About NBHA
The National Barrel Horse Association, headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, is the largest barrel racing organization in the world. In 1992, the NBHA revolutionized the barrel racing industry by pioneering the divisional format, which allows riders of all skill levels a chance to win money and prizes in barrel racing competition. NBHA has thousands of members of all ages across the United States and affiliates in various countries including: Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Hungary, Italy, Mexico, Panama, Spain, Switzerland and the Netherlands. Find out more about barrel racing’s international presence at IBHF. NBHA official home office events to date have paid out $12,157,330.00. Added money is over $2.5 million.
Divisional barrel racing, using the 4D format, is the heart of NBHA. Divisional barrel racing gives ALL competitors – from beginners to professionals, from youth to seniors – a chance to compete, learn and succeed in barrel racing. The Divisional format encourages riders to improve their skills and work toward the higher Divisions, while still having a chance to be competitive. To learn more about how Divisional format barrel racing works, visit our Frequently Asked Questions.
NBHA Members compete at District, State, National and World Championship levels. Each state is divided into competition Districts where members compete for money and prizes at a local level. Discover which one of the NBHA’s more than 250 Districts you can compete in at https://nbha.com/districts/.
Most states hold State Championship Shows. The NBHA National Office currently produces several Super Shows annually throughout the country. Check out our Tour Events Schedule page for dates and locations. The ultimate goal of NBHA competition is to qualify for the prestigious NBHA World Championships: The Youth & Teen World Championships, held the last week of July, and the Open & Senior World Championships are held in October annually. NBHA enjoys sponsorship from several companies that offer special programs – Incentives, discounts, merchandise and more – to NBHA Members. Visit the National Partners page to find out what benefits NBHA Members receive from NBHA’s sponsors.
Whether you’re an experienced rodeo rider, a top futurity trainer, a weekend jackpot competitor or a beginning barrel racer, NBHA is right for you! Visit our FAQ page to learn more about the organization that is #1 in Barrel Racing.
Mission, Vision and Core Values
The National Barrel Horse Association’s mission is to promote and expand the sport of barrel racing, utilizing a divisional format, which allows a diverse membership to compete on any breed of equine.
The vision of NBHA is to be the leading association for barrel racing worldwide.
NBHA values passion, integrity, diversity, innovation, and a commitment to our members.
The goal of NBHA is to increase the number of participants, improve the quality of shows and enhance the sport of barrel racing. NBHA supports the expansion of events by providing director support at the local, state, and regional level.