Membership Guidelines

As a member of the RCHA, you agree to:

  • Follow all RCHA registration & competition rules
  • Host no more than two (2) member-hosted RCHA competitions per month for the months of January – November
  • Never transfer the ownership of a horse that isn't registered to you, even if you are attempting to transfer a horse you have purchased to yourself.

General Showing Guidelines

  • All horses must be at least 2 years of age to compete in ridden classes, though many are restricted to age 3+
  • All horses are limited to no more than 6 ridden classes per show
  • Futurity: Open to horses age 2-3yo shown in snaffle or hackamore only
  • Derby: Open to horses age 4-5yo. 5yos must show in bridle only.
  • Intermediate: Open to horses age 6-9yo
  • Prime Time: Open to horses age 10yo+ (May be split into Junior 10-15 and Senior 16+)
  • Novice Limited: Open to any age horse in their first year of showing under saddle with the RCHA
  • Limited: Open to any age horse with less than $350,000 in RCHA earnings (tracked by the database)
  • Snaffle Class: Open to horse age 2-4. May compete in snaffle or hackamore. This serves as an "open entry" class for your selected rider division. 4yo horses competing in this class and a derby class must compete in snaffle/hackamore in both.
  • Bridle Class: Open to horses age 5+ competing in bridle only. This serves as an "open entry" class for your selected rider division.
  • Youth Rider: Riders age 12-18
  • Non-Pro Rider: Riders age 19+ who do not earn a living in the equine industry
  • Open Rider: Riders age 19+ who do earn a living in the equine industry ("professionals")
  • Horses may compete in no more than two (2) divisions. Working Cow Horse cannot be combined with Reining or Reined Cow Horse.
  • For reference below, there are 91 "Regular Official" shows on the calendar, plus the National Classic & World Classic, which must be qualified for (automatic qualified entry). There are 12 "Breeder's Trust" shows on the calendar. "Member" shows are limited to 2 shows per hosting member in the months of January – November, but there is no minimum or maximum number of member hosted shows per year. (You can opt-out of member shows.)

In-Hand

  • Breeds: Any
  • These are "Performance Halter" type in-hand classes meant to assess your horse's suitability for their selected discipline division, with an emphasis on working western performance. Horses that do not have a ridden discipline division specified will be assess with working western disciplines in mind.
  • Mares/Fillies have classes for: Weanling (0), Yearling (1), Two Year Old (2), Three Year Old (3), Derby (4-5), Intermediate (6-9), and Prime Time (10+)
  • Stallions/Colts have classes for: Weanling (0), Yearling (1), Two Year Old (2), Three Year Old (3), Derby (4-5), Intermediate (6-9), and Prime Time (10+)
  • Geldings have classes for: Juvenile (0-3), Age 4-9, and Prime Time (10+)
  • These classes run at all Regular Official and Member shows.
  • This is an acceptable second division for any horse.
  • Adds 1 class to your horse's in-hand entry selection.

Breeding

  • Breeds: Any
  • These are "Breeding Quality Halter" type in-hand classes meant to assess your horse's breeding potential for their selected discipline division. Horses that do not have a ridden discipline division specified will be assessed for working western breeding if they are a "cow sense" breed, or for general western performance if not.
  • Mares/Fillies have classes for: Weanling (0), Yearling (1), Two Year Old (2), Three Year Old (3), Retired Derby (4-5), Retired Intermediate (6-9), Retired Junior Prime Time (10-15), Retired Senior Prime Time (16+)
  • Stallions/Colts have classes for: Weanling (0), Yearling (1), Two Year Old (2), Three Year Old (3), Retired Derby (4-5), Retired Intermediate (6-9), Retired Junior Prime Time (10-15), Retired Senior Prime Time (16+)
  • Geldings do not have classes in this division.
  • These classes run at all Breeder's Trust shows.
  • This is an acceptable second division for any horse.
  • Adds 1 class to your horse's in-hand entry selection.

