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C.L.E.A.R.

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IDEA: NRHA Competition Structure that replaces Open and Non Pro with class divisions based on TOTAL RIDER EARNINGS.  Period.

AUTHOR: Whoazone (we don't normally take a position on controversial topics, but we feel the overall mood of  discontentment with the current structure warrants an alternative which has proven successful in other disciplines!)  

WHY: The vast number of competition-related NRHA rule change proposals in 2007 indicated an overall discontentment with the current competition structure of NRHA.  The quantity and levels of competitors have surpassed the association's ability to provide a fair and level playing field for its complex exhibitor base. 

 

This proposal models the successful structure of several performance horse disciplines and offers a clean and easy approach to all levels and categories of NRHA competition.  It simplifies the earnings tracking process and provides clear and simple levels of competition, eliminating confusion and relieving the NRHA and horse show office management of many administrative burdens. 

 

This proposal is, of course, subject to review and modification.
 

 

COMPETITION LEVEL ELIGIBILITY ANNUAL REASSESSMENT (C.L.E.A.R.)

An NRHA Competition Structure that eliminates Open and Non Pro and replaces them with divisions based on TOTAL RIDER EARNINGS.  Period.

Objectives:

For Exhibitors

1.    offer equal earning opportunities for ALL levels of exhibitors

2.    simplify exhibitor eligibility calculations

3.    simplify NRHA’s post-show functions

For Show Management

4.    simplify horse show office administration

5.    clearly define levels of NRHA approved reining events

6.    encourage a Free Enterprise approach to show promotion by removing restrictions/limitations of purse money at all NRHA approved events

Things C.L.E.A.R. will accomplish:

Riders: Opens the doors of opportunity!

  • Determine each exhibitor’s eligibility based on his/her previous year’s success, or lack thereof

  • Keep every single rider fairly competing against peers and only peers

  • Encourage a healthy horse market by creating a broad spectrum of potential for success for all levels of exhibitors

  • Eliminate penalties for an exhibitor changing categories of membership, status or level of competition

  • Appease the current dissatisfaction of “amateur” non pros by providing unbiased earning opportunities for all non pro exhibitors

Shows: Grow, Grow, Grow! (at ALL levels - not just the top!)

  • Encourage increased entries with more equitable levels of competition

  • Encourage larger purse sizes where shows feel they need them

  • Assist show management and NRHA in simplifying the entry and eligibility process

  • Simplify NRHA’s horse and rider tracking endeavors by combining current categories

       Resulting In:

  • Greatly increased entries at aged events due to riders’ ability to enter only division(s) they are eligible for

  • Higher payouts and decreased show retainages in relation to higher entries

  • Stablalize judges fees to offset show admin

  • Increased entries allowing for deeper payouts across the board

  • Less admin regulations so shows can do what they want how they want to better serve their exhibitor base

Calculating Rider Eligibility Guidelines:

  • IN SUMMARY,

    • divide all riders (open & non pro) into 10 evenly dispersed groups, i.e.

      • top 10% would be group 10

      • bottom 10% would be group 2

      • etc, etc - it may not work with exact percentages, but you get the drift...

    • This info is in NRHA's database and can be easily and quickly calculated on Jan 1 of each year.

Instead of having the current Open, Intermediate Open, Limited Open, Non Pro, etc, we would have professional and non-professional riders competing in classes together, based on their total money earned the prior year.  An Open rider who earned $1,200 would be competing with a Non Pro rider that earned $1,200; a Non Pro rider who earned $25,000 would be competing with Open riders who have earned $25,000. 

NOTE!  in this system, the top 3 Non Pro riders in 2007 would have been be eligible for #8 and #9 in this system - they would NOT have had to compete with Schmersal, Flarida, McQuay, Fappani, etc....

 

NOTE!  THE BOTTOM 3 LEVELS WOULD ALWAYS BE PROTECTED AGAINST OPEN RIDERS!  NO OPEN RIDER WOULD EVER BE ABLE TO DROP BELOW A #4 !!!

 

NOTE!  riders may always enter up, just not down

 

NOTE!  a rider is never able to drop more than one level per year

 

NOTE!  youth classes could remain as is or adopt this system

 

  • One precise way to separate groups would be to find the average money earned per entry*

Example: (using Category 1 & 2 earnings from 2006)

Total NRHA Payout in 2006: $7,884,110

Total NRHA Entries: 45,992

*Average earnings per entry in 2006: $171

RIDER ELIGIBILITY CALCULATION FORMULA:

EXAMPLE:

take prior year's average money earned per entry and multiply by

  • 1000 X average earned per rider for group #10

  • 500 X average earned per rider for group #9

  • 200 X average earned per rider for group #8

  • 100 X average earned per rider for group #7

  • 50 X average earned per rider for group #6

  • 25 X average earned per rider for group #5

  • 12.5 X average earned per rider for group #4

  • 5 X average earned per rider for group #3

  • 1 X average earned per rider for group #2

  • 0 X average earned per rider for group #1

EXAMPLE of class groups (very rough numbers for example only!):

'class' = #

2006 total earnings per group

number multiplied by average $ per entry in 2006

#10

$171,000 and over

1000 X 171*

# 9

$85,500 and over

500 X 171*

# 8

$34,200 and over

200 X 171*

# 7

$17,100 and over

100 X 171*

# 6

$8,550 and over

50 X 171*

# 5

$4,275 and over

25 X 171*

# 4

$2,052 and over

12.5 X 171*

# 3

$855 and over

5 X 171*

# 2

$171 and over

1 X 171*

# 1

less than $171

N/A

 

Conditions:

  • Exhibitor Eligibility will be determined annually, between the current NRHA Futurity and January 15 of the following year.

