Understanding the NRHA Nomination Program

March 1, 2023

We’ve all seen it when shopping for a reining horse “NRHA nominated”. What does this mean, and what is the NRHA Nomination program? This article will walk you through the most asked questions about nominations and if they are right for your horse.

𝗡𝗥𝗛𝗔 𝗡𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘃𝘀 𝗡𝗥𝗛𝗔 𝗟𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲
Probably the biggest confusion I see when explaining to members about the nomination program is the difference between nominations and an NRHA license. An NRHA license is $65 through Reinersuite and allows a horse to compete at reining events. Any horse of any age or breed (even grade horses) may obtain an NRHA license. Most reining horses receive theirs when they are nominated as weanlings as a license is required to nominate, but any horse at any age may apply for and receive a license. This license allows a horse to compete in futurities, derbies, and ancillary classes that do not also require a nomination. A nomination program is a program where a horse is nominated to compete in a certain class at a certain show. For instance the NRHA North American nomination program allows a reining horse to compete in the Futurity class at the NRHA Futurity in Oklahoma City its 3 year old year, and the derby class at the NRHA Derby in Oklahoma City its 4,5,6, and 7 year old years. And the NRHA European Nomination program allows a horse to compete at the NRHA European Futurity its 4 year old year, and the NRHA European Derby its 5,6,7 and 8 year old years.

𝗡𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘃𝘀 𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗳𝗲𝗲
It’s important to note that a nomination is NOT an entry fee. Nominating a horse simply allows that horse to be entered into that class at that show. When you enter the horse you will still have to pay entry fees. For instance the entry fees for the 2023 NRHA Futurity are $2,940 and the entry fees for the 2023 NRHA Derby are $2100.

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗡𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲?
So when is it right to nominate a horse? This is a strictly personal decision for a breeder or owner. For most it is to compete in these high payout classes. The NRHA Futurity for instance will pay out over $1,466,500 in 2023 with $350,000 being awarded to the Level 4 Open Champion. The NRHA Derby will pay out over $590,000 in 2023 with $75,000 going to the Level 4 Open Champion. For others it is to get the highest value for foals and competition horses as buyers want the opportunity to compete for these big payouts in these classes. Many buyers will not even consider purchasing a horse if it is not nominated.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗮 𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝗻?
A horse who is not nominated to a specific class can still compete in any other class not requiring nomination. This includes hundreds of futurities and derbies all over the world, and any ancillary class at any reining event. Remember the nomination only allows the horse entry to that specific class at that specific show, so for instance if you still wanted to attend the NRHA Futurity and compete on a horse who is not nominated you can still enter the over 40 ancillary and NAAC classes offered. The same applies for the NRHA Derby which will offer over 50 ancillary classes! And for those wanting to compete in futurities and derbies with their young horses there are hundreds of options every year all over the world that do not require nomination. Many horses have won over 6 figures in their careers competing in classes that did not require nomination.

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝘀 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱?
The NRHA nomination program was created to raise money for higher payouts for these classes. Each year the nomination money is collected and invested until those babies reach the age to compete. This is why the payout at the NRHA Futurity and Derby can be different each year as money raised from donors and nominations varies year to year.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲?
For 2023 the cost of the NRHA North American nomination is $480 for weanlings plus $65 required NRHA license. You can also add the NRHA European nomination for an additional $100. Conversely you may nominate a weanling to the NRHA European nomination program for $360 plus the required $65 and add the North American nomination for $200. It is also an additional $10 to mail in a paper copy of the nomination, and $5 for a paper copy of the license. Those costs are of course optional as for no fee you can nominate a horse on Reinersuite and use the digital copy of its license. For more info visit: https://nrha.com/nomination

𝗜𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝗺𝘆 𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗲?
No. A nomination program gives a horse the opportunity to enter the class but their is no refund if a horse doesn’t use their nomination. Many nominated horses will never compete in the class that they are nominated for due to various reasons.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲?
Nominators receive 5% of the payout of the horses they nominate. This means if you nominate the horse who goes on to win the Level 4 Open NRHA Futurity in 2023, with a payout of $350,000, you will receive a check for $17,500!

𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗜 𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲?
Yes! The most economical time to nominate a horse is it’s weanling year, but a horse may be nominated up to its 7 year old year for the NRHA North American nomination program for a higher fee. For 2023 the fees to nominate an older horse to the NRHA North American nomination program are: Yearling $2,250 2 year old $5,250 3 and 4 year olds $7750 5 year olds $5,000 6 year olds $1,000 7 year olds $750 So for buyers wanting to compete at the NRHA Futurity or Derby who are looking to purchase a horse who has not been nominated, you may nominate them yourself for the above fee, plus the $65 NRHA license. See the form here https://nrha.com/media/pdf/2023/nom-older.pdf

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗜 𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗺𝘆 𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿?
As of the writing of this article there are many different nomination options for your reining horse. In addition to the NRHA North American nomination the most common is the National Reining Breeders Classic or NRBC nomination. This nomination program is available for offspring of nominated stallions and allows entry into the NRBC Classic class for 4,5,6 and 7 year olds. Each nomination program has its own requirements, qualifications, and fees. A few other common programs are: All Star Reining Stakes North American Reining Stakes The Invitational and the 100x Stakes at the Tulsa Reining Classic

𝗡𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘃𝘀 𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲
Often in sale ads you might see a horse listed as eligible instead of nominated. While not all programs require the individual horse to be paid in, for those programs that do buyers should be aware that eligible means that horse can be paid into that program, but has not yet been. Buyers should be aware of this difference while shopping, and always check with a seller if a horse has been nominated to a program that you are wanting. Most programs also maintain a public list of which horses are nominated. For the NRHA nomination programs, you can see if a horse is nominated to them by pulling up its profile on Reiner Suite.

𝗧𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗿 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲?
That is the question. As with many things I will tell you again that it is a personal choice. For some every baby, every year is nominated, for others they will pick and choose which babies they nominate, and still others will wait to see if they wish to compete a horse in that class and will pay the higher fee. Some sales, such at the Legacy Reining Breeders Sale and Nrha Futurity Sale require horses to be NRHA and NRBC nominated to be entered into the sale. For certain when looking at the number of nominated foals verse as number of horses entered to compete in that class there is a large gap, so many foals who are nominated will never go on to use that nomination. Does that mean that you shouldn’t nominate your foal, or that you don’t need to buy a nominated horse if you have no intention of competing in that class? That I can’t tell you, but I hope that you now feel better educated and can make the decision that is best for you and your horse(s) and your program. What are your thoughts? Do you nominate your foals?