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The debate:
Several big gun reining players
and NRHA Officials have recently been quoted stating the
NRHA Futurity and Derby are the fundamental basis for the
entire reining horse industry. Those quoted have
implied that the majority of all reining horses
trained are trained specifically for the NRHA Futurity, and
later, the Derby. They contend that entry level "grass roots"
reiners' ability to compete in this sport depends on access to the big
trainers' barns and their post-futurity and post-derby
horses.
But do the nuts and bolts of
actual NRHA Futurity and Derby entries reflect that this is the case?
Recent Open and Non
Pro NRHA Futurity entries look like this:
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2005: 590 total entries
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2006: 551 total entries
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2007: 531 total entries
NRHA Derby entries are lower
still. But at the same time, other high profile shows
like the NRBC, the Tulsa Classic and the Rocky Mountain
Summer Slide are seeming to flourish. Are people not
going to OKC because they can accomplish all they need at
regional events?
Whoazone has been unable to
glean from NRHA the number of reining horses licensed on an
annual basis, but let's take what we do know and look at
some hypothetical numbers.
As of April 2008, there were 197
US and Canadian trainers on NRHA's Professionals list. One Whoazone source reported there were a total
of 2,500 Open NRHA members. But let's assume only 2,000 of
those Open members are trainers in the Continental US.
Next,
considering only the Futurity, let's assume that each of those
2,000 trainers ride an average of
three 3 yr old horses at any given time. (We know
trainers who ride many more than that, but let's figure
small due to washed out or injured prospects.)
That's a total of 6,000 3 yr olds in training at any given
time. Given the NRHA Futurity entries listed above, we
may conclude that they account for less than 10% of horses being
trained. Why?
The derby percentages are bound
to be slightly higher, likely due to three years' eligibility and the basic
fact that many horses are simply late bloomers and don't
make the Futurity. But are there horses out there
being trained to simply become weekend show horses?
Are all reining horses trained truly earmarked by their
owners for the Big Ones - the aged events at the NRHA
Futurity and Derby? Does the growth in regional
derbies and futurities indicate a market for
NON-NRHA-futurity-and-derby-bound horses, or does it
substantiate the quotes above? Is it just that the
horses who are headed to OKC happen to stop off at regional
events first?
Not many NRHA members would
argue that the NRHA Futurity is by far the most noteworthy
and prestigious event in our industry. No doubt the
NRHA Derby is a close second. But is it accurate to say that
the majority of all reining horses trained are trained
specifically for THE NRHA Futurity, and later,
the Derby? Whoazone wants your opinion!
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