The NSBA Honors Banquet annually honors members who have reached the pinnacle of success in the prior show year, as well as individuals and horses who have been outstanding contributors to the industry. Among this year’s honorees are:
2023 Horse Of The Year: Sumac Gunnabeflashy, owned by Leslie Vagneur Lange, Greeley, Colorado
Jack Benson Award Recipient: Corbett Ryan, Wauconda, Illinois
Hall Of Fame Honorees:
- Bill and Cindy Cosentino, Omaha, Nebraska
- AQHA Stallion Sky Blue Walker, owned by Rhonda Replogle, Keystone Heights, Florida
- AQHA Mare Hot Lopin Louise, owned by Kathy Starnes, Summerton, South Carolina
- AQHA Mare Dark Jasmin, owned by Susan Ostrander, Ocala, Florida
Quarter Million Dollar Inductees
Several riders reached the milestone of earning more than $250,000 in lifetime NSBA earnings.
- Jamie English, Madison, Georgia
- Chad Evans, Elizabeth, Colorado
- Becky Galyean, Purcell, Oklahoma
- Katie Green, Ocala, Florida
- RJ King, Collinsville, Texas
- Ashley Lakins, Wilmington, Ohio
Youth Of The Year
The 2024 Youth Of The Year will be announced during the NSBA Honors banquet from among these five youth, who are being recognized for their community service work.
- Calen Braden, Libertyville, Illinois
- Lili Drinkall, Midgeville, Illinois
- Abigail Eddy, Rocheport, Missouri
- Taylor Hinely, Norco, California
- Margaret Meyer, Findlay, Ohio
President’s Award
Lori Bucholz, Waterloo, Nebraska
2023 High Point Riders
Open Western Pleasure: Aaron Moses, Pilot Point, Texas
Limited Open Western Pleasure: Shannon Curl Holbin, Vero Beach, Florida
$2,500 Open Western Pleasure: Michelle McCarthy Warda, Lapeer, Michigan
Non-Pro Western Pleasure: Nancy Wilkerson-Ditty, Ocala, Florida
Limited Non-Pro Western Pleasure: Linda Ball Sargent, Eustis, Florida
Open Hunter Under Saddle:Keith Miller, Reidsville, North Carolina
Limited Open Hunter Under Saddle: Carly Veldman Parks, Sabina, Ohio
Non-Pro Hunter Under Saddle: Sandra Morgan, Scottsdale, Arizona
Limited Non-Pro Hunter Under Saddle: Kara Flentje, Madison, Wisconsin
Open Trail: Anthony Montes, Aubrey, Texas
Non-Pro and Limited Non-Pro Trail: Grant Mastin, Jackson, Ohio
Limited Open Trail: Robin Frid, Denton, Texas
Open Western Riding: Charlie Cole, Pilot Point, Texas
Non-Pro and Limited Non-Pro Western Riding: Isabella D’Onofrio, Upper Arlington, Ohio
Limited Open Western Riding: John Briggs, Pilot Point, Texas
Open (Show) Hunter: Ryan Painter, Ocala, Florida
Non-Pro (Show) Hunter: Elaine Haw, Olive Branch, Mississippi
Open Ranch: Bud Lyon, Whitesboro, Texas
Non-Pro Ranch:Eric Mendrysa, Boerne, Texas
Equestrians With Disabilities: Rhianna Huffman, Antioch, Illionois
Junior Equitation: Ayaan Desai, Pleasanton, California
Open Hunter: Sienna Erks, Discover Bay, California
Open Jumper: Lindsay Neill, Livermore, California
ABOUT THE NSBA
Established in 1983, the National Snaffle Bit Association has expanded from its roots in the Western Pleasure discipline to recognize various disciplines and eight breed associations in competition. NSBA’s mission is to grow the show horse community through various equine programs and events where every activity benefits horses, breeders, owners and exhibitors alike.
The National Snaffle Bit Association has more than 20,000 active members and more than 44,000 registered horses across its eight alliance breed organizations. NSBA members earn more than $13.5 million in monetary awards at NSBA-sanctioned horse shows annually, and the association sanctions nearly 600 horse show events and close to 200,000 horse show entries each year.
To learn more about the NSBA, please visit nsba.com.
National Snaffle Bit Association, Inc. – 120 Mesa St., Weatherford, TX 76086 – Phone: (847)-623-6722
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Media Contact:
Connie Lechleitner
Executive Editor | ABC | APR
National Snaffle Bit
+1 614-563-0250
thewaytogo@nsba.com
nsba.com