After that, the added money in two or three European reinings skyrocketed and you only had to earn money in three approved reinings to be eligible for a title. You could win one high-dollar reining, make $1.98 in two small reinings and be an NRHA Open World Champion. That drives American reiners nuts. Europeans respond with – hey, put up that kind of money in the States. Well, that hasn’t happened.

But 2009 was different. NRHA said you had to make money in at least seven approved reinings and there was no $150,000-added Open reining in Spain. In Europe last year it was like a good old-fashioned American run for the title.

Rudi Kronsteiner hauled all over, competed in better than 20 shows and his biggest paycheck on his Open Champion was for a tie for second place in Givrens, Switzerland; his paycheck was $4,190. Star Spangled Whiz won the 2009 Open title with earnings of $22,366.

Certainly an American reiner could have hauled and given Rudi a run for his money. But why? Nowadays, there’s no incentive to haul for an NRHA Open World title. A talented rider can make a heck of a lot more money showing a good derby horse.

An open rider can go to the NRBC and win $75,000. The 2009 NRBC Open division rider who tied for 11th earned more than last year’s Open World Champion - one show, two runs. The NRHA Derby doesn’t pay as well, but the winner does get $50,000 and third place earned more than Kronsteiner’s World Championship.

You don’t have to go to 20 shows unless you want to. There’s less wear and tear on you, your equipment and, most importantly, your horse. Another perk: You don’t have to be away from your training business for extended periods of time. For reiners in the U.S., derbies are a good deal.

Will there ever be another American NRHA Open World Champion? Under the present circumstances, probably not.