Reining Division

  • Breeds: Stock types & Mustangs, Baroque types, Arabian, Morgan, crosses thereof
  • "Reining" Classes: reining pattern tests
    • Youth, Non-Pro & Open rider division tests for each horse age division (Futurity 2-3, Derby 4-5, Intermediate 6-9, Prime Time 10+)
    • Youth, Non-Pro & Open rider division "Limited" tests for horses age 2+
    • Youth, Non-Pro & Open rider division "Novice Limited" tests for horses age 2+
    • Youth, Non-Pro & Open rider division "Snaffle" open-entry class for horses age 2-4 (hackamores are acceptable)
    • Youth, Non-Pro & Open rider division "Bridle" open-entry class for horses age 5+
  • "Freestyle" Classes: freestyle reining classes, open to horses age 2+, for each rider division (Youth, Non-Pro, Open)
  • These classes run at all Regular Official and Member shows.
  • Cross Entry: Cannot cross into Working Cow Horse (WCH).
  • Adds 3-5 classes to your horse's ridden entry selection.

Cutting Division

  • Breeds: Stock breeds & 50+% crosses, Mustangs
  • "Cutting" Classes: (standard cutting class)
    • Youth, Non-Pro, and Open rider division classes for each horse age division (Futurity 2-3, Derby 4-5, Intermediate 6-9, Prime Time 10+)
    • Youth, Non-Pro & Open rider division "Limited" tests for horses age 2+
    • Youth, Non-Pro & Open rider division "Novice Limited" tests for horses age 2+
    • Youth, Non-Pro & Open rider division "Snaffle" open-entry class for horses age 2-4 (hackamores are acceptable)
    • Youth, Non-Pro & Open rider division "Bridle" open-entry class for horses age 5+
  • "Campdrafting" Class: Youth, Non-Pro, and Open rider division classes for horses age 2+. This class is available starting in 2018, and consists of a standard Australian style campdrafting test.
  • These classes run at all Regular Official and Member shows.
  • Cross Entry: Not ideal for Vaquero or Western Dressage
  • Adds 3-5 classes to your horse's ridden entry selection.

Working Cow Horse (WCH) Division

  • Breeds: Stock breeds & 50+% crosses, Mustangs
  • Entry into both a "cow work" and a "herd work" class represents entry into a standard 2-phase working cow horse division. These classes are exactly the same as (but held separately from) the equivalent classes in the Reined Cow Horse division.
  • Cow Work involves boxing and fence work of a single cow/calf
  • Herd Work involves controlling a herd of 3+ individuals
  • Both class types offered to Youth, Non-Pro, and Open rider divisions in Futurity (horses 2-3), Derby (horses 4-5), Intermediate (horses 6-9), Prime Time (horses 10+), Limited (horses 2+) and Novice Limited (horses 2+)
  • These classes run at all Regular Official and Member shows.
  • Cross Entry: Cannot enter Reining or Reined Cow Horse (RCH). Ideally crosses with Cutting, In-Hand, or Breeding.
  • Adds 2-4 classes to your horse's ridden entry selection.

Reined Cow Horse (RCH) Division

  • Breeds: Stock breeds & 50+% crosses, Mustangs
  • Entry into all three of "dry work," "cow work," and "herd work" together represents entry into a standard 3-phase reined cow horse division. The cow and herd work classes are exactly the same as (but held separately from) the equivalent classes in the Working Cow Horse division.
  • Dry Work is a reining pattern test
  • Cow Work involves boxing and fence work of a single cow/calf
  • Herd Work involves controlling a herd of 3+ individuals
  • All three class types offered to Youth, Non-Pro, and Open rider divisions in Futurity (horses 2-3), Derby (horses 4-5), Intermediate (horses 6-9), Prime Time (horses 10+), Limited (horses 2+) and Novice Limited (horses 2+)
  • These classes run at all Regular Official and Member shows.
  • Cross Entry: Cannot enter Working Cow Horse (WCH). Ideally crosses with Reining, Cutting, In-Hand, or Breeding.
  • Adds 3-6 classes to your horse's ridden entry selection.

