Orange Blossom Classic: Sunday, April 12, 2026 Featured Class Highlights

From WEC-Ocala:

Ocala, FL – The final day of the Orange Blossom Classic showcased five featured classes, including the $5,000 NSBA Amateur Trail, $5,000 NSBA Select Trail, $4,000 NSBA Limited Non Pro Western Pleasure, $4,000 NSBA Maturity Limited Open Western Pleasure, and the $4,000 NSBA 3-Year-Old Limited Non Pro Hunter Under Saddle. Competition resumes Tuesday, April 14, with A Sudden Impulse.

$5,000 NSBA Select Trail 

The $5,000 NSBA Select Trail closed out featured competition in Indoor Arena 2 as nine horse-and-rider combinations put forth their best efforts for top honors. In the end, it was Susan Johns of Scottsdale, Arizona, who piloted her own KM Flat Out The Best to victory with a score of 240.5.

Traveling across the country to compete, Johns continues to make the trip to World Equestrian Center – Ocala for a reason. “I’m from Arizona, so it’s a long trip for us, but it’s always worth it. The facility is amazing, the stalls are great, and everyone is so friendly,” she shared. “The Roberts family has done an outstanding job creating this place, and we love coming here.”

$5,000 NSBA Select Trail Top Three Results: 
1 KM Flat Out The Best, Susan Johns, Susan Johns
2 Hez Blazin Trouble, Susan Wilson, Susan Wilson
3 Snap Krackle Pop, Twylla Lynn Brown, Twylla Lynn Brown

$5,000 NSBA Amateur Trail

Thirteen horse-and-rider combinations took to UF Health Indoor Arena 2 to compete for top honors in the $5,000 NSBA Amateur Trail. Grant Mastin ultimately secured the winning trophy  with a score of 238.5 aboard Melissa Armstrong’s 2012 gelding Hand Made Machine (Machine Made x Hot Angelina).

Mastin spoke about his longtime partner, “His name is Hand Made Machine. He’s a 14-year-old gelding. We’ve owned him for a long time, and he’s been a tremendous horse. He’s won us a lot of prizes, so we’re super grateful for that. He really tries hard with everything he does. We’re just super blessed to have a great horse and a great team behind us. It was fun today, a fun course, and nice to get back out there and make up for some things from last night.”

He also shared his thoughts on the pattern, “I love how big and open a lot of the courses are. Garry did a great job setting it up and making the course really challenging and pretty tall, so you have to ride every single pole. From the gate on, it was super flowy. You’re able to keep a lot of energy and help. It was just a fun, flowy pattern with a lot of good energy.”

Mastin added, “I love coming here. I really appreciate how much the Roberts family and Greg invest in the trail because you don’t see that at other horse shows. It’s nice seeing that commitment, especially with the futurity aspect. It’s such a big class with so many phenomenal horses, and you can see every day you’re going to have a different winner because it’s that competitive.”

$5,000 NSBA Amateur Trail Top Three Results: 
1 Hand Made Machine, Grant Mastin, Melissa Armstrong
2 Hot Lopin Lily, Caroline Cavallo, Cavallo Family Trust
3 Kickin Dust Up, Molli Lyn Froman, Molli Lyn Froman

$4,000 NSBA Maturity Limited Open Western Pleasure

The $4,000 NSBA Maturity Limited Open Western Pleasure welcomed 19 competitors to the spotlight in the WEC Grand Arena on Sunday afternoon, each vying for top honors in a competitive class. Rising to the top of the field was Miranda Klein, who secured the winning title aboard Rick Smith’s 2020 mare, Doubl Or Nothin, by Certainly A Vision and out of Nice To Be Best.

Though it marked just her second outing with the talented mare, Klein has already found early success in their developing partnership, showcasing confidence and presence in the pen.

Klein shared, “Her presence is what makes her stand out in the pen. She likes to be out there having fun. Her barn name is Annie but her registered name is Doubl Or Nothin. I have only shown her one other time before this! Today, I think our lope to the right was our strongest. She really wanted to stay there and stay steady.”

