Saskatchewan Reined Cowhorse Association (SRCHA) Rule Book – 2010

 

Section Two – Articles 6 to 12

 

ARTICLE 6

D E F I N I T I O N S

A.    OPEN BRIDLE HORSE              

Any horse 3 years old or older, and any level rider may show in this class. In Working Cowhorse Classes, the horse must be shown one-handed in a regulation cow horse bit, with romal reins. In Ranch Cutting Classes, regulation ring or D snaffle bit or bosal may be used and may be ridden with 1 or 2 hands. Points go to the horse.

       B.            JUNIOR HORSE 4 & 5 Years Old

            Open to any level of rider and all horses which are either 4 or 5

years old (as of Jan.1 of the current year)

Horses must be shown in legal equipment as described for Ranch Cutting and/or Working Cowhorse classes (regulation snaffle bit, hackamore or bosal) but the same type of headgear (hackamore or snaffle) must be used throughout the event (herd, rein and cow work) on a horse once a Derby competition has started. Points go to the horse.

B.     THREE YEAR OLD SNAFFLE BIT HORSE 

Open to any rider and all horses which are 3 years old (as of Jan. 1 of the current year). Horses must be shown in a regulation ring or D-snaffle bit, ridden 2-handed, except in the herd work (ranch cutting) when either 1 or 2 hands on the reins are allowed. Points go to the horse.

C.    NOVICE BRIDLE HORSE 

For horses 6 years of age or more (as of Jan.1 of the current year). Horses that have never been shown in Cutting or Ranch Cutting on any circuit are eligible to compete in Novice Horse Ranch Cutting for 1 show season. Horses that have never been shown in Ranch Horse, Reining, or Working Cowhorse on any circuit are eligible to compete in Novice Horse Working Cowhorse class for 1 show season. In Working Cowhorse Classes, horses must be shown 1-handed in a regulation cow horse bit, with romal reins. In Ranch Cutting Classes, ring or D regulation snaffle bit or bosal may be used and may be ridden with 1 or 2 hands. Points go to horse. Any level rider may show in this class.

 

D.     DEFINITION of NON PRO [as given in the 2008 NRCHA Rule Book] A Non Pro shall be defined as any person, regardless of age, who is not currently receiving remuneration directly, or indirectly for showing, training, giving lessons, clinics or assisting in the training of a horse for remuneration. This does not include prize money. Payment of entry fees and/or expenses by anyone other than the Non Pro, his/her immediate family, or his/her corporation is considered remuneration. A Non Pro may not show, train or assist in the training of a horse for which their spouse is accepting any form of remuneration either directly or indirectly for training, or assisting in the training or showing of said horses. Remuneration shall be defined as: (i). To pay, reward for work, trouble, etc. (ii). Reimburse, compensate. (iii). Make fair return for an action; barter.

All Non Pro Riders must make declaration of money earned and apply to the SRCHA for proper classification and acceptance of Non Pro status prior to competition. Non Pro status is extended on a temporary basis and is subject to revocation pending approval of the SRCHA Board. Non Pro status will be null and void if it is determined that a rider does not qualify under the NRCHA definition as given above.

 

E.    NOVICE NON PRO RIDER - $50. Limit Class

Riders must meet Non Pro definition as given above. Any non pro rider who has earned $50 or less on any Cutting or Ranch Cutting, or Working / Reined Cowhorse, or Ranch Horse circuit, including the SRCHA, and/or who has not earned more than $100 on any Reining circuit or more than $100 in Team Penning unless they are a sanctioned #1 Penner, shall be eligible to compete in Novice Non Pro. If a rider is eligible for Novice Non Pro based on money earned at the beginning of the show season, they shall remain in that division for the balance of that show season. Riders may choose to ride up into higher divisions at their discretion.

