Regional Championship Show-working finals to crown Region 4 Champions (in the Championship Series) to be held at The All American Quarter Horse Congress in 12 weekend classes in 2018. Due to time restrictions in the 2018 Congress venue, we are not able to offer a Challenger Series Show working finals in 2018. NCHA began tracking results in 2017 and recognizing the top five finalists in the 12 approved Weekend classes of Championship shows on a regional basis based upon total money earned in each category. Year-end awards will be given by NCHA based upon the most money won by any rider at Championship shows that were held within Region 4. Additionally, NCHA has left it up to the various Regions on how Regional Show Champions, as opposed to overall money-earning champions, would be crowned or decided. The details described below-which is a work-in-progress- apply only to the newly created NCHA Region 4 Show Championships which differ from NCHA year-end awards in the 12 approved Weekend classes. (See NCHA Standing Rule 8 a-l). Region 4 Directors encompassing numerous States and Canada have met several times to discuss and attempt to implement the new program for our Region. The Directors names and contact information are as follows. REGION 4 DIRECTORS Libby Bowman KY 502-722-8626 Eric Vanboekel Canada 519-899-6699 Daniel D Agnew MI 810-664-9623 John P Lavelle OH 740-593-3348 Chuck Smith OH 614-402-3189 Tony Kennedy OH 740-667-3940 Jack Werner PA 267-246-6511 Roy Bauer WV 304-265-4956 Byron Green IN 812-755-4055 James M Johnson WV 304-646-6666 David J Pilcher IN 317-408-6695 After consideration of numerous potential venues for the 2018 NCHA Region 4 Show Championships and several meetings and conference calls, it was agreed by the NCHA Region 4 Directors on December 20, 2017 to have the NCHA Region 4 Show Championships during the 2018 All American Quarter Horse Congress in Columbus, Ohio which begins in early October. NCHA Executive Director Chuck Smith, who has also put on the Cutting at the Congress for years, has arranged for our finals to be held at this prestigious event as a class-within-a-class structure. Some the factors that weighed in favor of doing the NCHA Region 4 Show Championships in each of the 12 approved Weekend classes as a class-within-a-class at the Congress in 2018, as opposed to a stand alone or class-within-a-class event at another venue such as Kentucky, Indiana, or West Virginia included: Congress already has a built in crowd. It is a showcased event with a 50 plus year history. The judges are already selected and paid for. Page 1 of 6
The cattle are already acquired and paid for. This enables Region 4 to piggy back on multi-million dollar event already in place. There is already good footing in place. Great facilities. Centralized venue where many competitors are already planning to go. Numerous camping spots on the grounds and motel opportunities nearby. Adequate stalls. Helps keep cutting alive and well at Congress. More opportunities to grow the sport with built-in spectator base. High visibility in an established venue for qualifying horses that may be for sale. More sponsorship money can be devoted for prize money. Will be more attractive to potential advertisers and sponsors. No risk to any affiliate or producer as to cattle costs, judges and other expenses. Eliminates weather issues with a February or late November show elsewhere. Takes away issues with scheduling a Regional finals during the Futurity or after point year ends etc. No decision has yet been made on where to hold the NCHA Region 4 Show Championships in 2019 and beyond. The NCHA point year does not follow a traditional calendar year. So for the first inaugural year of this NCHA Region 4 Show Championships event, the top ten money earners at any Championship show within Region 4 in each of the 12 approved Weekend classes held at Championship shows within Region 4, (including Youth classes which are decided upon points) through September 25, 2018, will be invited to participate in a clean slate finals to be held in the respective classes at the Congress. The finals- to crown NCHA Region 4 Show Championships - will be a class-within-a-class. A separate entry fee will be paid and handled by the Region 4 show secretary. Participating finalists will have to timely submit their regular Congress entry to the Congress Cutting show secretary. Participating finalists will also pay a separate entry fee to the Region 4 show secretary for the NCHA Region 4 Show Championships, after it is determined who all qualifies by the deadline of September 25, 2018. The Region 4 show secretary will coordinate with NCHA, the new HUB data base, and the various show secretaries of any Regional shows that may be held in September up through the deadline to help insure the top ten riders are identified in each of the 12 approved classes. (See NCHA Standing Rule 8 a-l). Money earned from any of the 12 approved Weekend classes at any NCHA Championship show held within Region 4 after the 2017 Futurity through September 25, 2018 would qualify members for NCHA Region 4 Show Championships participation in the respective class. The address of the rider is disregarded for these purposes. Only the location of the Championship show within Region 4 is considered. The top ten money earners in each of the 12 classes who sign up and enter the applicable class at the Congress would compete for the clean slate NCHA Region 4 Show Championships finals in each class. It is believed this information will be obtainable through NCHA s new computerized HUB system. Since this is a new program, there will be some kinks and learning curves to work through. The basic skeletal system is in place however. The final rules will be in place before the NCHA Region 4 Show Championships which will not significantly differ from this outline. It will be a working clean slate Show Championship, after qualified entries are determined, to be held as a class-within-a-class at the Congress show in October. Prizes, awards, added money and the like will be continue to be a work-inprogress, but at a minimum, there will be some recognition to the finalists as well as a jackpot purse which follows NCHA mandatory payout rules. For 2018, only the top ten plus ties in each of the 12 Page 2 of 6
