2019 NRHA Rule Changes

For Immediate Release – May 9, 2018 – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – Each year, National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) members have the opportunity to submit rule change proposals for addition to the next year’s official handbook. The NRHA Board of Directors then discusses the proposals, sends them to NRHA Committees for feedback, reviews opinions shared by the membership and casts votes at their annual May meeting. At this year’s meeting, the board considered 34 proposals and ultimately approved 29 to become effective in 2019.

“The board is extremely serious about this process and does their best to consider members’ opinions on these proposals as well as look for opportunities to grow the sport and to be aware of anything that might have a detrimental impact,” said NRHA President Mike Deer. “I’m proud to say all of the proposals the board approved were supported by a majority of members who participated in the online survey.”

A listing of approved rule changes is shown below with details available on nrha.com in the Members Only section.

Also approved for 2019 during last year’s rules change meeting is the move to a true 12-month membership. Starting January 1, 2019, NRHA memberships will no longer expire on December 31; memberships will now expire one year after purchase. See page 29 of the 2018 NRHA Handbook for details.

2019 APPROVED RULE CHANGES

SECTION 1                   
Sub-section // Proposal
Competition // 31-01-19 – Non Pro Conditions
Competition // 37-02-19 – Category change for Prime Time Open
Event Management // 47-01-19 – Event requirements for chair judges
Event Management // 47-02-19 – Show officials requirement
Event Management // 56-01-19 and 56-02-19 – Ancillary and Jackpot show judge’s fees
Event Management // 59-01-19 – Green Level entry fees
Event Management // 61-01-19 – Show secretary deadline for submitting results to NRHA
Judging // 45-01-19 – Helmets in Para-Reining
Judging // 56-04-19 – Use of hands (Aged shows)
Judging // 59-03-19 – Simple lead changes for Entry Level Ride & Slide
Judging // 81-01-19 – Freestyle time limit
Judging // 88-01-19 – Judges’ guidelines (unapproved events)
Judging // 96-01-19 – Two-point reviews (Related to 96-02-19)
General // 07-01-19 – Rule change procedures
General // 07-02-19 – Re-establishing an annulled affiliate
General // 35-01-19 – Horse naming requirements

SECTION 2                   
Sub-section // Proposal
Competition // 59-04-19 – Move the “Green Point Scale”
Judging // 91-01-19 – Tie-Breaker
Judging // 92-01-19 – Standard western bit (one point of pull)
Judging // 92-02-19 – Rein hand (use of fingers)
Judging // 93-01-19 – Use of hands (mane)
Judging // 93-02-19 – Closed Reins in Ride & Slide and Para
Judging // 93-03-19 – Belly wraps/bands
General // 07-03-19 – Affiliate Compliance

SECTION 3                   
Sub-section // Proposal
Judging // 86-01-19 – Judges’ guidelines
Judging // 97-01-19 – Add Para-Reining Allowances from Policy to Handbook
General // 07-04-19 – Move fines to policy
General // 08-01-19 – Move part of IAP rules to resolution

Founded in 1966, the National Reining Horse Association is a nonprofit association dedicated to promoting and encouraging the development of and public interest in the sport of reining. The focus is on developing and maintaining suitable standards of performance and judging and in providing a fun filled, family-oriented atmosphere.