It was a Sunday in the sun at World Equestrian Center – Ocala. Top all-around horses turned up the heat in their prospective classes. Today’s featured classes included two trail, three ranch trails and a western pleasure class.
The show day began in the indoor Arena 2 trail pen showing the $2,000 NSBA Green Junior Trail and $2,500 NSBA Amateur Trail.
Jennifer Paul and Emma Brown’s Rockin In My Sleep topped the $2,000 NSBA Green Junior Trail out of 28 entries with high scores from the panel of judges. She and the 2018 gelding, sired by The Rock and out of Too Spicy To Sleep, carefully navigated the intricate trail course with the utmost precision.
We caught up with Jennifer ringside to chat about her winning ride. “ We showed him a little bit last year but decided to save him to show this season. He wasn’t quite ready last season but has progressed and is very careful over the course. His lope is so smooth and he has wonderful cadence – which makes him a blast to show!”
$2,000 NSBA Green Junior Trail Top 3 Results:
1. Jennifer Louise Paul, Rockin In My Sleep, Emma Brown
2. Jennifer Louise Paul, Cooler In Blue, Kathleen A Lennon
3. Charlie I Cole, My Dad Is The Best, Bonnie Sheren
Hot Loping Lily (RL Best of Sudden x Shes A Lopin Machine) and Caroline Cavallo of Staunton, IL led the $2,500 NSBA Amateur Trail out of a field of 33 entries.
$2500 NSBA Amateur Trail Top 3 Results:
1. Caroline L Cavallo, Hot Loping Lily, Caroline L Cavallo
2. Alicia Ritsema, Rode Rageous, Alicia Ritsema
3. Kaleena Weakley, Definately A First, Kaleena Weakley
Under the Spanish moss in the Tree arena, Jonathan Himes of Albany, Georgia, and Huntin a Bluemoon (Huntin For Chocolate x TF Blue Moon) secured the $1,000 NSBA Senior Ranch Trail win against a field of ten entries.
We chatted with Himes about his winning run. “Showing outdoors in the trees is unlike anything else. We have shown at WEC three times now and it is beautiful. The horse I showed today is a six-year-old gelding and he has been great to show. His back through the trees today was the highlight of our round and he handled everything great.”
$1,000 NSBA Senior Ranch Trail Top 3 Results:
1. Jonathan D Himes, Huntin A Bluemoon, Lexie McCallar
2. Steve Meadows, Commando At The Bar, Kara Ann Bennett
3. Steve Meadows, Fancy Blue Roo, Courtney Dobbs Clagg
Hillary Roberts and Aint Nothn To It (Machine Made x Shez Immortal) were the final entry to leave the ring, winning the $2,000 NSBA Maturity $5,000 Ltd Horse Non-Pro Western Pleasure. This was her first time piloting the talented 2018 mare. We chatted with Hillary ringside to hear about her first place ride. “This mare is new to showing – today was her second trip around the pen. She’s a great mover and with a tremendous amount of self carriage.”
$2,000 NSBA Maturity $5,000 Ltd Horse Non-Pro Western Pleasure Top 3 Results:
1. Hillary Roberts, Aint Nothn To It, Capital Quarter Horses LLC
2. Rachel N Trebesh, No Doubt I Shine, Rachel N Trebesh
3. Kameron Thorn, Cool Machine,Kameron Thorn
Photos courtesy of Shane Rux Photography.
Videos available at ClipMyHorse.TV.