Sun Sets on Fun In The Sun Extravaganza

When the sun set in Venice, Florida, on Sunday, the Fun In The Sun Extravaganza all-breed NSBA show closed with more than 300 entries and offered exhibitors $36,000 in cash and prizes. In the Maturity Hunter Under Saddle alone, exhibitors represented eight states and Canada.

“This is such a great event,” said Cole Baker. “There’s not many places to show in the winter, and this is a great place to be this time of year. I think it will grow.”

“We needed a show like this,” added Mitch Leckey, who has been coming to Florida from Indiana for the past 15 years. “I think it will become one of the largest NSBA shows in the country.”

Earning the largest paycheck of the show was Brian Baker and KM Call Me Honey, who won $1,700 for owners Theresa and Kerry Love of Westminster, MD, in the $10,000 Limited Horse Maturity Western Pleasure.

“We got her in March of last year,” Baker said of the four year old mare. “She’s a great mare, and really talented. It’s really great to have this class for those horses that come along later. She missed all of her two year old year, and I won a little bit with her during her three year old year.”

Baker and the Love family plan to campaign the mare in multiple classes. “I’ll show her in Junior Western Pleasure, and the Love’s daughter Madison will show her in Youth. Our goal is to qualify for the AQHA Open and Youth World Championship Shows,” Baker said.

Sunday’s schedule also included Showmanship, Western Riding, Western Pleasure, Hunter Under Saddle and over fence classes.

In his first time competing in Western Riding, Cody Parrish took Invest With The Best to the win in Green Western Riding, earning $400 and the NSBA bronze for owner Kathy Clifford, Gainesville, FL.

 To read the full article on NSBA.com, click here.