Specialty Class Rules
Beginner Cutter Class Rules
1. The Beginner Cutter class is an entry level rider class for any NACHA member who has less than three years of limited cutting experience and who has won less than $500 in any cutting competition *.
2. The fee for the class is $65. The jackpot will be 40% of the entry fees. Payouts will go to the top 3 scoring horses – 50%, for 1st , 30% for 2nd; 20% for 3rd place.
3. The class will be on re-run cattle.
4. Riders must be a non-pro and may show any horse. The owner of the horse must be a NACHA member. (For clarification purposes, this class is considered a Rider" class and is designed so that a rider only enters the class with once per show. If a rider chooses to enter a second time, the rider must declare at the beginning of the season, which horse they will be using for year end points/awards. The second horse being used will not receive any points.)
5. Riders will not be penalized for reining their horse.
6. Riders may use one or two hands while showing, regardless of the bit choice. However, if the rider excessively changes from one hand to two hands then deductions may be made at the judge’s discretion.
7. Horses (of any age) may be ridden in a snaffle, hackamore or bridle.
8. Standings for this class will be posted on the club's website. Standings showing in the "Cutting News" are not official due to the nature of this class and the limitations of the show management software.
Class will be judged per NCHA rules with the exception of reining penalties.
With that exception, all other credits and penalties that are found on the judge’s sheet will be applicable.
*NACHA Board of Directors reserves the right to reclassify any contestant that they feel is violating the intention of the class.
1. The Beginner Cutter class is an entry level rider class for any NACHA member who has less than three years of limited cutting experience and who has won less than $500 in any cutting competition *.
2. The fee for the class is $65. The jackpot will be 40% of the entry fees. Payouts will go to the top 3 scoring horses – 50%, for 1st , 30% for 2nd; 20% for 3rd place.
3. The class will be on re-run cattle.
4. Riders must be a non-pro and may show any horse. The owner of the horse must be a NACHA member. (For clarification purposes, this class is considered a Rider" class and is designed so that a rider only enters the class with once per show. If a rider chooses to enter a second time, the rider must declare at the beginning of the season, which horse they will be using for year end points/awards. The second horse being used will not receive any points.)
5. Riders will not be penalized for reining their horse.
6. Riders may use one or two hands while showing, regardless of the bit choice. However, if the rider excessively changes from one hand to two hands then deductions may be made at the judge’s discretion.
7. Horses (of any age) may be ridden in a snaffle, hackamore or bridle.
8. Standings for this class will be posted on the club's website. Standings showing in the "Cutting News" are not official due to the nature of this class and the limitations of the show management software.
Class will be judged per NCHA rules with the exception of reining penalties.
With that exception, all other credits and penalties that are found on the judge’s sheet will be applicable.
*NACHA Board of Directors reserves the right to reclassify any contestant that they feel is violating the intention of the class.
Snaffle or Hackamore Horse Ranch Class - [Junior Horses]
GENERAL:
2. A second hand on the reins during any part of the work will result in 3-point penalty (each offense)
3. All other penalties, as defined by NCHA rules, apply to this class.
7. Jackpot payouts for this class will follow NCHA payout schedule.
8. NACHA class points are applied to this class and year-end awards will be made to the horse based on the cumulative points.
- This class is judged as a “horse” class and is open to any horse 5 years or younger, except that:
- Finished cutting horses, who have been shown in regular cutting classes (NCHA, NACHA, CCCHA, SACHA, or with any other cutting association) and who have cutting earnings of more than $500 at the beginning of the current year may not show in this class.
- This class is open to all riders (Open, Non-pro & Amateurs).
- This class, as with all ranch classes, does not count towards the year end high point cutting horse award.
- Horses must be ridden in a snaffle or hackamore only. The horse will be judged based on how it is ridden into the herd for the first cut:
- Horses entering the herd for the first cut with two hands, on the reins, are judged as a two-handed class:
- No points will be deducted for normal reining, but excessive pulling or jerking will result in a one-point penalty (each offense)
- All other penalties as defined by NCHA rules apply to this class.
