NSBA News: Thirst For Titles at NSBA World Show

NSBA News

By: Connie Lechleitner

The NSBA World Championship Show continued to roll on with Thursday’s schedule including the start of Ranch Riding classes in addition to Hunter Under Saddle, Western Pleasure, Western Riding, Horsemanship and Trail classes that were presented in four arenas throughout the day.

Hunter Under Saddle Futurity and World Champions

In the Ford Arena, the day began with another world championship title for Erin Shapiro Boatwright, this time with Keith Miller aboard her three-year-old Hunter Under Saddle horse, All The Good Things.

“We call him Buster, and he’s by Give Me The Goods and out of Skys Rock Star,” Keith said. “Nancy Sue Ryan raised him and Beth Case had him. Erin bought him as a yearling and we started him during his two-year-old year. He was growing, so we turned him out for about six months and brought him back in after the AQHA World Show and got him finished.”

“He’s very laid back, quiet and in-your-pocket. His personality is very kind and sweet. He trots really well and canters well too. Today, he just rode really well and let me who him. He was a good boy, and I was really pleased with him.”

In the Amateur 50 & Over Hunter Under Saddle, Leslie Reynolds showed her horse, PSU Only The Blues to win the world title, earning her first major title of any kind.  “I’ve had him a little over two years, and he’s five now,” Leslie said. “His barn name is Emmett, and he’s a character. He has his nose up in everyone’s business, but he’s super kind and really good under saddle. He came out of the Penn State program, and he was shown at the Congress in 2019 in the Three Year Old Hunter Under Saddle.

“This is my first world title ever. We were third in the Level 1 at the AQHA World Show, but this is a dream come true. Working with High Point Performance Horses has been amazing, and he’s had a great week here at NSBA. He was reserve in Junior Hunter Under Saddle with Ashley Bailey and he won the Open Pleasure Driving. It’s just been amazing.”

Alyse Roberts showed Couture Down South to win the Breeders Championship Futurity title in Two-Year-Old Open Hunter Under Saddle for owner Lauren Huffaker. “Brooks is by Its A Southern Thing and out of Blue Couture,” Alyse said.

“We bought him as a yearling. We went horse shopping and saw this fancy gray gelding and bought him. He’s great minded and he has great rhythm, and he’s growing into himself. We are planning to show him at the Congress and then in the Open and Non-Pro three year old classes next year.”

Keith Miller piloted APHA stallion, All Time Vandal, for owner Allie Littlefield to be named world champions in Color Junior Hunter Under Saddle. “Grafitti only shows about half the year, because he’s in the breeding barn for part of the year,” Keith explained. “He’s won a little titles at the APHA World Show as a two and three-year-old, and he’s just four now. We just showed him at the 2021 APHA World Show and then came here. He’s a great horse, and he’s so good minded. He’s a very happy horse!”

Repeat winners Its Game On and Tali Terlizzi were named world champions in the Three Year Old Non-Pro Hunter Under Saddle.

Western Futurity and World Champions

Showing her father and stepmother Wayne and Judy Davis’ horse, KM Bit Of The Best, Katy Jo Zuidema won the Breeders Championship Futurity Two-Year-Old Open Western Pleasure. “I saw her riding around and a show, and we got her bought this spring. Since then, we’ve won the Premier Sires and the Tom Powers with her,” Katy Jo said.

“She’s the same all the time. She has lots of self-carriage, and she has substance and conformation, and I think that really makes her stand out. We will be showing her in Ocala and at the Congress.”

Katy Jo and her husband Tim both showed in the BCF Two-Year-Old Western Pleasure class, and shared a celebratory kiss after the placings were made.

Cynthia Kaufman and her horse, No Doubting Me, won the Breeders Championship Futurity 4-6 Year Old Limited Non-Pro Western Pleasure, and later earned their second world title in the Novice Amateur 50 & Over Western Pleasure. “I used to show 30 years ago,” Cindy said. “I showed The Aftermath a few years ago, and then when the opportunity to buy No No came up, I had got to know his owners, Sydnie and Susan, and I had admired them and him so much that it fell into place. I have big shoes to fill, but I’m just having fun.”

“This is my first time to show at the NSBA World Show and this is my first NSBA class. I’m in shock to win the class. I was just hoping to get my name called and have a great ride – well, we accomplished that!”

Shawn Johnson and Lazy Holla Day were also first-time NSBA world champions, winning the Maturity Intermediate Non-Pro Western Pleasure. “I’ve owned Stella for seven years now,” Shawn said. “She’s nine years old and she’s by Lazy Loper and out of Shes On Holiday. She just keeps getting better and better. She works really well in Kenny and Ashley Lakins’ program.”

“She felt really solid and she wanted to be good today. I’ve never won a world title before, and it feels amazing!”

There were two repeat world champions in the Western Pleasure. MadeFourIt and Katy Jo Zuidema. The duo won the Three Year Old Novice Horse Western. Pleasure for owners Oyer and Armellini, while VS Lady In Red and Kristen Galyean won the Maturity Non-Pro Western Pleasure.

Ranch Riding World Champions Named

The first world champions in the Ranch Riding division were named when the Junior and Senior Open Ranch Riding classes were held on Thursday.

Steve Meadows showed Little Jersey Chic for owner, Alison Long, to win Junior Ranch Riding. Steve showed the palomino mare known as June. “We bought her from Bud Lyon in December of 2019, and she’s five years old now. She’s by Yellow Jersey and out of a Smart Chic Olena mare.”

“Since the Gold Coast shows, she’s been undefeated. She goes in and you give her the reins and set the pace and she shows. She’s very honest and she loves to show. The most challenging part of today’s pattern was the rollback and lead change, since it was kind of tight. But we made it work.”

In Senior Ranch Riding, Alex Ross and Chics In Tinseltown took the world title, showing for owner Anita Weiscamp. “Honey is six years old and so this is her first year as a senior horse,” Alex said. “She is one of the last horses that Joe Hays sold, so she’s kind of special to us. Anita bought her from us, and she’s been successful starting as a three-year-old, and she has a reserve world championship at the AQHA World Show.”

“She’s very trainable, and we work on things a lot at horse shows. She’s soft and kind. This was a really good class today that had lots of good runs. It was a pattern that you had to ride smart and be accurate to get the transitions right.”