2009 was a golden year for the WPRA's Pro Elite Sire Incentive program (PESI). The past 12 months has been a year of tremendous growth. The number of enrolled stallions more than doubled, while the number of progeny enrollments exploded from fewer than 35 to over 270. The 2009 season saw $25,000 in PESI Bonus money paid out to its participants at regular season futurity, derby and divisional jackpot events, including $10,000 at the WPRA World Finals. An additional $16,500 was distributed to PESI's rodeo performers with a whopping $15,000 awarded at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and $1,500 on Circuit Finals competition.

Prospects look equally bright for 2010. Re-enrollment contracts have been received from 22 of the previously enrolled stallions, 16 new stallions have already been added to the roster. There are five new stallion contracts in the works and only 14 re-enrollments still pending as of January 6, 2010. The addition of proven stallions, DASH TA FAME, FIRE WATER FLIT, LETTA HANK DO IT and STOLI, just to name a few, can only contribute to even greater things to come.

PESI is working hard to be a cutting edge breeding incentive. It is the goal of the WPRA to establish guidelines that benefit all participants which include - stallion owners, breeders and WPRA members alike. One of the universal complaints voiced by stallion owners in regard to stallion progeny programs (in any discipline) is that the stallion owners fund the largest portion of the prize money but receive the smallest reward for performance. A study of the PESI enrollments received to date produced the following vital information:
- 55% of all progeny enrollments showed that the stallion owner was also the breeder
- 38% of the horses enrolled have been bred and raised by a WPRA member
- 7% showing they were bred by someone other than the stallion owner or a WPRA member.

So it seems only reasonable that the players who are most invested in the program should also be the individuals receiving the greatest benefit. As a result, the percentages of bonus money being paid back has been adjusted accordingly…60% to the owner / 30% to the stallion owner / 10% to the breeder…thus if the current owner/WPRA member is also the breeder they will receive 70% of the bonus purse, or if the stallion owner is also breeder they will receive 40%.

PESI's intent is to be a program that rewards longevity, whether that be a stallion's continued enrollment season after season, or his progeny maintaining a career that spans the distance between futurity competition to the NFR. One way to reward both stallion owner and contestant was for PESI to continue the "grandfathering in" of progeny regardless of age as long as the sire is an actively participating stallion. Likewise, stallions who maintain active enrollment in the program will be rewarded with a reduction in the annual enrollment fee once they have paid in for three consecutive years.

PESI's ties to the WPRA allows the program to "up our game" when it comes to promoting the stallions, while at the same time advertising the program and the bonus events. The WPRA website (www.wpra.com) is one of the most visited barrel racing sites on the internet. In addition, the Women's Pro Rodeo News features a full page 4-color PESI ad in every issue. PESI also launched the monthly e-news letter to allow for closer contact with everyone in the program. The WPRA website and the PESI e-news allows the PESI program to be promoted both inside and outside the WPRA membership. No other program in the industry offers such great advertising options or rewards to its investors.

Pro Elite Sire Incentive Guidelines

NFR PESI Bonus…
A $15,000 PESI Bonus will be available annually at the NFR. Bonus money will be paid accordingly:
- $1,000 to the high placing enrolled horse in each performance.
- $5,000 to the enrolled horse whose performance leads to the rider claiming the WPRA World Championship and NFR Average title.
- If the WPRA World Championship is won by a rider on one enrolled horse and the average is won by a different rider on a different enrolled horse (as happened in 2009), the $5,000 will be split equally, thereby each horse would be awarded $2,500.
- WPRA World Championship and NFR Average Winner bonus money will only be awarded if the rider competes on the enrolled horse in a minimum of five rounds.

Circuit Finals PESI Bonus…
$500 Circuit Finals Bonus will be available at each Circuit Finals. Bonus money will be awarded to the top placing PESI enrolled horse competing.

Stallion Enrollment…
Stallion enrollment is annual. The fee is $1,000 per year for the first three consecutive years. Once a stallion has maintained a paid enrollment for three consecutive years his annual enrollment fee will be reduced to $750 per year. Should a stallion enroll then drop out or lapse on enrollment for a period of more than 4 months, the annual enrollment fee will remain at $1,000 and the discount will be waived with no consideration given for the number of years of consecutive participation. Stallions will only be eligible for stallion awards on offspring which were enrolled, or which are the result of matings that occurred, during a season when the stallion was an active PESI participant.

Progeny Enrollment…
Progeny of all ages shall be accepted under the "grandfathering clause" for $150 per horse, for as long as the sire maintains consecutive enrollment. Horses who have not yet reached performance age (3-year olds & under) may opt to pay in using the following payment schedule:
- 1st payment due on or before Dec. 31 of the weanling year $50
- 2nd payment due on or before Dec. 31 of the yearling year $50
- 3rd payment due on or before Dec. 31 of the two year old year $50
- 4th payment due on or before Dec. 31 of the three year old year $50

Progeny of stallions who have dropped out the PESI program, but who are the resulting offspring from a season during which a stallion was enrolled will be accepted as follows:
- weanlings to three years old, either thru the above payment schedule or for a one-time fee of $200; horses four to six years old for a fee of $400
- horses 6-years old and older will be accepted for a fee of $500.

Money Distribution…
Beginning January 1, 2010, all advertised PESI Bonuses shall be split:
- 60% to the Owner
- 10% to the Breeder
- 30% to the Stallion Owner
- 80% of all monies received from stallion and progeny enrollments will be put into a secure account to be distributed as bonus money.
- Office charge of 20% from all fees paid per horse will be deducted in the year of the payment for promotion and administration of the PESI program.

The bonus money portion of nomination/enrollment fees from horse not yet of competition age will be held for payout until a futurity horse's 4-year-old year unless PESI is notified in writing that the horse will not be competing until it turns 5-years old. The bonus money portion of the enrollment fees for horses 5-years old and older will be added to the total purse the next competition year after payment. Bonus monies will be paid on at selected sanctioned events over the course of the season and distributed directly from the WPRA Office.