- Horses entering the herd for the first cut with one hand, on the reins, will be judged as a single hand class:
2. A second hand on the reins during any part of the work will result in 3-point penalty (each offense)
3. All other penalties, as defined by NCHA rules, apply to this class.
7. Jackpot payouts for this class will follow NCHA payout schedule.
8. NACHA class points are applied to this class and year-end awards will be made to the horse based on the cumulative points.
Bridle Horse Ranch Class - [Senior Horses]
GENERAL:
GENERAL:
- This class is judged as a “horse” class and is open to any horse 6 years or older, except that:
- Finished cutting horses, who have been shown in regular cutting classes (NCHA, NACHA, CCCHA, SACHA, or with any other cutting association) and who have cutting earnings of more than $500 at the beginning of the current year may not show in this class.
- This class is open to all riders (Open, Non-pro & Amateurs).
- Riders may ride as many horses as they wish provided the horse has not exceeded the earning limits.
- This class, as with all ranch classes, does not count towards the year end high point cutting horse award.
- Horses may be ridden in a bridle only.
- The class will be judged as a one-handed class;
- No points will be deducted for reining, but excessive pulling or jerking will result in a one-point penalty (each offense).
- A second hand on the reins while cutting or in the herd will result in 3-point penalty (each offense).
- All other penalties, as defined by NCHA rules, apply to this class.
- Jackpot payouts for this class will follow NCHA payout schedule.
- NACHA class points are applied to this class and year-end awards will be made to the horse based on the cumulative points.
Youth Ranch Class
GENERAL:
GENERAL:
1. Open to any youth rider on any horse
2. This class does not count towards the year end high point cutting horse award
3. Finished cutters who have been shown in regular cutting classes (NCHA, NACHA, CCCHA, SACHA or any other cutting association) may show in this class, and who have cutting earnings of more than $500 at the beginning of the current year may not show in this class.
4. Horses may be ridden in a snaffle, hackamore or bridle however:
2. This class does not count towards the year end high point cutting horse award
3. Finished cutters who have been shown in regular cutting classes (NCHA, NACHA, CCCHA, SACHA or any other cutting association) may show in this class, and who have cutting earnings of more than $500 at the beginning of the current year may not show in this class.
4. Horses may be ridden in a snaffle, hackamore or bridle however:
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i. Each youth rider must declare to the judge upon entering the arena if they are to be judged as a two-handed snaffle or hackamore junior horse or a single-handed senior bridle horse; the class will be then be judged according to the Junior and Senior Ranch Horse class rules
ii. All other penalties, as defined by NCHA rules, apply to this class |
5. There are no payouts (daily) for this class
Boxing Class
The Boxing class is a “cow only” boxing class to provide competitive practice and year end awards for our members who enjoy the boxing phase of the reined cow horse events.
GENERAL CLASS GUIDELINES:
1. The fee for the class is $50. $15 from the entry will go to the jackpot. Payouts will the same as the regular cutting classes.
2. The class will be held on re-run cattle and will be held as the last class of the day.
3. There is no “dry work” for the class, only the boxing phase. Rider’s will receive a single cow with a 50 second time limit.
4. Upon receiving the cow in the arena, the rider will hold the cow on the prescribed end of the arena for 50 seconds, demonstrating the ability of the horse and rider to control the cow. There is no “fencing” phase in the class.
5. This is a “rider & horse combo” judged class. Riders may enter the class multiple times on different horses.
6. Riders & horse owners must be NACHA members.
7. NACHA year-end points are given out in accordance with the normal NACHA point rules.
8. Points earned are towards NACHA year-end class awards. Riders must ride the class the minimum number to times designated for the year’s award qualification.
JUDGING RULES & GUIDELINES:
1. 50 seconds on the clock will begin when the gate closes behind the cow, after being let into the arena.
2. Credits for boxing include:
a. Maintaining control of the cow at all times.
b. Maintaining proper position
c. Degree of difficulty
d. Eye appeal
e. Timed worked
3. Penalties for boxing include:
a. Loss of working advantage (1 point)
b. Working out of position (1 point)
c. Loss of control (3 points)
d. Cow leaves the working end of arena (3 points)
e. Rider excessively changing from one hand to two hands.
