The duo showed their pattern in the Mustang Arena late in the order and topped the scores to take the Open Junior Western Riding title for owner Karen Perkins. “This is Ruby, and we’ve had Ruby around the barn, but Karen just bought her in April of this year,” Jamie explained. “Karen bought her two days before the start of the Orange Blossom Classic/A Sudden Impulse in Ocala, Florida. We took her down there and we just started showing her.”

Jamie has had Ruby in the barn, but she hadn’t had an opportunity to shine at the national level previously. “The previous owners showed her locally, and I had shown her locally a little bit too,” she explained.

“I just adore her. She’s just a very special horse and I’m excited to get to show her. She’s done pretty good all week but this is definitely the icing on her performances. I came out first thing in the morning and ran the pattern once, and she was great. I pulled her out and let her play on the Longe Line around lunch time, and then I came out and trotted over some poles and changed two leads and thought that my horse was good. I walked her for a minute and took her in and showed her. She went in and did exactly what I wanted. She was right there with me and it was just a lot of fun.”

The five year old red roan mare is by VS Code Red and out of Johnnie On The Spot. “Karen is going to start showing her next year in Novice/Level 1 Western Pleasure,” Jamie said. “She would really like to start showing in Western Riding, but I told her it’s going to take a little while for me to get Ruby solid in it. But she’ll get to show her next year in the Western Pleasure and we’ll work up to it. Karen is a great owner.

“I just adore her. She’s just a very special horse and I’m excited to get to show her. She’s done pretty good all week but this is definitely the icing on her performances. I came out first thing in the morning and ran the pattern once, and she was great. I pulled her out and let her play on the Longe Line around lunch time, and then I came out and trotted over some poles and changed two leads and thought that my horse was good. I walked her for a minute and took her in and showed her. She went in and did exactly what I wanted. She was right there with me and it was just a lot of fun.”

When asked about winning the final class of the show, Jamie said “Everyone was tired and wanted to go home, and I said I could not show and go home or finish it out, and I’m glad we stayed and showed. It was a good ending, but I’m so excited to go home. I’m getting married in two weeks.”

Best wishes to Jamie and Mark Katafiasz on their upcoming wedding! NSBA sends a huge thank you and safe travels to all exhibitors and spectators as they travel home from this year’s NSBA World Championship Show!

To view complete shows results from the 2026 NSBA World Championship Show and Breeders Championship Futurity, please visit nsba.com and choose the World Show drop down menu, and then choose World Show Results.

Top image courtesy of Cody Parmenter Photography..