Thursday Afternoon Winners at 2015 NSBA World Include Chernega, Miller, Case, Clark, and Hall

By: Brittany Bevis

Kicking off this afternoon’s classes, Sunni Chernega rode her 7-year-old gelding, Nearly Chocolate, to win a tough Amateur Equitation class. Chernega and “Curly” have been a team for two years now and currently compete under the guidance of Jason English.

“Curly was in Jason’s barn, and I had my eye on him…” Chernega says. “One ride on him and I was trying to find a home for my other horse!”

Chernega and Curly compete in Equitation, Horsemanship, and Novice Hunter Under Saddle, but this particular class is by far their favorite. For today’s pattern, Chernega focused on perfecting Curly’s sidepass and emphasizing his fancy hand gallop.

“Anytime I hand gallop, I think he is pretty at that speed,” she says. “I liked the pattern, but I was particularly hopeful they would drop stirrups on the rail. We ride without stirrups almost every day, so it’s nice for them to ask for it.”

Following this show, Chernega and Curly will head to the All American Quarter Horse Congress and AQHA World Show, where they will compete in Horsemanship and Equitation.

“We checked the year-end standings this morning, and we’re leading the honor roll in Equitation, so that gave us a little boost of confidence before I went in the pen!”

Keith Miller rode Big Kountry Kruzer to a win in the Color Open Maturity Hunter Under Saddle this afternoon. We spoke with his non-pro rider, Olivia Turner, who also showed “Kruzer” to a seventh place finish in the Color Non Pro Hunter Under Saddle and a ninth place finish in Novice Amateur Equitation.

Turner describes Kruzer as a gentle giant with an easygoing personality. Also, at just four years of age, Kruzer is already showing an aptitude for pattern classes as well, like Equitation and Horsemanship.

“We bought him last year at the Tarheel Triple Classic, so we’ve had him for a little over a year,” Turner says. “I want to add Showmanship and Trail too.”

Beth Case was in the irons of Not Just Anyhoo when he won his fifth championship title of the NSBA World Show by winning Junior Hunter Under Saddle. In addition, he won the BCF 3-Year-Old Open Hunter Under Saddle, BCF 3-Year-Old Non Pro Hunter Under Saddle, 3-Year-Old Open Hunter Under Saddle, Amateur Hunter Under Saddle, and was Reserve in the BCF Limited 3-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle.

Owner Rebekah Kazakevicius praises “Horton” for his impressive size, consistency and exceptional trot.

“He gets better as he goes,” Kazakevicius says. “He’s getting a little more mature now. He’s never had this many classes at one show before, so I think he’s kind of locked in right now.”

Tomorrow, hard-working Horton will get a break before he will compete in the 3-Year-Old Non-Pro Hunter Under Saddle on Saturday. Following the NSBA World Show, Horton has plans for the Quarter Horse Congress and AQHA World Show. Looking forward to adding future disciplines, Kazakevicius is excited to see if he will take after his father, Hot Ones Only, in Pleasure Driving.

“Charlie is going to work on the Pleasure Driving with him,” she says. “That’s what we’re looking forward to…”

Allison Clark rode Leggs Luther to win the Color Green Hunter Under Saddle for owner Caitlin Dunsmore. Earlier today, Clark and “Luther” placed sixth in the 2-Year-Old Open Hunter Under Saddle as well. Clark describes the gelding, by The Ultimate Fancy, as being super solid and super quiet.

“Terry Cross hadn’t had him very long, maybe a couple of months, when he called me and said, ‘I have a horse that fits you. You will love it.’ He was right. He canters so good, and I love his top line. It’s really easy for him to carry himself, for a two-year-old, and he’s very brave. He doesn’t care about anything that I’ve found, yet.”

Dunsmore says she couldn’t have asked for a better ride on a 2-year-old. Dunsmore, a college student, purchased Luther as a yearling and brought him to school in Texas to start under saddle.

“I took him to school with me and started working with him there,” Dunsmore says. “I broke him out in January and started riding him at West Texas A&M University. They have a horse center there. Then, I took him to Terry Cross and Stephen Stephens in May. It’s been great. I’ve really enjoyed the experience and learned a lot.”

Earlier in the show, Dunsmore and Luther placed fourth in the Non-Pro Limited Two-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle and sixth in the Open Non Pro division of the class. Looking down the line, Dunsmore is hoping to add Equitation and Western Riding to Luther’s repertoire. “I think he’s got the movement, lift, and drive to do it,” she says.

Finally, Dr. Candice Hall rode Made By J to win the 3-Year-Old Non-Pro Limited Western Pleasure. The winner of the open non-pro division was Hillary Roberts with For One Knight Only.

At the Tom Powers Futurity a few months ago, Hall showed “Jolene” for the first time and was named the Reserve Champion in the Intermediate Non Pro 3-Year-Old Western Pleasure. This mare holds a very special place in Hall’s heart because she is by her stallion, Machine Made.

“She is my super cute pet by my super cute stallion, and I’m very proud of them both!” Hall says. “I love riding the young futurity horses, especially now having Machine Made, I want to be able to show his babies. Riding her is like being on him, and I love that. She’s like my second horse of a lifetime, and I will never sell her. Hopefully, I will be riding her babies some day.”

Although father and daughter have never met in person, Hall says they might get the chance this fall when both will be competing at the AQHA World Show.

Congratulations to all of today’s winners!