NPBA Rules and Regulations

Memberships

Memberships are good for one calendar year. There are three ways to join:

• Pay by credit card online for NPBA Online Membership Products
• or: Download a NPBA Paper Membership Form and mail it to the NPBA office
• or: Join at a NPBA approved show

Memberships are open to any person who agrees to follow the rules and guidelines of this association. Members will accumulate points for year-end awards. To earn and maintain points, a member must be in good standing with the NPBA. Members who do not fill out their membership applications properly or have a returned check in the office for more than 7 days will not receive points until these conditions are resolved. NPBA reserves the right to refuse membership to anyone who is or has caused hardship to fall upon this association or sport.

Designating a State

Members will automatically receive points in the state they live in unless a different state is specified at the time of joining. This must be written on your membership application. You may change your designated state during the season; however, you will lose any points you have accumulated in the prior state. Changes in state will only be accepted in writing and turned into the home office by mail or email. There is a $50 fee to change your designated state. The change will not be completed until payment is made.

NPBA Approved Classes

NPBA Sanctions two Classes, Open and Youth. A rider’s age on January 1st (for the first year under new management) or August 1st (every year thereafter) will determine which class they should participate in. If a show series or club has different standards for any class, it may pay out under its standards, but it will be pointed via NPBA Rules. Approved shows that are not part of a series or separate club will assume NPBA standards for class age unless advertised on the show flyer and approved by NPBA. Youth age is 18 and under. Points for these classes will be awarded on a 3-D basis during the regular season.

Competitor Rules

1. A contestant will be disqualified for running out of turn or running the wrong horse. It’s the contestant’s responsibility to know their draw position. Rider changes must be reported to the show office prior to their run. Rider changes not reported to the show office prior to running will result in a disqualification.
2. Only one horse may be in the arena during a run. The run begins when the horse crosses the timer line.
3. Reruns shall be granted if the timer fails to work properly, if the poles are not placed properly on their markers, or if there are any other situations that the show producer deems may have had a negative impact on a run. Any penalty incurred on the original run shall not be applied against the rerun; however, any penalty occurring on the rerun shall result in a no time. The option of a fresh drag must be offered to the contestant.
4. Show producers have the right to disqualify any uncontrolled horse and/or rider that may present a danger to other contestants, riders abusing their horse, or those that have not begun their run within 3 minutes of being called.
5. Knocked poles are No Times. If a producer wishes to grant penalties (added time) for knocked poles, no points will be awarded to any penalized runs.
6. The same horse may not be ridden by more than one rider in the same class on the same day.

Penalties, Suspensions and/or Disqualifications

1. Using abusive language, or threatening or bribing to influence or harass any contestant or NPBA/show official. Remarks intended to cast aspersions on the character or integrity of an NPBA official, show official, or the association will not be tolerated.
2. Abuse of a horse in any way is prohibited. All NPBA members are subject to drug testing. Random tests may be performed throughout the year at NPBA produced and approved events. By joining the NPBA you agree to adhere to these guidelines and accept that any animal you ride is subject to testing.
3. Drug or alcohol abuse by contestants is prohibited. Actions classified as “Abuse” may be decided by the show’s staff, NPBA Directors, and Representatives. Acts of abuse must be described in writing, supported by two witnesses from the event, and sent to the NPBA office. Directors have the right to revoke points and deny entry to contestants at the event where abuse has taken place. Any dispute to a director’s decision must be submitted to the home office within one week of the event. The NPBA home office reserves the right to make all final decisions.
4. Misidentifying a horse in any NPBA class will disqualify a contestant.
5. Policy On Returned Checks: BAD CHECKS WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. There will be an automatic $50 fee for each time a check is returned, plus any applicable bank fees. The party that wrote the bad check will have 7 days to make the check good along with the fees. If the party is still delinquent after the 7-day grace period, the contestant or member(s) for which the check was written will be placed on suspension and will not receive points for the show associated with the bad check, as well as any subsequent shows during the suspension period. This includes checks for merchandise and checks made to anyone NPBA does business with. If restitution is not made within 30 days of the date of the check, the member(s) will lose ALL points and be placed on a public suspended list until payment is made. Lost points will not be reinstated. Any non-member who presents a returned check will be restricted from participating until the check and fine are made good and will be on a cash-only basis for the remainder of the show season.

Points

The point season runs from January 1st, 2025, to July 31st, 2025, for the first year under new management. Every year after that, the season will run from August 1st to July 31st with the addition of State Finals. First place will always earn 100 points regardless of the number of entries. From first place, the point values per place decrease by {9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1}.

