NCHA News

DRAFT DATE: 4/10/2018  09:55am

Limited Age Event Class Structure Proposal

There will be three divisions:  Open, Non-Pro and Amateur and within each division there will be 3 levels.  

A rider can compete in whatever division he/she qualifies in as determined by the definitions of an Open, Non Pro and Amateur rider in the NCHA Rule Book.  

The levels within each division are based upon the Rider’s Total Lifetime Earnings at the beginning of the NCHA point year.  There is NO distinction between Limited Aged Event earnings and Weekend earnings.  There is NO distinction between Non Pro and Amateur earnings.  ALL earnings (i.e. senior, area work-offs, etc.) are now included in a rider’s Total Lifetime Earnings.

Levels within each division are defined as follows:

OPEN DIVISION                                 Rider Total Lifetime Earnings

Open                                                     $750,000 or more                                                     

Intermediate Open                                $200,001 - $749,999

Limited Open                                        $0-$200,000

NON PRO DIVISION                           Rider Total Lifetime Earnings

Non Pro                                               $500,000 or more                                                                             
Intermediate Non Pro                          $100,001 - $499,999

Limited Non Pro                                   $0-$100,000

AMATEUR DIVISION                          Rider Total Lifetime Earnings

Amateur                                              $100,000 or more                                                                  

Intermediate Amateur                         $25,001 - $99,999

Limited Amateur                                  $0-$25,000

The Limited class within each division is deemed to be an entry level class.  NO rider with LTEs in excess of the amounts stated above can compete in the Limited class.  

Each level within a division is its own class and a rider may enter up if they choose.  

Senior, gelding and novice classes will remain structured as is, a class within its respective division.  

Senior Exception:  Once a rider turns 70, the rider can drop down into the Intermediate class regardless of earnings.  

Revolving Door:  If a rider has not earned a certain amount within a set time frame, the rider can drop down to the Intermediate level (but never to the Limited Class), regardless of age.  The limits for each division are as follows:

            Open              $75,000 / one year

            Non Pro          $50,000 / one year

            Amateur         $25,000 / one year

RIDER EXAMPLES:

Rider A is classified as an Amateur rider with LTEs of $150,000.  Rider A can show in the Amateur, the Intermediate Non Pro, the Non Pro, the Ltd. Open, the Intermediate Open and the Open classes.  

Now, let’s say Rider A earned $21,000 within the past 12 months.  Since this amount is less than $25,000, under the revolving door feature, Rider A would be eligible to drop down to the Intermediate Amateur class.  

Rider B is classified as a Non Pro rider with LTEs of $175,000.  Rider B can show in the Intermediate Non Pro, the Non Pro, the Ltd. Open, the Intermediate Open and the Open classes. 

Now, let’s say Rider B earned $35,000 within the past 12 months.  Even though this amount is less than $50,000, Rider B is NOT eligible to drop down one level because no rider can EVER drop down to the Limited Class.  

Rider C is classified as an Open rider with LTEs of $650,000.  Rider C can show in Intermediate Open and the Open classes.

Rider D is classified as an Amateur rider with LTEs of $50,000.  Rider D can show in the Intermediate Amateur, the Amateur, the Ltd. Non Pro, the Intermediate Non Pro, the Non Pro, the Ltd. Open, Intermediate Open and the Open classes.  

Rider E is classified as an Amateur rider with LTEs of $225,000 and turns 70 years old.  Rider E is now eligible to drop down to the Intermediate Amateur class regardless of LTEs.  

Rider F is classified an a Non Pro rider with LTEs of $1.2 million but has only won $40,000 within the past 12 months.  Since the amount won within the past 12 months is less than $50,000, under the revolving door feature, Rider F would be eligible to show in the Intermediate Non Pro.   

 


Per Frank Merrill - Chair of the Competition Committee:

The Class Restructuring Subcommittee of the Competition Committee has proposed the following class restructuring proposal. The Competition Committee has determined that the proposal should be disseminated to members. Please take a moment to read through the documents as they will be discussed by the appropriate and applicable committees at the upcoming annual NCHA Convention.

Weekend Class Structure Proposal

There will be 4 divisions:  Open, Non-Pro, Amateur and Youth.

A rider can compete in the division he/she qualifies in as determined by the definition of an Open, Non Pro, Amateur and Youth rider in the NCHA’s Rule Book.

The levels within each division are based upon the Rider’s Total Lifetime Earnings at the beginning of the NCHA point year.  There is no distinction between Limited Aged Event earnings and Weekend earnings for Rider Earnings.  However, consistent with existing Novice horse rules, Horse earnings for weekend eligibility do not include Limited Aged Event earnings.  For World Standings, earnings ONLY from the top level in each division (Open, Non Pro and Amateur) will be counted.  

Open Classes

Open - The Open will have 2 levels within the class.  A rider must enter the Open class.   A rider, if eligible, can enter the Intermediate and/or Limited classes.  The Intermediate and Limited class will be an optional jackpot class within a class (consistent with the way the Senior World Tour is currently being done).

To qualify for the Intermediate or Limited Open Class, a rider must have Total LTEs of:

Intermediate - $200,001 - $749,999

Limited - $0 - $200,000

$25,000 Novice Horse & $5,000 Novice Horse - The 2 Novice Horse classes will remain as currently structured.

Non-Pro Classes

Non-Pro – A rider must enter the Non Pro class.  A rider, if eligible, can enter the Intermediate and/or Limited classes.  The Intermediate and Limited class will be an optional jackpot class within a class (consistent with the way the Senior World Tour is currently being done).

To qualify for the Intermediate or Limited Non Pro Class, a rider must have Total LTEs of:

Intermediate - $100,001 - $499,999

Limited - $0 - $100,000

A rider that qualifies for the Limited Class can if they desire enter the Intermediate Class.

$25,000 NH/NP and $5,000 NH/NP - The 2 Novice Horse Non Pro classes will remain as currently structured.

$50,000 Non-Pro - The $35,000 Non Pro class will be replaced with the $50,000 Non Pro class. 

Amateur Classes

Amateur – A rider must enter the Amateur class.  A rider, if eligible, can enter the Intermediate and/or Limited classes.  The Intermediate and Limited class will be an optional jackpot class within a class (consistent with the way the Senior World Tour is currently being done).

To qualify for the Intermediate or Limited Amateur Class, a rider must have Total LTEs of:

Intermediate - $25,001 - $99,999

Limited - $0 - $25,000

A rider that qualifies for the Limited Class can if they desire enter the Intermediate Class.

$25,000 Amateur – The $15,000 Amateur class will be replaced with the $25,000 Amateur class.

$2,000 Limit Rider – will remain as currently structured

Youth – will remain as currently structured

PROPOSED WEEKEND CLASSES

OPEN

NON PRO

AMATEUR

$25,000 NOVICE HORSE

$25,000 NOVICE HORSE NON PRO

$50,000 NON PRO

$25,000 AMATEUR

$5,000 NOVICE HORSE

$5,000 NOVICE HORSE NON PRO

$2,000 LTD RIDER