Early in the morning on Friday, August 18th at the 2023 NSBA World Championship Show, a day that featured many BCF and Color classes, Courtney Laney won the Color BCF 2 Year Old Limited Open Western Pleasure with Dee From Tennessee, and her owner, Nancy Ditty, was very pleased – “I just love how good she lopes, and I just love everything about her,” she says.
They bought her in the Markel Yearling Sale last year, and they took her home, and when they showed her at Quarter Congress in the longe line, Nancy says she was a champion there. “We’ve had great success with her here,” Nancy explains. “Rusty won on her as well, and now Courtney, and I get a chance to spin her around on Sunday. And they’re making it a very hard act to follow!”
Results for their class, Color BCF 2 Year Old Limited Open Western Pleasure:
Then in the Color 3 Year Old Open Hunter Under Saddle, Shannon Gillespie won top honors with the 18-plus-hand horse, SheThinksMyFactorsSexy, owned by Susan DeMeo. “Enzo” had been getting a lot of attention, Shannon and Tim Gillespie explain, due to his magnificent presence and also because of his unique color. See what Shannon has to say about this gentle giant:
Shannon Gillespie and SheThinksMyFactorsSexy win 3 YO Color Hunter Under Saddle
Results for their class, Color 3 Year Old Open Hunter Under Saddle:
In the very last class of the day in the Mustang Arena, Ruth Lindley and Not A Average Joe took the gold trophy for their first place finish in Novice Amateur 50 & Over Western Horsemanship. In fact, Ruth rides with Robin Frid, and so does the Reserve Champion of the class, Anne Kennedy and Imma American Made. “Robin Frid has me so prepped, and I have to do exactly what he says – and I did it!” laughs Ruth. She says she got a lot of time to study for her favorite class because the Invitational had the same pattern. “I was able to watch the very best of the best and try to emulate the best I can do after watching them.”
It’s Not A Average Joe that makes her heart truly sing, however. “His barn name is Joey, but I can’t help it – I call him Mr. Handsome! He is so handsome! And that is his real forelock.”
Results for their class, Novice Amateur 50 & Over Western Horsemanship: