Unanimous Win for Isabella Stanley Kicks off PreMadness Futurities

From NSBA:

Isabella Stanley kept hearing her number called out as the judges placings were announced in the Pre-Madness All Age Non-Pro Hunter Under Saddle Futurity on Friday – and after each judge’s card was read, she found herself as the unanimous first place winner in the class of 11 exhibitors.

“I didn’t expect it,” Isabella said. “I was so surprised!”

Isabella shouldn’t be too surprised, however, since she and Walk N After Midnite were just named champions in the 2025 Orange Blossom Non-Pro Hunter Under Saddle Maturity in Ocala two weeks ago. They were also third in the Limited division of the 2024 Quarter Horse Congress Non-Pro Hunter Under Saddle Maturity and fifth in the Non-Pro division of the same class last year.

The 2019 AQHA gelding whom Isabella calls Dewey is by Good Better Best and out of the mare A Walk In The Sky (by Skys Blue Boy). “I’ve had him for almost three years,” Isabella said. “We got him as an early three year old. I just love his personality. He’s so quirky and there’s never a dull moment with him. That’s what I love about him – he always surprises me.”

Isabella was pleased with her go in Friday’s class. “Our go today was really consistent and he listened to me very well,” she said. The duo specializes in this class. “We just show in the Non-Pro Hunter Under Saddle Maturity and Youth 14-18 Level 3 Hunter Under Saddle,” Isabella explained.

The high school sophomore is counting the days to summer, because she has a busy show schedule planned. “We’re going to the AQHYA World Championship Show, and then the NSBA World Championship Show,” she said. “We’re just going to keep working to get better.”

It was a great start to their 2025 Pre-Madness and Madness show. The duo also earned first place in Youth 14-18 Hunter Under Saddle as well on Friday.

Complete results for the Pre-Madness All Age Non-Pro Hunter Under Saddle included:
Champions: Walk N After Midnite, Isabella Stanley for Jeffrey T. Stanely, $583.10
Reserve Champions: Its Krunch Time, Taylin Paige Collins, $463.05
Third: Too Blazin Cook, Alexia Tordoff for Wild Oats Farm LLC, $343.00
Fourth: WutILoveAboutSunday, Dawn York, $171.50
Fifth (tie): Up N The Ante, Melissa Wilkes for Mr. and Mrs. William Wilkes, $77.18
Sixth (tie): Hez Blazing Brave, Hilary Hoffman, $77.18

The Pre-Madness continues through Sunday at the World Equestrian Center in Wilmington, Ohio. Saturday will feature a full day of AQHA and NSBA Trail and Western Riding classes, while Sunday’s schedule includes Horsemanship, Western Pleasure and the $1,500 NSBA Three Year Old Limited Open Western Pleasure Futurity.

To view complete show results, please visit horseshowtracker.com.