NYRCHA Class Rules~effective May 2021

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effective May 2021

Equipment /Dress Code: AQHA western equipment is required; NRCHA equipment is acceptable but not required in non-sanctioned classes. Exceptions to the equipment rules are outlined under for each division such as but not limited to green riders. Horses under the age of five may be shown in a snaffle bit with two hands on the reins. AQHA dress code requires boots, cowboy hat or helmet (NYS 14 and under helmet law required), long sleeve shirt, and western jeans. Chaps are optional. 

Herd Work: Competition Rules per NRCHA Rulebook Section 19.1 – Herd of cattle will be located in the center of back wall of the arena. Judging will begin at the timeline. The contestant shall approach the herd with no hesitation, weaving or reluctance on the part of the horse to enter the herd sufficiently deep enough to show his ability to make a cut. The horse shall work quietly, but alertly, causing very little disturbance to the herd or the animal brought out. Credit will be given for driving cattle, clearing the herd by a sufficient distance and setting up a cow while holding it in a working position as near the center of the arena as possible. The degree of difficulty, eye appeal and the amount of courage in staying tough on a cow will be taken into consideration. The amount of time actually spent working cattle in the two and half minute period will also have an effect on the total score. The horse should show a great deal of expression but no ill will toward the cattle. Judging will end at the whistle. Divisions of Open, Non-Pro, Green Rider, and Green Horse will be held. Some divisions may run concurrent at the discretion of the board; however, they will still be placed by division. Equipment Rules for Open and Non-Pro will follow AQHA Western Equipment, Section SHW305, while Green Rider and Green Horse will follow equipment rules stated in respective division rules. 

Ranch Boxing: Open to all levels of riders and horses using any NRCHA or AQHA legal bridle, hackamore or snaffle. Scoring will be consistent with NRCHA Beginner Fence Work class. Exhibitors are allotted one minute and forty-five seconds to complete the work. Time shall begin when the gate closes behind the cow after being let into the arena. When there are 30 seconds left, the announcer will give a 30 second warning. At one minute and forty-five seconds, the announcer will call for time. Exhibitors are not required to use all of the allotted time but must ride until the judge ends the run with a whistle or time expires, whichever occurs first. There are four parts to the work: boxing the cow; setting up the cow and driving / rating it down the fence to the opposite end of the arena; and boxing it at the opposite end of the arena, and then driving / rating the cow past the middle marker again. 

Ranch Pleasure: All horses are shown together, at a walk, extended walk, jog, extended jog, lope, extended lope, stand, and back in both directions around the arena. Further testing may include but not limited to spins, side pass, and counter-canter. AQHA or NRCHA acceptable equipment required. Green riders may use equipment rules from respective classes. 

Ranch Riding: The horse is shown individually in pattern work and is judged on the precision of the pattern maneuvers and the horse's movements. The horse should simulate a horse and working outside the confines of an arena. AQHA or NRCHA acceptable equipment required. Green riders may use equipment rules from respective classes. 

Ranch Reining: Each horse and rider will complete a specified reining pattern chosen from the ARHA. All riders and horses are welcome to this class. AQHA or NRCHA acceptable equipment required. Green riders may use equipment rules from respective classes. The pattern is to be run as posted regardless of green rider 

status. 

Working Cow Horse: (est 2021) Competition Rules as per AQHA Working Cow Horse, Section SHW505, and Equipment Rules as per AQHA Western Equipment, Section SHW305. Divisions of Open and Amateur will be held and run concurrent with NRCHA Fence Classes. The contestant has ability to pick desired NRCHA Fence class to run concurrent with on the entry form. If a class to run with is not chosen, contestant will run with the Open Bridle and Non-Pro Bridle NRCHA class for Open and Amateur divisions, respectively. 

Section I. Green Rider Divisions: 

Adult Walk Trot: 

This is an entry level class designed for riders that do not have any cow horse or reining experience. 

Qualifications: The rider must meet and sign the NYRCHA Green Rider declaration. Rider must not have any Reining experience which is considered to be any participation in NRHA, NRCHA, ranch horse reining or AQHA reining or working cow horse events. No Cow horse experience which is considered to be any participation in a competition, show or event involving horse and cattle, such as, but not limited to roping, team penning, cutting, ranch sorting, and steer stopping. Walk Trot riders may not cross enter into any other cow horse class. Riders cannot have gone down the fence in any cow horse class. 

Equipment: Horses may be ridden in any NRCHA or AQHA approved western bridle, hackamore or snaffle regardless of horses age. All horses may be ridden two hands regardless of bridle. Rider who chooses to start the ride one-handed may go to two hands; however, the rider must return to one hand after the correction is made. 

