When five of the world’s best riders and a hometown sweetheart ride into the rodeo… everybody wins.

By Monique Noble

The Calgary Stampede and The Xibition continue to surprise the horse industry with creative, one-of-a-kind reining events. The follow-up to 2025’s first reining showcase had to be big — and the teams delivered. 

The Calgary Stampede extended invitations to some of the world’s top reiners to compete in the inaugural Invitational Open Reining competition, and the riders eagerly accepted the chance to compete at the Calgary Stampede — a bucket-list dream come true for some of them.

History was made by Canadian rider Dany Tremblay and his mount Legitness. The winner of the Calgary Stampede Invitational Open with a blazing 150-point ride, Tremblay was thrilled with his win. “I can say for the rest of my life that I did this, and hopefully I can come back here. I love the Calgary Stampede, I love the reining it showcased and the crowd.” Photo: Chelsea Schnieder courtesy of the Xibition

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The Riders 

Shawn Flarida is an $8 million earner from Springfield, Ohio. An elite-level reining professional, Flarida has multiple NRHA Futurity Championships, is a World Equestrian Games gold medalist, and is reining’s second all-time leading money earner. 

Jason Vanlandingham from Whitesboro, Texas, is the fifth-highest-earning NRHA reining professional in the world. He made history by winning The Run for a Million in both 2023 and 2024, becoming the first rider to claim back-to-back victories and the only rider to win the Level 4 Triple Crown of reining twice. 

Jordan Larson from Weatherford, Texas, is the eighth-highest-earning NRHA reining professional, with international victories at the FEI World Reining Championships and the World Equestrian Games. 

Kole Price of Pilot Point, Texas, is one of reining’s fastest-rising reiners, with major Futurity and Derby successes and more than $1 million in earnings. The youngest competitor at 35 years of age, Price was thrilled to be riding with personal heroes who are now friends and peers. 

Dany Tremblay, a Canadian now based in Marietta, Oklahoma, became the first Canadian-born NRHA million-dollar rider. A major international competitor, Tremblay won the 2019 Run for a Million Open Shootout on Canadian-owned PS Mega Shine Chic from Adh Mor Ranch in Alberta. 

Shawna Sapergia of Longview, Alberta, is Canada’s elite female competitor, having won multiple Canadian championships, including the 2025 Xibition Jack Carter Open Championship, which garnered her invitation to the Stampede Invitational. 

The showcase was an incredible display of horsemanship and athleticism. Hometown favourite Shawna Sapergia and her mount HA Tune of a Mobster devour the ground at the Calgary Stampede Nutrien Centre. Photo: Chelsea Schnieder courtesy of the Xibition  

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The Horses 

The Alberta reining community came together to provide outstanding Canadian-owned horses for the Invitational. The riders drew their mounts at random, the exception being Sapergia, who rode the horse she qualified on. 

White Hot N Electric (Legacy), the youngest horse, the only mare, and a last-minute replacement, was paired with Flarida. Legacy was trained by Alberta trainer Kailinn Hipkiss and is owned by Katey and Amy Mitchell. 

Sparking Off Spooks (Webster), ridden by Vanlandingham, is a favourite on the Alberta circuit. Owned by Corinna Carr and ridden by both her and her daughter Brianna, the gelding has earned them numerous victories. Vanlandingham had also shown Webster’s dam, making the pairing especially meaningful. 

Xtra Ruf Wimpy (Waldo), partnered with Larson, is the only horse competing successfully in both reining and cow horse. Trained by Christa Lee Tyrell, he is now ridden by his 15-year-old owner — fifth-generation trick rider Piper Yule. 

Spooks Big Bang (Bubba), a versatile 14-year-old stallion owned by Giselle Aebly and family, was matched with Price, who had hoped to draw the flashy bay he’d always liked since first seeing him compete as a three-year-old. 

Legitness (Legit), the striking 10-year-old grey stallion ridden by Tremblay, is owned by Sunnyside Stables and trained by Sapergia, who has piloted him to many wins. 

HA Tune of a Mobster (Juan), Sapergia’s mount, has competed in Mexico, the United States, and Canada. Owned by CD Quarter Horses of Swift Current, Saskatchewan, Juan earned his Invitational berth by winning the Jack Carter Open. 

