The NSBA Honors Banquet annually recognizes members who have reached the pinnacle of success in the prior show year, as well as individuals and horses who have been outstanding contributors to the industry. Members gathered at the Fair Meadows on the Expo Center grounds. Among this year’s honorees were:
Horse Of The Year
Sumac Gunnabeflashy, who is owned by Leslie Vagneur Lange, Greeley, Colorado, earned 2023 Horse Of The Year honors.. The 2017 sorrel AQHA and solid APHA gelding by Gunnatrashya and out of Chics Graceful Whiz (by Whiz N Tag Chex), is the first horse shown exclusively in Ranch events to be named Horse of the Year. Known as Romeo, the gelding was bred by Donald Sobey, of Trenton, Nova Scotia, Canada. He earned $52,259 in NSBA earnings along with 120.5 NSBA points to earn the title.
Jack Benson Award
Corbett Ryan, of Wauconda, Illinois, received the award named after the late NSBA member Jack Benson, which is presented to an individual who unselfishly gives of his or her time to promote NSBA and its mission, and create greater interest in the pleasure horse industry.
Born with cerebral palsy, Corbett was introduced to horseback riding when he was two years old. Corbett is known for his can-do attitude and he’s someone who never lets an obstacle stop him in reaching his goals. When he became interested in showing horses competitively, Corbett found a category for Equestrians With Disabilities didn’t yet exist, and he campaigned to NSBA to create one. EWD classes now appear in various forms across breed associations and many follow the EWD rules NSBA developed for eligibility and participation. He has shared his unique knowledge about inclusiveness for riders with the Coaches Summit - the NSBA Foundation’s educational event that was designed for therapeutic riding centers, volunteers, coaches, staff and interested individuals - on numerous occasions. He is also a NSBA World Championship Show sponsor, and continues his support of the EWD classes at the Quarter Horse Congress through the NSBA Foundation. Corbett was awarded with the NSBA President’s Award in 2017.
Hall Of Fame, Individual:
Bill and Cindy Cosentino, of Omaha, Nebraska, received the Individual Hall of Fame award. Bill joined the NSBA board of directors in 2012, serving in several capacities including on the Stallion Incentive Fund and Breeders Championship Futurity committees. He also coordinated bringing The Way To Go, NSBA's membership magazine, in-house. Bill served as NSBA president in 2017. Cindy served as the NSBA Youth Advisor and recruited new youth to serve as officers and helped them determine service projects they could work on, overcoming the challenge of bring youth together who were rarely in one place at one time, and spread out across the country and in multiple breeds. .
Hall Of Fame, Breeding Horse
Sky Blue Walker was a 1985 gray AQHA stallion. Bred by Cliff Hartman, of Marshfield, Missouri. Sky Blue Walker was by Cloud Walker and out of the AQHA Appendix mare Strawberry Pigeon (by Purple Pigeon). Sky Blue Walker earned AQHA points in a variety of events ranging from Hunter Under Saddle to Trail and even Barrel Racing. He received the AQHA Open Versatility Award in 1994. He was owned by Rhonda Replogle, of Keystone Heights, Florida, for the last 17 years of his life. Under Rhonda’s careful guidance, Sky Blue Walker became a well-known producer of versatile Hunter Under Saddle offspring. Sky Blue Walker’s foals have earned 16,198 AQHA points as well as numerous points in PHBA. His offspring have earned 15 AQHA world championships as well as 13 AQHA High Point awards, and $199,792 in NSBA earnings to date.
Hall Of Fame, Breeding Horse
Hot Lopin Louise, a 2002 sorrel AQHA mare, was bred by McCarroll and Schroeder in Gainesville, Texas, Hot Lopin Louise was by Blazing Hot and out of Born Lopin, who was by Zippo Pine Bar. Louise came to Cathy Starnes during her two year old year. She accumulated 53 AQHA Open Western Pleasure points and 127 Amateur Western Pleasure points as well as earned $53,431.57 in NSBA earnings before beginning her broodmare career. She passed along her winning attributes to her offspring. Her nine performing foals earned 1,560.5 AQHA points and $161,438.81 in NSBA earnings to date, including AQHA stallion The Lopin Machine.
Hall Of Fame, Show Horse
AQHA mare Dark Jasmine, owned by Susan Ostrander of Ocala, Florida, was bred by Charlene Vanness. Dark Jasmine, known as ‘J,’ is by Just Wait Until Dark and out of An Old Gold Invester (by Zippos Old Gold). She won the 2008 Quarter Horse Congress GMC Limited Open Two Year Old Western Pleasure Futurity and reserve champion in the Open division, and was undefeated in the Intermediate Open Western Pleasure futurities the following year with Steve Reams, who also won an AQHA world championship with her in Junior Western Pleasure. Brianna Tamulewicz would add a Congress championship in Youth 12-14 Western Pleasure and NYATT Western Pleasure, an AQHYA world championship in Youth Western Pleasure, and a reserve NSBA world championship and three Breeders Championship Futurity reserve championships, as well as several futurity wins. Dark Jasmine has NSBA lifetime earnings of $50,440.50.
Quarter Million Dollar Inductees
Six horsemen and women are joining the NSBA’s Quarter Million Dollar Club in 2024 after reaching the milestone of more than $250,000 in NSBA lifetime earnings.
Jamie English, of Madison, Georgia, reached the milestone at the 2023 All American Quarter Horse Congress. Competing in both Hunter Under Saddle and Western Pleasure events, Jamie and her husband Jason have one son, Jayden.
