Ocala, FL – Bud Lyon of Whitesboro, Texas, scored a hat trick at The Championship Show 2024, taking home three featured class wins in Ranch Riding. Tonight, Lyon finished off his successful trip to World Equestrian Center – Ocala with a tie for first in the $35,000 Open Ranch Riding Challenge.
Lyon competed tonight in the WEC Grand Arena alongside 29 other top-tier professionals. He tied for first aboard Sumac Gunnabeflashy (Gunnatrashya x Chics Graceful Whiz), a 2017 gelding owned by Leslie Vagneur Lange, and Monte Freeman’s 2020 stallion Nic The Whiz (Spooks Gotta Whiz x Hollynic).
“We’re so grateful to World Equestrian Center and Mrs. Roberts for giving us this platform and this type of prize money that we haven’t really seen before in our discipline, except for a few other opportunities. It’s been amazing. We love everything about the facility and the chance to show in this arena.”
Despite a bit of rain, the atmosphere was still filled with excitement according to Lyon, “Everyone was in good spirits, enjoying the camaraderie. I sat out there thinking this is the ‘ranchiest’ we’ve been at a horse show, so in a way, it’s fitting. The money is outstanding, but honestly, for us, it’s more about the experience, and the clients have loved every second.”
Looking ahead, Lyon shared his plans: “We’re taking it one show at a time, one day at a time. We’ve been on the road a lot this year, especially since June 1. After this, we’ll enjoy a ten-day break before gearing up for Congress, trying to keep the momentum going.”
$35,000 Open Ranch Riding Challenge Top Three Results:
T1 Sumac Gunnabeflashy, Bud Lyon, Leslie Vagneur Lange
T1 Nic The Whiz, Bud Lyon, Monte Freeman
3 Hava Cocktail On Me, Steve Meadows, Deborah Deschamps-Baker