The National Reining Horse Association is proud to announce that Jason Vanlandingham of Whitesboro, Texas, has officially joined the prestigious ranks of NRHA’s $5 Million Riders – the fifth ever to achieve the accomplishment. Vanlandingham surpassed the milestone at the NRHA South Central Affiliate Regional Championship and 100X Reining Classic in Tulsa, Oklahoma, further solidifying his place among the sport’s elite.
A two-time NRHA Futurity® Champion, two-time The Run For A Million Champion and two-time NRHA Derby® Champion, Vanlandingham has built his career on consistency, horsemanship, and a deep passion for developing top-level equine athletes. With more than two decades of success in the show pen, his $5 million achievement is a testament not only to his talent but also to the strength of the horses, owners and teams who have partnered with him along the way.
Vanlandingham’s 2025 season has been marked by major accomplishments on reining’s biggest stages. He placed third on Best Shine (Robert Santagata owner, Wagman Ranch Inc breeder/nominator) in the Million Dollar Competition at The Run For A Million for $85,000. Vanlandingham also had a strong performance at the 2025 6666 NRHA Derby® presented by Markel – placing third in the Level 4 Open Derby on Plus Me Im Shiny for $34,181.52. Earlier in the year, Vanlandingham won the Level 4 Open reserve championship at the National Reining Breeders Classic, aboard Plus Me Im Shiny (2Star Investments LLC, owner and Upstream, Inc. breeder, Layla E. Choate nominator). These recent high-profile finishes contributed significantly to catapulting him over the $5 million career earnings milestone. Pushing him over was his second-place finish in the Level 4 Open 4-Year-Old Stakes at the 100X Reining Classic, winning $36,910.
Vanlandingham now joins an exclusive group of riders who have achieved this level of career earnings in NRHA competition, further cementing his reputation as one of reining’s most respected and accomplished professionals.
