NSBA Introduces First of its Kind CINCH Horsemanship Invitational

By: Brittany Bevis

The National Snaffle Bit Association recently announced an exciting new event that will be held at their World Championship Show this summer. The CINCH Horsemanship Invitational will bring multi-breed and multi-division competitors together at the highest level in a format that hasn’t been seen until now.

The premise of the class is that all exhibitors having placed in the top ten in a Horsemanship class in one of NSBA’s alliance breed organization’s championship shows in 2020, or the NSBA World Championship Show, are invited to participate in the CINCH Horsemanship Invitational. The alliance breed organizations include ABRA, APHA, AQHA, ApHC, IBHA, PtHA, PBHA, and POAC. All age groups and levels are eligible to compete. $15,500 will be up for grabs in the ultimate Horsemanship Challenge. In a fun twist, any exhibitor that declares a trainer will make their trainer eligible for bonus payouts.

We caught up with NSBA Executive Director, Stephanie Lynn, to find out more about this innovative event. “The class was created to allow riders an opportunity to compete in a championship class that put a twist on the challenge of a traditional Horsemanship class, allowed NSBA to include a broad group of exhibitors from all of our breed alliance partners, and include the trainers with a trainer bonus,” Stephanie says. “We wanted something fun, that provided team spirit, and let riders of all ages compete together.”

“We’re excited about bringing all riders together: amateurs, youth, select, and novice to compete and face the same challenge of patterns.”

The trainer bonus component will serve to highlight the contribution that coaches make in the development and success of a rider. “A competitor is not required to declare a trainer, but can enter under a trainer’s name,” she says. “Trainer bonuses will be paid to the top two riders and the highest placing novice rider’s trainer, should one be declared. There will also be a trainer bonus random draw.”

“Similar to the Riders Cup, NSBA felt it was important to recognize the accomplishments and the role that trainers play in a rider’s success. The trainer bonus also helps connect the rider to the trainer, and vice versa, in a way that we don’t often see. NSBA finds it’s important to promote the connection between our people. At the end of the day, we show to be together with our barn mates, team mates, and family.”

Payout structure:

• Champion- $3,000
• Reserve- $2,000
• Third- $1,500
• Fourth- $1,250
• Fifth- $1,000
• Sixth- $350
• Seventh- $350
• Eighth- $350
• Ninth- $350
• Tenth- $350
• Top Novice- $1,000
• Champion Trainer- $1,500
• Reserve Trainer- $1,000
• Random Trainer- $750
• Top Novice Trainer- $750

The finals will be held Wednesday, August 18th at the NSBA World Show with a party sponsored by CINCH. For more information and to view the qualified riders list, visit nsba.com/cinch.