2025 NSBA All Around Performance Horse Of The Year: The Batchelor
From NSBA:
Ady Kallay of AK Performance Horses didn’t have to look far to find her current show partner, The Batchelor. He was already standing in the barn of her trainer, Sara Simons.
“We knew that 2025 would be my last year in the Youth division, and we wanted to go out with a bang,” Ady said. “His previous owner, Jamie DeVencenty, wanted a special home for him and said she would sell him to me because she had watched how much care I had for my horses. Jamie had shown ‘Scout’ in Amateur Select classes, so teaming up to compete in the Youth 14-18 division was an easy transition. I tried him, and we just clicked right away.”
A Barn Favorite
“I got him for my sister as a two year old,” remembered trainer Sara Simons. “We showed him as a two and three year old. He did well in Western Pleasure as a two year old and then we added Hunter Under Saddle during his three and four year old year, and he did well in Trail at the NSBA World Show. He’s always had the right look and the movement.
“Jamie DeVencenty bought him while working with Kelly McDowall, and she ended up moving him to Texas and he came back to me.”
It was definitely a case of conditions coming together for Sara, Ady and Scout. “We knew that Ady needed a new horse to end her youth career, but it was a little bit stressful,” Sara explained. “Ideally, you want to have a year to get used to your horse before going into that final year of youth, but we just had to go with it.”
The duo proved they had the right match. “Their first serious show together was the Sun Circuit, and they had a pretty good show,” Sara said. “And they just blossomed as the year went on. Never in a million years did the Horse Of The Year title cross our minds.”
A Whirlwind Year
“In the beginning, I didn’t really know what to expect, so our goals were really to just to get to know each other, have clean runs and make sure Sara was happy with us,” Ady explained. “After the first few shows, we had a better idea that we could be successful and started to think more about what we could achieve. So our goals definitely evolved.”
Ady noted that she enjoys competing in the pattern classes with the gelding. “I really like the challenge of the pattern classes,” she said. “It’s always a different pattern and there’s always a maneuver to work on. I also like that you can be aggressive and stand out as you show.”
To say the duo clicked was an understatement. The 2017 gelding by How Bout This Cowboy and out of Shes Blazing Cool (Blazing Hot) had a busy show year, competing in All Around events that included Showmanship, Horsemanship, Hunt Seat Equitation, Trail and Performance Halter Geldings with Ady as well as Open classes with Sara.
They saw large class wins at the Sun Circuit, Orange Blossom/A Sudden Impulse and the Premier. Ady and The Batchelor won NSBA as well as AQHYA world championships in Western Riding, Hunt Seat Equitation and Horsemanship. Sara Simons added a reserve championship and a $20,000 paycheck in the NSBA $100,000 Senior Trail class at the Championship Show as well as an AQHA reserve world championship in Senior Trail. Throughout 2025, The Batchelor earned 935 points and $31,492.65 in NSBA earnings.
“I’ve had people ask me what my favorite class is, and honestly, I enjoy them all,” Ady said. “It just depends on the day. I just really enjoy showing Scout, he’s so versatile. He’s happy all the time and he loves doing his job. He definitely shows up every time and he knows when he’s competing because he puts a little extra try and work into showing.”
Sara noted that their success didn’t come by accident. “Ady is a hard worker,” she said. “When you have an individual who is willing to give so much to improve, you can’t help but succeed. I have so much respect for her.”
Personality Plus
Ady noted that her nine year old show partner has quite a personality. “I’d say he’s very quirky and very confident,” she laughed. “He knows he’s talented, and he also knows he can probably get away with things most horses don’t. He also has a major treat problem. He loves carrots, but even more so he likes any other horse’s bucket, and if he sees one going down the aisle, he will charge over to it with me. He makes me laugh every time I’m around him.”
Perhaps more than anything, Ady enjoys the experience of just being with her horse. “Probably my favorite memory from last year is walking back to the stalls at the AQHYA World Show after we won the Youth 14-18 Horsemanship,” she said. “I was talking to him during the whole walk back, just telling him how proud I was of him. It was such a special moment to share with him.”
New Chapters
Scout is helping Ady through two new chapters in her life. “It’s my first year to show as an Amateur this year,” Ady explained. “I’m also a freshman at Texas A&M University and I’m on the equestrian team there.”
Ady is growing in both new experiences. “I think I appreciate Scout even more now when I get to come back and show him,” she said. “Being on the equestrian team has meant learning to ride different horses at every meet, and it’s been something to adjust to. Being able to come home to my reliable partner has been even more gratifying.”
On Winning The Horse Of The Year Title
Ady is grateful to see Scout earning the Horse Of The Year title. “I have to admit that when we got the call about the award, I was very surprised and thrilled, but very emotional too,” she said.
“I’m really proud of him and I’m very happy that he got the recognition – he really deserves this. He’s a one in a million horse, and I’m just happy to be his partner.”
