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The National Snaffle Bit Association (NSBA) has announced the recipients of its 2025 Horse of the Year Awards, recognizing four exceptional horses whose performances stood out across the association’s diverse competition divisions throughout the year.
Presented annually, the Horse of the Year honors recognize horses whose success reflects consistent participation, strong show records, and points earned across NSBA-approved competition throughout the season. The awards also highlight the dedication of the owners, trainers, riders, and breeders whose work contributes to the continued growth of the show horse industry.
For 2025, NSBA recognized top performers in four divisions: Rail, All Around Performance, Ranch Performance, and Hunter/Jumper. The following horses led their respective categories through consistent performances across major events throughout the season.
All Around Performance Horse of the Year: The Batchelor
The 2017 gelding The Batchelor, by How Bout This Cowboy and out of Shes Blazing Cool (by Blazing Hot), delivered a standout season in all-around competition. Shown by Ady Kallay in youth competition and Sara Simons in open events, the talented gelding competed successfully across a wide range of classes, including Showmanship, Horsemanship, Hunt Seat Equitation, Trail, and Performance Halter Geldings. Their campaign featured major wins at several of the year’s premier events, including the Sun Circuit, Orange Blossom / A Sudden Impulse, and The Premier.
Building on that momentum, The Batchelor delivered an especially strong performance at the NSBA World Championship Show. There, Ady and The Batchelor captured NSBA world championships and American Quarter Horse Youth Association championships in Western Riding, Hunt Seat Equitation, and Horsemanship—an impressive display of the versatility that defines a top all-around competitor.
Meanwhile, Sara Simons added further highlights to the gelding’s record, earning a reserve championship and a $20,000 payday in the NSBA $100,000 Senior Trail class, along with an American Quarter Horse Association Reserve World Championship in Senior Trail. By the end of the season, The Batchelor had accumulated 935 NSBA points and $31,492.65 in earnings, securing the title of All Around Performance Horse of the Year.
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Hunter/Jumper Horse of the Year: DGS Legacy
The 2020 stallion DGS Legacy, by DGS Replicated and out of PR Real Quiet (by Duplicated Deck), emerged as one of the year’s most accomplished hunter horses. Guided by Jessica Johnson, the stallion collected multiple wins throughout the season in Junior Hunter Hack and Level 1 Working Hunter, while also claiming victory in the Gulf Coast Hunter Derby.
As the season progressed, DGS Legacy continued to build an impressive record at major events. Highlights included a World Championship at the NSBA World Championship Show in Green Working Hunter, along with a Reserve World Championship in Junior Hunter Hack. The pair also captured a championship at the Quarter Horse Congress in Level 1 Working Hunter, further establishing their place among the division’s top competitors.
Their success carried into the AQHA World Championship Show, where DGS Legacy added multiple world titles, including Junior Hunter Hack, Level 1 Hunter Hack, Level 1 Working Hunter, and Progressive Working Hunter. By the end of the year, the stallion had accumulated 252 NSBA points and $17,065.83 in earnings, securing the Hunter/Jumper Horse of the Year title
Rail Horse of the Year: R C Kola
Few horses displayed the kind of steady consistency seen from R C Kola, the 2022 gelding by Its A Southern Thing and out of Its Al Over (by Allocate Your Assets). From his debut at the Orange Blossom Classic to the season finale at the Gulf Coast Circuit, the young horse never placed below third—an impressive achievement in competitive rail classes.
Throughout the season, shown by Joy Wheeler, Keith Miller, and owner Madeline M. Bayless, R C Kola captured several major victories. Among them were titles in the Orange Blossom Classic Maiden Three-Year-Old and Older Hunter Under Saddle Futurity and The Premier Hunter Under Saddle Stakes.
His remarkable run continued at the NSBA World Championship Show, where the gelding earned world championships in Three-Year-Old Open, Non-Pro, and Novice Horse Hunter Under Saddle. He also secured Breeders Championship Futurity titles in Three-Year-Old Open and Limited Non-Pro Hunter Under Saddle. Additional highlights included multiple championships at the Quarter Horse Congress and an American Quarter Horse Association Reserve World Championship in Junior Hunter Under Saddle. By the end of the season, R C Kola had accumulated 310.5 NSBA points and $67,744.97 in earnings, earning the title of Rail Horse of the Year.
Ranch Performance Horse of the Year: Xtra Wimpys Catalyst
In the ranch division, Xtra Wimpys Catalyst proved his versatility across several events throughout the 2025 season. The 2015 black stallion, by Wimpys Little Step and out of Im Not Blonde (by Catalyst Too), began his show year competing in Senior Ranch Riding before expanding his schedule to include Ranch Trail and Ranch Rail. The stallion was shown in open competition by Matt and Beth Gouthro, while owner Erika Collins Sterling competed in non-pro events across the country.
As the season developed, Matt and Erika each earned Reserve World Championships at the NSBA World Championship Show in Senior Ranch Riding and Amateur Ranch Rail. The horse also delivered strong performances at the Quarter Horse Congress, capturing victories in the Open Working Western Rail Stakes and Open Ranch Trail Stakes.
The strong campaign continued at the AQHA World Championship Show, where Beth Gouthro earned a Reserve World Championship in Level 2 Senior Ranch Riding, and Erika Collins Sterling guided the stallion to an AQHA World Championship in All Age Non-Pro Ranch Rail. Over the course of the year, Xtra Wimpys Catalyst accumulated 688 NSBA points and $41,849.48 in earnings, securing the Ranch Performance Horse of the Year title.
Recognizing the Season’s Top Horses
Each year, the NSBA Horse of the Year awards celebrate the horses whose accomplishments represent the best of the show horse industry. From the elegance of the rail divisions to the versatility of all-around competition and the athleticism of ranch and hunter events, the honorees reflect the diverse talents required to excel in modern show horse competition.
Looking ahead, the 2025 Horse of the Year winners will be formally recognized during the 2026 NSBA World Championship Show and Breeders Championship Futurity, where they will be honored at the NSBA Honors Banquet on Sunday, August 16, as well as through arena presentations throughout the week. Ultimately, their achievements stand as a testament to the partnerships between horse and rider—and to the dedication of the teams who guide these horses to success in the show pen.