Ryan Painter Wins Sixth NSBA World Show Hunter Derby

The NSBA World Championship Show officially kicked off classes on Thursday, August 13, with the Markel Insurance Working Hunter Derby, providing an exciting start to the 2026 show.

Ryan Painter, of Ocala, Florida, made history when he won his sixth NSBA World Show Hunter Derby, showing Pardon My French for owner Tara Lawall of San Luis Obispo, California. Ryan and the bay mare bested the field of 23 exhibitors with a composite score of 365.

“I really didn’t know that much about her,” Ryan said of the six year old Hanovarian mare. “Tara brought her to me here at the World Show and I just rode her for the first time the other day. I was pretty conservative with her in the Classic round since I don’t know her that well yet, and then she did everything I asked of her in the Handy round.” Known as Mausi, the mare is by Perligueux and out of Early Day.

2026 is the twelfth year for the Working Hunter Derby at the NSBA World Championship Show, which became part of the show in 2014. Exhibitors praise the unique class, that is open to all breeds registered with NSBA.

A Class With Two Parts

“The Markel Insurance Working Hunter Derby is a special class,” explained course designer David Warner. “It is a higher level class that gives exhibitors and horses more of a challenge. It’s also well-supported by the exhibitors.”

The Working Hunter Classic consists of two rounds. The Classic round is a straight-forward course with nine three-feet high jumps and three optional jumps that are set at three feet, three inches high. Exhibitors and horses receive a base score plus one bonus point for each higher option they jump added to their base score.

The top 15 scorers from the first or Classic round return to jump in the Handy Hunter round. In the Handy round, exhibitors again can earn bonus points for each of the three higher options they jump, but can also earn up to five bonus points for level of handiness. Both the Classic and Handy round scores are added together to determine the winner.

“The Handy round has tighter turns, bending lines, and we’ve added an option to do a trot jump or a bounce where there are no strides, they just land in a twelve-foot space and take back off,” David explains. “Handiness is track work, smooth turns and efficient turns. Riders can take risks by taking higher options and tighter turns and can be reworded for doing it well with their option points and handy points.”

“The Working Hunter Classic is meant to mimic being out in the hunt field,” explained Sandra Vaughn. “There is more to the course, the jumps are a little brighter, but yet the course is inviting to all levels. Youth and Amateur exhibitors can show against Open riders as well, making it a fun class that everyone seems to enjoy competing in.”

Scores for each round are announced, allowing the crowd to become more involved in the competition. Four judges officiate the Working Hunter Derby, who judge in two panels of two judges. Each panel discusses the scores and collaborates, so that two judges’ scores for each horse are announced. 

The top five placings in the class included:
Champion: Pardon My French, Ryan Painter for Tara Lawall, $1,500
Reserve Champion: Fred Astaire, Tyler Haney for Marcie McLenon, $1,000
Third: DGS Legacy, Jessica Johnson for Robin DeGraff, $800
Fourth: My Next Edition, Ryan Painter for Hana Thomas, $600
Fifth: De Opera VDL, Caroline Schlieker for C2 Investments GP Inc, $400/Highest Placing Non-Pro Bonus $1,000

The NSBA World Show is taking place at the Built Ford Tough Livestock Complex at Expo Square in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Working Hunter Derby included a watch and welcome party in the Ford Truck Arena.  

Show exhibitors also had additional opportunities to compete on Thursday in the Show Your Colors NSBA, AQHA and APHA show, which continues through August 14. Ranch Show Your Colors classes will take place on August 19.

To view complete show results, please visit nsba.com and choose World Show. The NSBA World Championship Show continues through Sunday, August 23.