THE KING’S GAMBIT | 9-YEAR-OLD THOROUGHBRED GELDING | SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS
Meet Magnus, the 9-year-old Thoroughbred also known as The King’s Gambit. With his striking medium bay coat, left hind sock, and a distinctive little crescent moon on his face, Magnus is a stunning horse. He trains under the expert guidance of Mara Martinez at Retama Equestrian Center.
Ruby Bettis, Magnus’s rider, shares the heartwarming story of how she came to own him. “My parents kinda surprised me with him but at the same time did not. I went to try him and wasn’t sure if he was the one, so I tried a different horse, but I didn’t like that one at all. Little did I know my parents had already bought the first horse. A couple of days later, they told me, and I was really excited. We picked him up the next day, and I got to skip school, which was really fun for me. I also got baby chicks the same day, so I got a horse and some chickens. When I got back from the barn, everyone was waiting to unload him and say hi,” Ruby recalls.
Magnus was in training with a friend of Ruby’s trainer, Mara, who thought he would be a great fit. Ruby had been looking for a horse for a long time before they found Magnus. She will have had him for a year in May.
Magnus is known for his huge personality. He loves carrots and pretty much any hard treat, making treat time a delightful experience for both. Ruby describes him as a horse with a huge personality, always ready to engage and interact.
Ruby’s journey into horseback riding began when her mom suggested they ride a little before going on a family vacation that involved horseback riding. Ruby has been riding for about eight years and has owned her own horses for about six years. “My favorite thing about having horses is spending time with them and building a bond,” Ruby shares.
Magnus and Ruby are excited about their future together and look forward to many successful shows and cherished memories at Retama Equestrian Center.
Retama Equestrian Center Website | Facebook
Karinda K. is a Houston, TX based equine photographer that travels around the United States photographing equestrians and their horses. Karinda specializes in Outdoor Horse & Rider Portrait sessions that bring to life the magical relationship equestrians share with their horses, Senior Portraits, and Fine Art Black & White Background Portraits for those that want a piece of art featuring their very own animals.
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Portraits for Charity was an idea Karinda dreamt up to help give back to families impacted by Childhood Cancer in memory of her husband’s sister Jessica. With the help of the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show family, Karinda has raised over $30,000 for Candlelighter’s Houston since starting this project.
The Waiting List for Pin Oak 2025 is now open, click here to join.
If you are interested in having Karinda attend your event and host a Portraits for Charity day, send an email to equine@karindak(.)com.
Need to Contact Karinda? Email us at equine@karinda(.)com or call us at (8 3 2) 598-8715
Information shared in this blog is based on information collected at the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show, if for any reason this information is incorrect and you would like your horse’s blog post updated, please notify us via email.
