To qualify for the 2026 NBHA Worlds, you needed to finish in the top 10 of a division (1D, 2D, 3D ect) at the end of the 2025 season.
Looking ahead for the 2027 NBHA Words, you need to finish in the Top 10 of a division (1D, 2D, 3D ect) at the end of the current 2026 season.
You also need to be a NBHA Australia Member, and a Member of your local district to be able to collect points in order to finish the season with a chanced to be in the Top 10.
Congratulations!
You’re officially at the first step of organizing the trip of a lifetime!
Please send an email to notify the board of your intentions. Once your plans are confirmed and you can provide proof of your airline tickets and NBHA World Show nomination, NBHA Australia will organise your NBHA Australia Competition hirt and NBHA Australia Jacket.
July 18th-25th, 2026
Georgia National Fairgrounds
401 Larry Walker Parkway
Perry, GA 31069
$105,000+ ADDED MONEY
Reaves and Perdue Arena will be used again in 2026.
10 Circle Y Saddles to the 1D-5D Champions in the Teen & Youth
10 Gist World Champion Buckles | 10 Gist Reserve World Champion Buckles
Go Round Buckles for Rounds 1 & 2 in BOTH classes + Many more awards!
510 Gist Finalist Buckles
Youth 12 and Under - Teen 13 -18 - Ages are determined on the 1st of January the year that you qualify.
October 23rd – 31st, 2026
Georgia National Fairgrounds
401 Larry Walker Parkway
Perry, GA 31069
$110,500+ ADDED MONEY+ Awards
10 Circle Y Saddles to the 1D-5D Champions in the Open & Senior
10 Gist World Champion Buckles | 10 Gist Reserve World Champion Buckles
Go Round Buckles for Rounds 1 & 2 in BOTH classes + Many more awards!
360 Gist Finalist Buckles | 255 to the Open & 105 to the Senior
Division include: Sweepstakes (Jackpot) - Seniors (50+) - Super Seniors (60+) - Opens
Open Worlds
Open World Nominations: Enter on SaddleBook beginning 15/5 at 10am est.
Open World Important Dates
Mail-In Entries must be postmarked by 18/9 to avoid late fees. We strongly suggest using trackable mailing methods
Online regular entries close on 2/10 at midnight EST
Late entries ONLY accepted online through 10/16 at midnight EST. Late fee is $100/horse. Absolutely no late entries after 16/10
Draw Outs 2/10 or prior, result in a full refund less the processing fee.
Payment Plan Available for Online Entries. All online entries will be taken through SaddleBook. Entries open on May 15, 2026 at 10:00:01 am EST. Online entries will accept all major credit cards. Choose the ‘Payment Plan’ option to at checkout break your total entry sum into three payments spaced 4 weeks apart each. The Payment Plan option will expire on August 7th and not be available for new entries taken from that point on. Please use a credit card that does not expire during the upcoming months. Incomplete charges that are not cleared up with the office in a timely matter will result in DQ.
Open Worlds Important Info
All horses on the grounds must have a stall or pay a haul-in fee.
The same horse cannot be ridden more than once per class (Family Exception – See Rulebook)
You must name your horse at time of entry and must use registered names, if available
Horse substitutions allowed. $25 fee per horse substitutions after 10/2.
Anyone substituting 2 or more horses after 10/2 will have their horses redrawn in their draw positions as well as paying the $25 fee per horse.
No horse swaps allowed after your 1st draw position has past.
Rider substitutions not allowed.
Check-in is required prior to your first drawn position in your first event, or contestant will be fined $50.
NBHA check in is at NBHA Office in Reaves Arena at the front of the building nearest the clock tower.
Guard Shack check in is for the facility and does not constitute NBHA check-in.
Maximum 5 horses entered in a class per qualified contestant
Dress code strictly enforced.
Helpers in the holding must have closed toe shoes.
Absolutely no bareback riding at any time – Saddles must be used when horseback
Returned check fee = $35
Dress Code, 1st Offense = Warning, 2nd Offense = $50 Fine, Hat Fine = $10
Hat retrieval is up to the contestant. They are to pick up at the closest barrel or gate that it came off the same day it occurred.
NBHA Rules apply. See rulebook for details.
All final decisions are determined by the show office.
Youth Worlds
Youth World Nominations: Enter on SaddleBook beginning 3/5 at 10am est.
Youth World Important Dates
Mail-In Entries must be postmarked by 8/6 to avoid late fees. Paper form available here.
We strongly suggest using trackable mailing methods
Online regular entries close on 19/6 at midnight EST. Enter here.
