The NSBA members who competed in Ranch Riding classes on Sunday at the Congress earned more than NSBA bronze trophies – in some cases, they were earning big checks in the Stakes and Futurity classes.

Noel Meadows Wins First Congress Title In Limited Open Ranch Riding Futurity

Noel Meadows earned her first Congress championship in a big way on Monday, winning the Limited division of the Three Year Old Open Ranch Riding Futurity, and placing fourth in the Open division of the class with Lil Vintage Grace.

“I have been training for five years now,” she said. “I tied to win at the Congress in the Youth Working Hunter, but I had never won a class here. It’s a little emotional. 

“This is Lil Vintage Grace, we call her Grace. We got her in March and she came from Brian Bell’s program. Valerie bought her and she has just exceeded every expectation. She’s so much fun, she loves to show, and I think she wants to win as just much as I do. She’s been a blast to show.

“She is probably way smarter than I am. In our pattern today, I really liked our lead change, and that was probably what I was most nervous about. We showed her at the Three Year Old Futurity at the APHA World Show and at the NSBA World Show, and we hadn’t done a lead change all year. My dad (Steve Meadows) has changed leads on her but I hadn’t. I love her extended trot – that’s something that draws everyone to her. She has a big fancy Hunter trot, and I’m a Hunter person, so I love that. I felt like we finally got all the pieces together at this show. I’m honored to be in the top ten of the Open division as well.

Bud Lyon and ‘Chevy’ Win Open Ranch Riding Futurity

Mis America Pie and Bud Lyon bested the competition in the Open Ranch Riding Futurity, earning a check for $5,402.64. “She is by In Like Flinn and out of a Gunnatrashya named Gunna Moonya Shine,” Bud said. “Josh and Kelsey Crawley at Cedar Ridge bred and raised her – they own both the mare and stand the stallion. This truly is a home-grown mare.

“Josh and Kelsey had told me that they thought they had a nice horse, and I have a lot of respect for them. This is the first time they have been involved in the Ranch events at this level. We were fortunate enough to win the IRHA Futurity at the APHA World Show, and she was second in the NSBA Futurity and won the Green Ranch Riding at the NSBA World Show, and she’s done well here too. I hope that Josh and Kelsey are proud of her accomplishments. 

“She has great quality of movement, she’s usually very expressive with her ears, and has a really elegant look. Everywhere we’ve shown her, the judges seem to gravitate to her. She’s got that it factor, a sense of presence in the show pen, and she’s very refined. She has a very bright future.”

Lane Kail and Rory Win Non-Pro Ranch Riding Stakes

Lane Kail and SS Walk The Line have only been working together since the start of 2026, but they quickly became a force to be reckoned with, and they proved it again on Thursday in the Non-Pro Ranch Riding Stakes. They won the class along with a check for $7,698. 

“We bought him last year here at the Congress from Jordan Martin,” Lane explained. “Jordan showed him at the AQHA World Show and then he came home with us from there. We went to our first show in January and won the Ranch Riding the first time we did it. We kind of knew he was going to be on point. We call him Rory.

“I like how much expression he has. He goes around with his ears up and you can tell he likes his job and has fun doing it. He’s very consistent and there’s not a lot you have to worry about with him. He really doesn’t have any weak spots. 

“On our pattern today, when I knew he would be really good was when we extend trotted, and he went right off with his head down and ears forward and doing our turn – we were able to go for it. There were so many great riders and horses in the class that we kind of had to go for it. The cut of was a 241 to make the top 15, that’s something. He does all the Ranch events and he shows in Halter too.” 

To view the complete show results from the Quarter Horse Congress, visit the Horse Show Tracker app or go to 
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About NSBA

Established in 1983, National Snaffle Bit Association has expanded from its roots in the Western Pleasure discipline to recognize various disciplines and ten breed associations in competition. NSBA’s mission is to grow the show horse community through various equine programs and events where every activity benefits horses, breeders, owners and exhibitors alike.

National Snaffle Bit Association has more than 20,000 active members and more than 44,000 registered horses across its ten alliance breed organizations. NSBA members earn more than $13.5 million in monetary awards at NSBA-sanctioned horse shows annually, and the association sanctions nearly 600 horse show events and close to 200,000 horse show entries each year.

To learn more about NSBA, please visit nsba.com.