Tyler Schultz and Ponderossa Pine Shine in the $100,000 NSBA All-Age Limited Open Trail presented by Marsh McLennan Agency, LLC

19 SEP 26 Ocala, FL

A rider wearing a hat guides a horse through a colorful obstacle course decorated with flowers and large hot air balloon props.

Ocala, FL – Friday night at The Championship Show came to a thrilling close as 34 of the nation’s top horse-and-rider combinations stepped into the WEC Grand Arena for the $100,000 NSBA All-Age Limited Open Trail presented by Marsh McLennan Agency, LLC. When the final scores were tallied, Tyler Schultz rose to the top aboard Gentry Pickett’s Ponderossa Pine (Zippos Two Eyed Jack x Lindas Iron One), earning the victory and coveted NSBA trophy with an impressive score of 231.5.

A rider in a black hat guides a brown horse through a course decorated with flowers and white poles in an empty arena.
Tyler Schultz & Ponderossa Pine scored the $100,000 NSBA All-Age Limited Open Trail presented by Marsh McLennan Agency, LLC win. Photo by Shane Rux Photography.

For the second time on Friday, pattern designer Tim Kimura, builder Garry McAllister and the WEC crew transformed the WEC Grand Arena with an intricate trail course surrounded by elaborate décor. Schultz welcomed the challenge, especially with the experienced 17-year-old Ponderossa Pine, known as “Sulfur,” beneath him.

“I was excited about it. I love a challenge, and this horse is especially good with a challenge,” Schultz shared. “He’s 17, so it makes it extra special because we don’t know how many more runs like this we have. I’m grateful, very grateful.”

Two men hug while a brown horse stands nearby; two women are in the background, one wearing a striped shirt and the other a blue shirt.
Tyler Schultz & Ponderossa Pine. Photo by Shane Rux Photography.

Schultz has been partnered with Ponderossa Pine for approximately a year and a half and credited the gelding’s unique personality for helping them navigate Friday night’s technical track. “He’s so quirky, and it makes him a good horse. He’s spooky, which I think helped us tonight because he saw the poles and really wanted to be careful. His expression, I thought, was incredible too. He’s just awesome.”

The pair shined throughout the course, particularly through the slower work and demanding lope-overs. “I get into the slow stuff and I panic a little bit, and in a moment of panic for myself, he was my chill,” Schultz explained. “He slowed everything down for me, and I think that is incredibly special.”

A group of people pose with prizes and a large check next to a man on horseback at an outdoor event with flowers and decorations.
Tyler Schultz & Ponderossa Pine accepted their first-place awards presented by Waverly Ernst, Talia Rowles, and Evan Kaplow. Photo by Shane Rux Photography.

With a talented field behind him, Schultz had no idea where his score would ultimately land. “I was freaking out. There were so many good horses in here,” he said. “It just happened to be our day, and it was insane.”

For Schultz, earning the victory under the lights in the WEC Grand Arena made the moment even more meaningful. “Opportunities like this don’t ever come along, and doing it in this arena and this atmosphere makes it that much more special,” he shared. “We don’t get to do this very often, so when we do get the opportunity, we have to really take advantage of it. It’s incredible.”

Schultz was also quick to credit the team behind the scenes. “My partner, Christopher, I can’t do this without him. My team is incredible. They support each other through the losses, and they are super supportive in the wins. I have the best group of people.”

A rider on a brown horse navigates an indoor equestrian course decorated with gold dog statues and pink flower arrangements, with empty white stadium seating in the background.
Cecilia Vatterott & Jimmie Buffet. Photo by Shane Rux Photography.

Cecilia Vatterott piloted Nathalie Mathers’ 2015 gelding Jimmie Buffet (GoodCowboyMargarita x Sheza Sweet Version) to second place with a score of 229. 

A person in a black outfit and hat rides a brown horse through an obstacle course with flower decorations and colorful poles.
Mirko Mueller & Made For Naturdays. Photo by Shane Rux Photography.

Mirko Mueller and Mary Alice Nielson’s 2020 gelding Made For Naturdays (Machine Made x KM Little Bit Of Me) rounded out the top three with a total of 227.50. 

Top Three Results:

  1. Ponderossa Pine, Tyler Schultz, Gentry Pickett – 231.5
  2. Jimmie Buffet, Cecilia Vatterott, Nathalie Mathers – 229
  3. Made For Naturdays, Mirko Mueller, Mary Alice Nielson – 227.5