NPBA will award points as follows:

• 25 entries & Under: 5 places
• 26-50 entries: 6 places
• 51-75 entries: 7 places
• 76-100 entries: 8 places
• 101-125 entries: 9 places
• 126+ entries: 10 places

Nonmembers will be skipped when awarding points. NPBA will not award points to members more than 10 places down in the standings of any division.

1. Points will be given on a horse and rider combination. You may accumulate points on as many horses as you would like. When entering, you must use the same name for both horse and rider. You may use the horse’s registered name or nickname, but the same name must be used throughout the season. If you use different names at different shows for the same horse or rider, the points will be split as though they were separate pairs. We strongly encourage the use of registered names for clarity so that results submitted to other organizations (such as incentive programs or earning trackers) are processed accurately. It is the responsibility of each member to check and verify their points as they are posted. Any discrepancy must be resolved with the office prior to State Finals. NO CHANGES will be made to correct points after a State Show has been held. If a state does not have a state show, all discrepancies must be submitted to the Home Office prior to August 1. It is from these standings that Top Dogs will be determined.
2. We will count your best 14 shows per horse/rider combination, per division, to determine Top Dogs and year-end standings. These 14 shows DO NOT include State Finals. A state’s points will end on July 31st with the exception of a State Finals. A show used solely for handing out awards but not for awarding points must be labeled as an “Awards Show.” Awards may be handed out at a “State Finals and Awards Show.”
3. All points will be awarded on a 3-D format:
   1. 1-D: Fastest time in the class and those who qualify in this division.
   2. 2-D: Fastest time in the class plus 1 second that qualify in this division.
   3. 3-D: Fastest time in the class plus 2 seconds that qualify in this division.
4. Points will not be awarded for knocked over poles.
5. In case of a tie, both contestants will receive points for the highest position they tied for. For example, if they tied for 2nd/3rd, they both would receive 2nd place points while the next position would be 4th.
6. Substitutions are only accepted due to injury, death, or sale of horse. One substitution is allowed per season (change of horse) unless you return to your original horse, in which case you must stay with that horse. Notification with a vet release, transfer, or death certificate MUST be sent to the NPBA office in writing (via fax or e-mail) by the Monday following the show in which you substituted. Substitutions turned in as a state director, representative, or show producer are invalid. NO CHANGES will be made after results have been posted.
7. Regular Season substitutions may only be for a horse that you have not received points on for the year it is being substituted.
8. A class must be 100% completed for points to be awarded. If a show is interrupted and the remaining classes cannot be completed, only the completed classes will receive points.

