Friday Champions at NSBA World Include Augsburger, Arrington, Petersak, Weiss, and More

By: Brittany Bevis

A number of Champions have been crowned this morning at the NSBA World Championship Show as it quickly draws to a conclusion in Tulsa, OK.

First, Clay Arrington rode Ill Be Batting Ona RV to win BCF 2-Year-Old Open Non Pro Western Pleasure. “Shirley” is by Battman and out of I’ll Be Dun Wonit. Just yesterday, Clay and the filly placed third in the Open division of the class.

The bottom side of this mare’s pedigree is a time-tested formula for success for the Arrington/Kent family. Clay has a full sister to Shirley, appropriately named “Laverne,” that he plans to show at the Quarter Horse Congress this fall.

Like all the young futurity horses Clay shows, he broke Shirley out himself. “She was easy to break out,” he says. “Also, she likes to show. Her best gait is her lope. She’s pretty even both ways, and she’s good in her neck. She holds it pretty steady and fires her legs through.”

Nick Weiss rode Truth and Alibi to win the BCF 2-Year-Old Intermediate Non Pro Western Pleasure. Nick’s win with “Napoleon” marks a return to the show pen after a three year absence. This was also his first time showing the horse. “That was a lot of fun. I almost thought I would have forgotten how to show. It was well worth doing it.”

Napoleon is a Lazy Loper bred colt out of a Blazing Hot mare that Nick purchased in the Markel Insurance BCF Sale at the NSBA World last year. Earlier at the show, trainer, Brian Baker, rode the colt to place fifth in the BCF division of the class and sixth in Open.

“He’s a really fun horse. When I bought him in the sale last year, he showed a lot of natural talent. He will definitely be a good one to keep going with.”

Tanna Petersak rode Vodkamademedoit to win BCF 2-Year-Old Limited Non Pro Western Pleasure. The Reserve Champion was Alicia Ritsema with Chattanooga Lucy. Third was Brooke Granzow with Darksyde oftheMoon. Fourth was Cody Caliendo with Zensational. Fifth was Janna Corda with Burnin The Cowboys.

Tanna rides under the guidance of Jeff Cochran and Erin Lieurance, aka “Peppy,” who Tanna relied on to purchase the mare, sight unseen. “I bought her about the first of January. She was in the barn and Peppy said, ‘This is the one you need.’ It’s kind of funny, because we did it over the phone. I never saw her. I came to the barn and asked, ‘Which one is mine?'”

“Wanda” is by RL Best Of Sudden and out of Hocus Pocus Princess. “Her best quality is her natural cadence,” Tanna says. “It makes her an easy horse to ride as a two-year-old, which makes my job that much easier. She’s also very good-minded.”

This was Tanna’s first time competing at the NSBA World, and she definitely plans to return.

Lori Augsburger and Kat Tails R Blazing won BCF 2-Year-Old Limited Open Hunter Under Saddle. “Trudy” is a home-bred and raised filly for the Augsburger family. She’s by Hot N Blazing and The Katwoman is her grandmother.

She’d only been shown once before the NSBA World, at the Big A. Here at the show, Lori’s daughter, Scoot, rode the filly to a third place finish earlier in the week.

“I love her topline and her slow-legged cadence,” Lori says. “She’s very easy to get around, and she’s very quiet. We’re going to have fun with her for a while. She’s very special.”