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Apr 13, 20217 min read

Tokaruk Show Stables Takes Top Honors at Pin Oak Charity Horse Show

Updated: Oct 17, 2021

Michael Tokaruk earned the Leading Jumper Rider Bonus at the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show, pictured here aboard My Lord Castanoo. Photo Andrew Ryback Photography

Katy, TX – April 12, 2021 – Michael Tokaruk and his Tokaruk Show Stables of Collierville, TN, clinched numerous top honors at the historic Pin Oak Charity Horse Show during the past three weeks, including the Leading Open Jumper Rider along with the $5,000 bonus!

The Pin Oak Charity Horse Show is known for its rich history, time-honored traditions, equestrian excellence, and extraordinary giving. As one of the oldest and most prestigious horse shows in the country, Pin Oak is also one of Houston’s unique social and fundraising events. Pin Oak has donated nearly $7 million dollars to support the healing of sick children and is committed to supporting the growth of Texas Children’s Hospital. Tokaruk Show Stables is honored to support the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show.

“This is our third time now at Pin Oak. We love coming here! They do such a good job and it goes to a great cause, it’s wonderful. There's a lot of pomp and circumstance to the show and it just feels so much more special to show there,” said Tokaruk. “It was definitely a goal to win the Rider Bonus in coming here to Pin Oak. It's a strong group of horses and riders in Texas. Everybody goes fast - I mean the speed limit in Texas is like 80 miles an hour so they all go fast! It's a good group of riders so to come out on top after the three weeks is really meaningful. I owe it all to the horses first off, and then to everyone who supports me, the owners, the clients, the sponsors, the staff at the barn. Everybody does such a great job and makes my life as easy as it can be so it's a real team effort.”

Tokaruk piloted his own My Lord Castanoo, a nine-year-old Belgian Warmblood by Nabab De Reve, to the 1.40m Open Jumper Championship during Week II and the reserve championship during Week I. The pair also earned a victory in the Venice Equestrian Tour $25,000 Grand Prix earlier in the season. Tokaruk is pleased with progress this green horse is making and enjoys bringing the horse up the ranks.

Michael Tokaruk and Diams De La Pomme scored the reserve championship in the 1.35m Open Jumpers.

Diams De La Pomme, owned by Jean-Maurice Brahier, helped Tokaruk earn the Leading Jumper Rider title by winning the 1.35m jumper class and flying into second place in the $5,000 1.35m Speed Stake. The mare also took home the reserve championship in the division during Week II.

“Such a fun, sporty little mare,” said Tokaruk. “I’m so happy with her in our first show together! Thanks so much to owner Lauren Hough for sending such a nice horse to show and sell!”

Tokaruk racked up jumper points on Cameron Tokaruk’s D’Almgravin winning the 1.25m out of 40 horses and the Championship in both Week I and Week II.

Tokaruk is known for his ability to build confidence in horses and riders and takes time to bring them up to the next levels. His resume is filled with winning stories of horses he shows and sells to new owners, creating matches for success in the show ring. Clients love Tokaruk's attention to detail and his ability to prepare them for the show ring. His program is consistent and clearly works.

Team Tokaruk

Brittany Kasprack and Gaesbekers Gabbertje added a reserve championship in the Low Amateur Jumpers to their resume.

Team Tokaruk riders added plenty of ribbons to the tackroom banner as well. Brittany Kasprack, Olive Branch, MS, and Gaesbekers Gabbertje won the Low Amateur Jumpers and added the reserve championship tricolor to the Tokaruk Show Stables banner for Week II. Kasprack also rode Gambit to a victory in both the Ariat and THIS Adult Medal classes.

"[Gaesbekers Gabbertje] is relatively new to me. I got him in October," explained Kasprack, who runs four chiropractic clinics. "He is kind of an expert and I am very much an amateur so he's teaching me the ropes. I can't even say his show name! He's teaching me a lot, trying to make me brave. He's only nine but he has done the 1.50m and I was doing the meter tens when I bought him. So we've now made it to the 1.20m so taking it slow.

Brittany Kasprack and Gambit winning the THIS Adult Medal. Photo Andrew Ryback Photography

"I've been riding with Michael for a little over a year now. When we go to the shows, the nice thing is it's easy. With Michael, you're doing so much more at home that when you go to the show, it's literally, I'm not going to say it's a joke by any means, but it's a much lower difficulty level because we've already seen every single challenge they're asking of us, and that's a big thing. When you go out to the barn to ride your horse, even if it's not a lesson day, it's a working day. It's not just oh, I'm gonna hack on a loose rein, I'm gonna be an amateur, like I'm just gonna drop my reins and ride around and have a good day! No, he's not going to stand for that, so he's going to make sure that you're working all the time.

