Show Rules ...

 

OVERVIEW OF GENERAL CLASS RULES

Short Stirrup class:

  • Youth 10 & Under (as of August 1 of current year)
  • Riders do not have to own the horse they show
  • Riders do not have to hold a NRHA card
  • 1 or 2 handed any NRHA approved bit
  • Class to be run with Pattern 11 only
  • No Stallions, monorchid or cryptorchid horses
  • More...

Youth classes:

  • Youth 13 & Under and Youth 14-18 (As of August 1 of current year)
  • Youth, immediate family, or family owned corporation as defined by the NRHA must own the horse.
  • No stallions, monorchid  or cryptorchid horses, regardless of age, will be permitted in any youth classes.
  • 1 handed any NRHA approved bit (For NRHA youth classes).
  • Rider must hold a valid NRHA card. Horse must have NRHA competition licence
  • More...

Green as Grass Rider:

  • Non-Pro rider.
  • Has not won more than one reining class or accumulated more than 20 points
  • Does not have to own the horse they are riding
  • 2 handed any NRHA approved bit.
  • More...

Green Rider:

  • Non-Pro rider.
  • Has not won more than three (3) reining classes or accumulated more than 20 points
  • Does not have to own the horse they are riding
  • 1 or 2 handed any NRHA approved bit.
  • More...

Beginner Rider:

  • Non-Pro rider  
  • Has not accumulated more than 20 VRHA points as at 1st August of current year
  • Non-Pro does not have to own the horse they are riding
  • 1 or 2 handed any NRHA approved bit.
  • More...

Rookie Rider:

  • Non-Pro rider
  • Has not won more than $200 NRHA lifetime earnings, all categories, OR has not earned more than 50 youth points in NRHA sanctioned competition at the start of the NRHA year.
  • Rider must hold a valid NRHA card. Horse must have NRHA competition licence
  • Rookie does not have to own the horse they are riding.
  • 1 handed any NRHA approved bit
  • More...

Prime Time Rookie:

  • Non-Pro rider 50 years or older as of August 1st holding a valid NRHA Non-Pro card.
  • Entry in this class may be made only after entering the Rookie class.
  • Class must run concurrent with the Rookie class.
  • More...

Non-Pro:

  • Non-Pro must own their own horse
  • Rider must hold a valid NRHA card. Horse must have NRHA competition licence
  • 1 handed in any NRHA approved bit.
  • More...

Limited Non-Pro:

  • Rider has not won more than $500 in all NRHA categories except 3, 7 & 9 over the three previous calendar years.
  • Rider must hold a valid NRHA card.
  • Non-Pro must own their own horse.   Horse must have NRHA competition licence
  • 1 handed any NRHA approved bit.
  • More...

Intermediate Non-Pro:

  • Rider has not won more than $1,000 in all NRHA categories except 3, 7, and 9 over the three previous years.
  • Rider must hold a valid NRHA card. Horse must have NRHA competition licence
  • 1 handed any NRHA approved bit.
  • More...

Prime Time Non-Pro:

  • Non-Pro rider 50 years or older as of August 1 of the current year.
  • Non-Pro must own their own horse. Horse must have NRHA competition licence
  • 1 handed any NRHA approved bit.
  • More...

Open:

  • Rider must hold a valid NRHA card
  • 1 handed any NRHA approved bit.
  • More...

Limited Open:

  • Rider has not won more than $3,000  lifetime in all NRHA categories except 3, 7 & 9 at the start of the NRHA year.
  • Rider must hold a valid NRHA card
  • 1 handed any NRHA approved bit.
  • More...

Intermediate Open:

  • Rider has not won more than $3,000 in all NRHA categories except 3, 7 & 9 over the three previous NRHA calendar years.
  • Rider must hold a valid NRHA card
  • 1 handed any NRHA approved bit.
  • More...

Prime Time Open:

  • Any rider 50 or older as of August 1 of the NRHA year.
  • Rider must hold a valid NRHA card
  • 1 handed any NRHA approved bit.
  • Class may be run concurrent with Category 1 Open, Intermediate Open, or Limited Open class.
  • More...

Green Reiner Horse: 1st year reining for horse

  • 1 or 2 handed, any NRHA approved bit.
  • More...

Snaffle Bit or Hackamore:

  • Horse must have NRHA competition licence
  • Horses 5 years old and younger.
  • In Non-Pro, rider must own the horse.
  • Rider must hold a valid NRHA card
  • 1 or 2 handed in any legal snaffle or bosal
  • Classes may be 3 year old; 3 and 4 year old; 4 year old and under; 5 and under; 4 and 5 year old.
  • Open and Non Pro divisions may be offered.
  • More...

Novice Horse Non-Pro:

  • Horse must have NRHA competition licence
  • Horse has not won more than $1,000 in NRHA Category 1 earnings at the start of the NRHA year.
  • Non-Pro must own their horse
  • Rider must hold a valid NRHA card
  • 1 handed in any NRHA approved bit.
  • More...

Novice Horse Open:

  • Horse must have NRHA competition licence
  • Horse has not won more than $1,000 in NRHA Category 1 earnings at the start of the NRHA year.
  • Rider must hold a valid NRHA card
  • 1 handed in any NRHA approved bit.
  • More...

Training Class:

  • Must use NRHA approved bit.
  • Rider may show one handed or two handed, or swap hands without penalty.
  • More...

Grass Root Teams Challenge:

  • Each team consists of one (1) team leader and group of Green as Grass, Green and Beginner reiners drawn by ballot
  • Team Leader coaches team for one (1) hour prior to event
  • Team with the highest aggregate score wins
  • More...

Freestyle:

  • NRHA rules will apply.
  • Use of two hands is allowed (as well as one or no hands) and any bit approved by the NRHA handbook.
  • Limited to 3 ½ minutes for the freestyle routine.
  • Rider must hold a valid NRHA card

To read the unabridged version of the VRHA 2008 Show Rules and the NRHA 2008 Handbook, open the links below.

  1. VRHA 2008 Show Rules

  2. NRHA 2008 Handbook

The documents are available in PDF format - if you don't have the Adobe Reader on your PC you can download the latest version by clicking the "Get ADOBE Reader" icon and following the download instructions.

Download Adobe PDF Reader