NPBA 3-D Show Approval and Show Management Rules

1. In order to have an NPBA approved pole bending show, a written request (approval form) must be sent to the office at least two weeks prior to the requested show date and must be accompanied by a show flyer. Show flyers with a “subject to change” clause must explicitly state the types of changes possible and under what circumstances changes will be made. The NPBA home office will make final decisions on all show approvals. NPBA reserves the right to refuse or cancel any show (or series) due to, but not limited to, lack of support, poor facility and arena conditions, or poor show management.
2. For a show to be rescheduled without resubmitting an approval (and without an additional two weeks lead time), the show must have a rain date listed on the flyer. A show may change locations on the same day as the initial approval due to weather or uncontrollable circumstances if the new location is within 30 miles of the original.
3. The pole pattern is 21ft off the timing light, 21ft between each pole, and a minimum of 21ft from the back wall. To hold an NPBA approved pole bending show, the arena must be at least 147ft long.
4. Show producers are to hold a 3D class unless there are 75 or more entries. After 76 entries, NPBA encourages a 4D class; the format of the 4D payout will be up to the show producer. When filling out the NPBA result sheets, classes must be listed as a 3D class according to times run, regardless of the payout format. Points will be awarded on a 3D format for all classes, and the payout amounts must be included on the results page when submitted.
5. Only two weekends may be approved per month at the same arena.
6. The NPBA fee is $2 per rider for each NPBA approved class. The show producer is responsible for paying the fee within 10 days following the show. If results, memberships, and show dollars are not received by the home office within 10 days, a $25 late fee will be charged, with an additional $25 late fee for each subsequent week. Timely submission is critical due to the point system. If a producer loses their results, they will be responsible for paying twice their average sanctioning fees plus a $50 negligence fee.
7. All approved shows must have an electronic timing system with a display board. Each producer’s circumstances will be considered in the enforcement of this rule.
8. All members must comply with the arena and/or producer’s existing rules. Any protest concerning rule differences not covered or in conflict with NPBA rules shall be referred to the State Director. If the State Director is not present, protests must be submitted to the home office & State Director in writing (emailed or postmarked) within one week of the incident.
9. NPBA logo must be used on all approved show flyers.
10. As a condition of approval, shows may be asked to display promotional items provided by NPBA National Sponsors.
11. No show will be approved that limits a member from competing unless the person was banned from that show or arena for misconduct reported to the NPBA. The ban must be approved by the NPBA.
12. No show will be approved if a show committee charges excessive contestant fees.
13. End poles must be pulled during drags or, if dragging on 5 or fewer horses every 2 drags (not to exceed 10 horses), Super Shows & Preferred Shows must pull poles every drag regardless of the number of horses.
14. For an NPBA class to be approved, it must have an entry fee and payback.
15. Rollovers are accepted if advertised on the show flyer. Rollovers may be from Open to Youth or vice versa. Contestants must designate a rollover at the time of entry. The pattern must remain exactly the same as the original class.
16. A Super Show is an NPBA approved show that awards points to the home state and adjoining states. The race will appear on each bordering state’s approved show list, with each state having its own set of points. Requirements for a Super Show include: a $50 approval fee for a 1- or 2-day show (an additional $25 for a 3-day show) and a minimum of $500 added per day. NPBA Super Show producers not using the NPBA payback must provide a payout formula to the NPBA home office and may need to display it on the show bill. Poles at an approved Super Show must have solid rubber bases (plastic bases are not allowed).
17. A Preferred Show is an NPBA approved show that awards points in all states. The race will appear on all states’ approved show lists, with each state awarding its own set of points. Requirements for a Preferred Show include: a $100 approval fee, a minimum added amount of $1000 for a one-day show, $1500 for a two-day show, or $2000 for a three-day show. NPBA Preferred Show producers not using the NPBA payback must provide a payout formula to the NPBA home office and may need to display it on the show bill. Preferred Shows must have solid rubber bases (plastic bases are not allowed).
18. It is the responsibility of the show producer to check npba.us for show approval. The NPBA website is the official website for show approvals. If a show is not listed, it is not approved.
19. Co-approvals with other NPBA states may be made with any bordering state upon approval of the bordering state director. The home office must be notified of such co-approvals so that shows can be properly advertised and pointed.
20. Producers may be requested to provide their payout formula to the NPBA, and may be required to display it on the show bill and other advertisements.
21. All show producers who request and receive NPBA approval acknowledge that their submitted Approval Form serves as a contract between the show producer and the NPBA. The producer agrees to abide by the rules outlined in the show approval form and the NPBA rulebook.
22. Any litigation due to breach of contract, including disputes regarding collections, is to be held in Louisville, KY.

State Finals & Champions

Each state should hold a State Finals to determine their year-end State Champions. A show can only be labeled “State Finals” if points are awarded for the season ending. It is the State Director’s decision whether a “State Finals” will be held. If the “State Finals” is held after August 1st of the beginning season, the show will count points for both the new season and the season ending. State Finals may be held in conjunction with a pre-existing show by obtaining approval from the NPBA office. In the event of a tie at a “State Finals,” a runoff will be held to determine the winner. If a runoff is not possible due to injury, absence, or another acceptable obstacle, ties will be decided by totaling the number of contestants each person has run against that season to determine their best 14 shows. All states must hold their “State Finals” prior to September 1st of the new season. If a state is unable to hold a State Finals, the Champions will be determined at the last approved show of the season. Side Pots may be run at state finals but cannot count for the season ending. The one run rule may be used at the state show, and season-ending classes must have the option to run. At state shows only, the time from which points will be deducted will be set by the fastest member.

Awards Show

1. Each state should have an awards show or awards banquet. A show can only be labeled “Awards Show” if awards for the season ending are distributed at that show. Note that a “State Finals” is not necessarily an “Awards Show” and vice versa. A combined “State Finals and Awards Show” should be clearly advertised as such.

National Finals Championship

A complete set of rules for National Finals will be released with the National Finals Show Flyer.

Dress Code

Long-sleeved collared shirt (with sleeves down), a cowboy hat or safety helmet, and cowboy boots. The dress code is optional but must be stated on the show flyer if enforced.

Suggested Payout

Suggested payout for NPBA sanctioned shows: Added money will be divided among the same number of places in all divisions. All prize money must be paid out. If there are not enough riders to qualify in a division based on the number of places paid, the unaccounted money shall be divided equally among the riders who placed in that division. If no riders qualify in a division, the prize money for that division shall be equally divided among riders in other divisions who have won prize money. These are just suggested payouts, and producers are encouraged to pay out in a way that best benefits the riders in their area. For classes with 76+ riders, a 4D payout is encouraged, but the format is up to each individual producer.

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