Late entries ONLY accepted online through 10/7 at midnight EST
Late fee is $100/horse
Absolutely no late entries after 10/7
Draw/Vet/Med Outs 19/6 or prior, result in a full refund less the processing fee
Payment Plan Available for Online Entries. All online entries will be taken through SaddleBook. Entries open on March 5, 2026 at 10AM EST in time slots. Make sure you fill out the pre-registration event to be placed in a time slot for opening day entries on 3/5. Online entries will accept all major credit cards. Choose the ‘Payment Plan’ option to at checkout break your total entry sum into three payments spaced 4 weeks apart each. The Payment Plan option will expire on April 9th and will not be available for new entries taken from that point on. Please use a credit card that does not expire during the upcoming months. Incomplete charges that are not cleared up with the office in a timely matter will result in DQ.
Youth Worlds Important Info
All horses on the grounds must have a stall or pay a haul-in fee.
A same horse cannot be ridden more than once per class (Family Exception – See Rulebook)
You must name your horse at time of entry and must use registered names, if available
Horse substitutions prior to 19/6 are free of charge on SaddleBook or you can email events@nbha.com
Horse substitutions after 19/6 will have a $25 fee per horse substitution by NBHA office staff by email only events@nbha.com
Anyone substituting 2 or more horses after 19/6 will have their horses redrawn in their draw positions as well as paying the $25 fee per horse.
No horse swaps allowed after your 1st go draw position has passed.
Rider substitutions not allowed.
Check-in is required prior to your first drawn position in your first event, or contestant is fined $50.
NBHA Check in is at the Reaves Arena office at the front of the building nearest the clock tower.
Guard Shack Check in is for the facility and does not constitute NBHA Check In.
Maximum 5 horses entered in a class per qualified contestant
Absolutely no bareback riding at any time – Saddles must be used when horseback
Returned check fee = $35
Helpers in the holding pen area must have closed toe shoes.
Dress code strictly enforced. Western Attire
Dress Code, 1st Offense = Warning, 2nd Offense = $50 Fine
Hat Fine = $10 which can be paid on SaddleBook or at the NBHA Office.
Hat retrieval is up to the contestant. They are to pick up at the closest barrel or gate that it came off the same day it occurred.
NBHA is not responsible for any lost hats.
NBHA Rules apply. See Rulebook for details.
All final decisions are determined by the show office.
Format: 2 go-rounds + a final
There is no average.
Each round is a clean slate and a new opportunity to qualify for the finals.
The finals are also a clean slate.
5D format
Divisions are split by ½-second intervals.
If you qualify for the finals in the first round, you may still run in the second round for prize money, but you cannot qualify twice. This is also dependent on the horse owner, as they may not want the horse to run again.
The number of qualifiers per division changes each year.
Every final qualifier receives a buckle.
Draw order:
First round: Draw #1 through to the end
Second round: Reverse order — end through to #1
Youth Worlds Finalist Information
Teen: Top 30 in each round advance to Finals | 305+ Total Finalists (includes minimum of 5 from Mil+Spec Redemption Round)
Youth: Top 20 in each round advance to Finals | 205+ Total Finalists (includes minimum of 5 from Mil+Spec Redemption Round)
Round 2 will roll beyond the cut off placings if any horse and rider team is already qualified.
All Finalists will receive a Gist Buckle for each qualified horse.
Finalists Buckles will be given out at the conclusion of the Grand Entry for each class.
Additional chance to qualify to the Finals in 2026: Mil+Spec Redemption Round. Info listed below.
If a division does not fill in from Round 1 or 2 we will allocate additional finalist positions to the other 4 divisions as such: for every 4 unfilled finalist positions we will take back 1 additional finalist from each D on the round that this occurs. For example: 6 unfilled finalist positions in the 1D Round 1 would yield 1 additional finalist in each of the 2D-5D for that age class only.
Youth Worlds Mil+Spec Redemption Round Information
Entry available to the horse/rider combinations who didn’t qualify to Finals. Cannot enter until at the event after you have not qualified.
Limited to 3 horses/rider.
$90 Entry Fee | 5D Race
Separate class for Youth & Teen
After every 300 entries in a Mil+Spec redemption class we will add 1 additional spot. See below for breakdown.
1-299 Entries = 1 finalist per D
300-599 Entries = 2 finalist per D
600-899 Entries = 3 finalist per D
All finalist of the Mil+Spec redemption rounds will receive Gist Silversmith finalist buckles, too.
Open Worlds Finalist Information
Open: Top 25 in each go-round advance to Finals | 255+ Total Finalists (includes minimum of 5 from Mil-Spec Redemption Round)
Senior: Top 10 in each go-round advance to Finals | 105+ Total Finalists (includes minimum of 5 from Mi-Spec Redemption Round)
Round 2 will roll beyond the cut off placings if any horse and rider team is already qualified
All Finalists will receive a Gist Silversmith buckle for each qualified horse.
Finalist buckles will be given out at the conclusion of the Grand Entry for each class.