Ranch Horse (2016+)

  • Breeds: Stock types & Mustangs, Baroque types, Arabian, Morgan, crosses thereof
  • This division was introduced in 2016, and updated for 2018. This division offers the classes for Ranch Horse competitors at the AQHA, making it high compatible for cross-registration with the SHC circuits. AWWA Ranch Horse competitors who also enter the Ranch Reining class should enter both the Ranch Horse and Reining divisions here at the RCHA.
  • 4 Class Types: Ranch Pleasure, Ranch Sorting, Ranch Versatility, Ranch Trail
  • Each class type is offered for every combination of rider division (Youth, Non-Pro, Open) and horse age division (Futurity 2-3, Derby 4-5, Intermediate 6-9, Prime Time 10+)
  • These classes run at all Regular Official and Member shows.
  • Cross Entry: Can cross into any other division. Ideal: Reining, Vaquero, Working Equitation, Western Dressage
  • Adds 4 classes to your horse's ridden entry selection.

Vaquero Division (2018+)

  • Breeds: Stock types & Mustangs, Baroque types, crosses thereof
  • This division is a combination of Iberian Vaquero working western classes and Spanish Doma Vaquera haute ecole riding tests.
  • Vaquero Classes:
    • Vaquero Horsemanship class for every combination of rider division (Youth, Non-Pro, Open) and horse age division (Futurity 2-3, Derby 4-5, Intermediate 6-9, Prime Time 10+)
    • Vaquero Cow & Herd Work class for every combination of rider division (Youth, Non-Pro, Open) and horse age division (Futurity 2-3, Derby 4-5, Intermediate 6-9, Prime Time 10+)
    • Vaquero Roping class for every combination of rider division (Youth, Non-Pro, Open) and horse age division (Futurity 2-3, Derby 4-5, Intermediate 6-9, Prime Time 10+)
  • Doma Vaquera Classes: Basico (horse ages 2+), Intermedio (horses age 5+) and Alta (horses age 7+) level tests for Youth, Non-Pro, and Open rider divisions.
  • These classes run at all Regular Official and Member shows.
  • Cross Entry: Technically can cross into any other division, though riding style may make competition in Cutting, WCH, or RCH difficult.
  • Adds 4-6 classes to your horse's ridden entry selection.

Working Equitation Division (2018+)

  • Breeds: Any!
  • Offers a class for each phase of a standard Working Equitation competition for Youth, Non-Pro, and Open rider regular and Limited divisions. Classes are not split by horse age, and are offered to horses age 3+ in all cases.
  • Dressage Freestyle: basic dressage type movements freestyle class
  • Ease of Handling: a ridden obstacle test which assesses, as implied, the horse's "ease of handling."
  • Speed Trial: similar to the ease of handling test, but this time the horse and rider team must navigate the obstacle course with the greatest efficiency, regardless of riding style.
  • Cow Trial: A timed herd work test requiring the competitor to move a small herd of cattle from one pen to another and secure the pen.
  • These classes run at all Regular Official and Member shows.
  • Cross Entry: Can cross with any other division, limited by breed acceptability
  • Vaquero-only horses may enter up to 2 consecutive Doma Vaquera levels. 2-discipline horses should not enter more than 1 Doma Vaquera level.
  • Adds 4-8 classes to your horse's ridden entry selection.

Western Dressage Division (2018+)

  • Breeds: Any!
  • Offers classes to compliment the ASWDC's competitive (non-Ranch) western dressage class list, split into RCHA rider divisions. Note that these are not the simplified ranch horse tests. Horses that are activty competing in Cutting, WCH or RCH will not have the training time to develop the ideal skill set for this discipline.
  • "All horses" entry classes are offered for each Western Dressage level, in each rider division (Youth, Non-Pro, Open) as both a test and a freestyle.
  • Introductory Level horses age 2+
  • Basic Level horses age 3+
  • Level I horses age 5+
  • Level II horses age 5+
  • Level III horses age 6+
  • These classes run at all Regular Official and Member shows.
  • Cross Entry: Can cross with any other division, limited by breed acceptability. Again, horses that are activity competing in Cutting, WCH or RCH will not have the training time to develope the ideal skill set for this discipline.
  • Single-discipline horses may enter up to 2 consecutive levels. 2-discipline horses should not enter more than 1 Western Dressage level.
  • Adds 2-12 classes to your horse's ridden entry selection.