Capitano, O’Neal jump to win

When Capitano had secured first place in Saturday night’s $30,000 Pin Oak Charity Horse Show grand prix, it was time to settle down like the other animals.

But as defeated rivals bounded freely over the Great Southwest Equestrian Center arena dirt, Capitano ignored them all. No one would dare get in his path.

“His neck is bowed,” an onlooker shouted at winning rider Trapp O’Neal of Magnolia. “Looks like he’s ready to go over all those jumps again.”

“He is ready,” O’Neal still on his horse, shouted back. “He’s always ready.”

Kathy Epperson-owned Capitano also carried O’Neal to a Pin Oak grand prix win in 2014.

“It’s nice to win twice,” said O’Neal, who operates his Magnolia equine enterprise, TKO Partnership. “With a consistent horse like this one, you always have a chance. We’ve been together for a long time. After two jumps tonight, I knew he was ready.”

O’Neal was introduced to riding by his mother, who participated in mock fox hunts. Instead of a fox, O’Neal earned $9,000.

Martien Van Der Hoeven of Pinehurst claimed third place aboard Zerro Leone. The horse represented Spring’s Augusta Pines Farm. Van Der Hoeven was sandwiched between Kristin Hardin in the final standings. The New Cuyama, Calif., rider claimed the second and fourth spots.

Firestone S carried Hardin to second place, and she teamed up with Bert to take fourth place. Hardin’s combined winnings were $9,000. Fellow Californian Nicole Teague owns Firestone S, but Bert belongs to Hardin.

“He’s my baby,” Hardin said. “They’re going opposite directions. Firestone S is getting more mature, but Bert gets a little more juvenile every day. Sometimes Bert gets uncooperative as we come up to a jump. I can understand that. I’ve been married three times.”

On the road 11 months each year, Hardin was asked the hardest part of that grind.

“Being away from my two children,” she said. “That’s really hard.”