The Jim Norick Coliseum was filled with cheering and standing ovations for the inaugural National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Military and Futurity Slides.

For the Military Slide, NRHA partnered with the Two Ravens Foundation to invite veterans to participate in the exhibition. NRHA Professionals, led by NRHA Million Dollar Rider Nathan Piper and his team, worked with the veterans throughout the season to help them get to know their equine partners before the afternoon slide exhibition.

“Having the opportunity that NRHA gave us at this show is just incredible,” said Reed Knutson, founder of the Two Ravens Foundation. “We were able to show what our veterans can really do and show what we are built to do and display our skills, other than just what people think may be training for a war. We are very good at being able to adapt; we are very resilient, and we are leaders. That’s what a horse needs—a good and true leader to be able to run down and do something great. We are able to calm ourselves enough not to spook the horse and speak their language.”

Each veteran received a standing ovation from the crowd, a belt buckle, and gifts from NRHA Corporate Partners, including CINCH, Shorty’s Caboy Hattery, and Anderson Bean Boots. Additional sponsors who helped make the event possible are 2L Equine Solutions and Cross C Realty LLC.

“I had a blast in the pen. It was so much fun running in,” Knutson continued. “I think the best part, though, was watching all my teammates go in there… To watch their smiles was the best. Also to be able to see all the fans afterwards was great. When you are running down, you don’t see anything but that sign on the opposite side of the arena. It’s after you stop you see all the people in the arena. The crowd here was amazing. All the claps and screams and people shouting my name; it was incredible.”

In total, six veterans ran through the Jim Norick Coliseum.

“We will definitely do this again,” he added. “It is not the last time. We want to build this event to be bigger and better the next time we come through.”

The Two Ravens Foundation’s mission is to provide our nation’s heroes with a transformative experience that fosters personal growth, enables reflection, and empowers our combat veterans and first responders by using coaching, horsemanship, and community support while leveraging the power of horses and the western way of life. Learn more about the foundation at tworavensfoundation.org.

NRHA Futurity Slide

NRHA $3 Million Rider Jason Vanlandingham rode his own SHR Hollywood Kid to the inaugural NRHA Futurity Slide Championship. His daughter, Emma, won the 2023 6666 NRHA Non Pro Derby presented by Markel on the mare who had $106,079 in NRHA Lifetime Earnings before entering the arena.

“She has done all of the work,” Jason said of Emma. “I get on this horse and run and stop before these sliding competitions, I don’t even stop the horse before she shows it. I have not been on her since the last sliding competition, and I stepped on her tonight and ran and stopped, and she had her ready.”

The 5-year-old mare (The Kids Gotta Gun x Shinin In Hollywood) was bred and nominated by NRHA $3 Million Owner Robert Santagata of NRHA Corporate Partner Santa Hill Ranch.

“This is a family horse, and I have wanted to sell her because we have had a lot of big offers, and mama [Adrienne, Jason’s wife] says no,” he said with a laugh. “I think that if she is making good babies, she is more valuable to us at the house anyhow. We have a yearling out of her, two weanlings, and another one coming next year, all by Vintage Smoke.”

Jason and Santagata have had great success with their partnerships including the Million Dollar Championship at the 2023 The Run For A Million with Best Shine (Shine Chic Shine x Best Stop), owned by Santagata.

“Next year, we will breed her to Best Shine,” he continued. “We actually got this mare from Bob and Arlene [Santagata], who own Best Shine. It has been great for their horse and really great for us, and hopefully, she will make good babies with their new stud.”

The World’s Richest Reining continues through December 7 at the OKC Fairgrounds. For a schedule, tickets, and more, visit nrhafuturity.com.