NATIONAL POLE BENDING ASSOCIATION

Regional Show Information & Application

The National Pole Bending Association is accepting applications from individuals or associations to sponsor regional shows in the United States for the June 1, 2007 - March 15, 2008 qualifying period. Each regional show must have a minimum $1,000 added open 3D pole bending and a youth 3D pole bending unless otherwise approved by NPBA. By attending a regional show an NPBA member will qualify to attend the 2008 NPBA National Championship show.

NPBA anticipates approving a minimum of 15 regional shows in the 2007-2008 qualifying period. NPBA will offer a grant of up to $500 to regional shows to assure that each regional show has a minimum $1,000 added to the open 3D pole bending and to assure that regional shows are held throughout the United States. Other regional shows may be approved by NPBA if the sponsor guarantees $1,000 added money to the open 3D pole bending without any grant from NPBA. 

In order to receive approval from NPBA for a regional show for the qualifying year 2007-2008 and/or for a $500 added money grant, a sponsor needs to apply to NPBA six months prior to the proposed date of the regional show. 

To be approved by NPBA, a regional show proposal must meet the following requirements: 

1.     The sponsor must agree to abide by the rules of NPBA, including the use the pole bending pattern commonly referred to as “Washington Poles”. The approved pole bending pattern is more particularly described in the American Quarter Horse Association Handbook. Electric timers are required. Poles and pole bases must be on the NPBA approved list. A downed pole will count as a five second penalty not a disqualification. No exhibitor with a downed pole, however, will receive a check. 

2.     A regional show must include an open 3D pole bending and a youth (18 and under) 3D pole bending. A regional show may include other classes (poles, barrels etc), including pole bending classes restricted in other ways (by breed, other age classifications etc), but such classes will not be NPBA approved.  

3.     All exhibitors running in the NPBA regional show classes must have a current NPBA membership and the sponsor will pay $2 per entry in NPBA approved classes to NPBA.  

4.     The sponsor must pay out all guaranteed added money and at least 70% of the entry fees using the NPBA 3D payout formula with one second splits.  

5.     NPBA approved classes must be open to horses of all breeds, whether or not registered with a breed association (other than the junior horse 3D classes which may require breed registration in order to verify age of the horse). Recording of registration numbers of all horses running in NPBA classes is encouraged, however, so that the horse’s earning can be recorded. 

6.     The NPBA dress code is recommended for all regional shows. 

If you are approved to hold a regional show, you will be required to supply the regional show results (horse name, exhibitor name, owner name, times and payouts) and the $2 per entry to NPBA within 15 days of the end of the show. In addition, all advertising, flyers, entry forms etc and your website (if any) will be required to include the following “Approved by the National Pole Bending Association WWW.POLEBENDING.ORG” with respect to the regional show. 

          The form of regional show application is available at the link below. If you have any questions on the application or the regional show program contact Doug Brown at dsbrown@earthlink.net or (805) 238-9818.