“With 40s Across the Board” Leon Barber and Never Look Back DLB Make AWPA History

Featured in Arabian Horse Times

It is not easy to become a national champion, but it is even more rare to be named a national champion and make history in the same moment. Leon Barber and his special half-Arabian gelding Never Look Back DLB did just that at the 2025 Mid Summer Nationals. They were the winners of the AWPA HA/AA Western Pleasure AOTR Maturity. The extra special part? They received a perfect score – the first in AWPA history.

The Arabian Western Pleasure Association has been hosting a jackpot futurity class for four-year-old horses at the US Nationals since 2016. And they began having an AOTR class for both purebred and half-Arabians in 2018. That means there have been 18 futurity national champions and 14 maturity national champions named before them, but Leon and Dutton were the first to achieve this feat. With 294 at the top of everyone’s card, history was made.

“Receiving the first perfect score in the history of the AWPA has been an incredible honor with this particular horse,” Leon says about sharing this moment with Never Look Back DLB.  “He truly is very special and talented.”

This is not only a special moment for the Barbers and Dutton’s team of trainers and caretakers, but also for the AWPA program.

“I couldn’t believe we had a unanimous champion,” Michele Reser AWPA Board President shares.

“We’ve gotten close in the Futurity, but to have all five judges agree on a winner is incredible. The goal of the AWPA has always been to encourage the breeding of top-quality Western Pleasure horses. To watch so many amateurs riding their horses at such a high level demonstrates that the AWPA program is achieving its goals. I also feel the team of Leon and “Dutton” is a perfect example of when a horse and rider have a great connection.”

“The AWPA gives value to the young horses in our industry,” Leon says about the program. “It has brought an excitement to the junior horse program for both the professionals and amateurs.” In jest he adds, “the money does not hurt either.”

The Barbers (Leon and his wife Deb) purchased Dutton from Sweet Grass Arabians in 2021, after Deb found him. Leon says that from the moment they saw the special horse Deb discovered, they felt he was special. And that feeling was solidified at the 2023 US Nationals when he won the HA/AA Western Pleasure Futurity with Colby Powell (while in training with Shamrock Farms) and the HA/AA Western Pleasure AAOTR 60+ with Leon. Leon and Dutton then repeated that same victory in 2024.

Leon mentions Dutton’s “natural talent” more than once. But, adds that this natural talent is enhanced and promoted by a talented team of people. Cody Gillespie trains him out of their facility Stockbridge Equestrian Center. The Barbers are grateful for all his work and support. He then made special mention of Katelynn Oppenhuizen from Equine Athlete and Scott Lemieux, Dutton’s farrier. Leon thanks Colby, and Jody Strand (who rode Dutton in the 2024 AWPA Futurity) for their incredible showmanship in both classes.

A such a young age, Dutton has already proven to be a standout in the half-Arabian western pleasure division.  In his three years of national competition, he has amassed five national championships (two of which being at the 2025 Mid Summer Nationals) and three top ten awards in very competitive classes.

Leon wants to make a special mention of his wife Deb’s insight, support, and involvement in Dutton’s journey. Leon simply says, “without her, none of this would happen. She deserves a lot of credit for this incredible journey.”

“On to the future and … Never Look Back!”

“I feel extremely I feel extremely lucky to be able to share this experience with Dutton and Deb,” Leon says.