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Regular
Posts: 98
Location: Kentucky | My husband and I are going to be moving from Houston this year and we are considering jobs in North Carolina and Alabama. We would either be moving to Winston-Salem, NC; Durham, NC; or Birmingham, AL. I have lived in TX my whole life and am used to having lots of places to go and choose from. In my online searches, it seems like the barrel racing scene is pretty sparse (in comparison) around these spots. Just wondering if anyone is from around any of these places and can shed some light on the availability of jackpots, 4Ds, big $$$ races, and rodeos. My horse has won $$ in futurities and 1D at big TX races but I haven't run him in 2 years so I would like to know the full range of races I could go to to leg his fat butt up and beyond. :) | |
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 Veteran
Posts: 221
Location: Alabama | Well if you end up in AL, you will be disappointed in the availability of barrel races compared to what you are used to in TX. The NBHA AL 01 and AL02 district have good races with usually at least $1,000 added to the Open. They also have good arenas to run in. As far as big $$$ races, you will be close to Perry, GA (big show July 4 weekend and NBHA World) and Jackson, MS (a few $$$ races a year esp. the Mega in August). As far as rodeos, there is the Professional Cowboys Association (PCA), Lonestar Rodeo does some in AL, and I think there is someone who puts on several bulls and barrels events in North AL. You will have options to run in AL, but just not near as many as you do in TX.
If I can be of any other help, please let me know and good luck! | |
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  A Lady with Fight
Posts: 2701
 
Location: NC | I live in Eastern NC. About an hour and a half from Raleigh. We have several associations here in the east, NBHA being the biggest. Another association usually has shows on the weekends that NBHA shows are not being held. We have several nice indoors with decent size shows throughout the year. The regular district shows don't have much added money but we do have a super show here locally in November and our state finals is one of the biggest and I believe it's superbly well ran. It's about 6 hours south to Augusta and about 7 to Perry. A lot of folks around here also go to Colonials in Lexington VA which is about a 6 hour drive north. The Georgia Sports Arena in Swainsboro has quite a few GOOD money added shows plus a dang good finals. Its about a 7 hour drive to that place. (These times are all from eastern NC where it takes almost 2 hours to reach 95 to go south). If you get near 40 or 95, you're within a decent drive to just about anywhere. The No Bull series is a new thing happening in the southeast. Several shows in NC, SC, & TN throughout the year. We have several places to run, even if the money isn't always spectacular, there's always somewhere to go. Rodeo isn't huge around here unless you really like to travel all over the southeast every weekend. The big money and competition is in Open shows. At least in my opinion. We have some decent competition in the area for sure. And the cost of living is great, even in the areas you're thinking of. I know several barrel racers who live in Garner, a town outside of Raleigh. They run with the same districts I do. Winston-Salem is a little further west. I do know a few people from that area also. I'm not sure about how many different jackpots or associations they have outside of NBHA shows.
We have NBHA, DC Western, Seven Branch Farm, and a few rodeos here locally to me. I can usually find something within 2 hours or so. I'm sure we don't have the number texas has, but there's usually something going on. And it's decently cheap to keep horses around here. | |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 825
| I live about an hour and a half south of both Winston and Durham. With the exception of the winter months (Dec and Jan) there is something to go to every weekend, if not 3 or 4 different options. NBHA is very popular here in NC and just about every district is pretty competitive. Winston Salem would be in NC06 and Durham is kinda in the middle of several choices (NC01, NC02, NC06 or NC07). IBRA is also popular in the Winston/Yadkinville area. SRA Rodeo is primarily in the SE, with several large rodeos in Polkville, Gates, Williamston, and the finals in Asheville. The NO Bull Series is new this year and they have shows in Asheville, Clemson SC, Augusta GA, and one in TN. They have I think $11,000 added to the tour shows and $20 some thousand to the finals I believe. As far as jackpotting goes, there are several weekly series that go on throughout the year- 7 Branch, Triple M, PBC (which had like $5000+ added to their finals), DC Western and more.
PLENTY of options for barrel racing and rodeo in NC. You can get to plenty of big shows withing 4 or 5 hours. | |
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Regular
Posts: 98
Location: Kentucky | Thanks, guys! Seems like there will be some stuff to go to when I have time off from work!
Bumping for the afternoon crowd! | |
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Barrel racing in North Carolina or Alabama?