Ocala, FL – The third day of the 2025 Orange Blossom Classic at World Equestrian Center – Ocala featured a full lineup of highlight classes, including the $30,000 NSBA Maiden 3-Year-Old & Over Open & Limited Hunter Under Saddle, $30,000 NSBA 4-Year-Old & Over Open & Limited Maiden Trail, $10,000 NSBA Senior Open Trail & Limited Senior Trail, $2,000 NSBA Open Hunter Derby, and $2,000 NSBA Non Pro Hunter Derby.
The day concluded in the WEC Grand Arena with 15 entries vying for top honors in the $30,000 NSBA Maiden 3-Year-Old & Over Open & Limited Hunter Under Saddle. After evaluating each horse at the walk, trot, and canter, the judges named Joy Wheeler and Johnny Tart’s R C Kola (Its A Southern Thing x Its Al Over) the Open and Limited champions of the class.
Making his debut in the show ring, the three-year-old gelding impressed with his flashy gaits along the rail. “He’s a great trotter, and to me, he checks all the boxes, but he just has so much rhythm loping. It’s just so easy to ride,” Wheeler shared of R C Kola’s strengths.
This win was especially meaningful for Wheeler, who has known the gelding since birth. “We helped raise him along with our customers, Johnny and Karen Tart. We watched him be born, so this is extra special because we were all there—my husband and his owners. It’s so hard to have one make it to the pen, let alone one that you raise from the start, so it’s just hard to put into words.”
Wheeler is confident the horse has a promising future. “When we watched [R C Kola] in the pasture as a young horse, we knew he was pretty special. A lot has to fall into place to make it this far, but we knew he was special.” She laughed, “My goal is for him to be famous.”
Taking the Reserve ribbon was Sara Simons aboard A Top Gun (Required Invitation x Ms Silver Sensation), a three-year-old gelding owned by Stephanie Mohindra. Katy Jo Zuidema rounded out the top three riding Marcie McClenon’s four-year-old stallion, What Is The Matter (What Matters Most x Lastminuteinvestment).
$30,000 NSBA Maiden 3-Year-Old & Over Open Hunter Under Saddle Top 3 Results:
1. R C Kola, Joy Wheeler, Johnny Tart
2. A Top Gun, Sara Simons, Stephanie Mohindra
3. What Is The Matter, Katy Jo Zuidema, Marcie McClenon
The $30,000 NSBA 4-Year-Old & Over Open & Limited Maiden Trail was the highlight of the morning in UF Health Indoor Arena 2. Anthony Montes and Socks For Dayz (RL Best Of Sudden x A Krymsun Babe), owned by Ingrid Miller Quarter Horses LLC, topped a competitive field of fifteen to take home the win.
Montes had his eye on the 2019 gelding for quite some time. “I bought this horse from Aaron Moses. I’ve always loved him. I wanted him when he was three, he wouldn’t sell him. I finally got him! Started teaching him the trail and he took to it really fast. I could teach him something and he’d just remember it. He’s really smart.”
Reflecting on the pattern, Montes said, “It was challenging, but really fun. There were some cool maneuvers in it, and I especially liked the first trot sequence to the gait. With maiden horses, you don’t always know what you’ve got until you get in the ring and show. The crew did a really great job.”
In the NSBA 4-Year-Old & Over Limited Maiden Trail, Elizabeth Yoder, aboard Best Dayz R Here, owned by Whitney Nicole, captured the Limited title.
$30,000 NSBA 4-Year-Old & Over Open Trail Top 3 Results:
1 Socks For Dayz, Anthony Montes, Ingrid Miller Quarter Horses LLC
2 Foxy Cleopatraa, Melvin Yoder, Robert Fowler
3 VS Got A Line, Kyle Dougherty, Janet Egolf
Chad Evans and Sugaray (RL Best Of Sudden x WhatsCookingGoodLookin) took the win in a competitive $10,000 NSBA Senior Open Trail & Limited Senior Trail, which drew 37 entries. The 2015 gelding, owned by Kathy Huspeni, was turning heads throughout the class—Evans included.
Evans couldn’t hide his admiration for the talented gelding. “He’s eight years old, and I’ve had him since he was three,” he shared. “He’s the greatest horse in the world. He loves the trail. He loves when there’s tricky side passes, walkovers, all that kind of stuff. He’s kind of a quirky dude, but I love him. He does single trot steps really well. Personally, I love the way he does everything.”
In the NSBA Senior Limited Trail, Tyler Haney rode Shootin The Breeze, owned by Marcie McClenon, to claim the Limited title.
$10,000 NSBA Senior Open Trail Top Three Results:
1. Sugaray, Chad Evans, Kathy Huspeni
2. Hes N Like Flynn, Blake Weis, Megan Gieringer
3. A Soxy Dream, Anthony Montes, Angela Montes
Friday afternoon brought 15 horse-and-rider combinations to Hunter 1 for the $2,000 NSBA Open Hunter Derby. Ryan Painter bested the field with Hana Thomas’ My Next Edition, a 10-year-old gelding by The Next Detail x My First Kiss.
The pair led the standings after the classic round with a score of 88. In the handy round, Painter chose the shortest track possible. “I was going to play it safe, but then he was riding around so nicely. I did the inside turns and went for it, and he really rose to the occasion.” The pair’s performance earned a score of 90 in the second round for a two-round total score of 178, securing them the win with an 11-point lead.
My Next Edition also claimed Reserve in the $2,000 NSBA Non-Pro Hunter Derby on Friday morning, piloted by Thomas. On what makes the gelding stand out in the hunter ring, Painter shared, “I think he jumps really well and has a great expression. I think he looks really happy going around, and he’s very good with his front end. He’s just a good dude.”
$2,000 NSBA Open Hunter Derby Top 3 Results:
1. My Next Edition, Ryan Painter, Hana Thomas
2. Hesa Frequent Flyer, Robert Stucky, Kate Upton
3. The Blk List, Jessica Johnson, Karen Jorgenson
The $2,000 NSBA Non-Pro Hunter Derby saw nine competitors compete for the blue ribbon in Hunter 1 on Friday morning. Isabella Vass laid down two solid rounds to secure the win aboard Westminster’s Dancing In The Moonlight, Kristen Crowe-Rajan’s seven-year-old mare by Untouchable x Orissa M. The duo earned a score of 74 in the classic round and a score of 79 in the handy, ending the class with a total score of 153.
Vass reflected on her rounds, expressing, “I really enjoyed the courses. I liked how everything was set up. It was really fun.”
Vass and “Misty” have been partners for a year and a half now but only recently debuted in the show ring together during the 2025 Winter Spectacular Show Series at WEC – Ocala. The duo competed in the Low Children’s Hunter division, so Vass noted that today’s win was special as it was the pair’s first hunter derby and first time showing at the three-foot height. “The winter circuit was a little more stressful just because it was a new partnership, but we’re finally getting to know each other and today, it finally paid off,” Vass shared.
$2,000 NSBA Non-Pro Hunter Derby Top 3 Results:
1. Westminster’s Dancing In The Moonlight, Isabella Vass, Kristen Crowe-Rajan
2. My Next Edition, Hana Thomas, Hana Thomas
3. Hoos Sophisticated, Kenzie Bracken, Laura Bracken