It was another first for Reining in Canada as Hale Franc and her horse “Force” bring home the buckle in the very first Calgary Stampede Canadian Open Reining competition. Photo: Chelsea Schnieder courtesy of the Xibition 

The Catch 

It’s not often you can throw a new “spin” into a reining competition, but the Calgary Stampede did just that. In every instance except one, the Invitational riders were “catch riding” and had just two days to get to know their mounts before debuting their new teams on the international stage of the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth. 

Riders and horses gathered at the stunning Springhaven Ranch near Aldersyde, Alberta, to meet their mounts and have a few first rides before hitting the show pen. I chatted with them there and found them all so incredibly excited to be at the Stampede. 

“I really hope I’m good enough to throw my hat in the air at the Calgary Stampede,” said Price, who had always wanted to compete at the Stampede. Price also loves carnival food, which was on full display as the riders all got a chance to enjoy the legendary snacking fare while watching the rodeo the night before the competition. 

Anyone watching the group at the rodeo would think they were old friends, which in a way they are. “We go ride together and help each other, the five guys that are here, we all have very close ties,” said Flarida, the highest earner of them all. 

Some of the horses have ties to the riders as well. Vanlandingham has shown his mount Webster’s dam. “It’s kind of cool to come all this way up to Alberta and get on a horse that’s kind of home bred for me,” he said. Vanlandingham has also shown Sapergia’s mount, HA Tune of a Mobster, in the US. 

Sapergia was thrilled to be riding with some of the most elite reiners in the world, and while she admitted being intimidated, she was excited and grateful. “It’s unreal; the time, the effort, the perseverance and dedication, what Dave [Benard], the Xibition Team and the Stampede have done [with Reining Showcase] is amazing.” 

All the riders agreed that the challenge of the showcase is unique and exciting, and it was one of the things that drew Larson to the event. “Having been in the industry for this long and going to so many competitions, this is a unique challenge; we have no idea what to expect and the Calgary Stampede is a big deal,” he said. 

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The day before the competition the invitational riders had a chance to ride their equine partners before the showcase. Jordan Larson and Waldo quickly became an impressive team. Photo: Richelle Roosman 

Competition Day 

As “O Canada” rang out in the packed Nutrien Centre, signalling the start of the Invitational, the crowd was electric with anticipation. “Reining 101” introduced the spectators to the sport and explained what the judges would be looking for. Then the fascinated audience watched history being made. 

First to run was Flarida on White Hot N Electric, and that’s exactly what the first run was. Flarida, known for his technical riding and timing, guided Legacy to an incredible 149! 

With the bar set high, the remaining riders and their horses executed maneuvers at astounding speed, with exquisite grace and precision. The riders displayed their skills and the athleticism of their equine partners with stunning excellence, each ride a masterclass in reining that challenged the judges as they ran the pattern. 

When the dust settled, not a single score fell below 142. Tremblay and Legitness claimed the inaugural championship with a spectacular score of 150. The crowd in the Nutrien Centre erupted with enthusiasm as Tremblay and Legitness entered the arena to accept the championship buckle. 

Tremblay was thrilled to make Stampede history. “As a Canadian making history in Canada, I’m so proud. This was a big deal! I can’t thank the owners of these horses enough. I loved the crowd today. I loved everything — the fans, the pen, my horse was so good! Shawna gave me a lot of advice about my horse, so I just listened.” 

Fresh from winning the biggest reining event in Canadian history, Tremblay shared advice with the non-pro riders he and the other Invitational competitors were delighted to meet after the competition. With a mischievous laugh, he said, “I was probably the non-pro listening to my coach right there, so all you non-pros out there — listen to your coaches.” 

Everyone then gathered to watch some of Canada’s best horse-and-rider teams compete in the Canadian Open Reining and Canadian Youth Reining events. The enthusiastic crowd stayed for all three competitions, with much exuberant cheering. 

The Reining Showcase was completely revamped this year and included a Canadian Youth Competition. Natalie Draper gave it her all to win the inaugural Calgary Stampede Youth Reining Showcase. Photo: Chelsea Schnieder courtesy of the Xibition 

Judging by the competitors’ enthusiasm and the audience’s response, reining has captured the hearts of those who make the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth so special. Reiners and spectators alike are already looking forward to the 2027 Calgary Stampede Reining Showcase.

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Main Photo: Shawn Flarida and his mount Legacy exhibit the fierce competition put on by the invitational riders. Photo: Chelsea Schnieder courtesy of the Xibition