Some inaugural classes and the Working Hunter Derby were among the Day 1 schedule at the NSBA World Championship Show, which got underway at the Built Ford Tough Livestock Complex at Expo Square in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Friday.
Inaugural Working Hunter Under Saddle Debuts
The NSBA World Championship Show held its inaugural Open and Non-Pro classes this year for the Working Hunter Under Saddle class, and it was fitting that one of the individuals who had campaigned for the class was named its first champion in the Open division.
Lainie DeBoer showed DGS Dont Tell Tales for owner Pam Stubbs to win the Open class. “When Jerry Erickson and I gave a Powerpoint presentation on the class at the AQHA Judges Seminar, Dianne Eppers came up to me afterwards and said that we needed to add this class to the NSBA World Show,” Lainie said.
“It was an exhibition class last year, and it’s been so great to see the participation in it this year. We knew that it will be well received, and it would give the Working Hunter exhibitors and horses another class to shine. I really commend NSBA for being a pioneer to add it. It means a lot to me and all of the people who campaigned for it. We had people from amateurs, to professionals to judges all working toward this class.”
Working Hunter Under Saddle is intended to show horses that would be suitable to show over fences, with a free-flowing stride and a canter that would be acceptable for approaching a jump. “It’s a class where we want the necks up and the heads looking where they are going as they would be looking to a fence,” Lainie explained. “I was sidelined in 2020, but I got to show it for the first time at the Redbud and now here – it’s such a blast to show.”
Lainie also showed DGS Dont Tell Tales to win a world championship in Senior Hunter Hack.
Leah Roehl was crying happy tears when she left the ring after winning the inaugural Non-Pro Working Hunter Under Saddle class aboard her horse, AlDoWhatYouLove. The duo were the unanimous champions in the class.
The day capped a successful first NSBA World Show so far for Leah. Her horse was reserve world champion in Green Hunter Hack with her trainer, Jessica Johnson, and reserve world champion in the Open Working Hunter Under Saddle where she again rode her own horse.
“I don’t even have any words,” Leah said. “It’s our first time here, and I’m just super excited to be here. I’ve been messaging Lainie ever since I saw her Powerpoint presentation on this class to learn more about it. My horse has a ROM in Hunter Under Saddle, but I know in his heart wants to show at a more forward canter.” AlDoWhatYouLove is by Allocate Your Assets and hot of Sienna Sky, and is known as Han.
The Working Hunter Under Saddle Open division saw 17 exhibitors, and the Non-Pro division proved so popular with 26 entries that it had to be split into two splits and a final.
Hunter Hack Sees Growth
Ryan Painter started the day on Friday as the first champion of the first NSBA World Show class for 2021 when he showed Real Good Reason for owner Jo Ann Niffenegger. He showed against a class of 27 exhibitors. “This was just our first show out,” he said. “Jo Ann just recently bought him from Arizona. He had done the All Around but he hadn’t jumped before. He’s very broke and very reliable. He knows his job but he doesn’t use it against you.
“I really loved the schedule change and moving the Hunter Hack classes to today, and not having everything on one day. It was really a great start to the show.”
Morgan Ratkowski and Penny Kruzer won the Junior Hunter Hack, which would be the first of Morgan’s two world championships on the day. “I’ve had Penny for about a year and a half or so,” Morgan said.
“I bought her from the same breeder who we got my gelding, Better Buy The Minit from. She’s by the Krymsun Kruzer. I saw her on a sale video, and she only had 30 days riding at that time. I’m just thrilled with how she’s coming along. She’s super fun. In the class today, she was super soft and jumped great. Ryan Painter has been putting the finishing touches on her.”
Pam Stubbs earned her own world championship aboard her horse DGS Dont Tell Tales, winning the Amateur 50 & Over Hunter Hack. “I was so happy with our go,” Pam said of her performance aboard ‘Dillon.’
“He was very soft and easy. A few people were struggling with the line, but it rode really easy for him. Our flat work also went well, and I was particularly happy with our canter, because it was very soft and cadenced.”
In the Amateur Hunter Hack, Dr. Elaine Haw showed Last Hawliday to the win. “I actually found him on Facebook,” she said of her gelding known as Rueben.
“He’s out of Taylor Hanes’ mom’s horse, a Skys Blue Boy mare, and by The Last Detail. I bought him at five months old because he was super cute, and it all fell into place. We started him over fences last year as a four year old, and Jessica Johnson won two AQHA world titles on him in Junior Hunter Hack and Junior Working Hunter last year.”
Two youth from the same barn cheered each other on as world champion and reserve champion in Youth Hunter Hack. Denim Wellhouse showed Eye Spy Sumthin Blue to the champion award and her barn mate Madison Brown showed Moxie Girl to the reserve champion title.
“Bella is nine years old, and this is my third year to show her,” Denim said. “She’s always the same, she always goes out and shows. This is the second year we’ve won this class. It was funny too because both Madison and I thought when they got to fifth place that we weren’t going to get a trophy, and then we were first and second.”
Working Hunter Derby
Better Buy The Minit and Morgan Ratkowski successfully defended their world title from 2020 by winning the Working Hunter Derby for the second year in a row on Friday evening. The duo won the class last year and have also won it a third time in recent years. The two bested 40 exhibitors who competed in a first go of the class, which included a major downpour as a storm rolled through Tulsa, and later competed against 15 finalists in the final round of the class, earning a composite score of 175 on two gos.
“He really is my once in a lifetime horse,” Morgan said. “Murray is just always on. It’s mostly if I’m on with him. He loves showing over the handy round obstacles, and he’s just super fun to show. Honestly, I think he knows what I’m thinking even before I do when we’re in the pen.”
The NSBA World Championship Show and Breeders Championship Futurity continues through Sunday, August 22. To view complete show results or follow the live video feed, please visit www.nsba.com or use the Horse Show Tracker app.