classes will be invited to show. Given the time constraints of the September 25, 2018 cut-off, there is no provision in 2018 to fill the top ten spots from 11 th -15 th place if any of the top ten do not to participate. To parallel NCHA rules, anyone who is in the Top 15 of the World finals standings according to the NCHA records on its web page on September 25, 2018 in any of the 12 classes is ineligible to participate in that class. Some FAQ are (unless otherwise indicated, it is assumed the qualifying Championship show is held within the established NCHA Region 4- (Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, W. Virginia, Maine, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, R.I., Vermont, N.Y. East Canada, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, D.C. ) - and all other NCHA rules apply. Q. I live in North Carolina but show frequently in West Virginia and Virginia. Am I eligible to enter the NCHA Region 4 Show Championships in my class at the Congress? A. Yes, if you make the top ten from shows within Region 4 (W.Va. and VA are both in Region 4) since the only criteria is for the qualifying Championship show to be held within Region 4 from December of 2017 until September 25, 2018. Q. I live in West Virginia but show frequently in North Carolina. Will my winnings from shows in North Carolina count towards the top ten in my class for purposes of the NCHA Region 4 Show Championships? A. No. North Carolina is not within Region 4. Q. I show two horses in the 25 Novice Non-Pro at nearly every show I attend. Can both horses qualify for the NCHA Region 4 Show Championships? A. Yes. In Novice and Open classes where one can enter more than one horse in a class, money won will be tracked per horse and rider within that class. In this instance, it would be possible to qualify two horses for the finals. If one of the qualifying horses becomes injured and cannot show, that spot would be forfeited. Q. I have 3 show horses and rotate which ones I show in the 50k Amateur classes throughout the year. Can all 3 horses qualify for the NCHA Region 4 Show Championships? A. No. Since NCHA limits this class to one entry at each show, only you as the rider may qualify for the show finals in the 50k Amateur class based upon the total money earned through the deadline on any of the horses that you qualify to ride on in an approved Championship 50k Amateur class throughout the year held within Region 4. Q. I don t like showing at the Congress as it costs too much and takes too long. The entry deadline is usually early in September. How will I know for sure if I should enter my class at the Congress for the NCHA Region 4 Show Championships since the cut-off for the top ten to be invited to the finals is after that date-september 25, 2018?. A. Yes, this may create a problem, but you will have to decide if you want to participate by timely entering your class at the Congress before you are sure whether you will qualify for the NCHA Region 4 Show Championships in Region 4 competition. Q. What if I am tied with another member at the cut-off point in total money earned in sixth place overall? How many entries will be invited to the NCHA Region 4 Show Championships? A. The top ten money earners, plus ties at the tenth hole, will be invited so that a tie in the sixth place and not the tenth, will still only create 10 holes. Q. I show every year at the North American Livestock Expedition in November. Will that show be counted? A. Not in 2018 for purposes of NCHA Region 4 Show Championships for Region 4 as it is after the cut-off date. Earnings at the North American in 2018 will still count toward the year-end award to be given by NCHA however. After this inaugural first year, the earnings year for Region 4 may be set from Page 3 of 6
October 1-September 30 or Labor Day to Labor Day, so that in future years the North American show, and other fall Region 4 shows will be included in the total money earned for NCHA Region 4 Show Championships qualification. Q. Will I be able to acquire a Congress jacket for placing 9 th in the NCHA Region 4 Show Championships in my class but my score in the overall class puts me outside of the top overall 15 in the class? A. No. Even if you win the NCHA Region 4 Show Championships finals class, within the class, at the Congress, you will not be eligible for any Congress awards.unless you also place in the overall portion of the Congress class and place accordingly in the overall class results. Region 4 working final places and awards are separate from Congress. Q. I only show in the 5k Non-Pro and Non-Pro classes. At the Congress in 2017, these classes were almost a week apart. Will I have to stay the whole week, or leave and come back, if I qualify for the NCHA Region 4 Show Championships finals in both classes? A. Yes. Region 4 does not have control over Congress scheduling and we will have to plan the classes-within-classes to correspond to when the applicable Congress class is slated to show. Q. If I am the high money earner in the 35 NP from throughout the Region and lose a cow in the NCHA Region 4 Show Championships and place last, it doesn t seem fair that members with lesser earnings than me will win at the NCHA Region 4 Show Championships finals and one will be crowned the show champion. A. Even though you will not be crowned the NCHA Region 4 Show Championship winner, your top earnings may still qualify you for the year-end NCHA award. Q. How much added money, awards and recognition will the finalists receive at this event and how many places will receive