NCHA News

The Class Restructuring Subcommittee of the Competition Committee has proposed a second draft to the original proposal for the Limited Age Event Class Structure which was released on May 2, 2018. 

As previously stated in the first 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, BUT NOT VOTE UPON, the appropriate and applicable committees at the upcoming annual NCHA Convention.


This proposal isfor DISCUSSION PURPOSES ONLY.

Limited Age Event Class Structure Proposal
DRAFT DATE: 5/2/2018  09:05 pm

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.  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:

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 (60 and up), 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. There is NO exception that allows a rider to return to the Limited class. 

Revolving Door:  If a rider is not in the Top 100 money earning riders for the previous point year in their respective division, they may drop back into the Intermediate. There is NO exception that allows a rider to return to the Limited Class once they advance out of it.

Earnings Cap: If an Amateur wins $250,000 in Non-Pro Division money, they must make a choice: to remain an Amateur and compete exclusively in the Amateur Division or to compete in the Non-Pro Division. If a Non-Pro wins $250,000 in Open Division money, they must make a choice: to remain a Non-Pro and compete exclusively in the Non-Pro Division or to compete in the Open Division. 

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 was not in the Top 100 Amateur riders last year, they 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 was not in the Top 100 NP riders last year, 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 was not in the Top 100 NP riders last year. Rider F would be eligible to show in the Intermediate Non Pro.