Madeleine Bayless and RC Kola conquer Congress 3YO Non Pro Hunter Under Saddle Stakes
Thursday evening’s 3 Year Old Non Pro Hunter Under Saddle Stakes NSBA brought plenty of incredible Hunter Under Saddle horses to vie for top honors, and when the last names were called, they were Madeleine Bayless and RC Kola.
The duo earned a payout of $3612.12 in the stakes class, as well as the Super Sires Champion title that accompanied a $5000 payout. Even more impressive, Madeleine explains this is only her third show with “Roc.”
They had purchased Roc in April after the shows at WEC-Ocala, Madeleine explains. When Keith and Sydney Miller spotted him there with Joy Wheeler in the irons, they contacted Madeleine to consider taking a look at Roc. Since she wasn’t able to leave home, she says Keith tried him and showed her lots of videos. “It was love at first sight on the video, so I actually did not sit on him until Kentucky. I had full faith in them and knowing what I needed.”
Her first show in Kentucky was followed by the NSBA World Show, and Congress is her third. “He’s just awesome – he has so much power and so much natural ability. He’s a lot of fun to ride and I just feel really privileged to have the opportunity to show him.”
The tall, striding gelding already had a big following by industry fans in April and today was no exception. “I think he kind of caught everybody’s eye very early out when he maiden in Ocala,” says Madeleine, “and so it’s hard not to like him. He’s just a natural talent.”
The finals of the class were a success, she says, because they had some great spots on the rail, and they also had the opportunity to show off his trot and his powerful canter. “I just felt like everything kind of clicked for us in the finals.”
For now, they’re going to enjoy his three-year-old year and then he may have to do some amateur work next year, adds Madeleine.
2025 All American Quarter Horse Congress
3 Year Old Non Pro Hunter Under Saddle Stakes NSBA
Champion: Madeleine Bayless and RC Kola -$3612.12
Super Sires Champion -$5000
Reserve: Haley Hartman and You Proof -$2600.73
Bronze: Rebekah Kazakevicius and Al Right All Right-$1878.30
Super Sires Reserve:$1080
Fourth: Kaitlyn Sawyer Smith and Only One Like Me-$1444.85
Super Sires Bronze-$840
Fifth: Eleanor Ott and Southern Circles-$1228.12
Super Sires Fourth: $480
Sixth: Sandra Morgan and Built Just Right-$1011.39
Seventh: Laura Bracken and Chrome Zone
Eighth: Lauren Allen and I Got The V Eight-$722.42
Ninth: Cindy Snapp and All Together Now-$577.94
Tenth: Estelle McParlan and Certainly The Best Bar-$505.70