“It has been so much fun to show here. It is a huge venue with great competition and it is such a great place to show,” Klein concluded, expressing her enthusiasm about competing at the venue.

$4,000 NSBA Maturity Limited Open Western Pleasure Top Three Results
1 Doubl Or Nothin, Miranda Klein, Rick Smith
2 VS Whole Lotta, Mallori Bordic, Christy Lenhart
3 She Made A Scene, Carly Veldman Parks, Mr. & Mrs. William Wikes

$4,000 NSBA Maturity Limited Non Pro Western Pleasure

Seventeen horse-and-rider combinations took to the rail in the WEC Grand Arena on Sunday for the $4,000 NSBA Maturity Limited Non Pro Western Pleasure, kicking off featured class action. In the end, Jan Shepherd Pittman secured her second win of the week aboard her own 2018 mare Good Miss Lazy (Lazy Loper x Good Miss Sunny).

Pittman spoke about her special partner, “Her nickname is Georgia. Her registered name is Good Miss Lazy. She’s out of a great mare, Good Miss Sunny, and she was bred by Vicky Pu. My trainers are Bret and Candy Parrish, and she’s just the best-minded horse I’ve ever had. I’m really blessed to have her. Every move I made today, she was on it. She listened, she tried her heart out, and she just did it so well.”

She also shared her appreciation for competing at World Equestrian Center – Ocala, “It’s the best in the world here. There is nothing like it. You can’t compare it. It’s Disney World for horses. We will definitely be coming back.”

$4,000 NSBA Maturity Limited Non Pro Western Pleasure Top Three Results
1 Good Miss Lazy, Jan Shepherd Pittman, Jan Shepherd Pittman
2 Feeling Groovey, Michelle Montieth, MNM Stoneridge LLC
3 Diime Piece, Kari Jewell, Karma Equine LLC

$4,000 NSBA 3-Year-Old Limited Non Pro Hunter Under Saddle 

The $4,000 NSBA 3-Year-Old Limited Non-Pro Hunter Under Saddle concluded competition Sunday in the WEC Grand Arena, where Ann Lapacinski rode to the win aboard her own 2023 gelding, Enticed N Addictive (Enticed x Hot N Addictive).

Lapacinski shared about her new partnership with “Randy,” “This is Randy, also known as Enticed N Addictive, and we actually got him at Congress. He was reserve in the 2-Year-Old Maiden, so we picked him up there.”

The duo showcased a bright future ahead as they claimed victory in their first class together. “This is actually our first time showing together! I rode him at Congress, and then he went back to the farm. I feel so good,” she smiled. “It is always fun when you have a great ride. He is super cool, so chill, and has such a sweet personality.”

When asked what makes Randy stand out, she emphasized his consistency and way of going. “I think he’s really good at just staying in his spot. He’s a phenomenal trotter, and when he lopes, he’s just so flat up front with a great hock split. He’s just fun to ride.”

$4,000 NSBA 3-Year-Old Limited Non Pro Hunter Under Saddle Top Three Results
1 Enticed N Addictive, Ann Lapacinski, Ann Lapacinski
2 Sunday In Augusta, Meaghan Pye, Meaghan Pye
3 IHeartYou, Kristin Roman, Kristin Roman

The Orange Blossom Classic continues through Sunday, April 12, followed by A Sudden Impulse beginning Tuesday, April 14 and running through Saturday, April 18. Spectators are welcome to enjoy competition throughout both weeks.

Join us on Friday, April 17 at 7pm for the $142,000 NSBA All-Age Open Trail Finals, featuring the first-ever $100,000 winner’s payout.

There is no charge for admission or parking. *Times are subject to change.

Learn more about the Orange Blossom Classic & A Sudden Impulse here.

Photos courtesy of Shane Rux Photography.

Make sure to visit the WEC Blog and follow us on social media @worldequestriancenter for full coverage on all feature classes.