"Helping People Ride a Better Horse"

Divisions

Open

The Open Division is open to any professional or nonprofessional member in good standing with any horse regardless of past winnings. In addition to the normal entry fee, this division may collect and offer jackpot fees,which will be paid back to winners according to the SHTX payout schedule.

Open Level 1 — The Open Level 1 division is a subdivision of the Open for individuals with moderate to no showing experience who have taken oney for starting colts; been paid to ride the ranch horses not owned by them; given basic riding lessons for pay; or by other circumstances that make them ineligible for Amateur or Non Pro status, but are not experienced professional trainers in western performance disciplines. Any age horse may be ridden.

Earnings Restrictions for Open Level 1: Riders that have combined earnings of $5,000 in any of the following or similar organizations: NCHA, NRCHA, NRHA, RHAA, AQHA, APHA, SHTX, ASHA, etc. in any western performance discipline (western pleasure, working cow horse, reining, cutting, trail, etc.), are not eligible for this division. Please see the Rule Book for additional information on Open Level 1.

Non Pro

The description of Non Pro Eligibility is as follows:

  1. The rider has not  received  payment directly or  indirectly for  riding,  training,  assisting  in  training,  or showing horse(s) at any time during the past five years.
  2. The rider has not received payment directly or indirectly for instructing another person or conducting a seminar in riding, training, driving or showing a horse any time during the past five years.
  3. The rider has not had any expenses (including lodging, transportation, mileage, etc.) paid by someone other than family members.

EXCEPTIONS for 2 and 3 above:

A Non Pro who otherwise qualifies under these rules may conduct clinics provided the only remuneration they receive is for reasonable expenses. If questions are raised about Non Pro eligibility, the contestant must be able to document any remuneration.

Collegiate members who are enrolled in an equine program or as part of an educational curriculum are exempt from items 2 and 3 above.

  1. Premium money won is not considered remuneration.
  2. A Non Pro rider may show in the Open Division without losing Non Pro eligibility as long as requirements for a Non Pro are still met.

The Non Pro Division is open to any nonprofessional member in good standing with any horse regardless of past winnings. In addition to the normal entry fee, this division may collect and offer jackpot fees, which will be paid back to winners according to the SHTX payout schedule.

Limited Non Pro

Exhibitors who qualify as Non Pro riders may choose to show in this division because of class routine or other personal choice. Exhibitors may also show in the Open or Non Pro divisions without losing their eligibility in the Limited Non Pro division. There will be no jackpot in this division. Riders in this division will work a modified version of the working cow horse class known as Box-Drive-Box-Drive. (See LTD Non Pro and Junior Horse Working Cow Horse class rules for specifics on rules for this division.)

Intermediate Non Pro

The Intermediate Division is reserved for individuals with moderate riding and showing experience who wish to learn more about showing in SHTX at a more advanced pace. There will be no jackpot in this division.

Eligibility for the Intermediate division is as follows:

1. The rider must meet all Non Pro eligibility requirements listed above.
2. The rider has not won any combination of 2 of the following:

  • Champion or reserve champion All Around show title in Intermediate, Limited Non Pro, Non Pro, Open, Youth, Junior Horse at any SHTX show;
  • Year-End champion All Around/class awards in SHTX; (cumulative Stock Horse World Show awards do not apply);
  • Champion or reserve champion All Around at Texas State 4-H finals in western performance classes;
  • All Around champion or reserve titles or year-end champion awards at an ASHA-approved show or other nationally-approved show in judged western performance classes;

Or have earned the following:

  • No more than 10 points in any breed association (AQHA, APHA, AQHA VRH All Around, etc.; Novice/Level 1 points do not count)
  • $500 in a national organization (AQHA, NCHA, NRCHA, NRHA, RHAA, NRSHA, etc.) in any judged western performance discipline (western pleasure, working cow horse, reining, cutting, trail, etc.)

3. If a member loses Intermediate eligibility through competition, he or she may finish that year as an Intermediate rider. Thereafter, the member is eligible only for Junior Horse, Youth, Limited Non Pro, Non Pro or Open Divisions.
4. Riders in this division will work a modified version of the working cow horse class known as Box-Drive-Box-Drive.

(See Limited Non Pro Reining and Working Cow Horse class rules for specifics on rules for this division.)

Stallions are prohibited in this division.

Novice

The Novice Division is reserved for individuals with limited riding and showing experience who wish to learn more about showing in SHTX at a beg inner’s pace.  New  members in SHTX do not necessarily need to ride in the Novice division.  Advanced skills may be better suited for one of the other divisions. There will be no jackpot in this division.

Eligibility for the Novice division is as follows:

