The National Reining Horse Association board of directors recently considered and discussed the legal ramifications of the mandatory professionals’ membership that was approved in June. On the advice of legal counsel the board voted to rescind rule change 24-01-09 and all other references to rule change 24-01-09.
The original mandatory professionals' membership change approved in June was stated as follows:
An NRHA professional is anyone who has received or is receiving directly (money) or indirectly (goods or services) for showing, training or assisting in the training of a horse or by giving lessons. Anyone wanting to become an NRHA professional must complete an application, sign a code of conduct and pay $50 in addition to the general membership fee.
Other approvals made in June remain intact and are as follows, effective in 2009:
Intermediate Horse Level: This new division will be restricted to horses that have not earned more than $50,000 in lifetime earnings in all NRHA categories. The intermediate horse will be offered in both open and non-pro divisions.
Novice Horse Level 1 & 2: Previously, a novice horse was either open or non-pro and was defined as a horse that had not earned more than $5,000 since the start of the NRHA year. The new levels will allow horses of all levels to have a class they can feel competitive in. Novice Horse Level 1 is restricted to horses that have not earned more than $5,000 in lifetime earnings. Novice Horse Level 2 is restricted to horses that have not earned more than $25,000 in lifetime earnings. Both levels will be offered in open and non-pro divisions.
Open Aged Events: Open to any rider holding a valid NRHA professionals, non-pro or youth membership can show in this division. Level 4 is open to all. Level 3 (intermediate) is open to anyone not in the top 40 open class money earners, which is based on open earnings in Category 2 and 6 for the previous three calendar years. In addition, the top 25 non-pro riders are not eligible. Level 2 (limited) is open to any rider not in the top 140 money-earners or the top 50 non-pro riders. Level 1 is open to any rider who has earned less than $50,000 in lifetime NRHA earnings in all categories since the start of the NRHA year.
Non-Pro Aged Events: Open to anyone holding a valid NRHA non-pro card and who is riding an eligible non-pro horse. Level 4 is open to all non-pros. Level 3 (intermediate) is open to anyone not in the top 25 non-pro class money earners, which is based on open earnings in Category 2 and 6 for the previous three calendar years. Level 2 (limited) is open to any rider not in the top 125 non-pro riders. Level 1 is open to any non-pro rider who has earned less than $25,000 in lifetime NRHA earnings in all categories since the start of the NRHA year.
Rookie Level: There will now be two NRHA rookie levels. Rookie Level 1 is open to any rider with a valid NRHA non-pro card who has earned less than $200 in lifetime earnings or 50 youth points. Rookie Level 2 is open to any rider with a valid non-pro card who has earned less than $500 in lifetime earnings or 100 youth points. At both levels, horses are not restricted to non-pro ownership conditions. However, horses must be showed one-handed.
Open Events: Anyone wanting to show in an open class must be either designated with NRHA as a professional, non-pro or youth. Before this rule change, anyone could show in an open class.
Intermediate Non-Pro: Any rider with an NRHA non-pro card who has earned less than $15,000. Previously, it was $10,000.
Limited Non-Pro: Any rider with an NRHA non-pro card who has earned less than $4,500. The previous limit was $2,500.
To learn more about the NRHA rule changes, contact NRHA.
Incorporated in 1966, the National Reining Horse Association is the governing body of the sport of Reining. NRHA, with their International Headquarters in Oklahoma City, is responsible for promoting the sport of Reining and working to ensure the highest standards of competition. To learn more about the NRHA, its programs, family of corporate partners and other international reining programs it supports, click here.
