Non Pro / Amateur FAQs

• EVER ridden or trained horses for remuneration
• assisted in training horses or riders for remuneration
• been married to or lived with a professional trainer
• lived or live on a premises with a training operation
• lived or live with a person who is classified as a trainer
• been directly or indirectly employed by a professional trainer or work at a horse training operation
• been an apprentice trainer at any time

There are a few exceptions for granting Amateur status.  Refer to the NCHA Rule Book Standing rule 51.a.6 for complete information.  Additionally, you must fill out an Amateur / Non-Pro Declaration as well as read all the Amateur rules and agree to comply with them.

A Non-Pro may:

• share expenses while hauling, i.e. gas, lodging, food, etc.
• accept a horse from anyone provided there is no pre-arranged agreement to return the horse to its prior owner
• buy a horse based on installment payments, provided a fixed amount is stated and paid. A copy of the written sales agreement must be provided to NCHA and needs to state the name of the horse, the sale price, payment dates and amounts and the date of final payment.
• receive compensation for judging cutting horse contests and other horse show classes
• board horses in your barn and provide cattle for training; however, you may not work the boarder’s horse on cattle in any arena, pen or pasture, or on a cutting device 
• win monies by showing as long as all winnings are returned to the individual Non-Professional who competed on the horse

A Non-Pro may not:

• receive remuneration (pay) to show, train or assist in training cutting horses or cutting horse riders under any circumstance or in any capacity
• show, train or assist in training a cutting horse in exchange for any goods or services (i.e. feed, rent, cattle use, veterinary bills, transportation for self or horse, etc.)
• transfer a horse to another non-pro for the sole purpose of sharing expenses
• have any portion of your expenses paid by another party, except under the family rule

If you did not do the application when you originally joined NCHA or are now eligible to change your status, complete an online Non-Pro/Amateur Application or download and print an application and sent it to the NCHA office.  

We highly recommend that you submit your Non-Pro / Amateur application for approval to the NCHA office at least two weeks prior to showing!

HELPFUL HINT:  If you are planning to show less than two weeks after you submitted your application, call the Membership Department during normal business hours (8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time, Monday through Friday).  They will make every effort to get your application approved sooner. 

ARE YOU AT A SHOW?:  If you woke up this morning and decided to try your hand at cutting at a local show, you can go ahead and compete in the Non-Pro / Amateur as long as you complete the application at the show.  You can give the signed application to the secretary and have it sent in along with show results.  

KEEP IN MIND:  If your application isn't approved prior to you walking into the herd, it is possible that it might be denied.  If you are not granted Non-Pro / Amateur status, any earnings you win will not count toward NCHA lifetime earnings or awards for horse or rider.   You must return the winnings and you will receive a warning letter reminding you to validate your Amateur or Non-Pro status.

However.... if you continue to show without a valid status, you will be fined - and we really don't want to do that!

There are only two possible options where a Non-Pro / Amateur may show a horse, regardless of ownership:

1.  $2,000 Limited Rider Class.  If you are eligible, you may show a horse which does not meet the Non-Pro / Amateur ownership requirements IN the $2,000 Limited Rider Class.

2. $1,000 Amateur Class.  If you are eligible, you may show a horse which does not meet the Non-Pro / Amateur ownership requirements in the $1,000 Amateur class (if it is offered).

3. Youth Classes.  Youth members that also hold Non-Pro or Amateur status may show a horse which does not meet the Non-Pro Amateur ownership requirements in the Youth class.

Those are the ONLY exceptions.  Ownership requirements are in effect for all other classes.

Don't forget that the owner of the horse must be a current member.

The answer is most likely Yes....

BUT there are a few rules:

Registered Horses:  You just bought a horse, but the breed association has not processed the registration papers into your name yet.  This only applies if you are a NON-PRO or AMATEUR.  You may show your new horse IF:

Non-Pros and Amateurs may receive / give horses as gifts as long as:

1. The gift is reported, in writing, to the NCHA office within 30 days AND
2. The gift is not based on monetary gains such as money earned or any increase in value shared at a later date AND
3. The gifted horse does not return to the previous owner for the next 12 months (1 year).  If a horse is transferred, sold or gifted back to the previous owner within 1 year, that horse cannot be shown by the previous owner or their immediate family in any NCHA sponsored or approved amateur or non-professional competition for the 6-month period following the transfer back to the previous owner.

Any horse three years old or older that returns to the previous owner for any reason must be reported to the NCHA. Failure to do so is cause for disciplinary action, including fines, probation, and/or suspension.

See Standing rule 50.d.4

Your Non-Pro / Amateur status will remain in place until you do something which might change that status.

If you take part in any of the activities that would preclude you from keeping your Non-Pro or Amateur status, you must immediately notify NCHA by filling out a new Non-Pro / Amateur Application.

The NCHA has requested that I give up my Non-Pro / Amateur status. Can I wait until the end of the year?