A hot, sticky morning gave way to afternoon thunderstorms in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Thursday, but NSBA exhibitors were undeterred as they competed in three arenas of show classes throughout the day..
Getting Western
Aaron Moses added to his world and futurity championship count on Thursday by winning the Three Year Old Open Western Pleasure and Breeders Championship Futurity 4-6 Year Old Western Pleasure aboard VS The First Lady for Kristen Galyean, and won the Three Year Old Novice Horse Western Pleasure showing Moonrageous for Starland Ranch LLC.
“We bred and raised Moonrageous. He’s by Only In The Moonlite and out of our mare, Suddenly A Cool Lady. We call him Spider,” noted Anneene Miller of Starland Ranch. “When he was first born and laying down, he looked like a spider with these legs going everywhere, and it stuck. I was there for his first breath. He’s been with Aaron for a year and a half.”
Whatilikeaboutyou and Shannon Curl took the futurity champion title in the Breeders Championship Futurity 4-6 Year Old Intermediate Open Western Pleasure for owner Debby Brehm. The four year old mare known as Dory is by Lazy Loper and out of Whatscookngoodlookin.
“I’m just thrilled,” Debby noted. “She was perfect. I have the best horse trainers.”
“She takes the same step everywhere she goes,” added Shannon. “She has that big white face and huge hock, and just pokes her nose out there and shows. She reminds me a lot of her mother, Candy.”
In the Breeders Championship Futurity Three Year Old Limited Non-Pro Western Pleasure, Best Brew At The Bar and Sarah Nimigan took the futurity title.
“He was so good today,” Sarah said of her stallion, known as Shock Top, who is by The Best Martini. “It’s been fun to find another new young horse and start again, especially in a different discipline than what I did before. I’m excited for his future too. He’s started changing leads, and we may do Trail and Western Riding next year, as well as Performance Stallions, and see where it leads.”
Sarah Simons showed Stylist Chocolate to a world championship in the Color Junior Western Pleasure for the Dryden family. The five year old ApHC gelding is by Chocolatey.
“We got him about a year ago,” noted Gaye Dryden. “Sarah and RJ thought it would be fun to bring him here to Tulsa before the ApHC World show. This is our first time to be at the NSBA World Show.”
“He’s such a natural athlete,” Sarah noted. “He shows with lots of expression, and he really enjoys his job.”
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Rylee Morgan showed Inthesweetshop to win the world champion title in the $2,500 Limited Horse/$2,500 Limited Rider Open Western Pleasure.
“I’ve wanted one of these neck ribbons since the beginning of the week,” Rylee said. “I had never shown him before. It was the most fun!” Inthesweetshow is by Three Chips (by Zips Chocolate Chip) and out of a Zippos Sensation mare.
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Ashley Lakins earned her second world championship of the show when she piloted Bettin The Goods for Mr. and Mrs. William Wilkes. “We call him Hunter, and he’s got tons of personality,” Ashley said.
“He hasn’t been shown a lot yet because we showed him in the Maiden classes at several shows earlier in the year. He’s a good little show horse.He has a really free flowing stride, and he covers a lot of ground but doesn’t go anywhere. He’s a very good jogger. I think he looks like a horse that people enjoy watching.”
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The third time was a charm for Joanie Zelnio and The Dark Impulse. They were named the world champions in the NSBA Maturity $10,000 Limited Horse Non-Pro Western Pleasure. “This was the first show that I got to show her, but the third go we’ve had together here in Tulsa,” Joanie said.
“I had looked for a horse for a long time. Gil saw her at the Madness, and we bought her there. She’s just so beautiful, and very soft and kind. She’s a special mare.”
The four year old black mare is by RL Best Of Sudden and out of Dark Jasmine.
After earning reserve and several other places throughout the day, Kenny Lakins won the futurity title in the Breeders Championship Futurity Color 3-6 Year Old Open Western Pleasure, showing for owners Dr. Laura and Jerry Bracken.
