Tuesday Champions at NSBA World Include Duke, Berry, D’Onofrio, Isbell, LeBlanc, Green, and More

By: Brittany Bevis

Things are running fast and furious here at the 2018 NSBA World Championship Show. With multiple disciplines split in between three separate arenas, there are plenty of new NSBA World Champions to congratulate.

Sunni Duke rode her 6-year-old mare, Shesa Hot Selection, to win BCF 3-6-year-old Color Non Pro Hunter Under Saddle. The Reserve Champion was Katie Nicolettie with More Than Expected. Third was Samantha Gardener with EPR Face It I’m Fancy. Fourth was Allie Littlefield with Still Scenic. Fifth was Bobbi Theisen with A Perfect Detail.

As a longtime All-Around competitor, Sunni had never even considered winning a silver trophy in a Futurity class to be an option. But because her mare is registered with AQHA (by Extremely Hot Chips) and the Pinto Horse Association, she was able to take advantage of her traditional all-around classes while also trying her hand at the Color Futurity events. Just yesterday, she won Color Amateur Equitation.

 

“She’s been a dream. She’s so soft. Some people do say she looks like a ballerina, but she is a little soldier. She always shows. She is the perfect horse to ease my way into the rail classes. I haven’t had a bad ride with her yet.

This team currently competes under the guidance of Jason English and Jamie Murrow. “My focus is definitely all around, and Jason and Jamie have been good enough to let that be the focus. She’s so easy to prepare that we can do Equitation and Horsemanship and then come out here and she still shows.”

 

In the Novice Youth Hunter Under Saddle, 16-year-old Abigail Berry rode Me Myself and Sky to win. The Reserve Champion was Renee Conklin with This Sheik Rocks. Abby and her 5-year-old great gelding named “Ozzy” have been together for two years, but they’ve already had great success with two third place finishes at the Quarter Horse Congress and a L1 Championship win in 2017. They are also the returning champions in this class from last year, which added a bit of pressure.

 

This team competes under the guidance of Abby’s aunt, Jennifer Goss, and they also ride out of Circle S Ranch with Jim and Deanna Searles. For right now, Ozzy is solely a Hunt Seat horse, but Abby is eager to add Equitation int eh future.

“He’s really good carrying himself, and he’s good with his neck. He’s a slow mover. My favorite is the left lead canter. It’s the greatest.”

Just a few days ago, Abby had her Sweet Sixteen birthday, so a silver trophy was the perfect present.

Brian Isbell rode Al Bet Ur Two Faced to win Color Junior Hunter Under Saddle. The Reserve Champion was Sara Simons with Biggest Show N Town.

This was a special win for Brian because he rode 4-year-old “Henry’s” sire, Allocate Your Assets when he was two years old and won at the Congress. “This horse and Al are so much alike. This one is a little busier minded, but they canter just alike.”

Henry stays year-round with Mike Hachtel, but the East/Hogan family has contracted with Brian to campaign Henry throughout his open career. Look for them at the APHA World Show this fall.

 

 

Isabella D’Onofrio rode NA Heartbeat to win 13 and Under Hunter Under Saddle. The Reserve Champion was Cheyenne Augsburger with One Hot Kat.

After several third and Reserve finishes at the Youth World this year, 14-year-old Isabella was hungry for the top spot. Her family purchased Na Heartbeat last year at the Congress, so this has been their first year showing as a team. “He’s a fun horse to show. He has a really good trot. He reaches really god and his knee is really flat.”

Interestingly enough, this beautiful, tall Hunt Seat horse is by Radical Rodder. In fact, this full brother placed third in 14-18 Western Pleasure at the Youth World with Clay Arrington in the saddle. Isabella and her horse has success in OKC as well. They placed third in 13 and Under Hunter Under Saddle, Reserve in L2 Hunter Under Saddle, and won the 13 and under L2 Hunter Under Saddle.

Later on in the show, Isabella will compete in Equitation before she has to head back home for school on Wednesday.

 

Kaitlin LeBlanc and Lazy Way Around won BCF 2-Year-Old Limited Open Western Pleasure. The Reserve Champion was Dillon Hattan with Suddens Leading Lady. Third was Hunter Cash with Suddens Zbest. Fourth was Chase Barnes with Blazing One N Only. Fifth was Lauren Louw with Batters Up.

Kaitlin was in the saddle as a representative of Jay Starnes’ barn. This pretty filly named, “Ellie Fitzgerald,” joined the team in November after being purchased from Fritz Leeman. Kaitlin’s boyfriend, Kelby Hutchinson, was lucky enough to start the mare and Kaitlin has taken over with campaigning her this year. In fact, this pair won at both the Tom Powers Futurity and Show For Dough Futurity, in addition to today’s win, so technically, she’s undefeated, but Kaitlin doesn’t want to jinx things…

“She’s very good minded and consistent. Every day is the same. You don’t have to do anything new or different. She does her job and you go put her back in her stall.”

Ellie Fitzgerald is by Lazy Loper and out of Invitation Only mare. Her next stop is at the Quarter Horse Congress.