Additional chance to qualify to the Finals in 2026: Mil-Spec Redemption Round. Info listed below
If a division does not fill in from Round 1 or 2 we will allocate additional finalist positions to the other 4 divisions as such: for every 4 unfilled finalist positions we will take back 1 additional finalist from each D on the round that this occurs. For example: 6 unfilled finalist positions in the 1D Round 1 would yield 1 additional finalist in each of the 2D-5D for that age class only.
Youth Worlds Mil+Spec Redemption Round Information
Mil-Spec Open Redemption Round
$2,500 Added | 5D Race | Entries not taken until at event.
Only available to the horse/rider combinations who didn’t qualify to Finals
$90 Entry Fee
Mil-Spec Senior Redemption Round
$500 Added | 5D Race | Entries not taken until at event.
Only available to the horse/rider combinations who didn’t qualify to Finals
If you enter Senior and Open Redemption it is an automatic carry over to the Open.
$70 Entry Fee
Additional Finalist Based OFF Mil+Spec Redemption Entry Numbers
After every 300 entries in a Mil-Spec Redemption class we will add 1 additional spot. See below for breakdown.
1-299 Entries = 1 finalist per D
300-599 Entries = 2 finalist per D
600-899 Entries = 3 finalist per D
All finalist of the Mil-Spec Redemption Rounds will receive Gist Silversmith finalist buckles, too.
Open Worlds
Exhibitions
Entries, stalls and exhibitions open on May 15 at 10:00:01 am EST on SaddleBook.
LIMIT ONE PRE-PURCHASE EXHIBITION PER HORSE ENTERED.
Exhibitions must be purchased by the competing member in SaddleBook. Do not attempt to purchase exhibitions for anyone else. No refunds.
Exhibitions will be available in 50-minute time slots.
Exhibitions are not guaranteed and only available while supplies last. Any unsold time slots will be sold at check-in
3D Pole Bending
Saturday | 24/10
$1,000 Added | $100 Entry Fee
70% Payback | 3D | 1 Second Splits
NPBA Preferred Show | $2/run sanction fee required.
Super Senior Race
$500 Added | $70 Entry Fee
70% Payback | 5D
Must be a qualifier to enter | 60 and over day of race
You can enter the Sweepstakes Race on the same day, but carryover is now mandatory.
Entries taken day of and close at first big drag of Super Senior.
Sweepstakes Race
$2,000 Added | $125 Entry Fee
70% Payback | 5D
Open to ALL NBHA Members | Limit 550 Runs
Entries taken day of and close at first big drag of Sweepstakes. Unless limit met prior.
Haul in Fee $25 if only attending Sweepstakes
Reserve Souvenir Packages – Pre-sales end 2/10
Contestant Package | $60 | Limit 1 per Contestant:
*Commemorative Felt Back Number
* Souvenir T-shirt with Contestant Names
* Show Program
Commemorative Package | $50 | No Limit
* Souvenir T-shirt with Contestant Names
* Show Program
* Large Show Sticker
Youth Worlds
Exhibitions
Entries, stall and exhibitions open on March 5, 2026 at 10am est in time blocks on SaddleBook.
LIMIT ONE EXHIBITION PER HORSE ENTERED
Example: One Youth Entry = One Exhibition Max, Two Youth Entries = Two Exhibitions Max, etc.
Any purchases greater than one exhibition per horse will result in the removal of extra exhibitions with no refund.
Exhibitions must be purchased by the competing member on SaddleBook. Do not attempt to purchase exhibitions for anyone else. No refunds.
Exhibitions will be available in 50-minute time slots. Exhibitions are not guaranteed and only available while supplies last.
These exhibitions are for Reaves Arena ONLY!
Perdue Arena exhibitions will be offered on-site using a line up method. $5 cash at the gate.
2D Pole Bending
Entries will open June 23rd at 10AM ES
$1,000 Added
Limited to the first 100 entries online through SaddleBook.
$120 Entry Fee
70% Payback | 2D | 1 Second Splits
Horse must be entered in finals
Limit to 1 entry per person
Reserve Souvenir Packages – Pre-sales end 19/6
Contestant Package | $60 | Limit 1 per Contestant:
*Commemorative Felt Back Number
*Souvenir T-shirt with Contestant Names
*Show Program
Commemorative Package | $50 | No Limit
*Souvenir T-shirt with Contestant Names
*Show Program
*Large Show Sticker
Horse Hire
Horse hire is often an upfront payment and is one of the most important investments you will make for your World Show experience. Because of this, it is essential to be open, honest, and transparent with the person you are leasing from. Also take in mind what may be 1D or 2D here could very well be 3D in the US, this is why it is essential to share as many current videos of yourself riding and competing as possible and it is also advisable to see as many current video’s of the said horse as possible. This allows owners and trainers to accurately match you with a suitable mount. It also allows you to see if you think you will connect with the horse. Do not exaggerate or misrepresent your abilities - poor matches can lead to frustration, unsafe situations, and, in some cases, serious accidents. You do not want to travel all this way only to find you cannot confidently or safely ride the horse you have paid good money for. A good match benefits both you and the horse and gives you the best chance of having a successful and enjoyable experience.
