The Reining Horse Foundation is proud to announce new scholarships that provide opportunities to students already enrolled in higher education. Along with these new RHF Merit Scholarships, the longstanding RHF Scholarships are available. Applications are due March 1, 2024.
The RHF Merit Scholarships include five $1,500 awards for students who were National Reining Horse Youth Association members, maintain an NRHA membership, and are actively pursuing a college or trade school education full-time at an accredited institution. The eligible applicants may not have previously received any RHF/NRHyA scholarship.
The RHF Scholarships include ten awards in varying amounts from $1,500 up to $5,000. The criteria are weighted toward financial need with additional academic achievement and involvement considerations. Applicants must be NRHyA members for at least 24 months prior to application and be high school seniors. Previous recipients may reapply and are eligible to receive these scholarships one additional time during their post-high school education. Students must be current members of NRHA to apply.
“The RHF Merit Scholarships should be especially attractive to students who have been active in NRHyA and the NRHA. These are designed to encourage students as they keep striving for their education,” said Terri Mainey, chair of the RHF Scholarship Committee. “RHF takes great pride in continuing to expand our scholarship offerings. Our donors believe in the next generation and what they will contribute to reining and the world at large.”
RHF funding comes from a broad cross-section of the equine community, including individuals, businesses, and foundations. NRHyA members, NRHA affiliates and shows, and reiners of all ages hold creative and successful fundraisers benefiting RHF programs.
“There are stories about the RHF Scholarship program coming to life when movers and shakers got together at an NRHA show and started dreaming of ways to help young people involved in the sport,” said Tim Anderson, RHF president. “That’s been decades ago now, and today’s scholarship program is growing thanks to the support of many givers.”
A major program expansion doubled the funding amounts for RHF Scholarships in 2022 and increased them again for 2023. The RHF and Merit Scholarships are part of a larger program that makes more than $60,000 in awards available annually to NRHyA members. Other opportunities are available through the Varsity Reining Club, Affiliate Regional Scholarships, and the NRHyA’s CINCH Speaking Contest.
New in 2024, the application process is completely online. The forms and additional criteria can be viewed at nrhya.com/scholarships.
For nearly 25 years, members of the equine community have been doing good things through the Reining Horse Foundation, the charitable arm of the National Reining Horse Association. With its mission of caring for and honoring the reining community, the RHF has supporters from around the world. Core programs include the Dale Wilkinson Memorial Crisis Fund, which provides financial relief to reiners enduring major hardships; youth scholarship and leadership development through the National Reining Horse Youth Association; and the perpetuation of the sport’s history through the NRHA Hall of Fame. For more information or to give, visit reiningfoundation.com.