Heroes On Horses, NSBA

The National Snaffle Bit Association has welcomed veterans of the armed forces to its World Championship Show since 2011, and has a special affinity for those who have protected our nation. NSBA works to recognize and empower veterans through a series of activities that includes a Heroes Parade and two classes of competition as well as a welcome dinner where veterans could meet and interact with each other.

NSBA members expressed their appreciation to veterans through actions that included serving as coaches for veteran exhibitors, carrying flags in the Heroes Parade and making donations to the NSBA Foundation toward Heroes On Horses programming. Many also shared words of encouragement to the veterans who walked the show grounds.

Sharing A Meal and Camaraderie

Veterans, their families and coaches were welcomed to the NSBA World Championship Show with a barbeque dinner in their honor. The meal gave participants a chance to relax and socialize with other veterans with shared experiences as well as connect through their bond with horses. Returning exhibitors renewed friendships as well as rivalries between branches of the service.

Practice and Competition

Florence Bryant, Heroes On Horses

Exhibitors had two opportunities to compete in the horse show, with a Heroes On Horses Pattern class and Heroes On Horses Walk Jog Western Pleasure. The veterans were assisted in a practice session by professional horse trainers who volunteered their time to provide advice and tips to navigate the competition, and then it was time to jump into the show ring.

Veterans from the U.S. Army, Army Reserves, Army National Guard, Navy, Air Force, Naval Academy and Marines competed in the 2026 Heroes On Horses Walk Jog Western Pleasure. Florence Bryant, a retired non-commissioned officer in the United States Army, won the Walk Jog class aboard Laziness. 

"Being with the veterans means the world to me because we come together as one," Florence said. "Having PTSD, and sharing the symptoms that we all have with our service means a lot. Heroes On Horses allows us to become that family again. When you get out, you don’t have that family any more. It’s a key point to us, and we really appreciate NSBA for having us.

For me, being with the horses is a safety net. I struggle with PTSD. I enjoy being around horses and enjoy that bond. It gives me a sense of safety and eases my heart and my mind. I’m in a completely different world when I’m with horses. When I have the competition, it’s just like a mission that I need to complete and I love it.

“When you are working with horses if you have that bond, there’s no other bond like it. Horses can feel your heart beat up to 200 feet away. It’s definitely meaningful for you and the horse to bond.”

Florence is currently completing her master’s degree in agricultural science with a thesis study of equine therapy with soldiers with PTSD and equine competition. After earning her degree, she plans to give back to her military community and coach soldiers with PTSD through equine therapy.

Kendall Nygen showed her horse The Al Capone to win the Heroes On Horses Pattern class. Like Florence, she gives back to the military community through her work at Shield Of Faith Missions, a faith-based non-profit that provides free medical services to veterans.

About NSBA

Established in 1983, National Snaffle Bit Association has expanded from its roots in the Western Pleasure discipline to recognize various disciplines and ten breed associations in competition. NSBA’s mission is to grow the show horse community through various equine programs and events where every activity benefits horses, breeders, owners and exhibitors alike.

National Snaffle Bit Association has more than 20,000 active members and more than 44,000 registered horses across its ten alliance breed organizations. NSBA members earn more than $13.5 million in monetary awards at NSBA-sanctioned horse shows annually, and the association sanctions nearly 600 horse show events and close to 200,000 horse show entries each year.

To learn more about NSBA, please visit nsba.com.