"One of the nicest things about Michael's barn is that he's not so big that you're just a number and he's very personalized. I mean, they know everything about the animals, and I think that some of these barns - I see them with 30-40 horses at the show and that's amazing, but you may not get that same one on one experience that you get in that smaller setting like Michael’s. I definitely feel very, very privileged to be a part of it."

Ava Hernandez and Cupid Shuffle won the $2,500 NAL Low Junior Jumper Classic. Photo Andrew Ryback Photography

Ava Hernandez, Overland Park, KS, and Cupid Shuffle, a 15-yer-old Dutch Warmblood, won the $2,500 NAL Low Junior Jumper Classic and ended up reserve champion for Week II! Tokaruk won the 1.25m Open Jumper class on the veteran jumper on the opening day of the show. Cupid Shuffle is a horse Tokaruk is familiar with and says the horse is always game and fun to ride. Tokaruk is happy to work with the horse again and especially with the talented Hernandez in the irons.

Evie Jaeckle and TJC's Taio Cruz took home top ribbons in the Amateur Owner Hunter division. Photo Andrew Ryback Photography

Evie Jaeckle and Clochard. Photo A ndrew Ryback Photography

Evie Jaeckle from The Jaeckle Center won some top ribbons in the 1.20m Jumpers on Clochard and a second place finish in the $2,000 Amateur Adult Jumper Stake aboard TJC’s Lil Jon during Week II. Jaeckle, of Thompsons Station, TN, also rode TJC’s Taio Cruz in the 3’3” Amateur Owner Hunters 18-35 taking home first and second in the over fences, a third place in the Amateur Owner Hunter Classic and fourth in the Stake during Week I.

Anna Marie Mayes and Balou Bailando won the Low Amateur Jumper Classic. Photo A ndrew Ryback Photography

Anna Marie Mayes and Gambit took the top spot in the Platinum Performance Talent Search.

Anna Marie Mayes and Balou Bailando won the Low Amateur Jumper Classic and earned the championship honors as well. Mayes, 18, from Memphis, TN, also collected a blue ribbon in the Platinum Performance Talent Search on Gambit.

Mayes signed with Auburn University.

Congratulations goes out to Mayes on signing with Auburn Equestrian for her college commitment. She will participate in the NCAA Equestrian program while completing her studies.

“All of her hard work and dedication to the sport is paying off!” said Tokaruk. “She is a great student, rider, and young lady. Everyone at Tokaruk Show Stables is excited to see her take her talents to this great Division 1 NCAA program.”

Tokaruk Show Stables keeps their show on the road as they head to Brownland Farm for more competition in April. Also on the show schedule is the Colorado Horse Park, Split Rock Denver, and the Kentucky Horse Park this summer.

As always, Tokaruk Show Stables has a quality selection of horses for sale for all levels and all rings. Contact Michael Tokaruk at 202-413-2303 or email: mtokaruk@hotmail.com or message him on Instagram or Facebook.

Tokaruk Show Stables Pin Oak Quick Look

$5,000 Bonus - Leading Open Jumper Rider – Michael Tokaruk

Week 1

Champion

D’Almgravin 1.25m Open Jumper Michael Tokaruk

Reserve

Diams De La Pomme 1.35m Open Jumper Michael Tokaruk

My Lord Castanoo 1.40m Open Jumper Michael Tokaruk

Week 2

Champion

D’Almgravin 1.25m Open Jumper Michael Tokaruk

My Lord Castanoo 1.40m Open Jumper Michael Tokaruk

Balou Bailando 1.20m A/O Jumper Anna Marie Mayes

Reserve

Gaesbekers Gabbertje 1.20m A/O Jumpers Brittany Kasprack

Cupid Shuffle 1.20m Jr Jumpers Ava Hernandez

Week 3

Reserve

Gaesbekers Gabbertje 1.20m A/O Jumpers Brittany Kasprack

Cupid Shuffle 1.20m Jr Jumpers Ava Hernandez

About Tokaruk Show Stables

Tokaruk Show Stables trains and sells hunters, equitation horses, and jumpers.They focus on teaching horses and riders to be their best — at some of the biggest horse shows across North America. Michael Tokaruk and the team at Tokaruk Show Stables work with quality horses and ponies and cater to serious riders from across the country.

The facility is located in Collierville, Tennessee with 24 large stalls with plenty of lush grass paddocks for turnout. They have a large all weather sand ring and several large grass fields for riding. Horses receive the finest training, care, feed, and daily attention as they are valuable athletes and are treated as such. Michael and the TSS staff customize a training and care program for every horse to suit its individual needs.

Michael's ability to ride earns him quality horses for sale that he successfully campaigns and promotes until sold. Contact him to sell or buy your next quality show horse.