Hire Cost Expectations
Lease prices generally range from $2000 - $5,500 AUD, this can and will vary depending on:
Who you are leasing from
How long the lease period is
The level of training and support you want
The quality, experience, and competitiveness of the horse
Some leases are:
A one-time upfront fee
An upfront fee plus haulage or travel costs
A percentage of your winnings
*Do not forget this is on top of your nomination fees for World Show and any other jackpots you may attend.
Important Questions to Ask when organising a Hire
Be sure to clarify:
How much the lease fee is
What the lease includes (tack, lessons, feed while at Perry, etc.)
Whether you keep all prize money and awards
When payment is due and how it should be paid (PayPal is the best option)
You should also discuss:
When you can go and ride the horse before Worlds
Whether you can compete at jackpots or make fast runs beforehand
If you will be able to ride the week of the competition
Travel & Logistics
Consider where the horse is located and how much additional travel you will need to do to get to the event. This can affect both your budget and your schedule, so it’s important to factor this into your planning.
Final Advice
Don’t be afraid to ask lots of questions. Clear communication from the start prevents misunderstandings, disappointment, and safety issues later on.
Horse hire is not just a financial decision - it’s a performance, safety, and experience decision.
Suggested Contacts
Ashleigh Geddes (Australian) – Shiloh, Georgia
Email: ashleigh.geddes92@gmail.com
Or Ashleigh Elizabeth on Facebook
April Hanby-Zilverberg
Contact via facebook
Susie Thompson
Contact via Facebook
Nicole Walker – Williamson, Georgia
Contact via Ashleigh Geddes
Brett & Nicole Monroe – Gay, Georgia
Email: ndrumrunner@gmail.com
Lance Graves – Hartshorne, Oklahoma (Opens only)
Contact via Suzanne Brooks (Find on Facebook)
Passport & Visa
You will need a passport before booking flights.
If you do not already have one, you can go online and complete the process which you will then need to go to your local Australia Post Office to have passport photos and finalise application. Best to get this done asap as sometimes there can be a significant wait with passport applications.
Those with current passports you will need at least 6 months left available on your passport.
You will also need a 90-day Visa, which can be applied for online: ESTA Visa
Flights
Booking a flight to the US, Prices vary depending on:
Your departure city
Your destination
The duration of your stay
Estimated cost: roughly return flights $3,000–$6,000 AUD per person
Tips for booking:
Booking online is usually cheaper - watch out for specials
Group bookings may also be an advantage price wise.
If you have connecting flights, allow at least 3 hours to get through customs and security
Don’t forget: if you don’t have connecting flights, oversize baggage fees may not be included, so plan and budget accordingly. This will also apply on the way home for any excess baggage.
You can arrange your flights for any time before the Worlds depending on your budget and your trip. If you would like to take in some sights this might be a good time to plan. Perhaps travel to one destination then hire a car and drive to various places a week or two prior to arranging to meet your horse. You may consider arranging to do some jackpots prior to Worlds the options of your choices are unlimited.
Insurance
Having suitable travel insurance is essential for your trip, again jump on the internet and google different companies/travel insurance - Covermore for example.
NBHA insurance only covers incidents if they are at fault.
Travel insurance should cover:
Medical emergencies
Trip cancellations or interruptions
Lost or damaged baggage
Personal liability
Make sure your Insurance policy is appropriate for international travel, equestrian activities.
Accommodation
Where you stay can often depend on your horse hire. Some owners may prefer you to stay on-site if the horse is stabled there. In this case, hiring a camper or RV can be a convenient option.
Camping on the Grounds
If you stay at the showgrounds in an RV or gooseneck, there is a nightly camping fee.
For Youth Worlds, there are also many shopping and recreational activities throughout the week staying on-site can make it easier to fully enjoy the experience.
Camper Champ - https://camperchamp.com › usa
Camper Van Rental Georgia - https://www.altcamp.com › georgia
USA RV Rentals - https://usarvrentals.com › location › georgia
Hotel Options
There are plenty of hotels around Perry, GA.
Rooms are usually booked from Saturday (day before the World Show starts) to the following Sunday (day of finals).
Estimated cost: approximately $600 USD per room for the week.
Plan your accommodation early, as rooms and on-site spots fill up quickly during the World Show week.
Some suggested motels close to the arena:
Howard Johnson Hotel, Perry GA
Super 8 Hotel, Perry GA
Scottish Inn & Suites, Perry GA