Reined work: Same as NRCHA classes with the following exceptions: Rider will trot instead of canter. Slow trot in place of the small slow circles and an extended trot in place of the large fast circles. The run downs will be done at an extended trot. Rider performs one or one and a half spins instead of number specified in the posted pattern. 

Cow work: Same as NRCHA Limited (boxing) classes with the following exception: If the horse and rider loses the cow more than two times the three-point penalty will continue to apply instead of the contestant receiving a no score. 

Green Rider I: 

This is an entry level class designed for riders that do not have any cow horse or reining experience. 

Qualifications: The rider must meet and sign the NYRCHA Green Rider declaration. A rider is no longer eligible if he or she has won NYRCHA year end highpoint for Green Rider I or II two times, regardless of the horse. The rider cannot cross enter into any NRCHA classes and cannot have earnings or points in nationally recognized Cow Horse, Cutting, Reining or Ranch Horse events. Riders cannot have gone down the fence in any cow horse class. 

Equipment: Horses may be ridden in any NRCHA or AQHA approved western bridle, hackamore or snaffle regardless of horses age. Rider may use two hands or one. Rider who chooses to start ride one-handed may go to two hands; however, the rider must return to one hand after the correction is made. 

Reined work: Same as NRCHA classes with the following exceptions: Rider may perform simple lead changes as specified by AQHA with no penalty. Rider does one or one and a half spins instead of number specified in the posted pattern. 

Cow work: Same as NRCHA Limited (boxing) classes with the following exception: If the horse and rider lose the cow more than two times the three-point penalty will continue to apply instead of the contestant receiving a no score. 

Green Rider II: 

Qualifications: The rider must meet and sign the NYRCHA Green Rider declaration. A rider is no longer eligible if he or she has won NYRCHA year end highpoint for Green Rider II two times, regardless of the horse. A Rider cannot have gone down the fence in any cow horse class. Rider cannot have earned over $250 in NRCHA, AQHA or ARHA cow horse classes. Riders are eligible to cross enter into NRCHA 1K non-pro limited and/or NRCHA Youth Limited. 

Equipment: Horses six years and older must be shown one handed in NRCHA or AQHA age appropriate headgear; however, rider may go two handed, but must return to one hand after the correction is made. Horses five years and younger may be shown two handed in a snaffle bit or hackamore. 

Reined Work: Same as NRCHA classes with the following exceptions: Rider does two or two and a half spins instead of number specified in the posted pattern. 

Cow work: Same as NRCHA Limited (boxing) classes with the following exception: If the horse and rider lose the cow more than two times the three-point penalty will continue to apply instead of the contestant receiving a no score. 

Section II. Green Horse Division: 

Green Horse Box: 

Qualifications: All professional, nonprofessional and green riders welcome. The horse must not have earnings greater than $500 in any reining or cow horse disciplines from the NRCHA, NRHA, NCHA, ARHA, AQHA or any other breed associations. Horse is no longer eligible if they have won NYRCHA year end highpoint for Green Horse Box or Green Horse Fence two times, regardless of the rider. 

Equipment: Horses may be ridden in any NRCHA or AQHA approved western bridle, hackamore or snaffle regardless of horses age. All horses may be ridden two hands regardless of bridle. 

Reined Work: Same as NRCHA Classes
Cow Work: Same as NRCHA Limited (boxing) classes. 

Green Horse Fence: (Not offered in 2020 or 2021) 

Qualifications: All professional, nonprofessional and green riders welcome. The horse must not have earnings greater than $500 in any reining or cow horse disciplines from the NRCHA, NRHA AQHA or any other breed associations. Horse is no longer eligible if they have won NYRCHA year end highpoint for Green Horse Fence two times, regardless of the rider. 

Equipment: Horses may be ridden in any NRCHA or AQHA approved western bridle, hackamore or snaffle regardless of horses age. All horses may be ridden two hands regardless of bridle. 

Reined Work: Same as NRCHA Classes 

Cow Work: Same as NRCHA Bridle Classes. 

Section III. Rookie Division: 

Rookie Box: 

Qualifications: Open to all riders, trainers and horses, professionals or nonprofessionals regardless of age or experience. Rider must not have earnings greater than $500 in NRCHA or ARHA reined cow or AQHA working cow horse classes. 

Equipment: Horses may be ridden in any NRCHA or AQHA approved western bridle, hackamore or snaffle regardless of horses age. All horses may be ridden two hands regardless of bridle. Rider who chooses to start ride one-handed may go to two hands; however, the rider must return to one hand after the correction is made. 

