ADVISORY BOARD
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RAY
TEXEL
Birthdate: August 27, 1973
Hometown: Bedford, New York |
USA
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Ray Texel's road to greatness started at a young age. He began
riding at the age of eight at a small local barn in Wayside, New
Jersey, and he began showing at the age nine. At the age of 14,
Ray won the 1987 AHSA Pony Equitation Finals and, in 1989, became
one of a select few to win the nation's two most prestigious equitation
national championships, the AHSA Medal Final and the ASPCA Maclay
Finals. He was also one of the youngest riders, second only to
the legendary George Morris, to ever win both national junior
championships. As a result of his success, he was named the AHSA's
Junior Equestrian of the Year for 1990.
In 2000, Ray placed second at the $150,000 Budweiser American
Invitational in Tampa, FL, and in the $100,000 Rolex/U.S. Show
Jumping Championship, qualifying him as one of 21 finalists for
the U.S. Olympic Team Trials held in California.
In 2001, Ray qualified for his first World Cup Final held in
Gothenburg, Sweden, where he placed second in the opening leg,
the speed round, riding Fleur. Continuing his success in 2001,
Ray enjoyed four Grand Prix wins including an impressive victory
in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup at the famed Spruce Meadows venue
in Calgary, Canada.
He began the 2002 season with a win in the $50,000 Cosequin Grand
Prix on the HITS Desert Circuit in Indio, California.
After moving back to the east coast in 2002, Ray has become a
sought-after coach and trainer. He started the 2004 season with
a win in the $50,000 Ox Ridge Charity Grand Prix held in Darien,
CT, riding the Hessen mare, Roxana 112.
Ray also offers his intricate knowledge of the sport in various
volunteer capacities, and most recently acted as Chair of the
Selection Committee for the 2004 Olympic Show Jumping Team.
