Equine Chronicle 3-Year-Old Color Classic HUS Win Goes to Lisa Ligon With ZZ Top Hat N Tails, Lyon and Kruzing For Ladies Win Winning Couture 3 and Over HUS

By: Brittany Bevis

He wasn’t dressed in a silk suit or black tie but ZZ Top Hat N Tails proved he was every inch the sharp dressed man when he turned in a smooth performance that earned a unanimous win in the Equine Chronicle Color Classic 3-Year-Old Hunter Under Saddle this evening at the 2014 Reichert Celebration.

This certainly isn’t “Topper’s” first trip to the winner’s circle. Trainer and pilot, Lisa Ligon, says Topper has also achieved a Reserve World Championship, National Championship, Reserve National Championship, and recently tied to place third at the NSBA World Show in the BCF Three-Year-Old Limited Open Hunter Under Saddle.

Topper is by Coats N Tails (AQHA) and out of a World Champion mare named A Horse Called Wanda (ApHC). He is proudly owned by his breeders, Curtis, Priscilla, and Tim Barnes of Cedar Springs Farm in Galatia, IL.

“He goes many, many generations back,” Ligon says. “They breed all their own horses, everything they show.”

Ligon describes this lovable gelding as a “pocket pet” who is thoroughly aware of the effect his good looks have on passersby; he’s always seeking out a sweet treat or good scratch.

“He knows he’s precious, perfect, and wonderful,” she says. “I’ve had Topper since he was a long yearling. We broke him to ride and he will hopefully stay with us forever!”

“He will go to the World Show next. Tim Barnes has been adding the amateur classes on him, so he’s starting to have another rider. I think the next events for him will be [to learn how] to pull the cart and do the western riding.”

The Reserve Champion in the class was Mason Lyon aboard Kruzing For Ladies, who also was the winner of the Winning Couture 3-Year-Old and Over Green Hunter Under Saddle. Lyon was in the irons this evening for horse owner, Marchelle Everhart of North Carolina.

“Kruzer” is a 3-year-old ApHC gelding by The Krymsun Kruzer (AQHA) and out of Lady of The Hunt (ApHC). Although Everhart wasn’t able to make the trip down to Fort Worth, Lyon is certain she will be ecstatic to hear the news.

“She will be super excited,” Lyon says. “I’ve had him since about July 5th, so I’ve only been riding him about 30 days. Considering that, I thought he was really good. He’s very quiet. If anything, you end up overprepping him by accident. I maybe rode him this morning for 20 minutes, and he hasn’t been longed or tied up. I was supposed to show him in the three-year-old class earlier today, and I was worried I wouldn’t have enough horse. I’m glad I didn’t!”

Next up for Kruzer will be the Appaloosa World Championship Show in October where he will also compete with his owner in the 50 and Over Masters Hunter Under Saddle. Next year, Lyon plans to teach the good natured gelding how to do pleasure driving and hunter hack.

Judges for the class this evening were Larry Hansch, Ty Hornick, Betsy Tuckey, and Nancy Sue Ryan.

Equine Chronicle 3-Year-Old Color Classic Hunter Under Saddle Results:

1- ZZ Top Hat N Tails/Lisa Ligon- $1,913 for Curtis/Priscilla Barnes

2- Kruzing For Ladies/Mason Lyon- $1,519 for Marchelle Everhart (Also winner of the Winning Couture 3 and Over Green Hunter Under Saddle)

3- Love My Art/Sandy Jirkovsky- $1,125 for Lynne Buskirk

4- Hes Catching On/Jacqueline Kennon- $563 for Eleanor or Jonathan Snyder

5- Arts Leading Lady/Brittany Andrews- $506 for Lisa Blake