Nancy Sue Ryan and Whenonlythebestwildo Win 2013 AQHA World Show Junior Hunter Under Saddle

By: Brittany Bevis

It was clear to see by Nancy Sue Ryan’s reaction to her win this afternoon in the Junior Hunter Under Saddle that Whenonlythebestwildo is a very special horse. There were a few tears as Ryan exited the arena, but they were tears of joy because this is a win she has been hoping this 4-year-old mare could achieve.

“As big as she is, she is that kind,” Ryan says. “She really trusts me, so this is a big deal. She and I really bonded. I wanted it for her. It’s not for me. It’s for her. I kept telling her, ‘One more time and then you’re done.’ I hope she gets retired.”

The kind-hearted “Big Winnie” is by Coats N Tails and out of Fun Lovin Luke. She was bred by John Narmont of Illinois and is currently owned by Barry Falkenham.

“We bought her as a two-year-old from Liz and Donnie [Recchiuti] and Richland Ranch,” she says. “She had a very good three-year-old year. Then, this year we started showing her in July and qualified. We won the Congress Junior Hunter Under Saddle and then came here. Hopefully, she is retiring after this.”

Big Winnie is very special to Ryan not only because of her sweet personality and trusting nature but because of a special maternal connection.

“Her grandmother [Something Catchy] went to the Congress six times and was first or second every year,” she says. “She won the Hunter Under Saddle Futurity there, and she was a World Champion here. She was All-Around Champion at the Congress as a four-year-old.”

“[There’s] not a lot [of similarities]. Catchy would twitch her ears. If they ever did… that wasn’t a good sign. Winnie doesn’t have any of that. She’s got the Luke brain. She totally trusts me. It’s taken a while to get her to understand that I’m going to be nice to her, and she likes that a lot.”

Ryan is looking forward to 2014 when Winnie will be bred to several top hunt seat stallions in the hopes of creating a new generation of future World and Congress Champions.

“We’re going to start breeding her in February,” she says. “For sure, she will go to Allocate Your Assets. There are three or four we will try to breed her to.”

Junior Hunter Under Saddle-

1-Whenonlythebestwildo/Nancy Sue Ryan

2-Willys On The Green/Rosie Sheffer

3-Cityboy Or Cowboy/Jerry Erickson

4-Blue Sky Serenade/Allison Clark

5-Tonights Honor/Jennifer Burton

6-Do U Wanna Dance/Leslie Lange

7-Willy Has Potential/Beth Case

8-HBF Silver N Chrome/Susan Stocker

9-Rumors Are Hot/Vicky Holt

10-Fabulous Moxie/Karen Graham

Intermediate–

1-HBF Silver N Chrome/Susan Stocker

2-Hot N Addictive/Amber Hansen