There aren’t many things that top watching an international show jumping mare school under a new rider who just gets her, and this morning I had the opportunity to do just that when I caught up with Ray Texel and his brand new partner, Kismet 50.

Ray has been a household name in American show jumping ever since he won the 1989 AHSA Medal Finals and ASPCA Maclay Finals at the age of 14. He remains one of the youngest riders to ever win both national medal finals, and watching him ride this morning, it was clear that his quiet, confident style of riding harked back to that early foundation in equitation.

Thirty-nine year old Ray has since become a seasoned grand prix rider and World Cup Finals veteran, now based in Parkland, Florida as the head trainer for Pine Hollow.

In recent years, while Ray has kept busy with a stable full of jumpers in training, he’s also been looking for that next big time horse to take him to the top. As he so eloquently pointed out, “riders are a little bit like actors. You can be the greatest actor in the world, but if you never find that one great role to make you a star, you never get there. A great horse is a lot like that role, and it’s what I’ve been hoping to find for awhile.”

Howard and Gwen Dvorkin of Pine Hollow helped him get that role when they stepped up to purchase Kismet 50 from the stable of Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum just before December 31, 2011. That end of year date is especially significant going into 2012, as the FEI requires all Olympic, and thus potential Olympic, horses to be registered with their owners by the end of 2011.

Kismet is well known around the world and especially in California, where she attracted much attention when she was campaigned by Meredith last winter at HITS Thermal. Over the summer Kismet and Meredith returned to Europe and continued to rack up top finishes on the international grand prix circuit and the Global Champions Tour (watch Kismet and Meredith in the ring at Paris here.)

Now 11, the Belgian Warmblood mare by Kanaan is only just beginning to reach her prime, and Ray and his team are cautiously optimistic as they look towards the upcoming season.

“I’m very pleased to have a horse of this caliber and the opportunity that it provides for all of us at Pine Hollow,” said Ray. “For all intents and purposes we’re looking at the (Olympic Selection) Trials. We’re coming in a little late in the game as a new partnership but that’s also something I’m very used to. For the most part I get to know a horse pretty quickly.”

Kismet just arrived in Florida from Germany, and the gleam in her eye was all business as she worked under Ray. It will be super interesting to watch this pair continue to get to know each other in the ring, and if all goes well, give the U.S. Show Jumping Team a needed boost in serious horsepower. 

Ray is keeping Kismet, known as "Betty" around the barn, in conditioning work as she settles into her new Florida home.

Ray describes his new top horse as a powerhouse who wants to get to the next jump.

Keep your eye on Kismet 50 and Ray Texel!