Heroes On Horses

Healing Through Riding

In addition to Equestrians With Disabilities, the Foundation also promotes classes in which riders who are disabled veterans or active duty “wounded warriors” and participate in PATH Intl. Equine Services for Heroes or have a Department of Veteran Affairs disability rating are eligible to compete, called Heroes On Horses.

March 8, 2023 - Scottsdale, AZ

During the 2023 Sun Circuit, held March 4-12 at WestWorld in Scottsdale, Arizona, the Arizona Quarter Horse Association hosted its second annual Heroes On Horses Western Pleasure and Parade of Heroes. Veterans were honored in the Parade of Heroes, with an exhibitors’ lunch, and with a Heroes on Horses Western Pleasure class.

The Parade of Heroes - a signature ceremony of the Heroes on Horses program - was comprised of over 150 flag bearers, each bearer marching into formation to honor and celebrate the heroes competing in the class. Attendees were treated to a presentation of the riderless horse, a tribute to those soldiers that paid the ultimate price in combat for their county, and a beautiful symbol to memorialize the cost of freedom.

The Heroes on Horses Walk Jog Western Pleasure held ten entries.

Results

1) Jacqueline Egan
2) Nathan Thrall
3) Shurray Barnes
4) John Halpin
5) Kris Vollrath
6) Megan Craven
7) Jackie Boyd
8)Pete Sanders
9) Laurie Jatczak
10) Ron Bowen

Thank you to all of our heroes for their service and thank you to all attendees who participated and helped celebrate our veterans! The entire event is an ongoing, special project through the NSBA Foundation, sponsored by the Bob and Ingrid Miller Family of Mesa, Arizona 2023, to bring Heroes on Horses to a venue in the Western United States.

Dates for 2024 are to be announced.

Attendees at the 2023 Heroes On Horses getting ready to carry flags in the Parade Of Heroes.
Photo Credit: Kristin Spinning

August 12, 2023 - Tulsa, OK

While the nationally recognized holiday for veterans may be held in November, the first Saturday of the NSBA World Championship Show has unofficially become known as Veteran's Day at the Built Ford Tough Livestock Complex.

First introduced in 2011, the NSBA World Championship Show is the original venue of the Heroes On Horses program. What stemmed from a single class for veterans has evolved into a two-day event for these competitors. The exhibitors and their horses and welcomed to the Ranger Arena for practice the first evening, in which professional trainers from across the country assist them with encouraging words and tips to successfully show their horses. Following the practice, exhibitors, their coaches, and their families are invited to a Welcome Dinner - in which they share great food, conversation, and camaraderie with their fellow veterans.

The veteran's big evening is initiated with the famous Parade of Heroes, the presentation of the Riderless Horse, and the ceremonial unfolding of the flag. The Parade of Heroes is comprised of show attendees, NSBA members, NSBA sponsors, NSBA Foundation, and NSBA representatives, each bearing a flag in tribute to the veterans and honoring the sacrifices they made for our country.

Entries are currently being accepted for the NSBA World Championship Show.

Enter Now

Attendings and competitors from across the nation gather to honor our veterans in the Parade of Heroes.
Photo Credit: Kamryn Aylesworth

Exhibitors honing their skills with nationally renowned professionals at the Heroes On Horses Bootcamp prior to competition
Photo Credit: Kamryn Aylesworth

Third Place exhibitor receiving an NSBA Bronze Trophy
Photo Credit: Kamryn Aylesworth

August 27, 2023 - Syracuse, NY

October 6, 2023 - Columbus, OH

The All American Quarter Horse Congress welcomed veterans from the Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marines and Navy for camaraderie, fellowship, and some friendly competition during the 2022 All-American Quarter Horse Congress, in Columbus, OH.

The competition was just one part of two days devoted to the veterans. The exhibitors and their horses were welcomed to the Celeste Center for practice for their class on Thursday, and professional trainers from throughout the show world assisted them with encouraging words and tips to be more successful in their class.

The veterans were also treated to a brunch the morning of the competition, and later a cocktail hour following their classes. NSBA members, corporate sponsors, and Congress Arena Team sponsors provided a colorful and patriotic Parade of Heroes as a way to thank the veterans for their service and recognize the sacrifices they have made.

Following the procession, the veterans put their game faces on as they prepared for competition in the Heroes On Horses Assisted and Heroes On Horses Independent classes.

Attendings and competitors from across the nation gather to honor our veterans in the Parade of Heroes.
Photo Credit: Sally Blackwell

Exhibitors competing, celebrating, and sharing camaraderie with their peers.
Photo Credit: Sally Blackwell

Criteria

Veterans in PATH Int. Equine Services programs are invited to participate in the NSBA World Championship Show “Heroes on Horses” competition.

• Riders may be disabled veterans, active military or retired veterans, who are participating in PATH Intl. Equine Services for Heroes programs, or have a Department of Veterans Affairs disability rating.
• The individuals’ PATH facilities will be responsible for verifying the eligibility of riders participating in Equine Services for Heroes programs.
  
• For Disabled Veterans who do not participate in a therapeutic riding program, please submit the Department of Veteran Affairs letter recording the dates of service, the Service-connected Disability Rating and the date it was awarded. Please black out all other personal information included in the letter, such as social security number and monthly award.
  
• Horses are not required to be registered or owned by the rider or facility. If the veteran is unable to have a horse transported to Tulsa for the Heroes on Horses competition, several Therapeutic Riding Centers have offered to provide horses for those who need them.
  
• A rider may not show in any youth, amateur or open categories while showing in the Equestrians With Disabilities classes. An exhibitor may show in only one of the Equestrians With Disabilities/Heroes On Horses categories; Independent or Supported. If a rider's condition deteriorates so that the rider can no longer ride as an independent rider, and now needs support, this must be documented by the physician and, if participating in a therapeutic riding program, the certified PATH instructor.
  

Sponsor A Rider

The NSBA Foundation provides support for riders participating in the Equestrians With Disabilities, and the Veteran Heroes on Horses programs, by assisting in funding their World Championship Experience. Through the "90 Riders In 90 Days" campaign, the Foundation is seeking 90 sponsors for 90 Equestrians With Disabilities and Heroes on Horses exhibitors .

Learn more