 

F.    INTERMEDIATE NON PRO RIDER - $500. Limit Class

Riders must meet Non Pro definition as given above. Any non pro rider who has earned $500 or less on any Cutting or Ranch Cutting, or Working / Reined Cowhorse, or Ranch Horse circuit, including the SRCHA, and/or who has not earned more than $500 on any Reining circuit or more than $500 in Team Penning unless they are a sanctioned # 2 Penner, shall be eligible to compete in Intermediate Non Pro. If a rider is eligible for Intermediate Non Pro based on money earned at the beginning of the show season, they shall remain in that division for the balance of that show season. Riders may choose to ride up into higher divisions at their discretion.   

 

G.     OPEN NON PRO RIDER

Riders must meet Non Pro definition as given above. Any non pro rider who has earned $501 or more on any Cutting or Ranch Cutting, or Working / Reined Cowhorse, or Ranch Horse circuit, including the SRCHA, and/or who has earned $501 or more on any Reining circuit or $501 or more in Team Penning or if they are a sanctioned #3 or higher Penner, shall be eligible to compete in Open Non Pro. [Non Pro Riders with less money earned than $501 may also enter Open Non Pro at their discretion.] 

 

H.     14-18 YOUTH RIDER

         Open to any rider who is fourteen (14) to eighteen (18) years of age, as of January 1 of the current

         year.  A Non Pro youth rider may compete in any other Non Pro class he/she so chooses provided

         that his/her lifetime earnings do not exceed the limit of the class.  Dollars earned in youth

         competition count towards lifetime earnings. Youth must wear helmets.

 

I       10-13 YOUTH RIDER  

         Open to any rider who is ten (10) to thirteen (13) years of age, as of January 1 of the current year.

       A Non Pro youth rider may compete in any other Non Pro class he/she so chooses provided that his/her lifetime earnings do not exceed the limit of the class.  Dollars earned in youth competition count towards lifetime earnings. Youth must wear helmets.

NOTE: Youth 10-13 Working Cowhorse class is

a "Boxing Only" (Limited Cow Work) class. See Article 13 for Rules.

 

 

 

 ARTICLE 7  C L A S S E S

A.    RANCH CUTTING / Herd Work – Class offered to the following divisions: Open Bridle Horse; Junior Horse 4&5 Yrs Old; Three Yr Old Snaffle Bit; Novice Bridle Horse; Novice Non Pro Rider; Intermediate Non Pro Rider; Open Non Pro Rider; Youth 14-18; and Youth 10-13. Open to any breed or age of horse, except in Junior Horse which must be 4 or 5 years old, and Three Year Old Snaffle Bit which must be 3 years old, and Novice Horse which must be 6 years old or more.  Horses to be judged in the manner described in Article 15, with a 2.5 minute time frame. Any horse, regardless of age, may be shown in a regulation ring or D-snaffle bit or bosal (except in 3 year old snaffle bit classes which must use a snaffle bit), ridden either 1-handed or 2-handed. If riding in a bridle, one hand on the reins is allowed. Riders must show astride in a stock saddle. Western long sleeve shirt, western hat (or helmet) and boots are mandatory, chaps are optional but recommended. No horse may be used as a herd settler for a class that horse is competing in. They may be used as turn back horses. See Article 15 for details on Ranch Cutting.

