Afternoon Winners at 2017 NSBA World Include Rusty Green, Dave Archer, Blake Weis, Ava Coughlin, Justin Arrington, Kristen Galyean

By: Brittany Bevis

After this morning’s first session, more than a dozen new NSBA World Champions were named here at the 2017 World Show. First, Rusty Green was in the saddle of For One Night Only for owner Linda Neece in the Maturity Open Western Pleasure. Linda has owned 5-year-old “Sid” for only a couple of months, and she is thoroughly thrilled with today’s finish, especially considering the competition in today’s class.

“This means a lot, because of the caliber of horses that were out there. When you’re out there with those kind of horses and those type of trainers, it can go any way. They were all exceptional, and I know the judges have a hard time when you get a group like that, because nobody had a bobble. I’m truly blessed that he came out on top.”

Later on this week, Sid will compete in the Non Pro Maturities as well as Select Western Pleasure with Linda, and he will make his World Show debut in Trail with Shannon Curl. “We’re adding more events. He really likes Trail. He’s a special horse, and I’m really blessed to own him.”

In the Maturity Intermediate Open Western Pleasure, Dave Archer showed UF Rockin The House, aka “Sven,” (yes, he was named after the Frozen character) to a win for owner, Kirsten Thomsen. Dave has had Sven in the barn since he was just a yearling and he’s been coming to the NSBA World since he was two years old. This win is extra special for Dave, because he has never been crowned a Champion at the NSBA World Show before.

To say this horse has a personality is an understatement; however, Dave doesn’t mind his little quirks. “I love him. He carries himself very elegantly with the way he hits the ground, and he has a very consistent topline.”

Blake Weis rode Cool Cruzen Lady to win the BCF 3-Year-Old Limited Open Western Pleasure for owner, Jane Humes. “Hazel” was shown in the Equine Chronicle Congress Masters 2-Year-Old Western Pleasure last year by Gil Galyean, but it wasn’t until the AQHA World Show that Jane spotted her future champion.

“When I was at the World Show, I went up to watch the 2-Year-Old Western Pleasure. When they loped the first way, I said, ‘Ok, I like that. Now, can she do it the other way?’ I wanted a Western Rider, and one of the things I learned a long time ago from very experienced Western Riders is that it’s much easier if you pick one that has the same exact step both ways in the lope.”

Hazel has a busy schedule ahead this week, in addition to showing in the Western Pleasure futurities. “She has a full slate. It’s kind of crazy, but she does Trail and Western Riding too. She won 3-Year-Old Trail at the Big A and qualified for Junior Western Riding at the World Show. Here we will show her in Junior and Green Western Riding and 3-Year-Old Trail.”

13-year-old Ava Coughlin rode 7-year-old Touched Softly, aka “Georgia,” to a win in Novice Youth Western Pleasure. Her family just purchased Georgia in April, so she’s only shown her a handful of times since then. Ava was very pleased with Georgia’s ride today, especially considering the deep competition they were up against. “It was a really good group of kids, and the horses were really talented, so it was really good competition.”

Ava was very appreciative to her family and friends who made the trip down from Ohio to watch her at the AQHA Youth World Show last week and who were glued to their computer screens today watching the live feed from Tulsa. “I had a lot of supporters watching me: my Grandpa and Grandma, Mom and Dad, and many friends. They were all watching on the live feed. They all came to the Youth World to watch me, so I thank them for that.”

Ava and Georgia make an adorable package competing in Western Pleasure, and Ava is excited to continue teaching Georgia how to do Horsemanship. Her favorite maneuver is the spin. “She’s a really pretty mover. The main thing is that she always has her head perfect, and she’s always focused on what you’re telling her to do. She’s a really good girl in every single class. She does what you tell her to do. I like jogging her the best, because she always has that bounce and her rhythm is always so perfect.”

17-year-old Justin Arrington rode Won It On My RV, aka “Moses,” to win the BCF 2-Year-Old Intermediate Open Western Pleasure. An aspiring young trainer, Justin has done all of the work with this horse himself. “From the beginning, he was great minded, great legged, and had a lot of try. He’s easy, and he wants to get along with everything and everybody.”

Justin plans to show Moses in the 2-Year-old Non Pro and Limited Open 2-Year-Od Western Pleasure later this week. Moses is by VS Flatline and out of I’ll Be Dun Won It, his grandparent’s foundation mare. “That’s where all of them have started. She’s 22 now. They all have just enough fire to be really good and talented. They’re all great minded and all want to be show horses. Also, they’re all pretty. I haven’t seen an ugly one yet!”

Sydnie Ochs rode Invite Only The Best to win Youth Western Pleasure, her first big World title since she won Small Fry years ago. Sydnie and the 4-year-old mare she calls “Kisses” currently compete under the guidance of Brian Baker. They won 13 and Under Western Pleasure at the Quarter Horse Congress last year.

“She’s a sweet horse and does whatever you ask her to do. She’s easy. Her lope is better when you get her going forward. Actually, sometimes she’s better off the rail than she is on the rail.”

Kristen Galyean rode VS Lady In Red to win Amateur Western Pleasure, which was the perfect ending to a great birthday! VS Lady In Red is by Kristen’s stallion, VS Code Red, and out of Cool Krymsun Lady. “I bought her as a weanling from the Knapp family. I saw a picture of her and fell in love. Gil Galyean trained her and won the Masters with her. I brought her home the end of last year to start Western Riding. She’s four now.”

“She does remind me a lot of her dad, but I think she reminds me more of her grandma, Vital Signs Are Good. She has really good expression, and she’s real happy and gets into everything. We’re getting to know each other. I think it’s going to be a lot of fun.”

Earlier today, Kristen had a Reserve Championship finish in the 4-6-Year-Old Western Pleasure and her 1 and a half year-old daughter, Aislynn assisted with the awards presentation. Apparently, her other daughter, 5-year-old Gracelyn, has an affinity for the pretty red roan mare as well. “I’ve been teaching her Horsemanship spins, so, by the time Gracelyn is ready to ride, she can do that, if she wants to.”