My wife (Carol Harris) asked me to post this link to a petition to do something about the ground at the NFR.

She was involved in an effort to get the ground management changed a few years ago, along with others like Nancy Hunter, and as everyone knows, it was very good for a few years, until this year.  From 2016-2018 it was excellent, then they decided to do things differently again this year, and we all saw the results.  Here's a link to a petition.  You don't have to make any kind of "contribution" ( not sure where that would go anyway)....just sign the petition, if you want.  We all remember those fast times, including the arena record of 13.11.  It sure would be nice to get that great ground back, so the best in the world can safely showcase their talents.

https://www.change.org/p/shawn-davis-prca-fix-the-ground-for-the-nfr?recruiter=386130772&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=share_petition&utm_term=f3733770534a4c62a2f40a393630bc70&recruited_by_id=4790d390-5c9e-11e5-8078-7fbeb7e2c228

Here's what she wrote this year:

NEW MANAGEMENT FOR NFR 2019, AND THE ARENA GROUND IS BACK TO CRAP

Carol Harris

Smithville, TX, United States

DEC 15, 2019 — 

Done ...... Thank you Carol ........

It seemed to get a *tiny* bit better as the rounds went it on, but it's a sad, sad, sad day when you have no chance of getting a check just becuase you aren't at the top of the ground.

It's a shame.

They were doing so good with the ground ... not sure why they had to go screw it up again!

My heart broke for Shali Lord when CanMan slipped to hit a barrel. She could have had a much different finals without it. 

I agree! She had such a good run. What a shame

Thank your wife for doing this, again. Was so disappointed to see the ground conditions were crap again this year. Signed and shared. 

Thinking outside the box here, maybe they should drag after ever so many at the finals. Yes, it takes time in the middle of a show BUT.... I'm sure commentators could find something to blab on about during the 5 minute or less drags. I bet with a big tractor they could make ONE pass around there and take about 1 minute. I mean what " Ground" anywhere hoilds up to 15 runs, let alone in an arena with a concrete floor. If its ok not to drag at NFR all races should drag after 15. WHy not. 

Signed! Thank you for posting! 

I hope this helps, and I appreicate your efforts.  However, so many efforts to improve the ground at the NFR have fallen on deaf ears.  It's so frustrating!!!!!  I want to see the horse show their full potential.  They don't deserve to be scrambling on the ground, safeting up and falling down.  RIDICULOUS!!!

And let us not forget that the barrel racers are Invited to be there. The PRCA doesn't even have to let them compete at the NFR. SO kind of one of those " DOn't bite the had that feeds you". type things. 

I wish I had a dollar for every time I heard this bull**** cop out.  They were doing it the right way.  What the hell is wrong with doing it right?  Other than wanting to see the best possible runs by the best teams in the world, I don't have a dog in this fight.  I hate to see something that important done in such a sloppy way.  

right,if I invite people to dinner,I don't make them bring their own food.When you invite someone somewhere you give them the best you can give.

Yes, if you were near the bottom of the ground it was more difficult to pull a check. Name me one rodeo or barrel race where you can be #9-15 on the drag and not have that same exact problem. Hell, there are rodeos I enter and I know if I draw up after a certain number I just turn out because I know the ground will be too deep to place! Even when the ground was "better" in 2016-2018 horses were still slipping and sliding. I remember watching Stevie Hillman's horse Truck slip and lose his hind end and Kassie Mowry's horse have just as much trouble as Canman did this year. For the first 8 rounds the ground was deep - not bad, not dangerous just deep and if you were at the bottom you were going to be slow and if your horse couldn't pick it's feet up it had trouble getting through the ruts. Now the last 2 rounds when they made it a little harder it was scary at that first barrel in round 9.   

Do they need to drag after about 8? Absolutely. But also there are arenas where the horses just don't like the setup or ground and don't run as well. NFR is definitely one of them. Not every horse loves the T&M like Paige and Hailey's Sister. Pay attention to good ground at races, there will be horses that slip and fumble around in it. There is a local arena I refuse to go to because my horse always manages to stick a front toe or lose his hind end no matter what and people rave how great the ground is. I personally think it's sh*t. My point - not all horses love all ground and work well in it even if it is "good" or "perfect" ground. NFR is no exception. 

The dang bulls couldn't even stand up.  I probably watched three nights of bull riding and there were at least two that got rerides because the bulls went down.

Sorry, I am late posting about this, I was having trouble logging on to my BHW account.  That is why I asked Scott to make this post.

