The Championship Show 2026 & APHA Zone 9 Fall Cash Classic: Thursday, September 17 Featured Class Highlights
17 SEP 26 Ocala, FL
Ocala, FL – Competition continued Thursday at World Equestrian Center – Ocala (WEC) during The Championship Show 2026, while the APHA Zone 9 Fall Cash Classic officially got underway, bringing Paint Horse competition to WEC – Ocala through Sunday, September 20.
Thursday’s featured competition began with the WEC $4,000 Junior Hunter Under Saddle and WEC $4,000 Senior Hunter Under Saddle during the opening day of the APHA Zone 9 Fall Cash Classic. The Championship Show featured the $5,000 NSBA 3-Year-Old Non-Pro & Limited Non-Pro Ranch Riding, $10,000 All-Age Non-Pro Showmanship, $5,000 3-Year-Old Limited Non-Pro Western Pleasure, $35,000 NSBA Maturity Open & Intermediate Hunter Under Saddle, $5,000 NSBA 4-Year-Old Non-Pro Hunter Under Saddle, and $10,000 NSBA 3-Year-Old & Over $2,500 Limited Horse Open Western Pleasure.
APHA ZONE 9 FALL CASH CLASSIC
WEC $4,000 Junior Hunter Under Saddle
Paint Horse competition got underway Thursday with the APHA Zone 9 Fall Cash Classic. In Indoor Arena 3, the WEC $4,000 Junior Hunter Under Saddle welcomed 14 horse-and-rider combinations, with Keith Miller and Christina Shanahan’s four-year-old gelding, The Company You Keep (All Time Fancy x In Good Company), rising to the top of the class.
Known around the barn as ‘AJ,’ The Company You Keep has been part of Miller’s program nearly his entire life. Miller selected him for Shanahan when he was just three months old and has remained involved throughout his development and show career. “He’s just been super easy from day one. He’s willing, agreeable, a good mover, and super fun to show.”
That natural ability was on display Thursday, as AJ’s softness and expression helped carry the pair to the win. “His topline was great, and he was very expressive,” Miller shared. “His ears were up the whole time. He was very pleasant and happy to do his job.”
Top Three Results:
- The Company You Keep, Keith Miller, Christina Shanahan
- Lopin Good Time, Lisa Ligon, HJD Equestrian LLC
- Eat Your Heart Out/ WW Eat Your Heart Out, Dale Sullens, Larry Dale Russell
WEC $4,000 Senior Hunter Under Saddle
The WEC $4,000 Senior Hunter Under Saddle continued Thursday’s APHA Zone 9 Fall Cash Classic competition in Indoor Arena 3. Shannon Watters piloted Tracey Pearson’s six-year-old gelding Shethink Smyfactor Sexy (The Wow Factor x Fancy Impulse) to a standout performance, ultimately rising to the top of the class.
The pair delivered a polished trip in the arena to secure the win, with Julian Harris and Peyton Pelton’s Howie Get So Fancy earning second-place honors. Lisa Ligon and Cathleen Hernandez’s Factor In The Blues rounded out the top three.
Top Three Results:
- Shethink Smyfactor Sexy, Shannon Watters, Tracey Pearson
- Howie Get So Fancy, Julian Harris, Payton Pelton
- Factor In The Blues, Lisa Ligon, Cathleen Hernandez
THE CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW
$5,000 NSBA 3-Year-Old Non-Pro & Limited Non-Pro Ranch Riding
Thursday’s featured competition got underway in Jumper Arena 2 with the $5,000 NSBA 3-Year-Old Non-Pro & Limited Non-Pro Ranch Riding. Jennifer Dawson of Temecula, California, piloted SS Got My P H D (Shiners Voodoo Dr x Got Mia Spooks), known as ‘Hattie,’ to a score of 231.50 to earn both the Non-Pro and Limited Non-Pro titles.
Dawson purchased the 2023 mare in March and has been developing the three-year-old with trainer Bud Lyon. “We had been working on buying one together previously for him to train, and then I just went and bought one without him,” Dawson laughed. “She’s been doing really well this year with him.”
Dawson was particularly pleased with Hattie’s performance through Thursday’s pattern. “I really liked her side pass and her spin,” she shared. “Bud puts an excellent spin on a horse, so it’s been a challenge getting calibrated to ride a spin that fast, but today it worked out.” Working with Bud has been one of Dawson’s first experiences with a professional trainer. “Usually, we’re DIY, but we recognized that we needed help from a professional. He’s really taught me a lot in just a short amount of time.”
Thursday’s win came during Dawson’s first visit to World Equestrian Center – Ocala. “It’s beautiful. Everything is quality,” she shared. “Everything about it is just built around the horse and is so comfortable.” Dawson added, “I just feel very fortunate to get to ride with Bud and own a horse like her.”
$5,000 NSBA 3-Year-Old Non-Pro Ranch Riding Top Three Results:
- SS Got My P H D, Jennifer Dawson, Jennifer Dawson
- Woodford On Ice, Sydney Sargent, Sydney Sargent
- Flynn It To Win It, Nicole Fuller, Nicole Fuller
$10,000 All-Age Non-Pro Showmanship
Showmanship competition took center stage in Indoor Arena 1 for the $10,000 All-Age Non-Pro Showmanship, where Cassandra Ehrle of Chino Hills, California, and her own Daddy Doesnt Know (Extremely Hot Chips & RL Saved By Impulse) rose to the top.
“This is Pepper. She is literally so perfect for me,” Ehrle shared. “We both really enjoy it, and a lot of people don’t enjoy the showmanship, but Pepper really likes it. Her ears are forward. I enjoy it as well, so I think it’s a good combination.”
