Marching to Virginia
From the National Snaffle Bit Association:
The March To Virginia AQHA and NSBA show, featuring the Virginia Maiden Three Year Old and Over Maiden Western Pleasure Futurity class, got underway on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, Virginia.
The day began with Trail, Hunt Seat Equitation and Hunter Under Saddle classes in the Waldron Arena and Ranch Trail, Ranch Riding, Ranch Reining and Working Western Rail as well as Ranch Conformation and the Ranch Horsemanship Derby classes in the Reel Arena.
The first two futurity classes saw champions and big payouts on the first day of competition for Hunter Under Saddle horses.
Casanova Charms In The Three Year Old and Over Limited Horse Open Hunter Under Saddle
Becca Britton showed One Hot Casanova for owner Clarissa Edgerton in the Three Year Old and Over Limited Horse Open Hunter Under Saddle, earning a payout of $3,360 for the win in a class of nine exhibitors who competed for $7,500 in added money.
“Casanova is a four year old gelding by Extremely Hot Chips,” Becca explained. “We got him at the first of the year. He’s a really nice horse and I really like him. He has a Western feel to him and that’s why we get along, he fits me really well.
There’s a lot to like about Casanova, Becca admitted. “He lopes really good and he also trots really well, and he’s also beautiful. He trotted really well in the class today and profiled really well. He showed really well.
Becca and Clarissa have a busy schedule planned for the gelding. “I’ll show him in the Limited Horse classes and Clarissa is going to show him in some Limited Non-Pro Four Year Old classes and the Novice Amateur classes this year. We’re pretty excited about him.“
Freckles For The Win In The Maturity Hunter Under Saddle
Farley McLendon had a busy but productive day in the futurity pen, winning the Maturity Open Hunter Under Saddle with Jus Be Good and took the reserve champion title in the Three Year Old and Older Limited Horse Hunter Under Saddle with her horse, OK Will Do.
“I showed Jus Be Good for Amanda Smith in the Maturity,” Farley explained. “We bought him at the World Show from Sara Jackson Vance and Amber and Duane Pickard for Amanda to show in the Non-Pro. He’s a four year old. He’s a super cool horse. He’s very slow legged, especially for as big as he is. He’s a really, really good trotter, he just swings and he holds the ground when he trots. He’s a very cool picture when Amanda shows him, too.
“Today, he was just on. He grabbed the bridle like I wanted and just stuck his nose out there and just let me cruise him around. He was easy and he made it fun. It was a good start to the show!”
Jus Be Good, known as ‘Freckles,’ earned $2,336 for the win in the Maturity. Farley also earned $2,310 for the reserve champion placing in the Three Year Old and Over Limited Horse Hunter Under Saddle with OK Will Do.
The action continues at the March To Virginia on Friday with Trail, Western Riding, Western Pleasure and Horsemanship, and culminates in the Three Year Old and Over Maiden Hunter Under Saddle with $30,000 Added and Three Year Old and Older Maiden Western Working Rail class with $15,000 Added in the Waldron Arena, while Ranch Trail and Ranch Riding will face off in the Reel Arena.
To view the complete show schedule or complete show results, visit www.abshowmanagement.com.
(Photos courtesy of Ryan Geiger Photography.)
