The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Executive Committee and Board of Directors met via Zoom to discuss and vote on 2026 Rule Changes and other topics relating to the future of reining.
Every other year, NRHA Members and committees may submit rule-change proposals for addition to the following year’s official handbook. The NRHA Board of Directors discusses the proposals, sends them to NRHA Committees for feedback, reviews opinions shared by the membership, and casts votes after reviewing the proposals twice.
The board considered and voted on the following proposals. To review a full list of rule changes, comments, and details, visit the Library in ReinerSuite at reinersuite.nrha.com.
APPROVED
- 35-1-26 MEMBERSHIPS ONLINE AT SHOWS
- 38-1-26 NON PRO INELIGIBLE TIME PERIOD
- 38-2-26 NON PRO RELINQUISHMENTS
- 39-1-26 IMMEDIATE FAMILY CLARIFICATION
- 43-1-26 COMPETITION LICENSING
- 44-1-26 FORFEITED EARNINGS
- 44-2-26 CLASS ELIGIBILITY TIMEFRAME
- 45-1-26 CATEGORIES OF COMPETITION CLARIFICATION
- 47-1-26 PARA REINING
- 52-1-26 CATEGORY 12 TOP 20
- 54-2-26 EQUIPMENT AND ATTIRE
- 55-1-26 EUROPEAN EVENT DEADLINES
- 55-2-26 ANCILLARY EVENT APPROVAL
- 56-1-26 EVENT APPROVAL STEWARDS GUIDELINES
- 56-2-26 EVENT CLASSIFICATIONS; C EVENT
- 57-1-26 EVENT CANCELLATIONS
- 62-1-26 AGED SHOW AND CLOSED AGED SHOW CONDITIONS
- 66-1-26 ENTRY LEVEL RIDE & SLIDE FEE
- 70-1-26 PAYOUTS
- 89-1-26 SHOW STEWARD REPORTS
- 91-1-26 JUDGING PRIVILEGES
- 94-1-26 HACKAMORE MEASUREMENT CLARIFICATION
- 94-2-26 BIT GUARDS
- 96-1-26 ALTER REIN LENGTH
- 97-1-26 SIMPLE LEAD CHANGES
- 97-2-26 WALKING PENALTY
- 98-1-26 WALKING WHEN EXITING THE ROLLBACK
- 150-1-26 5 POINT PENALTIES
POSTPONED
- 46-2-26 MATURITY DEFINITION
- 48-1-26 RANCH REINING
- 51-1-26 SLIDE CONTESTS
NO ACTION
- 48-2-26 NOVICE HORSE GREEN
- 46-1-26 AMATEUR FUTURITY
- 42-1-26 COMPETITION LICENSES IN SHORT STIRRUP CLASSES
- 54-1-26 YOUTH SHORT STIRRUP HELMET
- 54-3-26 TRADITIONAL ATTIRE
- 55-3-26 SHOW MANAGER AND REPRESENTATIVE REQUIREMENT
- 71-1-26 YEAR-END AWARDS
- 151-3-26 PENALTIES IN DOWNWARD TRANSITION
- 153-1-26 SIMPLE LEAD CHANGE PENALTIES