What National Snaffle Bit Association (NSBA) does

National Snaffle Bit Association (NSBA), founded in 1983 and headquartered in Weatherford, Texas, is a private non-profit membership association that administers sanctioning, registration, and competitive programming for the show horse industry, with a historical anchor in the Western Pleasure discipline and current coverage of Hunter Under Saddle, Trail, Ranch Riding, and Working Hunter/Jumping. It operates as a platform connecting individual horse owners, breeders, trainers, and youth exhibitors through a network of nearly 600 sanctioned horse shows annually, processing close to 200,000 entries and tracking $13.5 million in member-earned monetary awards each year across 44,000+ registered horses linked to ten alliance breed organizations including AQHA and APHA.

The association generates revenue through six identifiable streams: recurring membership dues from 20,000+ active members, transaction-based show sanctioning fees, one-time foal enrollment and stallion nomination fees across the Breeders Championship Futurity (BCF), Color BCF, and Stallion Incentive Fund (SIF), recurring magazine subscriptions and advertising through The Way To Go, and transaction fees on World Championship Show entries. Core products include the annual World Championship Show and Breeders Championship Futurity in Tulsa, OK; the new Back To Berrien Challenge ($100,000 purse); the Smart Points youth rewards program; the Judges Certification Program; and the NSBA Foundation's Heroes On Horses veterans program, Equestrians With Disabilities initiative, and youth scholarships. The NSBA Foundation operates as a separate 501(c)(3) fiduciary arm.

Distribution occurs primarily through direct membership, sanctioned shows, and channel partnerships with alliance breed organizations and corporate sponsors (CINCH, Markel Insurance, Harris Leather, Allocate Your Assets, VS Code Blue). The organization employs 1-10 staff, maintains governance via a Board of Directors and National Directors, and has recently signaled international expansion via the 2027 European Show Seminar co-hosted with AQHA, APHA, and NRHA. Stephanie Lynn serves as Executive Director and Jennifer Hulcher as NSBA Foundation Chair.

Name

National Snaffle Bit Association (NSBA)

Legal name

National Snaffle Bit Association, Inc.

Website

https://nsba.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The National Snaffle Bit Association (NSBA) is a non-profit horse show sanctioning organization founded in 1983, serving 20,000+ members across nearly 600 sanctioned shows annually through futurity programs, registration, awards, and the World Championship Show.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Equestrian Sports Membership Organization

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Professional Organizations (81392), Sports Teams and Clubs (711211)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

National Governing Bodies (NGBs) (MPAKAFAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sport/Show Horse Training & Performance Programs (AFAEAGAF), Equestrian Teams & Stables (Racing/Show Jumping/Eventing) (MPAKABAG)

Keywords

• Equestrian sports association
• Horse show sanctioning
• Show horse registry
• Futurity programs
• Equestrian membership organization

Headquarters

HQ city

Weatherford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees for horse owners, exhibitors, breeders, and trainers to participate in NSBA-sanctioned events and programs.
2. Show Sanctioning Fees: Fees charged to horse shows for NSBA sanctioning, allowing them to offer NSBA classes and distribute NSBA awards.
3. Foal Enrollment: Fees for enrolling foals in futurity programs including Breeders Championship Futurity (BCF), Color BCF, and Stallion Incentive Fund (SIF).
4. Stallion Nominations: Fees for nominating breeding stallions to various futurity and incentive programs.
5. Magazine Subscriptions and Advertising: Revenue from The Way To Go magazine subscriptions and advertising rates for members and corporate sponsors.
6. World Show Entry Fees: Entry fees for the annual World Championship Show and Breeders Championship Futurity event.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

NSBA is a non-profit membership association that sanctions and governs horse show competition, primarily in Western Pleasure, Hunter Under Saddle, Trail, and Ranch disciplines. It administers horse registration, membership, multiple futurity programs (Breeders Championship Futurity, Color BCF, Stallion Incentive Fund), the annual World Championship Show, awards and recognition programs, and the charitable NSBA Foundation serving youth, veterans, and equestrians with disabilities.

Product overview

NSBA is a membership-based equestrian organization operating a platform of programs and events centered around horse show competition. The core offerings include the annual World Championship Show, multiple futurity programs (Breeders Championship Futurity, Color BCF, Stallion Incentive Fund), the Smart Points youth rewards program, The Way To Go monthly magazine, and the NSBA Foundation for charitable initiatives. Additional offerings include online registration systems, judges certification, and the Heroes on Horses veteran program. The organization sanctions nearly 600 horse show events annually across Western Pleasure, Hunter Under Saddle, Trail, Ranch Riding, and other disciplines with over 20,000 active members and 44,000 registered horses.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NSBA Foundation: The NSBA Foundation serves as the fiduciary arm of the National Snaffle Bit Association, providing funding to support efforts of the Association through programming specific to the equine industry and NSBA membership. It is a registered 501(c)(3) organization operating under a separate board of directors.

