NCHA News

Weekend Class Structure Proposal

There will be 4 divisions:  Open, Non-Pro, Amateur and Youth. 

A rider can compete in the division he/she qualifies in as determined by the definition of an Open, Non-Pro, Amateur and Youth rider in the NCHA’s Rule Book.

Rider class eligibility is determined by their total LTE at the beginning of the NCHA point year.  There is NOdistinction between Limited Aged Event earnings and Weekend earnings for Rider Earnings.  However, consistent with existing Novice horse rules, Horse earnings for weekend eligibility do not include Limited Aged Event earnings. 

Open Classes

Open– The Open will remain as currently structured.

$25,000 Novice Horse& $5,000 Novice Horse– Both classes will remain as currently structured.

Non-Pro Classes

Non-Pro– The Non-Pro will remain as currently structured.

$25,000 NH/NP& $5,000 NH/NP- Both classes will remain as currently structured.

$100,000 Non-Pro– The $100K Non-Pro will be a new class, anyone classified as a Non-Pro with total LTEs under $100K can show in this class. The revolving door applies to this class.

$35,000 Non-Pro– This class will remain as currently structured. The revolving door does NOT apply to this class. 

Amateur Classes

Amateur– This class is open to anyone with an Amateur status as defined by the NCHA.

$50,000 Amateur– The $50,000 Amateur class will remain as currently structured.  The revolving door applies to this class. 

$15,000 Amateur– This class will remain as currently structured. The revolving door does NOT apply to this class. 

Other Classes

$2,000 Limit Rider– This class will remain as currently structured

Youth– This class will remain as currently structured

Select Non-Pro– This class will remain as currently structured, earnings will be recorded and will NOT count for year-end awards or standings

$1000 Limit Amateur– will remain as currently structured. Earnings will be recorded and will NOT count for year-end awards or standings. However, all earnings in this class will count toward achievement buckles.

The Senior World Tour (60 and up) will remain structured as is, a class within a class.   

Senior Exception: Once a rider turns 70, the rider can drop down into the $100k Non Pro Class and or the $50k Amateur Class, as determined by their rider eligibility, regardless of earnings.. 

Revolving Door:  If a rider is NOT in the Top 100 money earning riders for the previous point year in ANY division, they may drop back into the $100k Non Pro Class or the $50k Amateur Class, as determined by their rider eligibility. 

Earnings Cap: 

Once an Amateur has won $250,000 or more in Total Non-Pro LAE and Non Pro Championship Weekend money, they MUST make a choice: to remain an Amateur and compete exclusively in the Amateur Division or to compete in the Non-Pro Division. Non Pro Championship Weekend money EXCLUDES Novice Horse Non Pro and $35k Non Pro earnings.  

Once a Non-Pro has won $250,000 or more in Total Open LAE and Open Championship Weekend Open money, they MUST make a choice: to remain a Non-Pro and compete exclusively in the Non-Pro Division or to compete in the Open Division. Open Championship Weekend money EXCLUDES Novice Horse earnings. 

PROPOSED WEEKEND CLASSES

• OPEN
• NON-PRO
• AMATEUR
• $25,000 NOVICE HORSE
• $25,000 NOVICE HORSE NON-PRO
• $100,000 NON-PRO
• $50,000 AMATEUR
• $5,000 NOVICE HORSE
• $5,000 NOVICE HORSE NON-PRO
• $35,000 NON-PRO
• $15,000 AMATEUR
• $2,000 LTD RIDER
• YOUTH
• SELECT NON-PRO
• $1,000 LIMIT AMATEUR

To download the Weekend Class Structure Proposal please click here.

Limited Age Event Class Structure Proposal

There will be three divisions:  Open, Non-Pro and Amateur and within each division there will be 3 levels.  

A rider can compete in whatever division he/she qualifies in as determined by the definitions of an Open, Non-Pro and Amateur rider in the NCHA Rule Book. 

The levels within each division are based upon the Rider’s Total Lifetime Earnings at the beginning of the NCHA point year.  There is NO distinction between Limited Aged Event earnings and Weekend earnings.  ALL earnings (i.e. senior, area work-offs, etc.) are now included in a rider’s Total Lifetime Earnings.

Levels within each division are defined as follows:

The Limited class within each division is deemed to be an entry level class. NO rider with LTEs in excess of the amounts stated above can compete in the Limited class.  

Each level within a division is its own class and a rider may enter up if they choose.  

Senior (60 and up), gelding and novice classes will remain structured as is, a class within its respective division.  

Senior Exception:  Once a rider turns 70, the rider can drop down into the Intermediate class regardless of earnings. There is NO exception that allows a rider to return to the Limited class. 

Revolving Door:  If a rider is NOT in the Top 100 money earning riders for the previous point year in ANY division, they may drop back into the Intermediate. There is NO exception that allows a rider to return to the Limited Class once they advance out of it.

Earnings Cap: Once an Amateur has won $250,000 or more in Total Non-Pro LAE and Non Pro Championship Weekend money, they MUST make a choice: to remain an Amateur and compete exclusively in the Amateur Division or to compete in the Non-Pro Division. Non Pro Championship Weekend money EXCLUDES Novice Horse Non Pro and $35k Non Pro earnings.  

Once a Non-Pro has won $250,000 or more in Total Open LAE and Open Championship Weekend Open money, they MUST make a choice: to remain a Non-Pro and compete exclusively in the Non-Pro Division or to compete in the Open Division. Open Championship Weekend money EXCLUDES Novice Horse earnings.  

RIDER EXAMPLES:

Rider A is classified as an Amateur rider with LTEs of $150,000. Rider A can show in the Amateur, the Intermediate Non Pro, the Non Pro, the Ltd. Open, the Intermediate Open and the Open classes.  

Now, let’s say Rider A was not in the Top 100 riders last year, they would be eligible to drop down to the Intermediate Amateur class.  

Rider B is classified as a Non Pro rider with LTEs of $175,000.  Rider B can show in the Intermediate Non Pro, the Non Pro, the Ltd. Open, the Intermediate Open and the Open classes. 

Now, let’s say Rider B was not in the Top 100 riders last year, Rider B is NOT eligible to drop down one level because no rider can EVER drop down to the Limited Class.  

Rider C is classified as an Open rider with LTEs of $650,000.  Rider C can show in Intermediate Open and the Open classes.

Rider D is classified as an Amateur rider with LTEs of $50,000. Rider D can show in the Intermediate Amateur, the Amateur, the Ltd. Non Pro, the Intermediate Non Pro, the Non Pro, the Ltd. Open, Intermediate Open and the Open classes.  

Rider E is classified as an Amateur rider with LTEs of $225,000 and turns 70 years old.  Rider E is now eligible to drop down to the Intermediate Amateur class regardless of LTEs. 

Rider F is classified an a Non Pro rider with LTEs of $1.2 million but was not in the Top 100 NP riders last year. Rider F would be eligible to show in the Intermediate Non Pro.   

To download the Limited Aged Evennts Structure Proposal please click here.