Ocala, FL – Day two of A Sudden Impulse brought a strong lineup of featured classes. The day kicked off with the $10,000 NSBA 3-Year-Old Open & Limited Open Hunter Under Saddle, followed by the $10,000 NSBA Maturity Non-Pro & Limited Non-Pro Western Pleasure. The afternoon continued with the $5,000 NSBA 4-Year-Old Open & Limited Open Hunter Under Saddle and wrapped up with the $10,000 NSBA 4-Year-Old Open & Limited Open Western Pleasure.
Fresh off their recent victory in the $30,000 NSBA Maiden 3-Year-Old & Over Open & Limited Hunter Under Saddle at the Orange Blossom Classic, Joy Wheeler and Johnny Tart’s R C Kola (Its A Southern Thing x Its Al Over) made a triumphant return to the ring, sweeping both the Open and Limited sections of the $10,000 NSBA 3-Year-Old Open & Limited Open Western Pleasure. Out of a competitive field of 17 entries, the judges unanimously selected Wheeler and the 2022 gelding as the winning pair.
Bred and raised by Wheeler and her clients, Johnny and Karen Tart, the eye-catching gelding has impressed in his first few show outings. “When I visited with the judges in the lineup, they said, ‘He is amazing. He has every gear, but that canter!’ And that’s how we feel, so I guess it’s a mutual feeling.”
Wheeler shared her thoughts about the venue, “I love this pen; I love this facility. He was actually paid into a Maiden class in Kentucky, but I chose to show him here because I thought it would be amazing to show him in front of the hotel. There is nothing’s like this, and since he told me he was ready, I said let’s do it. ”
$10,000 NSBA 3-Year-Old Open Hunter Under Saddle Top Three Results:
1 R C Kola, Joy Wheeler, Johnny Tart
2 A Top Gun, Sara Simons, Stephanie Mohindra
3 Al Right All Right, Beth Case, Cindy Kazakevicius
Jordan Macan and her 2021 mare, Hay Girl Hayy (Hay Goodlookn x Johnnie On The Spot/Shesjohnnieonthespot), took home top honors in the $10,000 NSBA Maturity Non-Pro Western Pleasure.
Owned and shown by Macan, the talented mare has become a trusted partner in the show pen. “I call her Sushi. Sushi Roll,” Macan shared. “From the moment we went and looked at her, I fell in love.”
Macan admitted, “It’s been a long road getting to the pleasure show ring. I really haven’t been a pleasure rider but having a horse like her is such a rewarding experience. She’s just a great mare. I couldn’t ask for a better partner.”
Against a competitive group of 16 entries, Macan held her own. “Yeah, I’m still a youth, so it’s definitely a little scary going in there with all the adults,” she said. “But we’ve worked hard to get to this point. The pleasure is difficult, and it makes me appreciate this win that much more. I’m really proud of us.”
In the NSBA Maturity Limited Non-Pro Western Pleasure, Melanie Parker secured the Limited title aboard She Be Creepin (Justa Creepin x Sassy Lil Goodbar), owned by Kaitlyn Crane.
$10,000 NSBA Maturity Non-Pro Western Pleasure Top Three Results:
1 Hay Girl Hayy, Jordan Macan, Jordan Macan
2 Moonrageous, Anneene Miller, Starland Ranch LLC
3 Thunderstruckkk, Jessica Baird, Jessica Baird
The final class of the day, the $10,000 NSBA 4-Year-Old Open Western Pleasure, was won by Andy Cochran aboard Diime Piece (Machine Made x Shez Slippin Around).
The striking 2021 mare, owned by Morgan Miller, turned heads in the arena. “She’s beautiful—that definitely helps,” Miller said with a laugh. Despite just beginning her show career, Diime Piece delivered a standout performance. “She’s only shown about three times in her life,” Cochran shared. “She debuted in the Maiden class here at WEC as a three-year-old. We’re really just getting started.”
Cochran continued, “She uses her ears a lot and looks through the bridle. It stands out—for the public and the judges to look across and the horse be looking forward and expressive.” As for what’s next, Miller shared, “From here, we go to Kentucky to The Premier and then we’ll have NSBA after that.”
Devon Meshach captured the Limited title in the NSBA 4-Year-Old Limited Western Pleasure aboard Sundi Bar Hopper (Best Brew At The Bar x Hotroddin On Sundi), owned by John Zuidema Jr.
$10,000 NSBA 4-Year-Old Open Western Pleasure Top Three Results:
1 Diime Piece, Andy Cochran, Morgan Miller
2 The Drinkz R On Me, Katy Jo Zuidema, Lyle Hanson
3 City Limit Signs, Aaron Moses, Starland Ranch LLC
$5,000 NSBA 4-Year-old Open & Limited Open Hunter Under Saddle
In the $5,000 NSBA 4-Year-Old Open Hunter Under Saddle, Katy Jo Zuidema took the win aboard What Is The Matter, a 2021 stallion by What Matters Most x Lastminuteinvestment, owned by Marcie McClenon.
Jesse Jones riding Easy Peazy owned by Flentje Enterprises LLC claimed the Limited title in the NSBA 4-Year-old Limited Hunter Under Saddle.
$5,000 NSBA 4-Year-old Open & Limited Open Hunter Under Saddle Top Three Results:
1 What Is The Matter, Katy Jo Zuidema, Marcie Mcclenon
2 Rs Hank Whydoyadrank, Keith Miller, Madeleine Bayless
3 That Certain Sumthin, Sara Simons, Jamie Oakley