Rules and Regulations
The below rules and regulations are intended to serve as guidelines for the show. Complete NWHA Rules and Regulations can be found at www. nwha. com
Entry Rules
• Horses are not required to be registered. Horse entry name MUST match horse’ s name on Coggins. If horse is registered, it should be registered under current owner on record.
• ALL horses on show grounds are required to have a current negative Coggins( exception – horses 6 months or less). Copy MUST be on file in show office.
• ALL out of state horses must have a current 30-day health certificate
• NWHA Shoeing Regulations can be found in the NWHA Rulebook
• No adds or scratches accepted 1 hour prior to session start time
• Cross-entering between All Day Pleasure and Country Pleasure at The National is not allowed
• Abbreviations: AOT( Amateur Owned and Trained), SSH( Spotted Saddle Horse), RH( Racking Horse)
• Championship and Regional Grand Championship eligibility: Qualifying class requirements / participation are the responsibility of the owner / rider / trainer. Should a horse / rider be found ineligible in a Championship or Regional Grand Championship due to non-participation or excused for any reason from the appropriate qualifying class( es), the entry is considered ineligible. In the case of post-entry ineligibility, the class( es) will be re-tied and all related fees are non-refundable.
• Championship Classes: Horse must have shown in qualifying divisional preliminary class to enter. No premiums paid, awards only.
• Regional Grand Championship Classes: Horse must have placed 1 st, 2 nd, or 3 rd in a qualifying Championship Class( 2 gait or 3 gait) at an NWHA Regional Championship Show within their division. Paybacks for 1 st-3 rd.
• Optional Tack Championship Classes: Western horses will not be required to perform 360 degree turn in the line-up
• Split Classes: Classes will be split at 20 for youth and 26 for adult, amateur, and open classes
• Show results are not considered official until certified by show management. Decisions by show management, DQP, and judges are considered final. Protests may be filed as per the NWHA rulebook.
• Owner / Exhibitor / Horse receiving an HPA violation during The National forfeit all fees and any show premiums won by that entry.
• Novice Horses and Riders o Novice Horse( Rail Classes) – Horse has not won a blue ribbon in a rail class at any National o Novice Horse( Versatility Classes) – Horse has not won a blue ribbon in a versatility class at any
National o Novice Rider – Rider has not won a blue ribbon in any rail class at any National
Best In Show
• After a horse has won( 3) consecutive years in a row, the horse is not permitted for re-entry in that specific Best In Show class.
• Best In Show entries must have placed 1 st, 2 nd, or 3 rd in a Championship class
AOT( Amateur Owned and Trained) See sections 4.1.8, 6.3, and 7.3 for the complete list of AOT rules and regulations
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Horses on lease are NOT considered AOT and are therefore not permitted to show in AOT designated classes AOT horse ownership established by joint ownership, leases, or contracts is prohibited AOT classes are open to horses that are owned and trained by an amateur and only may be exhibited by owner and / or amateurs within their immediate family
July 2025 | NWHA National Newsletter | 13