Ehrle focused on staying organized throughout Thursday’s pattern and was especially pleased with 2014 mare’s responsiveness. “She listened to me so well, so I was very happy,” she said. “I really enjoyed having the extended trot and a little bit of a challenge in that pattern up into the stop.”
The victory also earned Ehrle’s trainer, Blake Weis, a $5,000 trainer bonus.
A second $5,000 trainer bonus, selected through a random draw, was awarded to Isabel Schueppel’s trainers, Julie and Allen Schmidt.
$10,000 All-Age Non-Pro Showmanship Top Three Results:
- Daddy Doesn’t Know, Cassandra Ehrle, Cassandra Ehrle
- GoodgirlsFinishLast, Delaney Baker, Ashley Enoch-Scott
- TalkinAboutMyMachine, Isabel Schueppel, Bim Farms LLC
$5,000 3-Year-Old Limited Non-Pro Western Pleasure
Hanna Walier and her own Best One Made (Machine Made x KM The Best Yet) found their way to the top of the $5,000 3-Year-Old Limited Non-Pro Western Pleasure on Thursday in Indoor Arena 1.
“He’s a really sweet horse. He’s a hard worker, and he’s really fun to show,” Walier shared. She also credited Katy Jo and Tim Zuidema and their team, including Devin and Becca, for their role in the pair’s development. “I’m very blessed to have Katie Jo and Tim Zuidema and their amazing team.”
For Walier, the progress Best One Made continues to make was a highlight of Thursday’s performance. “What made me really happy is it’s improved every time I ride him. He just gets better and better, stronger and stronger,” she said. “So every time I lope on [Best One Made], I just feel more confident.”
$5,000 3-Year-Old Limited Non-Pro Western Pleasure Top Three Results:
- Best One Made, Hanna Walier, Hanna Walier
- The Milkman, Brianna Tamulewicz, Susan Ostrander
- The Fan Favorite, Isabel Schueppel, Bim Farms LLC
$35,000 NSBA Maturity Open & Intermediate Hunter Under Saddle
The $35,000 NSBA Maturity Open & Intermediate Hunter Under Saddle brought a competitive field to Indoor Arena 1 Thursday, where Keith Miller piloted Madeleine Bayless’ four-year-old gelding R C Kola (Its A Sourthern Thing x Its Al Over) to top honors.
After several strong trips throughout the week, Miller entered Thursday’s class confident in what Rock could deliver. “The judges have liked him all week, so I was fairly confident that he was going to perform well,” Miller shared. Once in the arena, the gelding’s effortless way of going continued to shine. “I love the canter,” Miller said. “It’s like sitting on a cloud.”
For Miller, Rock’s consistency has made him a rewarding horse to present throughout The Championship Show. With another strong performance added to his week, Miller simply shared, “I am so proud to represent him.”
Top Three Results:
- RC Kola, Keith Miller, Madeleine Bayless
- Howie Get So Fancy, Julian Harris, Peyton Oakley Pelton
- Shezza Outlaw, Jamie English, Brenda Ramirez
Julian Harris & eight-year-old gelding Howie Get So Fancy (All Time Fancy x EPR Had It Comen), owned by Payton Oakley Pelton took home the win in the NSBA Intermediate Hunter Under Saddle.
$5,000 NSBA 4-Year-Old Non-Pro Hunter Under Saddle
Following his win with trainer Keith Miller earlier in the day, R C Kola (Its A Sourthern Thing x Its Al Over) returned to Indoor Arena 1 with owner Madeleine Bayless of Mountain Brook, Alabama. This time, Bayless took the reins and guided the 2022 gelding to another victory in the $5,000 NSBA 4-Year-Old Non-Pro Hunter Under Saddle.
“He’s just really honest,” Bayless shared of R C Kola, known as ‘Rock.’ Bayless has owned the gelding since his two-year-old year and particularly enjoys the way he feels in the show pen. “Personally, I love him at the trot. I love the way he trots and the way he feels. That’s my favorite.”
After watching Miller pilot Rock to a win earlier in the day, Bayless was thrilled to follow it with a victory of her own. “I just want to be as good of a partner for him as he usually is for us,” she said. “He is a very special individual.”
Top Three Results:
- R C Kola, Madeleine Bayless, Madeleine Bayless
- The Company You Keep, Christina Shanahan, Christina Shanahan
- Shezza Outlaw, Kristen Holmes, Brenda Ramirez
$10,000 NSBA 3-Year-Old & Over $2,500 Limited Horse Open Western Pleasure
Closing out Thursday’s competition in Indoor Arena 1, the $10,000 NSBA 3-Year-Old & Over $2,500 Limited Horse Open Western Pleasure saw Aaron Moses pilot Dr. Gail Mason’s Only On Nettflix (Nothin But Nett x Outta Assets) to victory.
The 2023 gelding has continued to mature with each trip into the show pen this season. “He’s gotten better every show we’ve gone to this year,” Moses shared. “He’s getting more seasoned and stronger, and he knows his job.” Moses pointed to Only On Nettflix’s quality of movement and presence as two of his standout qualities. “He’s got a really good look to him when he goes in the pen. He’s eye-catching, and everybody seems to like him.”
Outside of the show pen, Only On Nettflix has plenty of personality. “He likes to chew on everything. He puts everything in his mouth,” Moses laughed. “He’s kind of a handful on the ground sometimes, but he’s a sweet horse.”
Top Three Results:
- Only On Nettflix, Aaron Moses, Dr. Gail Mason
- Best One Made, Katy Jo Zuidema, Hanna Walier
- Couture Made, Courtney Laney, Raymond Arnona
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