Jeffrey Johns and Nothin But Nett Slam Dunk Amateur Western Riding at 2025 AQHA World

November 7, 2025 | Filed under: Around The Ring Galleries,Current Articles,Featured,Show Results & Gallery | Posted by: Delores Kuhlwein

He’s done so much for me, he doesn’t owe me anything more, and he never owed me anything to begin with. I feel very blessed to call Steph my horse.~ Jeffrey Johns.

Jeffrey Johns has always possessed a cherished connection with Nothin But Nett, the 2017 bay stallion by Machine Made and out of KM Hot Number, (by RL Best of Sudden) bred by Bret and Candy Parrish.

That connection with “Steph” was very apparent during the historic tiebreaker rideoff for Jeffrey for World Champion and Reserve titles in the L3 Amateur Trail Finals at the 2022 AQHA World Championship Show! The rideoff involved both his horses: Nothin But Nett and KM Flat Out The Best, who were tied across the board for first in their initial patterns in the finals with Jeffrey.

All eyes were on Jeffrey and both horses during the rideoff, and when the dust settled, the World Champion was Nothin But Nett. Although both horses performed amazingly, somehow, Jeffrey and Steph just seemed to glide through the course together.

See Jeffrey’s interview after that performance:

Jeffrey Johns Rides in Historic Tiebreaker for AQHA World and Reserve Amateur Trail Tiles

Since that time, Steph’s repertoire of accolades has grown immensely with both Jeffrey and with trainer Deanna Searles (with multiple World Championships and more, as well as the AQHA Reserve Superhorse title) as has his reputation as a young sire producing winning foals.

So as he approaches what will eventually become a focused career as a breeding stallion, Jeffrey says he had one more goal – to win Western Riding with him.

That wish came true Thursday evening in the L3 Amateur Western Riding at the 2025 AQHA World Championship Show, as the pair were crowned L3 World Champions in Amateur Western Riding.

“I had told Deanna, one last thing I want to do with him before I potentially don’t ride him anymore – before he goes to the stud barn – is to win a western riding trophy. I didn’t care what color it was. So this is the one. I’m so proud of him.”

Having the stallion and watching his two and three-year-old offspring win at NSBA and at Congress has been extremely fun for Jeffrey and his family, but he says it’s also a challenge during breeding season. “I don’t know how many years I’ll have left since he’s starting to produce a lot of good foals. I keep showing him because he’s so talented, but I know his potential as a sire is the most important thing for the industry. He’s done so much for me, he doesn’t owe me anything more, and he never owed me anything to begin with.”

He’s looking forward to showing some of Steph’s babies and potentially showing in the Three-Year-Old Pleasure Versatility Challenge in the future. Most of all, he says he’s grateful to many for this journey. “I want to say thank you to my mom, to God, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Jim and Deanna for doing so much, and there are so many people I thank – it takes a village and we have a big village.”

Jeffrey reflects back on when Steph first became theirs. “We weren’t looking for a stud – we were looking for a new trail horse, and Rusty and Katie Green found him for us during COVID, and so many people knew of his potential. It has been an honor to be a part of his story.”