NSBA Rail Horse Of The Year: R C Kola
Photo by Cody Parmenter Photography.
From NSBA:
Madeleine Bayless was not shopping for a three year old Hunter Under Saddle horse when R C Kola came into her life, but as the saying goes – great things can happen when you least expect them.
“I was not at the A Sudden Impulse show last Spring, but Keith Miller called me and said there is a horse here we think would be perfect for you,” she explained. “I already had a Paint three year old that we were going to campaign last year.
“We had been showing ‘Drake’ (Im Willy Good Today) in all the classes, and since he’s getting older, we knew eventually we wanted another horse that could share the class load, and he thought this gelding could be the horse to do that. Keith sent me videos and he tried him. He knows me and how I ride, and so I trusted his guidance to buy him.”
Solid As A Roc
R C Kola, by Its A Southern Thing and out of Its Al Over (Allocated Your Assets), was bred and raised by Johnny Tart. Joy and Justin Wheeler started the gelding known as ‘Roc’ for Johnny, and took him to the Orange Blossom Classic/A Sudden Impulse Futurity in Ocala, where Joy showed him in the Three Year Old and Over Maiden Hunter Under Saddle.
The duo won both the Open and Limited divisions of the class as well as the Open and Limited Open Three Year Old Hunter Under Saddle futurities at the circuit. Roc went home from Ocala with Keith.
Watching His Progress
Keith had been following R C Kola for a while. “I actually saw him at Joy and Justin Wheeler’s place as a two year old,” he explained. “I had loved him even then, but things didn’t work out at that time get him bought. For a while they thought they would show him as a two year old at the NSBA World Show, but they decided to turn him out and save him for the Maiden class as a three year old.”
Time did not diminish Keith’s enthusiasm for the gelding. “When I saw him with Joy in Ocala, he looked so good,” he said. “He had matured and trained up so well. I called Madeleine and told her that I knew she already had a once in a lifetime horse with Im Willy Good Today, but I felt that this horse could be another one of his caliber. I tried him and loved him, and we brought him home with us. We’ve bought three or four horses from Joy and Justin, and they are awesome to work with.”
Working Together
“I didn’t have an opportunity to ride him until a few weeks later,” Madeleine said. “He was perfect. When you realize he didn’t have a Non-Pro rider up to that point, and only Joy and Keith had been on him, that says a lot about him. He was the perfect gentleman for me. I trusted in Keith that he would be able to do it and it worked out.”
It was magical, if not a little stressful, for Keith. “We had only had him about a month before The Premier in Kentucky, and when we got there and Madeleine met him, we just hoped she liked him,” he laughed. “They got along really well together from the start.”
Madeleine was more and more impressed with Roc as they spent time together. “He’s super sweet,” she said. “He loves the attention but he isn’t pushy about it. Riding him isn’t overly complicated because it’s so natural for him and he has so much self-carriage. He’s just the total package, and you can tell he wants to do well. He really is solid as a rock, so he was well named!”
Meaningful Majors
The trio of Keith, Madeleine and Roc made their shows count in 2025. They competed in five show circuits throughout 2025 and never placed below third in their outings. “We were pretty strategic in the shows we attended,” Madeleine said.
“We wanted Roc to get enough exposure that he felt comfortable and solid at the majors, but we didn’t want to overexpose him. We went to shows where I could spend time riding and getting in sync with him. Keith gives such wonderful guidance for me about how often, when and where to show, so I really lean on his expertise.
“Our goal was really to campaign in the Three Year Old Open and Non-Pro Hunter Under Saddle classes. The Horse Of The Year title was nowhere on our radar.”
In addition to their debut wins in the Orange Blossom Classic Maiden Three Year Old and Older Hunter Under Saddle futurities, Joy, Keith and Madeline showed Roc to the win in the Premier Hunter Under Saddle Stakes, as well as NSBA world championships in Three Year Old Open, Non-Pro and Three Year Old Novice Horse Hunter Under Saddle and BCF championships in Three Year Old Open and Limited Non-Pro Hunter Under Saddle.
“Roc really stepped up,” noted Keith. “He’s just a great animal that is super talented. He trots great, he canters great. He’s the type of horse that in today’s world appeals to a lot of different types of judges, whatever their preference. He just appeals to the masses.”
Their year also included multiple Quarter Horse Congress championships and an AQHA reserve world championship in Junior Hunter Under Saddle. On his way to the award, R C Kola won 310.5 NSBA points and $67,744.97 in NSBA earnings.
Reflecting On 2025
Madeleine has fond memories of her first year with Roc. “I’ve had the opportunity to ride and show several really special Hunter Under Saddle horses, but I had never won an NSBA, Congress or world championship,” she said.
“It was surreal to be able to win all three last year – especially knowing that we had so little time together. Winning the NSBA world championship was the first major title for me. I remember getting pretty emotional in the line-up and while taking that victory lap!”
Madeleine and Roc’s AQHA world title also holds special meaning. “To have won the Amateur Hunter Under Saddle knowing that I was on a three year old was really something special,” she said.
This year, the team will compete in Open and Non-Pro Hunter Under Saddle Maturity classes and Madeleine will also compete with Roc in Amateur Hunter Under Saddle.