Reined work: Same as NRCHA Classes

Cow Work: Same as NRCHA Limited (boxing) classes. 

Rookie Fence: (Not offered in 2020 or 2021) 

Qualifications: Open to all riders, trainers and horses, professionals or nonprofessionals regardless of age or experience. Rider must not have earnings greater than $500 in NRCHA or ARHA reined cow or AQHA working cow horse classes. 

Equipment: Horses may be ridden in any NRCHA or AQHA approved western bridle. All horses may be ridden two hands regardless of bridle. 

Reined Work: Same as NRCHA Classes 

Cow Work: Same as NRCHA Bridle Classes. 

Section IV. NYRCHA Fence or Box Class (est. 2020) 

This class is designed to be a judged schooling class where rider can choose to either complete a fence run or box run and is not eligible for year end awards. If Rein work or cow work exceeds 3 minutes judge will blow whistle to excuse rider. 

Qualifications: Open to all riders, trainers and horses, professionals or nonprofessionals regardless of age or experience. 

Equipment: Horses may be ridden in any NRCHA or AQHA approved western bridle, hackamore or snaffle regardless of horses age. All horses may be ridden two hands regardless of bridle. 

Reined Work: Same as NRCHA Classes
Cow Work: Same as NRCHA Bridle or Limited (boxing) Classes. 

Section V. New York Novice Youth Class (est. 2019)
This class is a step up class from NYRCHA Walk/Trot classes and was developed to prepare rider for 

NRCHA Youth and Non Pro classes. 

Qualifications: Open to Youth Riders 18 years and Under with no NRCHA Earnings on any horse. Riders may not cross-enter into any walk-jog or fence Classes, but may compete in the NY
Green Club Classes. 

Equipment: Chaps encouraged but not Mandatory. NRCHA Equipment rules apply. Helmet laws apply. Riders may ride two handed but encouraged to ride one handed. 

Reined Work: Same as NRCHA Classes with the following exceptions: Rider may perform simple lead changes as specified by AQHA with no penalty however, a flying lead change is encouraged and will be credited. 

Cow Work: Same as NRCHA Limited (boxing) classes. 

Section VI. Youth Walk Trot (14 & under) Division: 

This division was established to introduce youth riders to the cow horse event with ability to be assisted by an adult on either horseback or lead line. 

Cow Track Class:
Qualifications: Open to youth riders 14 & under with no cross entry into any other cow horse classes. 

An adult rider is allowed in the pen during rein and cow work either on horseback or lead line. 

Equipment: The pen size will be limited for this class. Green rider equipment rules and helmet laws apply. 

Reined Work: Youth will be required to perform a walk trot reining pattern including but not limited to circles, stops, spins, rollbacks and backing. More than a two-stride break of gait to the lope will result in a zero. 

Cow Work: The rider has 50 seconds, once the gate closed to track a cow. A youth rider is expected to display proper cow tracking ability preferably at both the walk and trot. Rider will not be penalized for loping in cow work to maintain position. 

Walk Trot Box Class:
Qualifications: Open to youth riders 14 & under with no cross entry into any other cow horse classes. 

An adult rider is allowed in the pen during rein and cow work either on horseback or lead line. 

Equipment: The pen size will be limited for this class. Green rider equipment rules and helmet laws apply. 

Reined Work: Youth will be required to perform a walk trot reining pattern including but not limited to circles, stops, spins, rollbacks and backing. More than a two-stride break of gait to the lope will result in a zero. 

Cow Work: The rider has 50 seconds, once the gate closed, to box a cow. A youth rider is expected to display proper cow boxing ability preferably at both the walk and trot. Rider will not be penalized for loping in cow work to maintain position. Cow work is scored like NRCHA limited classes. 

Section VII. Protesting: 

If a NYRCHA member would like to protest the eligibility of another NYRCHA member there is a form available at the secretary’s office. To protest you must fill out, sign and present $50 Protest fee to the NRCHA Representative. If the the show management protests the fee is waived. 

Section VIII. End of the Year Awards: 

Each cattle class offered will be awarded its own year-end high point except for Youth Walk-Trot, see below, or NYRCHA Fence or Box Class. For a rider to qualify for year-end award they must ride in the class at half the shows that are offered by NYRCHA. All riders must be members of the NYRCHA to qualify. Points are calculated on a rider/ horse combination with the exception of Open and Green Horse. Rider may show multiple horses in any class. 

Youth Walk Trot: Track and Box classes will be combined for year end awards with ties being broke by the cow work. If a rider goes in both classes (Track and Box) only the highest run score of the day will count towards year end awards. Rider must compete in either of the youth walk trot classes half the total number of shows offered.