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Weekend Class Threshold and Ownership Transfer Policy Updates for 2026

Oct 8, 2025, 16:13 PM by National Cutting Horse Association

Fort Worth, Texas — The National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) has announced two major updates that will take effect with the beginning of the 2026 point year.

These include a revised ownership transfer policy and adjustments to the NCHA Weekend Class thresholds for rider divisions.

Weekend Class Threshold Changes

The NCHA Weekend Class thresholds will change for rider classes only beginning with the 2026 point year. These changes were considered and presented during the 2025 NCHA Convention and were formally passed by the NCHA Executive Committee in August 2025.

The new thresholds are as follows:


Current Class	2026 Class Threshold
$2,000 Limited Rider	$4,000 Limited Rider
$15,000 Amateur	$25,000 Amateur
$35,000 Non-Pro	$50,000 Non-Pro
$50,000 Amateur	$75,000 Amateur

Members may use their 2026 Lifetime Earnings (LTE) to determine which class they qualify for under the updated structure. The NCHA website standings page remains the most accurate resource for determining class eligibility, with all information kept up to date pending final show postings.

Ownership Transfer Policy Update

Beginning in 2026, horses shown under a pending ownership transfer in any class will be subject to the following timelines:

Within 30 days after NCHA is notified of new ownership, the transfer must be completed either at the appropriate Breed Association or directly with NCHA (for unregistered horses).
If the transfer is not completed within 60 days, the new owner will be subject to a $1,000 fine.
If the transfer is not completed within 90 days, the new owner will be subject to an additional $2,000 fine.
Additional stipulations apply when the new owner is classified as a Non-Pro or Amateur competitor.

Previously, these timelines applied only to Non-Pro and Amateur competitors. With the adoption of the 2026 NCHA Rule Book, the same standards will now apply across all horse classes, ensuring fairness and consistency in ownership records.

“These updates reflect NCHA’s commitment to integrity, transparency, and the continued improvement of competition standards,” said Jay Winborn, Executive Director of NCHA.

For more details and the complete rules, please visit the NCHA Rule Book and the Standings page at www.nchacutting.com.