FAQ

The American Performance Horseman

Friday, March 8th, 2024 - Globe Life Field, Arlington, Texas.

Teton Ridge is a multi-platform, wholly American-owned brand and media company devoted to the iconic American western way of life. Dedicated to elevating classic Western sports and America's western culture on the world stage.

The innovative exhibition format offers all three sports to be showcased to a wider audience and on a new global platform, vying for $1 Million dollars in prize pool. Not only will competitors contend as individuals but also in a team format. There will be 5 teams consisting of three athletes from each discipline. Tickets are now available at www.americanrodeo.com

Q: Will the The American Performance Horseman payout affect the American Rodeo?

The American Performance Horseman (TAPH) is a part of the American Rodeo “Western Weekend” celebrations, TAPH is its own event and in no way impacts the prize money or the athletes competing in The American Rodeo. 

Q: When will tickets go on sale?

Tickets are currently on sale at americanrodeo.com/tickets

Q: What will the earnings from The American Performance Horseman count towards?

TAPH will count towards horse and rider’s LTE’s.
NCHA: Earnings will not count towards: NCHA world standings, horse of the year, or any other championships.
NRHA: Earnings will not count toward Top 20 Professionals, Top 10 awards, or eligibility.
NRCHA: Earnings will count as category 2 earnings.

Q: Who qualifies?

The Top 5 riders from each discipline of Cutting, Reining and Reined Cow Horse. The rider, not the horse, is the qualifier. If one of the qualified Top 5 riders is unable to attend, the next highest money earner of the year from that discipline will be substituted in their place. 

Q: How are the teams chosen?

By random selection. There are 5 teams of 3. Each team consists of a Cutter, Reiner, and Reined Cow Horse athlete.

Q: Can the rider show any horse?

NRHA – Competitors can show any horse of any age.
NCHA – Competitors can show any horse of any age.
NRCHA – Yes, however, per NRCHA Rules: Open to horses of any age, to be ridden in an NRCHA – approved bit, and reins with a romal are required.

The rider will have two horses to choose from and will declare their horse of choice by March 1, 2024.

Q: In the event of a tie, will there be a tiebreaker?

Individual Competition- In the event of a tie, a work-off will not be held and a tiebreaker will be used to determine the winner.

Tiebreaker one: All five judges’ scores will be added to determine the winner
Tiebreaker two: If still tied, the tiebreaker judge will determine the winner
If still tied, a Coin toss will determine the champion team
*Within the cow horse competition, the first tiebreaker will be determined by the highest cow work score.
If still tied, tiebreakers one and two will be used to break the tie.

Team Competition – Team Competition

Tiebreaker One: All five judges scores in each of the individual competitions will be added to determine the winning team.
If still tied, the scores from the tiebreaker judges from each of the individual competitions will be added together to determine the champion team
If still tied, a Coin toss will determine the champion team

Q: Will there be a 5-judge panel per event?

Yes, there will be a 5-judge panel from each association for each corresponding discipline. Each association will provide the highest accredited judges from each discipline. The American Performance Horseman will follow the rules of the governing bodies of each discipline.

Q: What will be the order of events?

A: The competition order will run as follows:

Cutting competition.
Reining using an NRHA-approved abbreviated pattern. 
The Reined Cow Horse performance will close out the event with the exhilarating “down the fence” runs. The Reining portion of the reined cow horse will be done in the morning to ensure complete scoring. This section will not be televised. 
A specialized arena of 150 X 250 has been created and approved by associations for this exhibition.

Q: What will the payout be of the $1 Million prize pool?

Individual Prize Money per discipline event:

$100,000
$75,000
$50,000
$25,000
$25,000

Team Money:

$75,000($25,000 PER CONTESTANT)
$25,000($8,333.33 PER CONTESTANT)
$25,000($8,333.33 PER CONTESTANT)
$25,000($8,333.33 PER CONTESTANT)
$25,000($8,333.33 PER CONTESTANT)

Q: What will the earnings count towards?

NCHA: TAPH does not count towards: NCHA world standings, horse of the year, or any other championships. NRHA: No, they do not count toward Top 20 Professionals, Top 10 awards, or eligibility. NRCHA: Yes, currently category 2 earnings count toward year-end earnings. TAPH counts only open-aged event money won in the 2022 year, incentive program monies or subclasses do not count. TAPH will count towards horse and rider's LTE's.

Q: Can the competitor show any horse?

A: NRHA - Competitors can show any horse of any age. The TAPH is classified as an Open Reining class.

NCHA - Competitors can show any horse of any age. The TAPH is classified as an Open Cutting. NRCHA - Yes, However, the TAPH is classified as an open bridle class. Per NRCHA Rules: Open to horses of any age, to be ridden in an NRCHA - approved bit, and reins with a romal are required.

Q: How did the athletes qualify to compete at The American Performance Horseman?

A: The qualification is based on the open rider, not the horse. The qualified riders are the Top 5 athletes with the highest aged event money from the 2023 show season, not including subclasses or incentives.

Q: What is the team portion of the competition?

A: Five teams of one cutting, one reiner, and one cowhorse competitor will compete in a team format and for individual prize money.

The accumulative score of each rider on a team will determine the placings of the team portion of the competition. i.e. Reining Score + Cutting Score + Cowhorse Score = Team Score Team Colors: Royal Blue, Regal Red, Imperial Purple, Racing Green, and Burnt Orange

Q: In the event that one of the competitors is unable to compete, what is the protocol?

A: In the event that a competitor chooses to or is not able to compete in the event, it is their responsibility to notify event organizers with little or no delay upon their decision to withdraw.

If a Top 5 American Perfomance Horseman qualifier withdraws from the competition, event organizers will notify the first alternate on the list of top LAE riders provided by the event's respective governing association. If the first alternate declines, the next highest alternate will be notified.

Q: How will the teams be chosen?

A: There will be 5 teams of 3.

Each team will consist of a cutter, reiner, and reined cow horse athlete. Teams will be drawn at random. Draw order will be segregated by discipline and ordered starting with the highest year-end money earner.

For additional event information, please click on the below: