Lanham Brown and Hesa Twisted Bet win 2024 World’s Greatest Non-Pro in Tulsa

Hesa Twisted Bet just keeps getting better with time according to Lanham Brown. The pair improved their scores through many of the events at the World’s Greatest Non-Pro event during the National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA) Hackamore Classic and finished the four-event contest leading by a point and a half to take home the championship.

After the long week, with events day after day, the Texas cowboy and his horse left Oklahoma $11,040 richer.

“Last year here was my first time to compete in a four event format like this, so I felt more prepared this year, and felt like I prepared my horse better at home,” Brown said.

With no days off in between competition, riders didn’t want to wear out their horses trying to fix things between the days of competition. On Thursday, July 25, they competed in the herd work, Friday’s events included rein work and the steer stopping, Saturday hosted the preliminary fence work, then on Sunday, five riders were invited back into the Ford Truck arena for finals fence work. Their scores from all five events were added together to create their final composite score.

Brown and “Casino” marked a 216 in the herd, then a 218 in the rein work. It was in the steer stopping where the duo really pulled ahead of their competition and marked a 225. Then, they marked a 225.5 in the preliminary fence work. During the finals, Brown didn’t get the best cow and scored a 212 for a total of 1,096.5.

Luckily, their five point lead from the prelims held their spot, and they bested 2023 World’s Greatest Non-Pro Debbie Crafton, who won the event last year on Hesa Wee Bet (Bet Hesa Cat x Wee Quejana Gal x Quejanaisalena).

Hesa Twisted Bet is a 2016 gelding by Bet Hesa Cat and out of R A B Twistin Dodger (by Little Twistin Juan) that Brown has had since he was a youngster.

“He wasn’t, the best aged event horse and it just gets better with time and the bridle. He just continues to get a little bit better all the time,” Brown said.

Debbie Crafton won the event in 2023, however, she found herself in the Reserve Champion slot at the 2024 show on Foundloveathooters (Smooth As A Cat x Rey Lena Rey x Dual Rey). The pair took $9,200 home to Ordway, Colorado for their efforts.