Elizabeth, Colorado, resident Chad Evans joined the Quarter Million Dollar Club after winning the Open Trail Challenge at A Sudden Impulse aboard Sugaray. He competes primarily in Trail and Western Riding classes and enjoys training and showing the Junior horse. Chad has one daughter, Tori.
A win at the 2024 Fun In The Sun helped Becky Galyean, of Purcell, Oklahoma, reach the Quarter Million Dollar milestone in NSBA lifetime earnings. Becky competes primarily in Amateur and Non-Pro Western Pleasure but also shows cutting horses. The Kansas native moved to Oklahoma when she married her husband, Gil, in 1998. Becky becomes the only Non-Pro exhibitor to join her husband in the NSBA's Quarter Million Dollar Club, where Gil became the first Million Dollar Rider. She and Gil have two adult sons, Brody and Garrett.
While helping raising money for cancer research at March To The Arch, Katie Green, of Ocala, Florida, marched into the NSBA Quarter Million Dollar Club after reaching $250,000 in earnings. She has trained and show a number of exceptional horses over the years including her favorites, Snap Krackle Pop, Only A Breeze and Bestseatnthehouse, and trains with her husband, Rusty Green. Katie is also known for her exceptional eye for finding prospects.
Born into the horse industry in Northern California, RJ King, of Collinsville, Texas, joined the Quarter Million Dollar Club after his winnings during A Sudden Impulse. He has shown such horses as Rock My Motion, Jeanie In A Bottle, In The Sweet Shop, VS Goodride, Never Have I Ever, Nothin But Lazy, Momma Knows Best and Battabing Battaboom on his way to the milestone. RJ joined forces with Blair Townsend in 2020 to create King Show Horses. They have one son, Westyn.
Wilmington, Ohio’s Ashley Lakins joined the NSBA’s Quarter Million Dollar Club after earnings at the 2023 Quarter Horse Congress. Although her NSBA earnings were also made in Hunter Under Saddle, the former All Around equestrian began concentrating on Western Pleasure as a professional and later met fellow trainer Kenny Lakins. The couple married in 2006 and have been a winning combination ever since. Ashley joins Kenny in the prestigious Quarter Million Dollar Club with her induction.
President's Award
NSBA President Kevin Dukes presented the 2024 President's Award to NSBA board member Lori Bucholz. Lori has served on the NSBA board of directors and has been an asset to the association in helping develop its processes, procedures and helping to facilitate efficient meetings through her knowledge as a credentialed Professional Registered Parliamentarian. She is constantly helping the board broaden its knowledge of procedures and policies while promoting the best of NSBA and the work of the NSBA Foundation. She was also instrumental in helping the association launch the Tomorrows Horsemen program. In presenting the award, Kevin noted that Lori has helped him always represent the association well in meetings, and has been there for him when he needed it most.
2024 Youth Of The Year
Abigail Eddy, of Rocheport, Missouri, was awarded the 2024 Youth Of The Year award from among five finalists. Each year since 2017, this award has been presented to a deserving youth who has exhibited exemplary character in helping others through community service.
The Susan Scott Memorial Scholarship is also presented to the Youth Of The Year. The Youth Of The Year will receive a $4,000 scholarship from the Susan Scott Memorial Fund along with a $500 award, presented by the NSBA Foundation, to the charity of the youth’s choice. The finalists for this year’s award will also receive scholarships. 2024 is the fourth year to award the Susan Scott Memorial Scholarship in memory of the late Non-Pro exhibitor, horse owner and breeder Susan Scott.
Abigail has spent approximately 500 hours educating her peers about agriculture through Columbia Public Schools FFA events including an Agriculture Day event and the Hickman High School Aquaponics project. She contacted key administrators and teachers to develop a curriculum for various core classes to have assignments related to Agriculture Day, and on the day of the event brought her horse to the school, gave a presentation and provided handouts about the horse industry. In the Hickman High School Aquaponics project, Abigail rehabilitated an aquaponics system in the agricultural department’s greenhouse as a STEM service project for her math honors society, Mu Alpha Theta. The project tested different aquaponic conditions to determine the best yield, and donated all produce cultivated to the school’s food pantry. Abigail will attend Auburn University in 2025 as a member of the equestrian team. She will major in agricultural economics and plans to pursue a career in the animal pharmaceutical industry.
The NSBA Honors banquet was held during the 2024 NSBA World Championship Show and Breeders Championship Futurity, held August 8-18, at the Built Ford Tough Livestock Complex at Expo Square in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
ABOUT THE NSBA
Established in 1983, the National Snaffle Bit Association has expanded from its roots in the Western Pleasure discipline to recognize various disciplines and eight breed associations in competition. NSBA’s mission is to grow the show horse community through various equine programs and events where every activity benefits horses, breeders, owners and exhibitors alike.
The National Snaffle Bit Association has more than 20,000 active members and more than 44,000 registered horses across its eight alliance breed organizations. NSBA members earn more than $13.5 million in monetary awards at NSBA-sanctioned horse shows annually, and the association sanctions nearly 600 horse show events and close to 200,000 horse show entries each year. The association's annual event, the NSBA World Championship Show and Breeders Championship Futurity, held each year in August, generates an estimated $7.5 million in economic impact to the Tulsa area economy.
To learn more about the NSBA, please visit nsba.com.
National Snaffle Bit Association, Inc. – 120 Mesa St., Weatherford, TX 76086 - Phone: (847)-623-6722
##
[Reprinting all or part of this news release is permitted, so long as credit is given to the National Snaffle Bit Association and a link provided back to nsba.com.]
