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FINALS 2026
Minnesota NBHA State Finals
August 13-16, 2026
R&J Arena Verndale, MN
SCHEDULE
THURSDAY, AUGUST 13
12 noon – Participant arrival begins. Please do not arrive before this time.
1:30-7pm – Check in at the Show Office.
2-6pm – 15 min Warm up Sessions
6-9pm – Barrel Exhibitions
FRIDAY, AUGUST 14
7-9am - Check in at the Show Office
CONTESTANTS MUST BE CHECKED IN BY 9AM FRIDAY MORNING OR FORFEIT ENTRY
6-9am – Barrel Exhibitions
10am – REQUIRED ALL STATE PARTICIPANT MEETING in the bleachers
11am – Opening Ceremony followed by:
Pee Wee
Open 5D
First Go
Youth 5D First Go
WELCOME RECEPTION & BINGO NIGHT - please join us!
SATURDAY, AUGUST 15
6:30-8:30am – Barrel Exhibitions
9am – Opening Ceremony followed by
Pee Wee
Open 5D Second Go
Youth 5D Second Go
**Open Short Go Wild Card Raffle**
COKE RACE & GAME NIGHT - fun for all!
MN NBHA Silent Auction
SUNDAY, AUGUST 16
7am – Cowboy Church- Everyone is welcome.
8am – Opening Ceremony followed by:
Consolation 5D Jackpot
Open 5D Short Go
Senior 5D Short Go
Youth 5D Short Go
Pee Wee
***STATE FINALS AWARDS PRESENTATION***
2026 State Finals Gear
RULES & INFO
State Finals 2026
Riders must have competed in at least three sanctioned shows in the district designated on their membership form between State Finals 2025 & 2026. There is no point requirement to qualify. Individuals may only compete in one NBHA State Finals per year. Participants must be a current NBHA member in good standing at the time of each entry.
Forms will be posted and able to be downloaded and printed from www.mnnbha.com. On Facebook there is a MN NBHA State Finals 2026 event page.
Forms will also be available from the district directors. Entries must be postmarked by July 28, 2026. A late fee of $50 per horse will be assessed after that date. Late entries will be a random draw that will be posted at the #100 drag in the First Go. Late entries will run at the end of the First Go & will be included in the reverse order in the Second Go.
Thursday, August 14 from 1:30-7pm. Check-in will also be available on Friday, August 15 from 7- 9am. Riders that are unable to make this deadline must have a representative check in & pay any outstanding fees before check-in closes. All horses and riders must be checked in by 9am Friday, August 15 or forfeit entry.
Stalls are mandatory for horses staying overnight. Two bags of shavings are included with the stall fee. Additional shavings are available for purchase on the entry form or at A Bit of Tack upon arrival. No outside shavings will be allowed. You may choose to pay a Jump Out fee of $40 per horse for the weekend. These horses must leave the grounds after the competition each day.
Second Go running order will be reversed from the First Go running order beginning with the highest draw number. For Short Go qualifications in the Second Go the Show Committee will bump past those who have already qualified to determine riders who make the Short Go. Twelve riders from each “D” will be brought back from each Go. If a rider places with two horses in the same “D”, both horses advance to the Short Go. Unfilled spots will not be pulled from the First Go. Contestants may elect not to run in the Second Go.
This is a clean slate format and will be run slowest to fastest qualifying time. During the Short Go, qualifiers may move up or down in divisions. Placement going into the short go has no bearing on winning positions. In the event of a tie during the Short Go the money will be split evenly. The award choice will be determined by a coin toss. If it is a tie for a state title a run off or coin toss will determine the winner as described in the national NBHA rulebook.
NBHA dress code as stipulated in the NBHA rulebook will be enforced. To enhance the image of our sport, the NBHA encourages and promotes appropriate western attire. This includes a long sleeve western shirt with collar, cowboy hat or helmet, and cowboy
boots. There will be a $5 Hat Fine for any hat lost in the arena!
Runs are a fun run only for children 10 and under. It is not meant to be an additional youth run. Peewees cannot be entered in the Youth or Open runs. Participation prizes will be given immediately following each Peewee run. Every pre entered Peewee will receive a youth sized t-shirt. Please provide a size on the entry form.
Youth riders may carry their time from the Open into the Youth both days & on Short Go Sunday. Seniors may choose to carry their time from the Open Short Go to the Senior on Sunday. The Senior draw will be done after the Short Go winners are posted. All carry overs must be designated in advance of the first run.
The Target Time will be calculated from the Open run each day. This is optional and must be paid for prior to running the first Open. To be eligible for the Target Time Award, riders must run in the Open each day. Cost is $20 per horse. Winner of the Target Time receives half of the total money collected for Target Time entries & a buckle. The other half of the collected funds goes to MN NBHA.
100% of added money and 80% of the entry fee will be paid out. The payout will be divided evenly between the First Go, Second Go, & Short Go with an extra $1,000 for the Open Short Go. Payout is calculated based on number of entries for the Open, Youth, and Senior. Money not paid out in a division because of empty spots will be divided between all money winners in that division.
If a rider does not qualify for the Open Short Go the rider may purchase a Wild Card Raffle ticket for $20 for a chance to win a spot in the Short Go. Rider must designate the horse on each raffle ticket. The show committee will draw for 5 Wild Card Spots. These 5 winners will be the first five horses to run in the Open Short Go on Sunday. If the rider does not win a spot in the raffle, this rider/horse combination is still eligible to enter the Consolation 5D Jackpot Run. This jackpot run will take place after the Second Go of the Youth on Saturday night. Money raised from this raffle will apply to 2024 awards.
All NBHA members that entered State Finals and did not qualify for a Short Go are eligible to enter the Consolation 5D Jackpot. $25 Entry Fee - 80% Payback. A separate jackpot entry form will be available in the show office to enter. Payment must be received prior to the run. The Consolation Jackpot Race will begin at 8am on Sunday morning.
Contestants will receive 3 gate calls. After three calls the contestant will be considered a scratch. Any contestant who competes out of turn as called will be disqualified. Reruns will be granted if both timers fail to work properly on a clean run or if the barrels are not properly on the markers. A tipped barrel in the rerun will result in a no time.
Dogs must be on a leash at all times. There will be a fine for any seen off leash. The first bark heard in the arena during the race will require all dogs to leave the building.
No bikes, scooters, or hoverboards will be allowed in the arena or stall area. Please use extreme caution when using anywhere on the grounds!
Saturday evening after the Youth & before the Family Games. This is similar to a flag race. The rider will run around a barrel & pick up a bottle of COKE & run back across the timeline. There will be entry forms available in the office. $1 entry fee. Payout will be determined by the number of entries. All ages are welcome!
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