Lillian Woodruff and SleepinWithMyBootsOn.

The National Snaffle Bit Association (NSBA) opened its 13^thannual World Championship Show and Breeders Championship Futurity on Sunday with competition in three different arenas. According to organizers more than 5,000 World Show and BCF entries have already been received with more expected as the show unfolds. That tops last year’s final entry tally of 4,621. This year’s show also sold out of the 2,200 available stalls.

Lillian Woodruff, of Atlanta, Georgia, is attending the show for the first time. She and SleepinWithMyBootsOn (Faith), a 2007 chestnut mare by Too Sleepy To Zip and out of Lope In My Boots, have been a team for about a year now and got off to a successful start in Tulsa by winning the Youth Color Western Pleasure, which drew 12 entries to the Mustang Arena.

“I think Faith performed well, she really listened to me,” Lillian said. “We got really good spots on the rail so it just worked out in our advantage. Coming here, our goal was to do well in each class and aim for the high point and to do well overall. It was pretty awesome to also win today.”

The Mustang Arena was the location of several other Color classes on Sunday including the Color Youth Western Riding. Emily Maul, of Peaster, Texas, and Hez Raising The Bar claimed the win in the five entry class.

This Sheik Rocks carried Renee Conklin, of Hallsville, Missouri, to a win in the Youth Color Hunter Under Saddle, where a total of 10 entries competed. Rebecca Figueroa, of Stewartown, Pennsylvania rode Check Required to a win in the Color Youth Equitation class of 13.

Haylo Farms, of Ocala, Florida dominated Longe Line competition on Sunday, with the farm’s horses winning Championships and Reserve Championships in all four of the day’s contests.

Nancy Wilkerson and A Sensational Paint

Nancy Ditty Wilkerson showed A Sensational Paint to wins in both the Color Longe Line and BCF Color Longe Line, which ran concurrently. A Sensational Paint is owned by Wilkerson’s parents, Stanley and Susan Scott, of Ocala Florida. A total of 17 competed in the Color Non-Pro Longe Line while 16 showed in the BCF Color Non-Pro Longe Line. Wilkerson collected $1,182.30 for the win in the Color Non-Pro Longe Line and another $1,483.69 for winning the BCF Color Non-Pro Longe Line. Stanley Scott showed How Do U Figure to Reserve Championships in both classes, collecting a total of $2,013.19.

In Open Longe Line competition, Kenny Lakins showed The Best Cowgirl, sired by RL Best Of Sudden and out of Huntin For A Cowboy, to wins in both the Open Western Longe Line and the BCF Open Western Longe Line (run concurrently) for Stanley and Susan Scott. The BCF win was worth $2,097.98 while the World Show class paid $1,412.45for the win. Kathie Kennedy showed How Do U Figure to Reserve Championships in both classes for the Scotts, earning a total of $2,542.73.

Kenzie Bracken, of Trafalger, Indiana, proved a force to be reckoned with as she and Styles Sophisticated claimed titles in both the Walk-Trot Hunter Under Saddle and Walk-Trot Equitation in their very first appearance together at the NSBA World Show. A total of 12 competed in both the Hunter Under Saddle and Equitation classes for competitors 9-years-old and under.

“It was really exciting showing for my first time at the NSBA World,” Kenzie said. “I was pretty nervous, which I normally don’t get before I show. When I went in the class I was really excited and nervous.”

Kenzie has done a lot of riding to help her prepare for this show.

“My mom always reminds me that your horse can only rise to the level of the rider,” she said. “My goal coming here was to place top three here at the NSBA World.”

Mission accomplished.

“Luck favors those who are prepared,” Kenzie explained.

Sunni Chernega and Shesa Hot Selection

Sunni Duke Chernega, of Austin, Texas, piloted Shesa Hot Selection to a win in the 14-entry Color Amateur Hunter Under Saddle. They also won the Color Amateur Equitation class of nine. Toni Ward, of Hacienda, California, teamed with Good Cowboy Casanova to win the Color Amateur 50 & Over Equitation and Tammy Raak, of Pilot Point, Texas, rode Biggest Show N Town to a win in the Color Amateur 50 & Over Hunter Under Saddle, with four entries.

The Mustang Arena was also the location for two Equestrians With Disabilities (EWD) classes. Spencer Lee Roberson, of Sanger, Texas, rode Fine Details, owned by Stable Strides Farm to a win in the EWD Walk-Trot Hunter Under saddle class for Independent Riders, which drew a total of 13 entries. Amy Bentler, of Rowlett, Texas and Setting The Stage, also owned by Stable Strides Farm, teamed to claim victory in the 12-entry EWD Walk-Trot Equitation class for Independent Riders.

The Built Ford Truck Arena was reserved for over fences events and Heroes On Horses classes on Sunday.

Ryan Painter piloted Kamanyawannadance to a win in the Working Hunter Derbyfor owner Peyton Bivins, of Amarillo. Texas. The NSBA class drew a total of 18 entries and paid $400 for the win. That same team also bested 10 other entries to win the Open Working Hunter and the Senior Hunter Hack with nine entries later in the day.