Four years ago, we worked very hard to get Fan support to get the ground fixed at the NFR.  Several people working through different channels finally got the Management to take appropriate measures.  Shawn Davis hired John Jamison, one of the best in the business, to be in charge of the ground at the NFR.  For three years, John did an awesome job, working tirelessly to provide safe footing for some of the greatest equine and human athletes in rodeo.  Although it was beneficial to all the events, the barrel racing in particular was ELECTRIC.  For the first time those girls could send their horses down the alley with confidence, showcasing the immense talent of these great animals.  The times reflected the difference good ground makes, an unheard of arena record of 13.11 was set!  And, the ground stayed consistent for all contestants who work hard all year and spend thousands of dollars just to get to the NFR.

In 2019, Shawn Davis retired and new Management took over.  They were not going to give John Jamison free rein to work the ground as he knew it needed to be...it appears they wanted things done their way.  John has stated in a post on FB that he could not do that in good conscience.

Here is the link to John Jamison’s post about his leaving.  The new management are fools to let this guy go.

https://www.facebook.com/100038185633909/posts/124192212196966/

Well, I guess they did things their way for NFR 2019, and the ground was back to crap.  Horses slipping, one in the 9th round nearly going all the way down and causing a knocked barrel.  The rodeo announcer (Butch K) even said " That probably cost her $50,000.00!  That is not fair!).   He is right, losing because of bad ground is not fair.

SO, ONCE AGAIN, WE ARE TAKING THIS TO THE FANS.  Please help us by signing and sharing the petition.  It would also help if you could let the new Management know how you feel.  Here is the Facebook page of the man who is now in charge:

 Go to his Facebook page and let him know what you think. I posted the petition to his page.

https://www.facebook.com/boydpolhamus2015/

And lastly, if folks want to help, take a moment to let Las Vegas Events know that we want the ground at the NFR to be a priority. We know it can be good, because it was when John Jamison was doing it. I am going to send them a letter, but it would sure help if others contacted them too. Pass this number around and lets flood them with calls from the fans.

Las Vegas Events 702-260-8605

Contact at Las Vegas Events is Pat Christensen

The NFR is the Super Bowl of rodeo.  It is a shame that we have to (again) mount a campaign for fan support to get the ground fixed.  But, here we are, and once again, I am asking for ALL of you to help in getting this done.  Please pass this information on to fellow barrel racers.

Thank you

To name you a rodeo where it was not difficult to pull a check no matter where you were on the drag...that would be the NFR during the years that John Jamison was doing the ground.  The NFR is not just any rodeo.  It is the SUPER BOWL of rodeos.  Could you imagine if the football players had to play the Super Bowl on a surface where they were slipping and sliding, falling down?  Do you suppose they would demand better?  The point is, for the past three years it was better,it was GREAT!  Why not get the guy back who knows how to work that ground?  Honestly, most jackpots have better ground than what those girls were forced to run on NFR 2019.  And respectfully, I disagree with you.  The NFR is, and should be an exception.  They should do everything possible to fix the ground.  Nancy Hunter (RIP) worked to help get this done when we had the campaign four years ago.  Many of the girls don't speak up because they don't want any backlash.

Barrel racing is one of the most popular events of the rodeo.  Those girls pay their own way to get there, and they sure as heck help to draw the crowd once they are there.  PRCA is not being benevolent in letting them participate.

Can the NFR management be sued for the ground if lets say Heaven Forbid but hypothetically someones horse slipped and broke a leg and had to be put down immediately when they knowingly knew the reputation of the ground in years past, hired a professional to fix it 2016 to 2018 then due to management change they let those people go and it went right back to bad ground?  Just curious.  

They most likely could be sued, whether or not they would be found liable would be up to the court.  It sure wouldn't help their case if it were brought before a court that many people thought that ground to be dangerous to both horse and human.  And, Rodeo has a lot of knowledgeable fans.  If a horse or human is hurt because of the ground, the fans are going to know the cause and it will not go over well in the court of public opinion.

I heard that Sharon Smith sued when she lost her good horse, Bumper because of the ground conditions at the NFR.  (If I am not mistaken, that was like 20 years ago and people still talk about it,)  Someone with more first hand knowledge would have to verify that though.  The one thing I do know is that Bumper (Speed Money) broke his pastern because of a metal pipe they put across the alleyway that served as the bottom of a gate.  They put some dirt over the top of it that obviously barely covered it.  The horse hit it running down the alley and broke his pastern, He ran to the first barrel holding his leg up and Sharon was struggling trying to pull him up. He was an awesome athlete.  It was sickening.  When I see these horses slipping and losing their hind ends on that ground, I think of Sharon losing her great horse.  It is maddening because we worked so hard to address this issue four years ago and it resulted in Shawn Davis hiring an excellent ground man.  So new Management comes in and it is back to crappy ground.  Ridiculous.