quALIFYING CRITERIA FOR NBHA OPEN WORLDS AND NBHA YOUTH / TEEN WORLDS
NBHA UK QUALIFYING CRITERIA & FRAMEWORK FOR NBHA USA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP EVENTS
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Route 1
United Kingdom NBHA members will have to meet the following criteria to attend a NBHA USA World Championship event the following year:
1. The NBHA UK Affiliation Fee is paid by the director of NBHA UK, for the year, to the NBHA National Office in USA.
2. A rider must hold current NBHA UK membership to be able to enter NBHA Classes and accumulate points.
3. A rider must attend and compete in NBHA UK competition classes in order to be awarded points (directly related to their placing) at that competition.
4. There is no minimum or maximum number of competition attendance requirement.
5. There are no district limitations, therefore all points awarded, go to the rider, irrespective of horse ridden and irrespective of location of the competition.
6. All NBHA UK members will receive 1 point for attendance at a competition and upon entering the NBHA classes. The rider will receive the 1 attendance point, irrespective of the results.
7. If a rider enters the competition in advance of the competition date, and if that competition is cancelled, by the organisers, for any reason whatsoever, the rider will still be awarded the 1 attendance point.
8. The top six point earners (top six riders) in each age category by December of that year, will qualify for NBHA USA Open world championship events the following year. i.e. Youth & Teen World (typically in July and/or Open world inc. Seniors typically in October.)
9. The top six point earners (top six riders) in each age category (youth, teen, open and senior), will be announced December each year and that qualification to the NBHA USA Open world championship events, will stay valid until December the following year as long as your NBHA Uk membership is paid up for that year.
10. Results will be published within 10 days of a competition, on the website to enable riders to track their progress and make informed decisions around attending competitions.
Route 2
· A rider may purchase membership directly with NBHA USA and the rider may obtain an official NBHA (USA) wildcard in their name or purchase an official wildcard from someone else for entry.
· A purchased wildcard not in a rider’s name requires a NBHA USA membership prior to March 1st of competition year.
· In the National Barrel Horse Association (NBHA), a Wildcard is a certificate that provides one entry into an NBHA World Championship show (Open, Senior, Youth, or Teen), serving as an alternative to qualifying through district points.
· More information on this route can be found at https://nbha.com/about/faq/#
NOTES:
This policy is subject to annual review and changes to allow for membership growth and location expansion.
This policy has been reviewed and approved by the NBHA National Office via the Director of Barrel Racing on 1st December 2025 for the 2026 season forward. Any future revisions must be approved through the National Office. Qualifications for 2026 will be discussed between USA NBHA and NBHA UK.
RULES
Barrel racing is a rodeo event in which a horse and rider attempt to run a cloverleaf pattern around preset barrels in the fastest time. It requires a combination of the horse's athletic ability and the horsemanship skills of a rider in order to safely and successfully maneuver the horse around three barrels placed in a triangle pattern within a large arena.
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The main purpose of barrel racing is to run a set pattern as fast as possible. The times are measured by an electronic remote timing device to record times, the timer begins when horse and rider cross the starting line, and ends when the barrel pattern has been successfully executed and horse and rider cross the finish line. Success depends on several factors, most commonly the horse's physical and mental condition, the rider's horsemanship abilities, and the type of ground or footing (the quality, depth, content, etc. of the sand or dirt in the arena).
Riders enter at the timing line, circle around the 1st barrel, proceed to the 2nd barrel, and then continue on to the 3rd where they will complete the pattern and finally exit the course crossing the timing line a second time. This pattern is often referred to as a "Cloverleaf". The pattern may also begin with the left barrel first.
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A time penalty is assessed if any barrel is knocked over (touching or holding it up, is totally fine) a score of no time is assessed if the horse and rider deviate off course.
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A horse that is able to "hug the barrels" as well as maneuver the course quickly and accurately follow commands, will be a horse with consistently fast times.