Currently, NRHA World Champions are determined by who has the most money (or points in the youth) at the end of the year.

Do you like this system, or would you rather see World Champions determined by a single "World Championship" show similar to breed organizations?


what do you think?
Thanks to everyone for taking the time to write in and voice your opinions

I would venture that over 95% of the current NRHA membership will never have the ability to gain a win a "NRHA WORLD TITLE" under the current system.

Why?

Because if you want to win you are going to have to "haul" to a lot of shows (TIME), as well as have the money ($$$) to purchase the horse, entry fees, travel expenses, etc. Not many folks have BOTH...and we're talking sometimes 50 weekends a year to win! I'm not saying you can't make it in to the Top-ten...I'm saying being the Champion!

So what would create a fair playing field that would open this opportunity up to virtually everyone? A qualification process is already in place. Take the top 10 finishers at each NRHA Affiliate Championship (That's a total of 40) plus the riders in the Top-10 money earning list as of September 1st (the cut off for most Affiliate qualifiers). This select group would then be eligible to compete at OKC during the Futurity. Since there will be many duplications (multiple winners at more than 1 Affiliate, plus high money earners...the actual number shown would probably only be 20-30 riders. If this is still too many...cut the numbers qualifying to 5 each, or improvise!

What would this do for the industry!

1. Almost every individual could schedule time/budget for a select number of shows to qualify!

2. It would ensure participation into our grassroots affiliates since you must join and show at our affiliate's shows in order to qualify for the NRHA Affiliate Championships.

3. It takes into account you may not always have a great go. If your horse was sore or had a bad go at the NRHA Affiliate you still had an opportunity to compete in OKC -if you had consistently done well and >were in the Top-Ten list.

4. It pits the best against the best. In the current system, horses in the Top-ten may NEVER have competed against each other!

5. It can take into account we already have awards for reaching certain "earnings"' awards - Silver, ..., so there would be little cost to the club. The trophies would go to the "World Champion" at OKC but the High-money earners would receive recognition for just that ... "Highest- Money earners".

Sherry Wayne

I think the present method, even with its faults, is the most appropriate at this time.
Sally Brown, Maple Plain, MN
 
I'm just a novice, but I like the current NRHA method of determining World Champions. I have seen enough good horses lose classes and average horses win them, to know that an "averaging" or cummulative system is more equitable. As with life, the prize is not always won by the best and brightest, but sometimes by the one who works the hardest, and continues to "show up". I would think that the present system would best benefit the NRHA as an organization, as it provides continued incentive to do just that - show up.

I have a question I would like to see you pose. What is everyone's thoughts on the recent NRHA Board decision to raise the futurity entry fees for Sire and Dam Offspring?
Karen E. Kemp, MI
 
My feeling is that the NRHA should continue to determine its World Champions with the current system. For one thing, many NRHA competitors already exhibit at their respective breed (or breeds') World Shows, so the NRHA system provides variety. Furthermore, winning an NRHA World title diplays consistent results over an entire season, as opposed to having the best ride on one given day. In that respect, it's sort of like the Stanley Cup vs. the Super Bowl. In any case, I think it is a good system.
C.M. Henry, CO
 
Yes, I feel that a true World Champion, is determined through out the whole year, not just one big show. A true Champion is one that can haul through out the whole year and show under all kinds of conditions and a multiple of judges, that's the true CHAMPION.
Kerry Cogburn, CO
 
Leave it alone, let it be an indication of the entire year not just the performance of one show.
Jim Chaney, CO
 
I like the most money won concept rather than a "World Show" I feel this eliminates the class filling etc to get points....Thanks
Kay Simons, CO
 
 
It is an honor to have earned an NRHA title by hauling and winning the most dollars. Obviously this horse deserves a title. I do feel however that a Championship show at the futurity would be an answer to a problem that I think we have at the futurity itself. We have too many horses trying to prepare for a very important event. The warm up pen is becoming a disaster area and the days are getting too long. It's tough on the horses as well as the exhibitors. I think that the top 10 money earning horses for the year going into the championship show should be invited to compete there in each class, no more. And the winner of this class could have a title of whatever name you want to give it. This would give us more time and space to concentrate on properly preparing for the futurity and we could have some great Championship classes. When it's over you'd have a Tour or High Money Champion, and a World, or Championship Show winner. Wouldn't it be cool to be both. Thanks,
Craig Johnson, TX
I would like to see a system similar to the cutting horse industry where the top 15 money earners in each division compete in a clean slate competition at a special show for the world championship title!!
Gary Pipkin, CO
I think they should have a rein-off so to speak with all the top money and point earners invited to go. Hauling a horse all over the country to every show there is does not make it the NRHA champion, it only makes in a top money earner. I think that any horse and rider that earns a certain amount of money or points, (to be determined by the BOD or membership vote), should have a chance to go to a NRHA finals event and they should determine the world champion from that show.
Chris Bukowksi, CO
I'm not sure if I have a definite opinion one way or the other on this one, since they both have their pro's and cons. The way the system is now if someone lives in an area that doesn't have many entries, the money earned is not as much. Horses in certain parts of the country are at an advantage by being able to attend shows with the best jackpots going in short distance or in number of events. The disadvantage for some people with good horses in voided area's is of course the extra expense of traveling long distances to make the shows with the best money. I could see where a Championship show or at least a class would be an asset to those that are in aforementioned situation would be a bit more fair. Horses that qualify could be culled by a money earned cut off date, just like breed does it for points earned for World Show qualifying. Sincerely;
Kathy McCovey
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