A Sudden Impulse: Tuesday, April 14, 2026 Featured Class Highlights

Ocala, FL – A Sudden Impulse is officially underway at World Equestrian Center – Ocala, with top competition continuing through Saturday, April 18. Tuesday’s highlights include the $6,000 NSBA Maturity Open & Intermediate Open Hunter Under Saddle, the $5,000 NSBA 4-Year-Old Open Hunter Under Saddle, and the $6,000 NSBA 3-Year-Old Open & Intermediate Open Hunter Under Saddle, in addition to the $1,500 Super Sires Stakes.

$6,000 NSBA Maturity Open Hunter Under Saddle & $5,000 NSBA 4-Year-Old Open Hunter Under Saddle

Competition in the WEC Grand Arena got underway early Tuesday morning with the $6,000 NSBA Maturity Open Hunter Under Saddle. Keith Miller kicked off a busy day with a win aboard Madeleine Bayless’ 2022 gelding R C Kola (Its A Southern Thing x Its Al Over), then returned shortly after to capture his second featured victory of the day in the $5,000 NSBA 4-Year-Old Open Hunter Under Saddle.

“We bought R C Kola at this horse show last year for a customer, the Bayless family. We actually tried him as a two-year-old and loved him then as well,” Miller reflected. “He trots great, canters great. He is really smooth and effortless, with a lot of elastic movement in his front legs and a lot of lift. And he has tons of expression.”

“When he was here last year, we watched him win the Maiden class. We loved him, and I called Madeleine and said, ‘I think we found another great horse.’ He has made a lot of hopes and dreams come true for her,” Miller smiled. “He was her first Congress champion, and she also won the NSBA World Show in the Amateur with him, so he has been a wonderful, wonderful horse.”

When asked about his experience showing at WEC – Ocala, Miller said, “Oh, there is no place like it! It is the absolute best. It is so clean and user-friendly. The horses love it. The footing is great, the grounds are great, and we have tons of places to ride. What else could you want?”

$6,000 NSBA Maturity Open Hunter Under Saddle Top Three Results

1 R C Kola, Keith Miller, Madeleine Bayless
2 Always GoodToBe Best, Beth Case, Daisy Mendez-Pompei
3 Al Right All Right, Katy Jo Zuidema, Cindy Kazakevicius

 

Jesse Jones scored yet another Intermediate title riding Kim & Tim Lindsey’s 2018 All Silver Linings (Allocate Your Assets x A Walk In The Sky) to victory in the Maturity Intermediate Open Hunter Under Saddle.

$5,000 NSBA 4-Year-Old Open Hunter Under Saddle Top Three Results 

1 R C Kola, Keith Miller, Madeleine Bayless
2 You Proof, Dawn Baker, Haley Hartman
3 Shezza Outlaw, Jamie English, Brenda Ramirez

 

$6,000 NSBA 3-Year-Old Open & Intermediate Open Hunter Under Saddle 

Thirteen horse-and-rider combinations took to the rail to showcase their best efforts in pursuit of the top honor in the $6,000 NSBA 3-Year-Old Open Hunter Under Saddle. Ultimately, it was Amber Hanson Pickard who piloted Gerri Leigh Pratt’s Marilynd (Enticed x Hot N Addictive) to an impressive victory, also capturing the $1,500 Super Sires Stakes win.

Reflecting on Marilynd’s journey and the story behind their partnership, Pickard shared, “We were partners on the mare that she is out of and my owner sold her embryo to another customer and we bought her back as a yearling because we had to have her! We sold her to Gerri Leigh Pratt because she wanted a nice fancy three-year-old, and that’s what she is!”

Speaking further on her experience at the venue and preparing horses for competition, she added, “I enjoy prepping horses here, it is always so sunny and nice out. There is plenty of room to get the horses ready and not be rushed.”

$6,000 NSBA 3-Year-Old Open Hunter Under Saddle Top Three Results

1 Marilynd, Amber Hanson Pickard, Gerri Leigh Pratt
2 Good Times Roll, Alyse Roberts, Lauren Allen
3 Enticed N Addictive, Ann Lapacinski, Ann Lapacinski

The Intermediate win went to Julian Harris and What A Ripper LLC’s The Queen Beee.

A Sudden Impulse continues through Saturday, April 18. Spectators are welcome to enjoy competition throughout the week.

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.