Wednesday Afternoon Champions at NSBA World Include Wills, Moses, Clark, Baker, Vroegh, and More

By: Brittany Bevis

This afternoon’s champions at the NSBA World were crowned in events like Hunter Under Saddle, Western Pleasure, and Trail. Taylor Searles and Hereicomagain continued their success from the Youth World Show with a win in BCF 4-6 Ltd. Non Pro Western Pleasure. Hillary Roberts and Chrome On My Zipper were named the Champions in Color Non Pro Trail.

Theresa Wills rode the stallion, An Absolute Martini, to win BCF 3-Year-Old Limited Open Western Pleasure. The Reserve Champion was Anthony Montes with Not Just An Illusion. Third was Lauren Louw with Best AZ Yet. Fourth was Jeff Temple with The Batt Machine. Fifth was Mark Zeitler with Live N It Up.

Purchased in May from Jennifer Stein, “Hollywood,” has been everything Theresa expected he would be and more. He will stand next year in New Jersey at Breezee Hill Farms.

“He has a beautiful look,” she says. “When I first saw him at the Congress, I loved this horse, so when we had the opportunity to purchase him, I was extremely excited.”

Earlier this year, Theresa and Hollywood were Reserve at the Tom Powers, and this win is just “icing on the cake.” Coming up next, Hollywood will compete at the Congress with Jeff Cochran and in Limited 3-Year-Old Western Pleasure with Theresa.

“The biggest thing that I like is that he draws you to him, because he’s beautiful. Then, when you watch him, he’s big, soft, and he covers ground. He’s so pretty to watch, and he’s made perfect. He’s strong legged, good bodied, and short backed. I think those are very good traits in a stud.”

Aaron Moses continued his unanimous winning streak aboard Heart Stoppin in 2-Year-Old Open Western Pleasure as the unanimous Champion. The Reserve Champion was Jay Starnes with Whoose On First. Third was Clay Arrington with Al Be Betting On A RV. Fourth was Rusty Green with Forever Kool. Fifth was Drew Debuhr with Darksyde oftheMoon.

Heart Stoppin, aka “Joey,” was bred and raised by Justin and Julie Voge. The pretty stallion is by RL Best of Sudden and out of One Hot Mouse. It’s a cross that has produced numerous Champions.

“That cross produced a Masters Champion, It’s Best To Be Hot, and a Reserve Masters Champion, It’s Best To Be Me,” Justin says. As a reproduction veterinarian, Justin has been there since the very beginning. “I did the embryo. We raised his mother and his grandmother too, Another Mouse In The House. When he came home, like you saw in the show pen, that’s how he loped in the pasture.”

Aaron Moses has been riding Joey since December of last year. “I thought he was really cool, and I hoped he would stay as good as he initially looked. I think he has exceeded my hopes. He’s got a lot of body, and he’s a really strong horse. It doesn’t really get much better feeling. He’s easy. There isn’t a lot I would change about this horse.”

Allison Clark was in the irons of Sketchie Details to win BCF 4-6 Ltd. Open Hunt Seat. The Reserve Champion was Christopher Gray with Kruzin Pretty. Third was Carmen Mayabb with Iron I A Legacy. Fourth was Jamie English with Hesa Dreamweaver. Fifth was Raelyn Nakahara with WF Big Asset.

Allison was in the irons of 6-year-old “Petey” as a catch rider for owner, Nicole Kuklinski, and trainer, Keith Miller, a longtime friend. Because their riding styles are compatible, Allison finds it very easy to ride behind Keith, but this was the first time she’d ridden this particular horse.

Petey is by Hot N Blazing and out of a Last Detail mare. “He’s pretty, large, and really soft for a big horse. It’s not something you’d expect, on his back or watching. He can trot and canter consistently, and he’s very even both direction, definitely.”

Dawn Baker rode Without Permission to win Color 3-Year-Old Open Hunter Under Saddle. The Reserve Champion was Keith Miller with I’m All Diva. Third was Shannon Gillespie with Candy Confidential. Fourth was Laura Spell with It’s All In The Timing. Fifth was Stacy Huls with Top Shelf Fancy.

Dawn Baker showed the double-registered gelding, “Noah,” by The Ultimate Fancy, to a big win for owner, Joanne Taylor. Dawn also showed this horse in the Equine Chronicle Congress Masters. He will return to the Congress this year in the 3-Year-Old Open and Non Pro Hunter Under Saddle.

“He has lots of personality,” Dawn says. “He has a beautiful trot, and he has good presence to him. He’s really pretty and has a lot of chrome on him.”

Shannon Vroegh was the unanimous winner of the BCF 3-Year-Old Open Trail with I’m Hott You’re Nott. The Reserve Champion was Jeff Mellott with Snap Chat Diva. Third was Troy Lehn with Right Off The Batt. Fourth was Hayley Kittler with A Very Simple Dream. The judges showed their consistency placing the top three horses in unanimous fashion.

Shannon says “Rudy” showed promise in Trail from the very beginning. He’s by VS Code Red and out of Some Sweet Machine. He was bred and raised by Shannon’s client, Mary Ann Carr, but is now owned by Shannon, herself. He has a half sibling in the sale by No Doubt I’m Lazy.

“It was ridiculous. At the end of his two-year-old year, he could do a full course. I’ve never seen anything like it. He’s so cool.”

Because Rudy is double-registered, he will split his fall at the APHA World Show and Quarter Horse Congress.

“He lopes so pretty over the poles. He never puts his ears back. They’re always forward, and he has great expression, especially in the left lead pinwheel right in front of the judges. It was easy.”

In addition to Trail, Rudy can change leads, turn around, and has points in Horsemanship.