“She is such an easy horse to prepare,” Kenny said of the mare known as Scarlett. “It was a very nice ride. She’s a lot of fun to show.”
“She’s by our stallion, Sophistication Only, and we own her mother, who is by RL Best Of Sudden,” Laura Brack noted. “Ty Hornick actually bred her, and we bought her as a weanling.”
Hunter Honors
In the Hunter Under Saddle pen, Beth Case continued her domination of the English classes, winning the world championship title in the Three Year Old Open Hunter Under Saddle with Debbie Hodde’s entry, Couture Blue Genes, as well as the Two Year Old Open Hunter Under Saddle with Hes A Dancin Hubba for Chris Lagerblade.
“I waited for this horse,” Debbie said. “I held him back and didn’t start him last year as a two year old. I just let him grown up.”
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Willy Has Potential and his owner Shelby Ratliff won the world champion title in the Maturity Non-Pro Hunter Under Saddle.
“I don’t get to show that much anymore due to work,” Shelby said. “I work in business development for a title company. I have a really supportive boss thought. He loves watching on the live video feed. Luckily Willy is the easiest horse in the barn to ride. He has as forever home with me.”.
In the Color Green Hunter Under Saddle, Top Shelf Fancy and Stacie Huls earned the world champion title for owner Carolyn Haney.
“He’s just three years old and we call him Ceasar. He’s by All Time Fancy,” Stacie said.
“We just bought him in the spring,” Carolyn added. “Stacie catch rode him, and we ended up sending him to her about three weeks ago to get ready for this show. He’ll be showing in the Non-Pro and Masters Amateur classes in APHA.”
On the ground, The Peace Movement was a repeat world champion, winning the Non-Pro Hunter Longe Line and Breeders Championship Futurity Hunter Longe Line with owner Donna Shirey on the line.
Showmanship Style
The Mustang Arena saw several Showmanship world champions named. Kaylee Swanigan and Good As Expected earned the world championship in NSBA Novice Amateur Showmanship.
"We've had him just since January," Kaylee said. "I really liked our back and he turned and moved really soft and elegant. He's super handy and really good to move around - he's just soft and pretty. I share him with my mom."
After watching her daughter win a world title earlier today, Angela McCordic Stanhope earned her own title in the NSBA Amateur 50 & Over Showmanship. "It's really surreal to win, and almost like a storybook," Angela said.
"He's a really good backer, so it's fun going in knowing you can be confident about what is probably the toughest maneuver. He sort of stumbled a bit, but I told him whoa and he stayed right with me. What I love about the Showmanship is that you don't have to have the high dollar horse or expensive clothes - it just takes a lot of work."
In the NSBA Color Amateur Showmanship, Abigail Buckwalter and Chex Certain Look earned the world title,
"It's my first world title. I just did the Amateur Showmanship and there was a spot in it at the back that wasn't part of our plan. I was upset that I didn't get that done, so I went back in and laid down a better pattern . It felt good to go back in and do the same pattern and lay down an even better one the second time."
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Holly Ebelberger and Good Directions took the NSBA Color Amateur 50 & Older Showmanship world championship.
"My favorite part of the pattern was the back," Holly said. "That's one thing I was excited about, because she's a decent backer. We practiced the back and the pattern, but mainly we focused on getting a good pace and presence."
Tops In Trail
A full day of Trail competition took place in the Pavilion on Thursday. Jennifer Paul showed Some Hot Potential for Emma Brown to win the world championship in NSBA Senior Trail. Suddenly Best Vested and Anthony Montes, showing for Jeanne Kavanaugh, earned the world title in NSBA Color Junior Trail, while Jason Gilliam showed Legacy Made for Janet Gunn to win the NSBA Three Year Old Open Trail.
The NSBA World Championship Show and Breeders Championship Futurity continues through Sunday, August 19. Be sure to check the NSBA Facebook page for updates regarding night riding schedules and announcements recognizing 2018 world champions throughout the week. Complete show results will also be posted at www.nsba.com..