    1. The rider must meet all Non Pro eligibility requirements listed above.
    2. The rider has not won any of the following: Or have earned the following: Collegiate Novice riders must meet all general Novice eligibility restrictions. Because the Collegiate Novice is a subset of novice riders, eligibility and advancement out of the Collegiate Novice division is different than the general Novice division. A rider in the Collegiate Novice division has not won two Collegiate champion or reserve champion titles at any show in SHTX, ASHA, NRCHA or other similar recognized collegiate competition. A rider in the Collegiate Novice division has also not won any Collegiate Year End championship. A rider who advances out of the Collegiate Novice division is no longer Novice eligible.
      • Champion or reserve champion All Around show title in Intermediate, Limited Non Pro, Non Pro, Open, Youth, Junior Horse at any SHTX show;
      • Year-End champion All Around/class awards in SHTX; (cumulative Stock Horse World Show awards do not apply);
      • Champion or reserve champion All Around at Texas State 4-H finals in western performance classes;
      • All Around champion or reserve titles or year-end champion awards at an ASHA-approved show or other nationally-approved show in judged western performance classes;
      • No more than 5 points in any breed association (AQHA, APHA, AQHA VRH All Around, etc.; Novice/Level 1 points do not count); or
      • $250 in a national organization (AQHA, NCHA, NRCHA, NRHA, RHAA, NRSHA, etc.) in any judged western performance discipline (western pleasure, working cow horse, reining, cutting, trail, etc.)
  2. If a member loses novice eligibility through competition, he or she may finish that year as a novice rider. Thereafter, the member is eligible only for Junior Horse, Youth, Limited Non Pro, Intermediate, Non Pro or Open Divisions.
  3. Riders in this division will  box a cow on one end for 50 seconds. (Novice/Novice Youth Working Cow Horse class rules for specifics on rules for this division.) Novice riders may not cross enter a fence class (boxing, fencing, circle/rope) at the same show.

Level 1 Novice

The Level 1 Novice Division is reserved for individuals with very limited riding and showing experience. This is truly an entry level division for those new to showing. There will be no jackpot in this division. Eligibility for the Level 1 Novice division is as follows:

a) The rider must meet all Novice eligibility requirements listed above.
b) The rider has not accomplished any of the following:

• placed in the Top 10 in the All Around at any SHTX show other than in the Level 1 Novice division;
• any points in any breed association (AQHA, APHA, AQHA VRH All Around, etc.); breed association Novice/Level 1 points do not count); or
• any earnings from any competition in a judged western performance discipline (western pleasure, working cow horse, reining, cutting, trail, etc.)

c) If a member loses Level 1 Novice eligibility through competition, he or she may finish that year as a Level 1 novice rider. Thereafter, the member is eligible only for Junior Horse, Youth, Novice Youth, Limited Non Pro, Intermediate, Novice, Non Pro or Open Divisions.

d) Riders in this division will work a shortened version of cow work that will not involve turns down the fence, circling or roping. The cow work will be boxing only. (See Novice Working Cow Horse class rules for specifics on rules for this division.) Riders in this division may not cross enter a fence cow work class (boxing, fence turns and circle/roping) at the same show.)

e) Stallions are prohibited in this division.

 

Youth (box, drive, box, drive)

Exhibitors in the youth division must be aged 8 through 18 as of January 1 of the current year. The Youth Division is for individuals with more riding and showing experience who wish to learn more about showing in SHTX at a more advanced pace. The modified working cow horse pattern will be a box-drive-box-drive pattern. The cow horse pattern will not involve turns down the fence, circling or roping. There will be no jackpot in this division. (For specific rules for the working cow horse pattern refer to the Limited Non Pro Working Cow Horse class rules)

  1. A youth may not show in both the Youth, Youth Level 1 and Novice Divisions at the same show.
  2. Stallions are prohibited in this division.

Novice Youth Division Eligibility and Restrictions: (Box only)

Exhibitors in the youth division must be aged 8 through 18 as of January 1 of the current year. The Novice Youth Division is reserved for individuals with limited or no riding and showing experience who wish to learn more about showing in SHTX at a beginner’s pace.

Eligibility for the Novice Youth division is as follows:

  1. The rider must meet all Non Pro eligibility requirements listed above.
  2. The rider has not won any combination of 2 of the following:
    • Champion or reserve champion All Around show title in Novice, Novice Youth, Youth, Intermediate, Limited Non Pro, Non Pro, Open, Junior Horse at any SHTX show;
    • Year-End champion All Around/class awards in SHTX; (cumulative Stock Horse World Show awards do not apply);
    • champion or reserve champion All Around at Texas State 4-H finals in western performance classes;
    • All Around champion or reserve titles or year-end champion awards at an ASHA-approved show or other nationally-approved show in judged western performance classes;
    Or have earned the following:
    • No more than 10 points in any breed association (AQHA, APHA, AQHA VRH All Around, etc.; Novice/Level 1 points do not count); or
    • $500 in a national organization (AQHA, NCHA, NRCHA, NRHA, RHAA, NRSHA, etc.) in any judged western performance discipline (western pleasure, working cow horse, reining, cutting, trail, etc.)
  3. If a member loses Novice Youth eligibility through competition, he or she may finish that year as a Novice Youth rider. Thereafter, the member is eligible only for Youth, Junior Horse, Limited Non Pro, Non Pro or Open Divisions.
  4. Riders in this division will follow the Novice and Youth Working Cow Horse rules. The cow horse pattern is a shortened version of cow work that will not involve turns down the fence, circling or roping. They will boxing only. (See Novice Working Cow Horse class rules for specifics on rules for this division.) There will be no jackpot in this division. Novice Youth riders may not cross enter a fence class (boxing, fencing, circle/rope) at the same show.
  5. A youth may not show in both the Youth, Youth Level 1 and/or Novice Divisions at the same show.
  6. Stallions are prohibited in this division.

Junior Horse

Horses in this division will show in the same patterns as the Open and Non Pro with the exception of the working cow horse class which uses the Modified Working Cow Horse pattern. There will be no jackpot in this division. (See LTD Non Pro and Junior Horse Working Cow Horse class rules for specifics on rules for this division.)

A horse is eligible to be shown in this division if the following criteria are met:

  1. The horse is five years of age or younger as of January 1 of current year.
  2. A junior horse may be shown by a rider from any division.

For additional information and rules about divisions, visit the SHTX Handbook

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