Bruce Vickery and Hand Made Machine Win the $100,000 NSBA All-Age Open Trail

20 SEP 26 Ocala, FL

A man in a teal shirt and black hat rides a brown horse through an arena with flowers and colorful poles, as spectators watch from the stands.

Ocala, FL – Featured competition during The Championship Show came to an exhilarating close on Saturday night in the WEC Grand Arena as 28 top trail combinations set their sights on the NSBA trophy and a share of the prize money in the $100,000 NSBA All-Age Open Trail. After a thrilling tie at the top with a score of 249.5, Bruce Vickery and Melissa Armstrong’s Hand Made Machine (Machine Made x Hot Angelina) earned the tie-breaking judge’s top placing to clinch the win.

Pattern designer Tim Kimura, builder Garry McAllister and the WEC crew once again set a technical pattern complete with intricate obstacles, beautiful décor and elaborate topiaries. From his first look, Vickery felt the pattern could play to Hand Made Machine’s strengths.

“I thought this pattern was going to be so good,” he said. “Everything about it just had this horse’s name written all over it if he was going to be the best that he could be.”

A man in a teal shirt and black hat rides a brown horse, numbered 1660, in an arena decorated with flowers and patriotic props, including a large eagle head.
Bruce Vickery & Hand Made Machine won the $100,000 NSBA All-Age Open Trail. Photo by Shane Rux Photography.

Vickery pointed to the technical elements toward the end of the course as the biggest test, but Hand Made Machine answered every question. “Honestly, from start to finish, I think he was just fantastic,” he said. “Every part kept getting better and better as I went. Everything was dead on.”

The 2012 gelding only joined Vickery’s program in January, but the decorated gelding brought with him an impressive résumé.

“He’s been a world-class animal for many, many years. He’s won the World Show several times, he’s a Congress Champion and all kinds of things,” Vickery shared. “I got to partner up with him this year, and it’s been pretty awesome.”

A group of six people and a horse pose in front of patriotic eagle decorations, holding awards, flowers, and a large check in an outdoor arena.
Bruce Vickery & Hand Made Machine at the winner’s presentation alongside Greg Wheat. Photo by Shane Rux Photography.

Vickery has also quickly learned that Hand Made Machine knows when it matters most. “My favorite thing about this horse is he knows when to step it out,” he laughed. “When it counts, he rises to the occasion.”

As the final placings were announced, Vickery knew the caliber of competition surrounding him made the victory even more meaningful. “All these horses are fantastic horses, every single one of them,” he said. “They’re amazing horses and amazing trainers, and I just feel blessed and honored to be in their company.”

A man on horseback smiles while others stand nearby holding a large check, a trophy, and horse equipment at an indoor equestrian event.
Bruce Vickery & Hand Made Machine. Photo by Shane Rux Photography.

For Vickery, the $100,000 purse represented more than Saturday night’s victory. “This is a dream come true for us as riders in this division because we’ve waited a long time for money like this,” he said. “There are some of the greatest horses in the world, and they deserve to get this kind of prize money.”

Vickery also credited the team behind the scenes, including his partner, Anthony Montes. “I have an absolutely incredible team,” he expressed. “[Anthony] is my biggest critic, but it makes me better.”

A man in a black outfit and hat rides a horse through an indoor arena decorated with colorful flowers and poles.
Blake Weis & Hes N Like Flynn earned second place. Photo by Shane Rux Photography.

Last year’s winner of the $100,000 NSBA Senior Trail at The Championship Show, Blake Weis, returned to the podium in 2026. Weis piloted Megan Gieringer’s Hes N Like Flynn to a matching score of 249.5, ultimately finishing second following the tiebreaker.

A person in a black outfit and hat rides a brown horse through an arena with colorful flowers, while people watch from white seats in the background.
Anthony Montes & A Soxy Dream. Photo by Shane Rux Photography.

Anthony Montes rounded out the top three aboard Angela Wade’s 2013 mare A Soxy Dream (A Dream Remembered x Roxie Soxy), earning a score of 246.

Top Three Results:

  1. Hand Made Machine, Bruce Vickery, Melissa Armstrong 
  2. Hes N Like Flynn, Blake Weis, Megan Gieringer 
  3. A Soxy Dream, Anthony Montes, Angela Wade