In Green Working Hunter 15 competed for the top spot, eventually earned by Jerry Erickson riding The Dark Age for Flora Brama, of Stillwater, Minnesota. The team also won a World Championship title in Green Hunter Hack with 11 entries.

Hug Honor claimed victory in the 10-entry L1 Working Hunter with Lauren Patterson in the irons for owner April Speyer, of Franklin, Tennessee.

Jax Bound, of Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, teamed with Havn A Supreme Time to win the seven-entry Youth Working Hunter. The also logged a win in the Youth Equitation Over Fences with seven entries and the Youth Hunter Hack, also with seven entries.

Samantha Roper and Al Betcha Wanna Look

Samantha Roper just bought Al Betcha Wanna Look in March and had originally planned for the 2012 bay gelding by Allocate Your Assets and out of Sanwana (Tb) to get started showing in Open events. But Roper, who trains under the guidance of Gretchen Lof, of Scottsdale, Arizona, said he is so talented that she’s been able to show him in Amateur classes already.”

They are off to a great start as the pair won the nine-entry Amateur Over Equitation Over Fences at the World Show. And Linda Crothers piloted Al Betcha Wanna Look to a Reserve Championship in L1 Working Hunter at the World Show.

“He is fairly new to the Equitation Over Fences,” Roper said. “I’m excited to be showing him in the Amateur. The best part was sharing the win with my mom, dad and niece Avery.

Roper calls Al Betcha Wanna Look “Chief” and says he is a “complete cookie monster.”

“Once he gets one cookie he wants them all,” she explained.

Sunday was a big day for Pam Stubbs, of Scottsdale, Arizona, and her two horses DoYou Have TheMagic (Jackson) and A Classic Iron (Dickerson). Stubbs and Jackson claimed a World Championship title in Amateur Working Hunter and a Reserve in Amateur Hunter Hack. With Dickerson, Stubbs placed third in Amateur Equitation Over Fences, fourth in Amateur Working Hunter and fifth in Senior Hunter Hack. Her trainer, Gretchen Lof, also rode A Classic Iron to a Reserve Championship in Senior Working Hunter a third in the Hunter Derby.

According to Stubbs, Dickerson is a very fun playful horse.

“He likes to suck on his tongue but not in front of stranger,” she revealed. “He has to be comfortable in front of you before he will show you.”

Jackson, on the other hand, is a very professional, she explained.

“He knows and loves his jobs,” Stubbs said. “He is like a machine.  Even today, a step stool got hung up in his tail. He did not overreact. He just moved a little, like something was wrong.

Stubbs said the highlight of the show, for her, was winning the Amateur Working Hunter because she usually shows in the Select.

“The fences were higher than I’ve been facing in the Select,” she explained. “ It has been a while since I’ve had been over those sizes jumps.”

Stubbs said she has enjoyed the NSBA World Show – the staff, the grounds and the nice prizes – and would like to return to show again.

Thatsmeinthespotlite, owned by Gary/Darcy Stricker, of Denver, Colorado won the eight entry Junior Hunter Hack, with Linda Crothers in the iorns. Chad Sandoval, of DePere, Wisconsin, teamed with Minute Maximus to win the NSBA Amateur Hunter Hack with nine entries.

The Ford Tough Arena ended the day in a patriotic tribute to members of the armed services. Following a Parade of Heroes which honored servicemen and servicewomen from four branches of the military two Heroes On Horses (Independent and Supported) Western Pleasure classes were presented.

In the Independent Western Pleasure Larry Pittingshrud, showed Twice The Scamp, owned by Stable Strides Farm, to a win in the 11-entry class. Ty Throngkumpola, of Denton, Texas, claimed top prize in the Supported Rider Western Pleasure aboard Make Me Feel Good, also owned by Stable Strides Farm.

Sunday also marked the conclusion of the Show Your Colors AQHA classes, held in the Super Duty Arena.

Judges for this year’s NSBA World Show, Breeders Championship Futurity and Show Your Colors show include: Sissy Anderson, Jon Barry, Kelly Boles Chapman, Buddy Fisher, Robin Frid, Clint Fullerton, Lori Gingrich, TW Grose, Derek Hanscome, Mike Hay, Steve Heckaman, Holly Hover, Debbie Kail, Ryan Kail, Will Knabenshue, John Kunkle, Clay MacLeod, Kim Myers, Scott Neuman, Dean Ross, Chris Thompson and Dan Trein.

Competition continues through Sunday at Tulsa Expo Square. A Yearling Sale, featuring some 90-plus youngsters enrolled in the NSBA Breeders Championship Futurity program, will be held on Friday, Aug. 17.

Larry Williams is the official photographer of the NSBA World Show and Breeders Championship Futurity. You can view and order images from the event at www.larrywilliamsphoto.

For more information, including complete results, visit www.nsba.com.