4. Judge will whistle out rider for excessing running, roughing or any other abuse of the cow.
5. Judge will have the discretion to blow the whistle for a cow that does not react or won’t move with the rider/horse attempting to move it. A new cow may be awarded.
NACHA Bridleless Cutting Challenge Rules
Spectators, fans, owners or riders can “buy” a horse/rider team through a Calcutta auction before the class begins. You must have cash to bid and “buy” your favorite team. You may join forces with friends to “buy” a team, however only one name will be shown as the “team owner”. The “team owner” of the winning horse/rider team wins the entire pot. (If there is a tie for 1st place, the pot will be split among the winning horse/riders “team owners”).
The Boxing class is a “cow only” boxing class to provide competitive practice and year end awards for our members who enjoy the boxing phase of the reined cow horse events.
GENERAL CLASS GUIDELINES:
1. The fee for the class is $50. $15 from the entry will go to the jackpot. Payouts will the same as the regular cutting classes.
2. The class will be held on re-run cattle and will be held as the last class of the day.
3. There is no “dry work” for the class, only the boxing phase. Rider’s will receive a single cow with a 50 second time limit.
4. Upon receiving the cow in the arena, the rider will hold the cow on the prescribed end of the arena for 50 seconds, demonstrating the ability of the horse and rider to control the cow. There is no “fencing” phase in the class.
5. This is a “rider & horse combo” judged class. Riders may enter the class multiple times on different horses.
6. Riders & horse owners must be NACHA members.
7. NACHA year-end points are given out in accordance with the normal NACHA point rules.
8. Points earned are towards NACHA year-end class awards. Riders must ride the class the minimum number to times designated for the year’s award qualification.
JUDGING RULES & GUIDELINES:
1. 50 seconds on the clock will begin when the gate closes behind the cow, after being let into the arena.
2. Credits for boxing include:
a. Maintaining control of the cow at all times.
b. Maintaining proper position
c. Degree of difficulty
d. Eye appeal
e. Timed worked
3. Penalties for boxing include:
a. Loss of working advantage (1 point)
b. Working out of position (1 point)
c. Loss of control (3 points)
d. Cow leaves the working end of arena (3 points)
e. Rider excessively changing from one hand to two hands.
4. Judge will whistle out rider for excessing running, roughing or any other abuse of the cow.
5. Judge will have the discretion to blow the whistle for a cow that does not react or won’t move with the rider/horse attempting to move it. A new cow may be awarded.
NACHA Bridleless Cutting Challenge Rules
- Riders may ride any horse, however both the rider and the horse’s owner must be current NACHA members.
- Riders may enter and compete on any number of horses they choose.
- Class runs after the $15,000 Amateur.
- Entry Fee for 2024 will be $65 – with $15 going to the jackpot. Winner will take the entire pot.
- Class will run on Fresh Cattle.
- Class is judged per regular NCHA rules.
- Riders may use a single piece of rope (lead rope or piggin string) or a single plain leather rein to guide their horse to and through the herd.
- In the true spirit of our ranching and cutting heritage, tack collars are considered illegal equipment for this class and will not be allowed in the show pen.
- Saddles are optional. This increases “degree of difficulty”.
- Only one horse/rider team shall be the winner. If at all possible, the judge will not allow a tie in 1st place. (If there is a tie for 1st place, the trophy prize will be given in a coin toss and the Prize money would be split between those tying for 1st place).
- Winner will receive bragging rights and a very special trophied award, plus your name on our revolving plaque… and the admiration of your fellow cutters for a job well done!
Spectators, fans, owners or riders can “buy” a horse/rider team through a Calcutta auction before the class begins. You must have cash to bid and “buy” your favorite team. You may join forces with friends to “buy” a team, however only one name will be shown as the “team owner”. The “team owner” of the winning horse/rider team wins the entire pot. (If there is a tie for 1st place, the pot will be split among the winning horse/riders “team owners”).