Products and services

• NSBA World Championship Show The premier annual flagship horse show event where NSBA members compete across various disciplines including Western Pleasure, Hunter Under Saddle, Trail, and others, attracting close to 200,000 horse show entries annually.
• Breeders Championship Futurity (BCF) A futurity program for breeders to nominate stallions and enroll foals, offering monetary awards and competition opportunities for young horses in various disciplines.
• Color Breeders Championship Futurity (Color BCF) Specialized futurity program for color breeds including Appaloosa and other spotted horse breeds, offering monetary awards and competition opportunities.
• Stallion Incentive Fund (SIF) Program allowing stallion owners to nominate breeding services, with foals eligible for incentive fund payouts at NSBA-sanctioned shows, including an annual Stallion Service Auction.
• Smart Points Program Youth engagement program allowing young exhibitors to earn points and rewards for participating in NSBA-sanctioned events and classes.
• The Way To Go Magazine NSBA's official monthly publication covering association news, show results, member profiles, and industry coverage, available in print and digital subscriptions with advertising opportunities.
• NSBA Online Registration System Web-based system for online horse registration, membership enrollment, show entry, and foal enrollment, mandatory for all horses competing in NSBA classes.
• NSBA Foundation 501(c)(3) charitable arm of NSBA providing scholarships, crisis funds, education programs, Heroes on Horses veteran programs, mental health support, and equestrian community initiatives.
• Judges Certification Program Program for training, certifying, and recertifying horse show judges across Category 1/Rail, Working Hunter/Jumping, and Ranch Riding/Ranch disciplines, establishing industry standards for competition judging.
• Back To Berrien Challenge Competition format offering a $100,000 total purse for two and three year old horses, featuring Longe Line and Western Pleasure classes.
• Heroes on Horses Program NSBA Foundation program supporting military veterans through therapeutic equestrian activities and competitive riding opportunities, in partnership with Utah State University Equine Experience.

Quantifiable outcome

• $13.5 million in annual monetary awards distributed to NSBA members at sanctioned shows
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNSBA co-hosts events with AQHA and AQHA members compete in NSBA classes. AQHA is a primary alliance breed organization integrated with NSBA competition programs.
• American Paint Horse Association (APHA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNSBA partners with APHA Foundation on events including Honoring Freedom Night at APHA World Show. APHA is an alliance breed organization.
• National Reining Horse Association (NRHA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNSBA co-hosts the 2027 European Show Seminar with NRHA and other breed associations, indicating ongoing strategic collaboration.
• Utah State University (USU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNSBA Foundation collaborates with USU Equine Experience on competitive riding programs for veterans through the Heroes On Horses Boot Camp, providing equestrian competition training for veterans with disabilities.
• CINCHminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCINCH is a corporate sponsor of NSBA, appearing on the sponsor section of the website with logo placement.
• Markel InsuranceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMarkel Insurance is a corporate sponsor of NSBA, offering horse and farm insurance services to members.
• Harris Leather & SilverworksminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of NSBA with logo placement on the website.
• Allocate Your Assets (AYA)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of NSBA with logo placement on the website.
• VS Code BlueminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of NSBA with logo placement on the website.
• Two Ravens FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFoundation partner providing support for the Honoring Freedom Night veterans event alongside NSBA Foundation and APHA Foundation.
• Airpower FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFoundation partner providing support for the Honoring Freedom Night veterans event.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• International Buckskin Horse Association (IBHA): Color-breed association and NSBA alliance partner with its own show and futurity programs. Comparable as a small, discipline-focused membership association sharing exhibitor overlap with NSBA.
• American Hackney Horse Society (AHA): Breed registry for Hackney horses running sanctioned shows and futurities. Comparable as one of NSBA's alliance breed organizations with parallel membership, registration, and show-sanctioning operations.
• National Reining Horse Association (NRHA): Sanctioning body for reining competitions and a core NSBA alliance partner co-hosting the 2027 European Show Seminar. Comparable in scale and structure as a discipline-specific membership association running futurities and a major annual show.
• American Paint Horse Association (APHA): Alliance breed organization running its own sanctioned show circuit and futurities. Highly comparable as an NSBA alliance partner that integrates NSBA classes into APHA shows and co-hosts events such as Honoring Freedom Night.
• Appaloosa Horse Club (ApHC): Alliance breed organization of NSBA with its own show circuit and futurities. Comparable because its members participate in NSBA classes and the Color BCF program specifically targets color breeds like Appaloosas.
• National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA): Discipline-specific equestrian sanctioning body operating its own shows, futurities, and member awards program. Comparable as a parallel niche-association model competing for Western-discipline exhibitors and breeder dollars.
• Pinto Horse Association of America (PtHA): Color-breed registry running its own shows and futurities. Comparable in size and structure as an alliance-style partner where NSBA classes are integrated into PtHA events.
• Palomino Horse Breeders of America (PHBA): Color-breed registry and show sanctioning body. Comparable as one of NSBA's alliance breed organizations with overlapping futurity and show-class structures targeted at color-horse exhibitors.

Broad incumbents

• United States Equestrian Federation (USEF): The national governing body for most equestrian disciplines in the U.S. Comparable as the umbrella sanctioning organization whose rules, judges, and affiliates overlap with NSBA's competition structure.
• American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA): The largest U.S. breed registry and sanctioning body for Quarter Horse events. Directly comparable because AQHA co-hosts events with NSBA, runs many of the same show classes, and its members are the largest constituent of NSBA's 20,000+ member base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@nationalsnafflebitassociation
• Facebookfacebook.com/ShowNSBA
• Instagraminstagram.com/shownsba
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-snaffle-bit-assn

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about National Snaffle Bit Association (NSBA)