The grand prix ended a day that included 130 other events.
Age never seems to bother jumping horses. Bowie, an 11-year-old gelding, won Saturday’s International Hunter Derby. Courtney Calcagnii of Dallas rode the winner.
Another senior equine, the nationally prominent Jersey Boy, still competes as a 15-year-old gelding. The significance of his victory was the rider’s comeback. Jen Alfano was making her first competitive experience since falling and tearing an anterior cruciate ligament.
Earlier in the competition, Houston rider/trainer Peter Pletcher, often a dominant Pin Oak entrant, won his event on Luminous. Kate Hobby Gibson owns the 6-year-old gelding.
One new team scored a surprising victory in the 3-gaited American Saddlebred event.
Houstonian Elly Berman had only been riding Sandra Currier-trained Our Lady Godiva for two months. Pin Oak was their first competition, and they won it.
Pin Oak’s first of two weeks ends with 92 Sunday events. The show closes on April 2.