Ocala, FL – Horse-and-rider combinations continued to shine at World Equestrian Center – Ocala (WEC) during The Championship Show 2025, which runs through September 14. Wednesday’s schedule featured a strong lineup of competition across arenas, highlighted by the $10,000 NSBA 3-Year-Old Ranch Riding, the $10,000 NSBA All Age Non Pro Ranch Riding, and the $10,000 NSBA 3-Year-Old Non Pro & Limited Rider Non Pro Western Pleasure.
$10,000 NSBA 3-Year-Old Ranch Riding
Indoor Arena 5 hosted two marquee classes of the afternoon, beginning with the $10,000 NSBA 3-Year-Old Ranch Riding. Thirteen entries vied for the win, but it was Bud Lyon of Whitesboro, Texas, who topped the field aboard CBK Lyle Loves It (Smart And Shiney x Hiadas Lil Mavis), owned by Kalyn Sanders, scoring a 237.
“‘Lyle’ is a three-year-old I got back in May,” explained Lyon. “Kalyn and her significant other, Josh Murphy, raised him and asked if I thought he might be a candidate for the Ranch classes. I watched him for about five minutes and said, ‘Yup, that’s a candidate.’ He can be quirky and doesn’t like traffic, but the talent was undeniable. This is now his third futurity—we’ve been first, third, and now first again. He’s certainly turning into a fun show horse.”
Looking ahead, Lyon confirmed the gelding will compete at Congress, and possibly at the AQHA World Show. “It’s unusual for a three-year-old to be competitive at the World Show, but he has the talent,” he said.
Lyon, who claimed a double victory at last year’s Championship Show in the $50,000 NSBA Senior Ranch Riding, is also looking forward to Saturday’s renewal of that class. “We’re very grateful to Mrs. Roberts and WEC for hosting that event again. I won’t be showing Lyle in it this year, but if the class continues to be a staple here, we hope he’ll be a part of it down the road.”
$10,000 NSBA 3-Year-Old Ranch Riding Top Three Results:
1 CBK Lyle Loves It, Bud Lyon, Kalyn Sanders
2 Daytona Five Hundred, Shannon Quinlan Hill, Debbie Kuffer
3 Sixty Sixes Best, Bud Lyon, Jimmy Nichols & Nancy Wheeler
$10,000 NSBA All Age Non Pro Ranch Riding
A competitive field of sixteen Non Pro riders took center stage in Indoor Arena 5 for the $10,000 NSBA All Age Non Pro Ranch Riding. Becca Schaffhauser piloted her family’s 2022 gelding Name Brand (Gunnatrashya x Dun It Doll) to victory with a score of 235.
“We call him ‘Frog’ because my mom said his eyes look like Kermit the Frog’s,” laughed Schaffhauser. “We’ve had him since he was a yearling, and he’s really been a family horse—we’ve all shown him. I was so happy with the pattern today. I finally got all of my pieces together, and getting over the extended lope logs was a big win for me.”
Schaffhauser also praised the venue. “This is my third time showing at WEC – Ocala. It’s probably my favorite place to show. It’s always clean, the stalls are amazing, and there are so many places to eat and shop. I love it here.”
$10,000 NSBA All Age Non Pro Ranch Riding Top Three Results:
1 Name Brand, Becca Schaffhauser, Sam Schaffhauser
2 Winn Like Flinn, Kail Lane, Kail Lane
3 Good Gravy, Tianna Cooper, Suzanne Cooper
$10,000 NSBA 3-Year-Old Non Pro & Limited Rider Non Pro Western Pleasure
In Indoor Arena 1, the day began with the $10,000 NSBA 3-Year-Old Non Pro & Limited Rider Non Pro Western Pleasure. Amy Drake Gumz of Ocala, Florida, guided her homebred Ten Kinda Southern (Its A Southern Thing x KM Perfect Ten) to the win in both the Non Pro and Limited divisions.
“He’s been such a blessing this year and very appreciated by the judges,” Gumz said. “A lot of times, high-performing Open horses aren’t always suitable for Non Pros, but he’s been perfect for me. I’m so excited to get to show him alongside Shannon [Curl-Holbin].”
At home, the gelding is affectionately nicknamed “Adam.” Gumz laughed, “Depending on his mood, he can be ‘Awesome Adam’ or ‘Adam Levine.’ He has his little quirks, but overall, he’s very easygoing, though he will do some sketchy stuff for cookies.”
Looking ahead, Gumz is already preparing the gelding for his next chapter. “His full brother was my Select horse before and was very successful. Adam had all the pieces from the start, and he’s really proving himself. We’ll begin debuting him in the Select, and that will be his new job. We’re looking forward to a great rest of the week!”
$10,000 NSBA 3-Year-Old Non Pro & Limited Rider Non Pro Western Pleasure Top Three Results:
1 Ten Kinda Southern, Amy Drake Gumz, Gumz Farm Quarter Horses LLC
2 Chili Dawg, Emme Grace Graves, Emme Grace Graves
3 The Wild Wiild West, Raymond Arnona, Vincent R. Arnona
Competition at The Championship Show 2025 continues through Sunday, September 14, at WEC – Ocala. To learn more and view the competition schedule, click here.