Hall of Fame and High Point Winners Announced at 2013 NSBA Banquet

The National Snaffle Bit Association honored horses and members during its awards banquet held Wednesday, August 14, at the Doubletree Hotel in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as part of the NSBA World Championship Show and Breeders Championship Futurity week.

AQHA Stallion Natural Iron was inducted into the NSBA Hall of Fame. By Iron Rebel and out of Tigret (by Tiger Leo), more than half of the stallion’s foal crops earned AQHA points, including 14 World Championships, nine Reserve World Championships and 12 High Point titles.

Also inducted into the NSBA Hall of Fame was Majestic Scotch. The sorrel gelding by One Scotch Delight and out of Two Eyed Naches (by Two Eyed Punk) racked up nearly 4,000 AQHA points in events that ranged from Halter, to Showmanship, Western Pleasure, Trail, Horsemanship, Equitation and Western Riding, and $67,000 in NSBA earnings.

The late June Warren was also inducted posthumously into the NSBA Hall of Fame. Warren, an NSBA past president, was a driving force behind the NSBA World Championship Show and Breeders Championship Futurity, and an ardent defender of her discipline, Hunter Under Saddle, during NSBA program development. She also received the NSBA’s Jack Benson Award posthumously in 2011.

The 2013 Legacy Award was presented to Impressivell Do. The sorrel gelding by Impressive Rick and out of Present (Three Wars) earned lifetime AQHA earnings of $7,648.55 and NSBA earnings of $11,649.28, plus many high point titles and multiple World Champion awards.

NSBA Past President Joe Geeslin received the Jack Benson award. Geeslin offered space in his law office to NSBA when the office relocated from Atlanta to Indianapolis, and his staff often helped process NSBA shows. He also helped develop the current board of directors concept which represents multiple disciplines and geographic regions.

In a surprise award, NSBA Past President Bill Price was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award. The NSBA World Championship Show and Breeders Championship Futurity were developed during Price’s tenure as president, and many of the policies he developed are still currently being used by the show.

Huntin Big Dreams was also honored as Horse Of The Year. The gelding by Huntin For Chocolate and out of Ima Bodacious Dream is owned by Pam Bilek of Chino Hills, CA. The multiple Congress champion and AQHA World Champion has lifetime earnings of $63,902.52, ranking him 31st among all NSBA horses in lifetime earnings. He earned 27 percent of that total, $17,016.31 in 2012. He ranks 16th among all-time Open Western Pleasure lifetime money earners in NSBA.

In addition to the Hall of Fame awards, NSBA recognized high point winners for the 2012 show year including divisions of Longe Line, Western Pleasure, Hunter Under Saddle, Showmanship, Horsemanship, Trail, Western Riding, Hunt Seat Equitation, Over Fence and Riders With Disabilities classes.

High point individuals recognized included:

Limited Non-Pro Western Pleasure Rider – Hillary Roberts, Edmond, OK

Intermediate Non-Pro Western Pleasure Rider and Non-Pro Western Pleasure Rider – Susan Roberts, Edmond, OK

$2,500 Open Western Pleasure Rider – Brian Rastall, Summerton, SC

Limited Open Western Pleasure Rider – Brett Clark, Horace, ND

Intermediate Open Western Pleasure Rider – Casey Willis, Louisburg, MO

Open Western Pleasure Rider – Rusty Green, Pilot Point, TX

Open Trail Rider – Bruce Vickery, Sanger, TX

Open Western Riding Rider – Jason Martin, Pilot Point, TX

Limited Non-Pro Hunter Under Saddle Rider – Jenna Sunni Jacobs, Poland, OH

Non-Pro Hunter Under Saddle Rider – Charley Thiel, Dubli, OH

Limited Open Hunter Under Saddle Rider – Keith Miller Jr., Reidsville, NC

Open Hunter Under Saddle Rider – Beth Case, Pilot Point, TX

Open Hunter Rider – Alfred Hewitt, Loxahatchee, FL

The NSBA World Championship Show and Breeders Championship Futurity continues through Sunday, August 18, at Expo Square in Tulsa, Oklahoma.