         B.       WORKING COW HORSE

                    Class offered to the following divisions: Open Bridle Horse; Junior Horse 4&5 Yrs Old; Three Yr Old Snaffle Bit; Novice Bridle Horse; Novice Non Pro Rider; Intermediate Non Pro Rider; Open Non Pro Rider; Youth 14-18; and Youth 10-13 (boxing only).  Horses to be judged in the manner prescribed in Article 13.  Working Cowhorse is comprised of two elements: the dry work (or reined work), and the fence work; with scores added together to achieve final score for the class. Ties are broken by the higher fence work score. The fence work portion is expected to be completed within a 2.5 minute time frame. Horses five (5) years of age and under may be shown in the regulation snaffle bit, hackamore or bridle, except when equipment is specified as for Open Bridle Horse or Three Year Old Snaffle Bit or Junior Horse classes.  Horses six (6) years of age and up must be shown one-handed in a regulation cow horse bit with romal reins, except in Novice Non Pro and Youth Classes where any NRHA/AQHA regulation bit and split reins or mecate reins are allowed. For riders using a snaffle bit or hackamore, two (2) hands are required.  For adult riders using a bridle, one (1) hand is required except in Novice Non Pro.  Romal reins are required for Open Bridle Horse, Novice Horse, Intermediate Non Pro Rider and Open Non Pro Rider (when riding in a bridle), held in the thumb up position; no fingers between the reins and hands must not be changed. A flat leather chin strap is required, minimum ½ inch wide, with no metal that may come into contact with the horse allowed. Leather chin strap must be flat, flexible and at least 1/2 inch wide. No metal rivets are allowed to come in contact with the chin, or chin groove of the horse. Metal keepers are not acceptable on the chin strap. Riders must show astride in a stock saddle. Western long sleeve shirt, western hat (or helmet) and boots are mandatory, chaps are optional but recommended. See Article 13 for further details.

 

C.            NOVICE NON PRO & YOUTH WORKING COW HORSE

      The purpose of these classes is to encourage new competitors to experience the cow horse class.  A rider may use one (1) or two (2) hands but once work is started, the rider must maintain their chosen hand position until work is completed. Riding 1-handed in a bridle will be a credit point situation. Horses 5 years old and under may be ridden 2-handed in an approved snaffle bit or hackamore; or in an approved bridle. Horses 6 years old or older must be shown in a bridle. The Youth or Novice Non Pro rider may use any legal NRHA/AQHA approved bit with a flat leather chin-strap at least 1/2 inch wide. (See Article 13, #1 Equipment section E.)  Romal reins are optional. Split reins or mecate (closed) reins are allowed. Youth must wear helmets. Youth 10-13 is a Boxing only class. (See Article 13 for details).

 

D.    INTERMEDIATE and OPEN NON PRO WORKING COWHORSE

Horses 5 years old and under may be ridden 2-handed in an approved snaffle bit with split reins, or hackamore with mecate (closed) reins; horses 6 years old or older must be shown 1-handed in a regulation cow horse bridle with romal reins.

 

E.     OPEN BRIDLE HORSE WORKING COWHORSE

Open to horses 3 years old or older shown by any level of rider, shown 1-handed in a regulation cow horse bit and romal reins.

 

F.     JUNIOR HORSE 4 & 5 Years Old WORKING COW HORSE

Open to 4- and 5-year-old horses, as of January 1st of current show year, to be shown in an approved snaffle bit, or hackamore. The horse may have been shown previously in the bridle down the fence. The same type of headgear (hackamore or snaffle) must be used throughout the event (herd, rein and cow work) on a horse once a Derby competition has started.

Entries must be shown with both hands on the reins, except in the herd work (ranch cutting) when either 1 or 2 hands on the reins are allowed. Horses must be shown in a standard headstall (browband, shaped ear or split ear) using a smooth snaffle bit or hackamore as described in General rules for equipment.

 

G.    THREE YEAR OLD SNAFFLE BIT WORKING COW HORSE

Open to any 3 year old horse, as of Jan.1st of the current year, to be shown in an approved snaffle bit by any level of rider. Entries must be shown with both hands on the reins, except in the herd work (ranch cutting) when either 1 or 2 hands on the reins are allowed. Horses must be shown in a standard headstall (browband, shaped ear or split ear) using a smooth snaffle bit as described in General rules for equipment.

 

H.    NOVICE BRIDLE HORSE WORKING COW HORSE

The purpose of this class is to provide opportunity for older horses that have never been shown in cow horse, ranch horse or reining to gain one show season’s experience with any level of rider.  Open to horses 6 years of age or more (as of Jan.1 of the current year) that have never been shown in Ranch Horse, Reining, or Working Cowhorse on any circuit. A horse is eligible to compete in this division for 1 show season only. Horses must be shown 1-handed in a regulation cow horse bit, with romal reins.

