Sarah Rose Jons and Inferno Joe Earn First NSBA Non-Pro Ranch Trail Stakes Win at Congress
Sarah Rose Jons and her family with “Buddy Joe” after winning the Non Pro Ranch Trail Stakes on Thursday. Photo by Reid Thomas.
By Sarah Welk Baynum
After years of building their partnership, Sarah Rose Jons and Inferno Joe reached a new milestone at the All-American Quarter Horse Congress, winning the Non-Pro Ranch Trail Stakes NSBA.
The victory marked Jons’ first stakes win, making it especially meaningful with “Buddy Joe,” her partner of nearly five years.
“I’ve worked really hard to get here, and I truly could not have done it without this horse,” Jons said. “He has helped me so much with the trail because he knows how to do it so well. At the same time, I’m teaching him while he’s teaching me. I couldn’t ask for a better partner to do it with.”
That partnership has become particularly valuable in Ranch Trail, where Jons said the 8-year-old is quick to step in when she needs a little help.
“I’m not always great with my distances to the poles, and he’s really there to help me out whenever I need it,” Jons said. “Sometimes I’m thinking, ‘Please help me,’ and he’s always there for me. I’m very thankful for that.”
In their winning pattern, Jons felt especially confident through the trot serpentine and into the sidepass, where Buddy Joe responded exactly as she hoped.
“My trot serpentine all the way through my sidepass felt really, really good,” Jons said. “I was kind of like, ‘Okay, we’re going to do this.’ I pushed him, and he was like, ‘Yes, ma’am, I’ve got you.’”
The title added another accomplishment to a long list of wins and reserve championships for the pair—but this one was especially meaningful.
“I had never won the stakes before, and I have always wanted to win one,” she said. “So this is very exciting and very special.”
Jons is also showing Little JFK and Little Rough And Tough in the ranch classes at Congress, but Buddy Joe remains the most experienced of the group.
At 8 years old, he has become the horse Jons can rely on when the trail pattern gets technical.
“He’s always got my back out there,” Jons added.
Sarah Rose Jons and her family with Lil Ruf N Tuf after winning the L1 Junior Ranch Trail Friday morning! Photo: Reid Thomas.
(UPDATE: Sarah also rode her other sorrel gelding, Lil Ruf N Tuf, to win the L1 Junior Ranch Trail at Congress Friday morning!)
