Sumac Gunnabeflashy, owned by Leslie Vagneur Lange of Greeley, Colorado, has been named NSBA’s 2023 Horse of the Year. Sumac Gunnabeflashy earned $52,259 in NSBA earnings along with 120.5 NSBA points to earn the title.

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.

With Bud Lyon in the saddle in 2023, the duo earned an NSBA world championship in Senior Ranch Rail; five championships at the All American Quarter Horse Congress in Senior Ranch Riding, Senior Western Working Rail, Senior Ranch Trail, as well as the Open Working Western Rail Stakes and Open Ranch Trail Stakes. They saw other wins at the Prairie Classic, the Redbud Spectacular and the Arizona Sun Circuit.

At the APHA World Show, they won the Triple Crown Ranch Horse Challenge as well as world championships in Solid Paint-Bred Open Ranch Riding and Solid Paint-Bred Open Ranch Rail. They ended the year by being named AQHA world champions in Senior Ranch Riding, and earning a bronze championship in Working Ranch Rail. They finished the year with six NSBA High Point awards as well as being named AQHA High Point Open Ranch Riding Horse and reserve high point Open Senior Working Western Rail Horse.

Romeo was shown by Leslie Vagneur Lange, Bud Lyon and Logan Pluhar in 2023. NSBA congratulates everyone involved with this team.

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.

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
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