Jason Vanlandingham – Famous Horse Trainer Biography

Overview

One of the Most Accomplished Reiners of His Generation

Jason Vanlandingham is one of the leading figures in modern reining competition and has become widely recognized as one of the National Reining Horse Association's most accomplished riders of his generation. Known for his consistency, competitive drive, and ability to develop elite futurity and derby horses, Vanlandingham built a career that placed him among the sport's top earners and most respected trainers. His accomplishments in major NRHA events, including historic success at The Run For A Million, helped establish him as one of the dominant riders in contemporary reining.

Raised in Texas, Vanlandingham grew up around horses and developed a strong interest in western riding and competition from an early age. Early in his career he worked his way through assistant training positions and developed the skills required to compete at the highest levels of NRHA competition.

2013 NRHA Futurity

Not Ruf At All — The Horse That Launched a Historic Career

2013 NRHA Open Futurity Champion

Not Ruf At All

Owned by Vaughn Zimmerman, Not Ruf At All gave Vanlandingham his breakout NRHA Open Futurity victory in 2013 — launching both horse and rider into the upper ranks of the reining industry. Together they went on to complete one of reining's rare Triple Crown achievements, winning the NRHA Futurity, NRHA Derby, and National Reining Breeders Classic.

Jason Vanlandingham at an NRHA event — portrait in front of sponsor backdrop — Jason Vanlandingham — Vanlandingham Reining Horses, Whitesboro, Texas

The NRHA Triple Crown

Twice — The Only Rider in History

Triple Crown — Won Twice — No Other Rider Has Done It Once

NRHA Futurity · NRHA Derby · NRBC

NRHA Open Futurity

NRHA Open Derby

National Reining Breeders Classic

Vanlandingham first completed the Triple Crown with Not Ruf At All, then repeated the achievement with another son of A Sparkling Vintage — making him the only rider in NRHA history to accomplish the Triple Crown twice.

Run For A Million

Back-to-Back Champion — A First in the Event's History

Vanlandingham gained additional national attention through his performances at The Run For A Million, one of the sport's richest and most visible events. He won the Million Dollar Competition in back-to-back years — aboard Best Shine in 2023 and Gunnabebigtime in 2024 — raising his profile within and beyond the reining industry.

Operation

Vanlandingham Reining Horses

In 2025 Vanlandingham became the fifth rider in NRHA history to surpass $5 million in lifetime earnings. He operates Vanlandingham Reining Horses in Whitesboro, Texas, where his program focuses on training and showing elite open futurity and derby prospects for major owners and breeders throughout the industry.

Career Highlights

Accomplishments

NRHA Open Futurity Champion – 2013 (Not Ruf At All, owned by Vaughn Zimmerman)
NRHA Triple Crown — completed twice; only rider in NRHA history to do so
The Run For A Million Champion — back-to-back, 2023 (Best Shine) & 2024 (Gunnabebigtime)
NRHA Five Million Dollar Rider (2025) — fifth rider in NRHA history to reach $5M
Notable horses: Not Ruf At All, A Vintage Smoke, Gunnabebigtime, Best Shine
Founder — Vanlandingham Reining Horses, Whitesboro, Texas

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