 

ARTICLE 8

S H O W   A P P R O V A L

            Any show committee or event seeking approval by this Association must comply with numerous criteria.  Classes offered as described in this Rule Book must follow these rules; Show hosts must describe in detail the entry fees and prize payout models they will use; and full show results and cash prizes awarded must be provided in a timely fashion to the SRCHA Office.

 

ARTICLE 9

P A Y M E N T   O F   M O N E Y S   A T   C O N T E S T

            SRCHA approved shows will pay back to the contestants the total of the add back plus the total added purse, if any.  The contestants will be paid from this pool on a percentage basis as prescribed by the individual show host. NOTE: each SRCHA-approved show shall conduct it’s own prize money pay-outs in the manner acceptable to the SRCHA.

 

ARTICLE 10

D I S C I P L I N A R Y   R U L E S   A N D   P R O C E D U R E S

A.            APPLICATIONS

            The provisions of these disciplinary rules and procedures shall apply at any recognized show of the SRCHA to the following persons: owner, exhibitor, agent, trainer, manager, rider, parent of any exhibitor, or member of the family or employee of any of the aforementioned or any individual member of the Saskatchewan Reined Cow Horse Association.

B.            VIOLATIONS

            A violation is an act done by or at the discretion of those enumerated in paragraph A which, consists of any of the following:

1.      The misrepresentation of the eligibility of a horse to participate in any class either because of its age and/or experience in the snaffle bit and/or hackamore and/or bridle.

2.      The misrepresentation of one's professional or limit status.

3.      Physically assaulting any judge or other person enumerated in paragraph A during the course of the recognized show.

4.      Making any remark to a judge or other person enumerated in paragraph A during or after the show, which is of a threatening or abusive or unsportsmanlike character either orally or in writing.

5.      While in the arena any exhibitor after showing before the judge or judges makes any obscene gesture to or for the benefit of the judge or judges.

6.      Abusing or mistreating in any fashion a horse or a bovine while on the grounds of any SRCHA approved show, either before, during or after the event.

7.      Any person who does not pay bills or fees due to the SRCHA or any approved show.

 

C.            PENALTIES

            Any person enumerated in paragraph A who has been found to have been in violation of any of the acts enumerated in paragraph B shall be subject to the following penalties:

            Suspension.  Any person found to have been the subject of a violation set forth in paragraph B may be suspended from exhibiting or having exhibited for him/her any of his/her horses in any show approved by the SRCHA.  Any such suspended person is forbidden for the time specified in the period of suspension to hold or exercise office in the Association, and will be published in the Association's publication.

            There may be a suspension for any period, of the horse or horses owned by the person violating the matters set forth in paragraph B.

 

ARTICLE 11 - click HERE to open Article 11

A N I M A L   A B U S E / LIVESTOCK HANDLING / MEDICATIONS

 

ARTICLE 12

S R C H A   P O L I C I E S

A.            MISSING ORDER OF GO

      The competitor will fall to the bottom of the herd or draw.

B.      HORSE DRAWS BACK TO BACK BETWEEN CLASSES

      The competitor may choose to request a change of order by contacting the SRCHA Director In Charge and the show office.  Every attempt will be made to notify the competitors involved.  If a change is agreed upon, the competitor will drop to the bottom of the herd or draw.

C.      LONE OR SINGLE ENTRIES IN A CLASS

      Where possible the competitor will be notified after the official entry close date, or time – in the case of entries taken at the Show. The competitor has the choice of staying in the classes as entered, or moving to an alternate class without penalty.  If the draw has been done in the alternate class, the office has the following draw options:  in cutting moving the entry to the bottom of the herd; in working cow horse moving the entry to the bottom of the draw; in reining moving the entry to the top of the draw; or in any discipline, dropping the entry in as a sub-entry.

 

RETURN to SRCHA Homepage

Go to Rule Book Articles 1 – 5

Go to Rule Book Article 13 (Working Cowhorse)

Go to Rule Book Article 15 (Herd Work / Ranch Cutting)

Go to NRCHA Drywork / Reined Work PATTERNS and Rule Book INDEX Page