Premier Sires Addresses Changes to NSBA Rider Divisions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

After careful consideration and lengthy conversations with NSBA representatives, Open and Non-Pro riders of all skill levels, owners and breeders, Premier Sires has made the decision not to follow NSBA’s new rider divisions which eliminate the Intermediate division and removes the lifetime earnings cap for the Limited division. While we applaud NSBA for making changes to try and better serve exhibitors, at this time we believe keeping three rider divisions in a format based on NRHA’s successful leveling system will best serve our breeders, owners, exhibitors, and horses for our 2022 classes.

To explain how this will work, we will use the 3-Year-Old Open Western Pleasure as an example. The same format will be used for all Premier Sires classes in which three rider divisions are offered (3-Year-Old Open Western Pleasure, 3-Year-Old Non-Pro Western Pleasure, 3-Year-Old Open Hunter Under Saddle, 3-Year-Old Non-Pro Hunter Under Saddle).

All riders wishing to compete will enter the 3-Year-Old Open Western Pleasure. At the time of entry riders will specify if they are Level 3 (Open), Level 2 (Intermediate) or Level 1 (Limited). Level 1 riders will be eligible for and entered in the Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3. Level 2 riders will be eligible for and entered in the Level 2 and Level 3.

Since Level 1 riders are automatically entered in the Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 and Level 2 riders are automatically entered in the Level 2 and Level 3, horses may not be entered in different divisions of the same class with different riders (for example, a horse may not show in the Level 3 with rider A and the Level 1 with rider B).

The added money for the class will be split as follows:

Level 3…40%

Level 2…20%

Level 1…30%

The remaining 10% will be paid out in the Silver division (for offspring of stallion’s with less than $100,000 in offspring earnings). The Silver division will be entered as a separate class with a separate entry fee and will not be leveled.

The jackpotted portion of the entry fees will be allocated for each entry to the three level’s purses in the following manner:

The Level 1 will be held as a separate class. The Level 2 and Level 3 will run concurrently with each level placed separately. This gives Level 1 riders the opportunity to show twice, giving them more experience in the show pen.

Rider levels will be announced once 2021 earnings have been finalized. Level 3 and Level 2 eligibility will be determined by earnings over the last 3 years and Level 1 eligibility will be determined by lifetime earnings. This means that riders will be able to move back and forth between Level 2 and Level 3 based on their earnings and prevents riders from dropping back into Level 1 once they have surpassed the specified dollar amount.

We believe this system positions the Level 3 as the most prestigious and highest paying portion of the class—the level that all riders should aspire too—while still giving horses and riders of all skill levels a place to compete against their peers at a similar level. It also protects a true Level 1 division for those riders just beginning their careers while also incentivizing them to show up in the higher levels. 

Individuals with questions about our new format are welcome to contact us directly at premiersires@gmail.com or 608-235-4804.