Show schedule
Special events and sale
How to watch the Snaffle Bit Futurity: livestream and tickets
The NRCHA website hosts the livestream, provided by Equine Promotions. The Open Finals will be available on-demand on RIDE TV.
Snaffle Bit Futurity history and past champions
The NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity began in 1970 with 27 horses and has grown to hundreds of entries. Les Vogt and Wrong Key were part of a tie for the first Open title that year.
The Futurity was held in Reno, Nevada, for most of its history. In June 2016, the NRCHA announced a move to Fort Worth, and the 2017 show was the first at Will Rogers. The move came with a bump in the Open champion’s check from $100,000 to $125,000.
NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity FAQ
When is the 2026 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity? The 2026 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity runs Oct. 9 to 24, 2026.
Where is the Snaffle Bit Futurity held? The Futurity is held at the Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth, Texas, where it has been held since 2017.
When are the 2026 Snaffle Bit Futurity Open Finals? Open Finals herd work is Wednesday, Oct. 21, in the Will Rogers Coliseum. Open Finals rein and cow work starts at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 24, in the Coliseum.
How can I watch the Snaffle Bit Futurity live? The NRCHA website hosts the livestream, provided by Equine Promotions. The Open Finals will be available on-demand on RIDE TV.
How much does the Snaffle Bit Futurity Open champion win? The Open champion earns $125,000, and the event pays out more than $1 million in total.
How old are Snaffle Bit Futurity horses? The Futurity is for 3-year-old horses shown in a snaffle bit.
Who won the 2025 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity? John Swales rode Bowie Nights, owned by Bar One Land & Cattle LLP, to the 2025 Open title.
What is reined cow horse?
Reined cow horse tests a horse’s ability to work cattle and to perform a precise reining pattern, rolled into one composite score. Open Futurity horses compete in all three events, and their scores across herd, rein and cow work are added together to decide the champion.
- Herd work: Horse and rider cut a cow from the herd and keep it from returning, much like a cutting run.
- Rein work: The pair performs an assigned reining pattern with circles, spins, lead changes and sliding stops. Futurity prelims use Pattern 8, and the finals use Pattern 11.
- Cow work: Often called fence work, this is the signature event. The horse boxes a single cow at one end of the arena, turns it on the fence down the long side, then circles it in both directions in the middle of the pen.
The Futurity is limited to 3-year-olds, so it is the first major test for young cow horses and a showcase for the industry’s top trainers and bloodlines.
