Beth Case & Willy Has Potential

Beth Case says Willy Has Potential is “literally the easiest horse ever to show” and that paid off big this morning.

Case piloted the 2009 bay gelding to a win first thing this morning in the Breeders Championship Futurity 4-6-Year-Old Open Hunter Under Saddle class of 21 entries at the 2015 National Snaffle Bit Association’s World Championship Show, now under way in Tulsa, Oklahoma. A few classes later, owner Shelby Ratliff, of Lewisville, Texas, rode him to victory in the Maturity Non-Pro Hunter Under Saddle.

“He has the best mind,” Case says. He performed great today and he’s so much fun to ride.”

Willy Has Potential is sired by Good I Will Be and out of Potential Two. He was purchased through the court-ordered Rita Crundwell Dispersal Sale in 2012 and Case has been riding him since he was a 4-year-old.

Case, who has been attending the NSBA World Show since 2005 says Willy Has Potential has a few more classes this week and then he will next compete at the Quarter Horse Congress.

The NSBA World Show and Breeders Championship Futurity officially opened on Sunday with a Hunter Derby, followed by a full slate of Working Hunter, Equitation Over Fences, Hunter Hack and Ranch Riding. According to the association, over $500,000 in cash and prizes will be presented before the show closes on Aug. 15.

Art Of The Deal & Natalie Vargo

Natalie Vargo, of Plain City, Ohio, piloted her horse, Art Of The Deal (Rocco), to a win in the eight-entry Youth Equitation Over Fences. It was her first time competing at the NSBA World Show and her first championship.

“I was so excited. I couldn’t believe that I won,” Vargo says. “Rocco performed awesome for me like he always does. He can be a challenge but I still love him with all my heart. He gives me 100 percent. I’m excited about next year.”

In other over fences action on Sunday, Kamanyawannadance bested 13 other entries to capture the top spot in the Working Hunter Derby with Ryan Painter in the irons for owner Peyton Bivins, of Amarillo, Texas. The team also won the Open Working Hunter with 16 entries. Other winners included: Green Working Hunter (12), I Got Em Talkin, Mason Lyon for Dominic Destefano; L1 Working Hunter (9) and Junior Hunter Hack (7), The Fire Escape, David Miller for Lauren Rodberg; Amateur Working Hunter (9) and Amateur Hunter Hack (8), Cool Man Jazz, Chad Sandoval for Rick & Renai McClanahan; Youth Working Hunter (8), Air Zip, Makayla Flowers; Amateur Equitation Over Fences (8), Do U Wanna Dance, Jesilyn McCarroll; Green Hunter Hack (8), Im Seein Double/See My Double, Ryan Painter for Nicholas Suft; Youth Hunter Hack (8), Real Time Minute, Calley Huston for Tara Sohlman; Senior Hunter Hack (9) Assets Agenda, David Miller for Scott Miller & David Jones.

Ranch Riding classes closed out the first day with Leslie Lange, of Greeley, Colorado riding to victory in the 17-entry Open Ranch Riding aboard The Immortal, earning $487.50 and Kodi Anderson, of Gainesville, Texas captured the top spot in Non-Pro Ranch Riding aboard Breakin Hearts As, by besting 13 other entries.

Other Hunter Under Saddle and some Western Pleasure classes continue today in the Ford Tough Arena while Longe Line classes opened the day in the Mustang Arena. The Super Duty Arena is booked solid with Trail classes all day.

Some of the classes offered at the World Show are qualifying events. Qualifying for the 2015 NSBA World Championship Show is done through participation in NSBA Dual Approved classes or Special Events. The horse and rider (or horse, in Open division classes), are required to participate in the corresponding class a minimum of two times within the qualifying period.  The qualifying period began May 1, 2014, and ended April 30, 2015. For a list of qualifying classes click here: http://www.nsba.com/index.php/world-championship-show-mainmenu-253/qualifying/2015-qualifying.html

A variety of classes are offered during the Breeders Championship Futurity.  Nominated horses are eligible to show from their yearling to 6-year-old year in Longe Line, Western Pleasure and Hunter Under Saddle classes as well as in Trail and Western Riding.

Eight classes will be offered during the week for Equestrians With Disabilities. They include: Walk Trot Western Pleasure Supported; Walk Trot Western Pleasure Independent; Walk Trot Hunter Under Saddle Independent; Walk Trot Trail Supported; Walk Trot Trail Independent; Showmanship At Halter; Walk Trot Western Horsemanship Independent; Walk Trot Hunt Seat Equitation Independent.

Over 90 yearlings have been consigned to the 2015 Kaplow Insurance Breeders Championship Futurity Yearling Sale, which will take place on Friday, Aug. 14. The sale is only open to yearlings enrolled in the NSBA Breeders Championship Futurity, and each year, proceeds from the sale are used to fund a purse exclusively held for sale graduates. Sale graduates are then eligible to compete for the purse at the Breeders Championship Futurity in their 2- or 3-year-old year. A preview of all consigned yearlings will be held on Thursday, Aug. 13.

Those attending for the show or sale can also visit dozens of vendors displaying goods at a trade show held throughout the week.

Judges for this year’s event include: Dean Bogart, Brett Clark, David Denniston, David Fairchild, Jeff Greaves, Tanya Green, Robin Griggs, Larry Little, Steve Meadows, Art O’Brien, Rhonda Replogle, Mark Russell, Brent Tincher, Carly Veldman Parks, Mike Weaver and Tracy Willis. WCHA Judges are: Chris Arentsen, Rebecca Halvorson, Eddie Hicks and Kathy Smallwood.

Click here for candids from the show, courtesy of Brad Borton and Courtney Borton Ament:

Click here to watch a webcast from the show: http://www.horseshowwebcasts.com/shows/2015/26955/index.shtml

Click here for results being posted at the show: http://www.nsba.com/Forms/2015%20World%20Show/Results/018274_NSBA_World.htm

Click here for a complete Class Schedule: http://www.nsba.com/downloads/World%20Championship%20Show/2015%20WS%20Show%20Schedule.pdf

Click here for Patterns for this year’s show: http://www.nsba.com/index.php/world-championship-show-mainmenu-253/patterns.html