With the popularity of reining growing both domestically and internationally, the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Board of Directors has approved a pilot program to encourage reining events to offer Slide Contests classes in 2025.
The recent resurgence of classes solely featuring the signature sliding stop is a way for NRHA to increase opportunities and participation for horses, riders, and owners, as well as to pursue wider recognition and value of NRHA events.
Recently, NRHA announced an inaugural Futurity and Military Slides to take centerstage at the NRHA Futurity & Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships. Starting in 2025, NRHA-approved events also may host these pilot classes using the following guidelines:
- Results and earnings will not be recorded during the pilot phase.
- Any individual or horse may compete without membership or licensing restrictions.
- Can be offered as an Open, Non Pro, or Youth classes as determined by show management.
- Can be jackpotted or have added money. The added money is not capped.
- Entry fees cannot exceed 10% of added money.
- Judge’s fees cannot exceed entry fee.
- Entry fee retainage (0% to 100%) to be decided by show management.
- Payback schedule to be decided by show management (e.g., Sched. A, Sched. B, or custom).
- Standard NRHA rules apply to the class (ex., the number of horses that can be shown by one rider in one class, the number of judges to judge, the 5-judge system to drop the low and high scores, etc.)
- NRHA Judges may judge the class if it is run according to these guidelines.
- NRHA Judges will use the following for Maneuver Evaluation & Scoring:
- Starting with a score of 70.
- A -3 to +3 scale for each maneuver score (Approach, Stop, Hesitate).
- Penalties: No marker penalty. All other penalties apply.
“This is an exciting option for NRHA events to engage members with new opportunities and to gain the interest of fans,” said NRHA Assistant Commissioner Christa Morris-Stone. “We are thrilled to see how it takes flight and look forward to it potentially being an NRHA-approved class.” Events hosting these classes are encouraged to send questions and feedback to cmorris@nrha.com.