On a budget - No truck - No trailer - No problem!

I promised someone that I would stop talking about the 3 main issues I have with parts of the horse industry,

1. Lack of a drug policy in the NRHA 
2. A handicap system that forces people to improve to play, Which forces the use of trainers and coaches and breeders.
3. The lack of encouragement for the DIY trainers.

I believe these 3 issues are the reason that the industry is becoming more and more elitists, and it is harder and harder for a middle income family to compete and have fun. 

This post is not about those issues, it is not even about a topic or issue that can be argued as only my opinion.
This post is about the straw that broke the camels back, Mine! And alternatives for anyone who feels the same as I do. 

It is no secret, I love training reining horses, I love judging reining shows, I even liked showing reining horses, until I could not afford it anymore. 

Even since I quit showing I was always thinking that one day I would have, the time and the money to go show another reiner for a reason, (big show, qualification etc).

BUT I JUST read that as a life member of the industry,  I can not show at an NRHA show unless I buy a membership? A professional or a non pro membership as well as a general membership is needed to show at a NRHA show starting next year?

To be fair that is only $50 for me as a life member to buy a professional membership, but for someone new or not a NRHA life member it would mean $140 ($90 general membership and $50 professional membership) just for the ability to show at one show.

Going to a small NRHA show will cost at least $150 in fees for a jack pot class, (where you win very little money back,) if an open rider thinks they may like to go to a NRHA show, they will be expected to pay an additional $140 over the cost of the show?

This to me is absolutely insane, it is not just the NRHA that has this attitude to raising money, it is every national association that manages a judged event, here is why in my opinion. 

It is their game run by them and they make the rules.

This will never change because to become involved with the politics of a national association you have to have money. They volunteer their time, and travel to meetings and the time to do so requires a certain level of income to justify.
Getting people who really understand the concept of budgeting to show a horse is impossible, when the ones who can afford to run the associations have no clue what budgeting is like for 90% of the population.

When budgeting is -  Do I show 3 horses instead of 10 at the large show, so I can buy a new Living quarters trailer, chances are you cant understand the budgeting of show or feed my horses.

Unless there is a major change in attitude among the powers that be:

1. If I have to buy another membership, I will never show in an NRHA show again,  - If I could afford a lawyer I would sue them for my life membership fee back. I bought it as a means to show in their shows. 

The NRHA has the best game in town, when it comes to willingly guided competitions. But I do not agree with them on how they promote it to the majority of the horse owning public. Here is why.

Willingly Guided Competitions. 

There are a lot of small local type clubs for people to show at, and get acquainted with showing, these clubs are often not associated with any national association. The costs are as affordable as they can be made, with volunteers etc. They often times have poor ground conditions and under educated judges, but they are fun and affordable, and the clubs offer year end awards etc. .

Eventually one of 2 things happens at this level, 

1. The person improves beyond the competitive level offered there 
2. The person does not improve beyond the competitive level offered there 

If they do improve beyond the level of competition offered locally then one of 2 things happen 

1. They stay the big fish in the little pond and everyone else secretly hates them for taking all the prizes when they are obviously to good for that level of competition.
2. They move up to the next level of competition which is usually the national level

If they move up to the national level one of 3 things happen.

1. They do not have the skills to compete and never win a thing and that causes them to return to the local group or quit totally. - Most national associations do a decent job of offering a beginner level for these people at first . 
2. They have some success at the beginner levels of the national association, but when they are required to move up they can not afford the jump, IE; better horses more coaching or trainers. - Or the cost of the next level shows, each level you move up gets more expensive to enter.  
3. They have the funds too keep improving, as most national level handicap systems require and they enjoy the sport and support the national level trainers and breeders. - About 2% of all horse owners fall into this group, unfortunately for the rest if us that 2% have about 50% of the money to be spent on the horse industry. They get catered to and are pretty much the people the industry trainers and coaches depend on.

Personally I believe we need to attract and keep the larger percentages of people who can not afford to support the national level trainers. I even offered to help one association to do that, I was politically involved and offering ideas to achieve that. 

The problem is that if you make the events with handicaps not based on having to improve, the  national level trainers and breeders along with the 2% that have 50%  of the money may lose a few fish that because they are forced to improve to continue, do pay for trainers and better horses for a few years before quitting all together.

For those of you who have tried and loved the willingly guided competitions, but find you can not afford them any more, there is an affordable fun rewarding option.

 On a Budget - No truck - No trailer -  No problem!

 There is one international association that is run by people on a budget, they understand:

• The need to have competitions that are competitive for every level of rider and horse.
• The need to encourage and offer FREE help  to DIY trainers
• The need to recognize individual improvements as well as competitive accomplishments.
• The need to share the prizes and money to be won with the top riders and horses of every competitive level, not just the top competitive level.  

That association is the IPHDA - International Performance Horse Development Association.

There shows are judged virtually due to affordability, there are many ways that the IPHDA shows can can be made live enter shows for those who prefer that format. It only takes the ideas and imaginations of the members.

Since IPHDA is welcoming to and affordable for 100% of the population those ideas and imaginations are endless.

Spread the wealth  

When the top competitors in any event rely on the lower level competitors spending lots of money so they can win their millions, we think the lower levels should be able to win millions as well. 

IPHDA loves and encourages all levels of competitors, but we do not treat one more special than another. The lowest level riders and horses can win just as much as the top riders and horses. 

The amount of awards depends on participation at a level: 

• The more participation at a level the larger the awards.  -Unlike all other associations where the few top riders and horses take most of the money and awards. Even though the numbers of competitors they have to beat is much smaller than the lower level competitors. 

Since 2008 IPHDA has awarded over $20,000  in cash and prizes to its competitors. Some of those competitors were on a budget, had no truck or no trailer, they did how ever have a desire to compete and learn, IPHDA offered them that chance. 

IPHDA was designed to help every horse owner have fun, and enjoy the competition willingly guided offers.  

If you show or want to show in a judged event, if you would like to compete without having to mortgage the farm, check IPHDA out.

Thanks for sharing your time with me.

Rod