awards? A. That is to be determined as it will depend upon how hard the members in the various affiliates throughout Region 4 work throughout the year to secure sponsorships. Q. I just started cutting and enjoy riding in the beginner s class and the 1k Amateur. In which class at the Congress will my finals be held? A. Congratulations on joining the sport! Since these are not among the 12 approved Weekend classes, (See NCHA Standing Rule 8, a-l) there will be no NCHA Region 4 Show Championships finals held at the Congress in 2018 in those classes. Q. It is hard to travel in the Northeast in the winter and I live in NE Pa, so I will not be able to attend an Ohio show scheduled in late December of 2017 or the early Kentucky shows in February 2018, so I don t think it s fair to those of us who live in the far eastern or northern reaches of the Region to begin the earnings race so early in the year. What concessions can be made to make this more balanced to those of us in the snow-belt? A. None. Mother Nature is pretty unforgiving sometimes so we will just have to play the hand she deals us. Q. I am hauling for the World in the 2017-2018 point year in the 2k Amateur class. If I am the money leader of the top 15 in the world as of September 25, 2018 will I be eligible for the NCHA Region 4 Show Championships finals at the Congress in 2018, assuming I am also in the top ten in the Region? A. No. Under the NCHA year-end awards, those who qualify for the top 15 and World finals are ineligible for Regional Awards. Q. We have a number of Challenger shows, which used to be called Grass Roots shows, in my area and I really enjoy participating in them. Will participants in the Challenger program be eligible to compete in the NCHA Region 4 Show Championships finals at the Congress in 2018? A. No. Not in 2018. As the Page 4 of 6
Challenger Series grows in Region 4, it is our intention to include a Challenger Series working finals into a future Finals Show venue. Q. I grew up in the Reining horse world but just started working at a Cutting horse facility as a loper. I plan to ride a lot of customer horses in the 2k rider class which I am eligible for in the 2017-2018 point year. Even though I do not own the horses and will ride many throughout the year, will I still be able to participate in the NCHA Region 4 Show Championships finals? A. Yes. If you are in the top ten and otherwise qualify for the 2k rider class, your eligibility to participate will be based upon your total earnings in this class throughout the year, not on the name of the horse. Q. What if the 7 th, 8 th, 9 th and 10 th slots on September 25, 2018 in the standings in my class are held by riders who live in Canada or elsewhere who do not plan to attend the Congress. If I am sitting at 11 th will I be invited to show in the NCHA Region 4 Show Championships finals? How will I know in time to make plans to go to the Congress? A. No. Given the deadline of September 25, 2018, time will not allow for these types of substitutions. Q. What if the 8 th, 9 th and 10 th slots simply do not enter the Congress and the 11 th, 12 th and 13 th slots don t enter for whatever reason. Will the top ten slots still be recognized by Region 4? A. No. NCHA Region 4 Show Championships is a show finals system in the clean slate championship. Those riders who don t participate in the NCHA Region 4 Show Championships finals may still qualify for the NCHA yearend awards, described above, based upon money earned. Q. Will money from the Eastern Nationals held in Jackson, MS in March be included? A. No. Mississippi is not within Region 4. Remember, the qualifying shows must be held in Region 4. Q. What if my horse becomes lame after I enter the Congress and\or the NCHA Region 4 Show Championships. Can I obtain a refund? Can I sell my slot? A. Congress rules will have to be followed on any refunds or slot sales. You may not sell your slot for NCHA Region 4 Show Championships and there is no provision for refunds if your horse is unable to show in the NCHA Region 4 Show Championships. Q. Our Affiliate has a $500.00 rider class but limits it to members of the affiliate only. Will those earnings count? A. No, as the class rules must follow NCHA rules and this is not one of the 12 NCHA approved Weekend classes. Q. I am new to this sport and only show in the 15k Amateur as I don t like showing against assitant trainers who ride customers horses. What is a class-within-a-class and how would it affect me at the Congress? A. Assuming you are in or near the top ten in your class, you would complete and submit your entry to the Congress Cutting show secretary in a timely manner which is typically by September 1. If you are in the top ten of the 15k Amateur class on September 25, 2018, you would be eligible to participate in the NCHA Region 4 Show Championships finals of the 15k Amateur class at the Congress, which will be a class-within-a-class. You will have to pay a separate entry fee to the Region 4 show secretary. On the draw sheet for the 15k Amateur class, there would be an asterisk or footnote placed next to your name and the other top ten finalists of the NCHA Region 4 Show Championships within that class. (All 15k Amateur riders, including the finalists, will be in the same draw). You will ride in the class only one time however. If you have the highest score in the class, you would win the overall Congress 15k Amateur award as well as the NCHA Region 4 Show Championships champion award in that class. If you were 3 rd overall and had the highest score amongst the top ten qualified regional finalists, you would receive 3 rd place Congress winnings, and 1 st place NCHA Region 4 Show Championships recognition. It would be Page 5 of 6
similar to the Senior Class or Gelding classes at NCHA major LAE events in Ft. Worth, TX. Exact prizes and awards for the Region 4 Show Championships will be decided once all sponsorships are obtained. Page 6 of 6