  • Status will be conveyed to members per coded membership cards by January 31.

 

Notable FACTS FROM 2006:

  • NON PRO

    • the TOP 5 Non Pro riders earned $63,088 to $154,008

    • the TOP 6 to 20 Non Pro riders earned $28,571 to $60,099

    • the TOP 21 to 50 Non Pro riders earned $15,913 to $27,957

  • OPEN

    • the TOP 5 Open riders earned $202,114 to $405,319

    • the TOP 6 to 20 Open riders earned $69,010 to $161,797

    • the TOP 21 to 50 Open riders earned $30,096 to $61,067

NEW NRHA APPROVED SHOW GUIDELINES

Goals:

  • Introduce a Free Enterprise approach to horse shows

  • Eliminate duplicate levels of competition

  • Simplify NRHA categories and earnings divisions

  • Help promote high end shows

  • No penalties and lower admin costs for small shows

  • Provide more and broader earning opportunities for all owners/exhibitors

 

New Show Levels: (based on a show’s actual payout the prior year)

  • “A” event: any show with a class which paid $100,000 or more

  • “B” event: any show with a class which paid $25,000 or more

  • “C” event: any show with a class which paid $5,000 or more

  • “D” event: any show with a class which paid $1,000 or more

  • “E” event: any show in which no class paid more than $999

    • “purse” includes total payout (added money + entry pay backs)

 

New Added Money/Trophies/Retainage:

  • Lawson: any class $5,000 or more added money

  • Morrison: any class $2,000 to $4,999 added money

  • Pewter: any class $1,000 to $1,999 added money

  • Youth: plaques required

  • All other classes: plaques optional

New Classes of Competition

New Ancillary categories (= cat 1, 4, 7 combined into one):

Group 10

Group 9

Group 8

Group 7

Group 6

Group 5

Group 4

Group 3

Group 2

Group1

Novice Horse Open - groups 6-10 (one class)

Novice Horse Limited - groups 5 & under (one class)

New Limited Age Event categories (= cat 2, 6, 8 combined into one)

Open – groups 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 (separate classes run concurrent)

Limited – groups 5 &under (one class)

New Conditions for ancillary classes:

·        Show retainage may not exceed 40%

·        Judges fee is per exhibitor per class, not to be duplicated for concurrent classes

·        Judges fee not to exceed the entry fee; maximum $40

·        Neighboring classes (Groups 1-10) may run concurrently but must be paid out separately (i.e. 1&2 run concurrently, 3&4 run concurrently, etc)

·        Eliminate added money cap/requirements for open, non pro, rookie, & gelding classes

·        Eliminate Youth added money cap at “B” and “A” shows

·        Restrict Youth ancillary classes to no more than $100 added money for ”C”, “D” and “E” shows

·        No mandate for show sec certification on “E” shows

New Conditions for aged events:

·        Judges fee is per exhibitor per class, not to be duplicated for concurrent classes

·        Judges fee not to exceed 50% of the entry fee; maximum $75

·        Group 5 & under and groups 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 may run concurrently but must be paid out separately

·        Eliminate all money cap/requirements for all classes

·        “A” and “B” shows must offer a youth division in conjunction with regular divisions

Examples of C.L.E.A.R. showbills ---

Small weekend “E”show: (one day shows)

#

Added

   Class/Group

Trophy

Entry Fee

Judge Fee

Pattern

$$$

1

$250

#10

pewter

$25

$20

9

 

2

$500

#9

plaque

$40

$40

9

 

3

$750

#8

plaque

$50

$40

5

 

4

$750

#7

plaque

$50

$40

5

 

5

$300

#6

plaque

$30

$30

4

 

6

$200

#5

plaque

$25

$25

4

 

7

$100

#4

plaque

$25

$25

2

 

8

$50

#3

plaque

$20

$20

2

 

9

Jackpot

#2

ribbon

$20

$20

6

 

10

Jackpot

#1

ribbon

$20

$20

6

 

11

$500

Novice Horse Open

ribbon

$45

$40

3

 

12

$100

Novice Horse Limited

ribbon

$20

$20

3

 

13

Jackpot

Nov Gelding all age

ribbon

$50

$0 — Must enter NHO or NHL

3

 

14

$50

Youth 13 & Under

plaque

$10

0

7

 

15

$50

Youth 14-18

plaque

$10

0

7

 

“C” level ancillary class showbill (i.e. the Sagebrush Slide)

#

Added

   Class/Group

Trophy

Entry Fee

Judge Fee

Pattern

$$$

1

$2,000

#10

morrison

$150

$40

9

 

2

$1,500

#9

pewter

$100

$40

9

 

3

$1,000

#8

pewter

$75

$40

5

 

4

$1,000