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Non-Pro / Amateur Application

This form is only for members that are wishing to apply for Non-Pro / Amateur status or wish to make a change to their existing status.
To renew your membership - follow this link.

2025 Printable Non-Professional / Amateur Application PDF

MEMBER INFORMATION

*Find by Name or #

Address *Req'd

Country *Req'd

City *Req'd

State/Province *Req'd

Zip/Postal Code *Req'd

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Other

Email *Req'd

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NON-PRO or AM NON-PRO

Application Year

*Req'd
This Member is a:

Amateur/Non-ProWhat is an Amateur/Non-Pro?
Non-Pro OnlyWhat is a Non-Pro?
I ride but am none of these

The rider has the burden of proof that he/she is eligible for any class they enter

AMATEUR/NON-PRO

All applicants must answer questions 1 through 5

1. What is your occupation?

2. Do you understand that you or a valid family member must own all legal and equitable interest to any horse you show in a cutting horse contest?

Yes No

3. Have you ever been or are you currently employed in any capacity by a training operation?

Yes No

(a) Name of employer?

(b) Dates of employment:

FROM: TO:

4. Have you ever been denied Non-Professional Status?

Yes No

5. Have you been a professional horse trainer ASTRIDE in any cattle/cow horse discipline for direct or indirect remuneration?

Yes No

(a) Disciplines in which you trained:

(b) Dates you trained:

FROM: TO:

6. Have you ever ridden, trained, or assisted in training horses or riders ASTRIDE in any equine discipline for direct or indirect remuneration?

Yes No

(a) Which disciplines:

(b) Describe the activities:

FROM: TO:

7. RELATIONSHIP EXCLUSION: Are you married to, have been married to, are in or have been in a cohabitational relationship with a person who is currently or previously engaged in activities that would require that peron to be classifed as a professional according to rule 51.1.3?

Yes No

8. RESIDENCE EXCLUSION: Within the last 5 years have you resided either a) on a premises where a training operation (any horse discipline) was operation OR b) with any person who was engaged in activities that would require the person to be classified as a professional according to Rule 51.a.3?

Yes No

9. Have you ever been denied Amateur status?

Yes No

Please reference the NCHA rulebook for the full Amateur/Non-Pro criteria and rules

ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE

The person making this application (the “Applicant”) agrees to become familiar with and be bound by the rules of the National Cutting Horse Association and expressly agrees to have all disputes related to compliance with or violation of these rules resolved by the procedures provided in those rules and that the decisions made by the NCHA in those proceedings will be final and binding. The official rules of the NCHA may be found at www.nchacutting.com. The Applicant further understands and acknowledges that a false declaration in this application will result in disciplinary action by the NCHA which may include fines, probation, suspension and temporary or permanent loss of Non-Professional/Amateur status. It is also the Applicant’s responsibility to notify the NCHA office immediately upon any change in his/her Non-Professional/Amateur status and failure to do so could result in loss of Non-Professional/Amateur status for life.

Applicant Signature For Amateur / Non-Professional

NON-PROFESSIONAL DEFINITION AND ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA – Rule 51.a.1

A Non-Professional in this Association is a person who has not received direct or indirect remuneration to work in any manner in the following activities on the premises of a cutting horse training operation: showing, training, or assisting in training a cutting horse or cutting horse rider. For purposes of this rule, a cutting horse training operation is any facility where cutting horses are trained. Any person who has trained horses astride in any cattle/cow horse equine discipline for direct or indirect remuneration or is a Hall of Fame equine trainer in any discipline shall be considered a Professional by this Association, with the exception of those who have been granted a change of status. Please review current exception rules. A Non-Professional in this Association may not train horses in any cattle/cow horse equine discipline.

Non-Pros CAN NOT:

Be a Hall of Fame trainer in any discipline.
Show, train or assist in training cutting horses or cutting horse riders under any circumstance or in any capacity for remuneration (pay) or in exchange for any goods or services (i.e., feed, rent, cattle use, veterinary bills, transportation for self or horse, etc.
Show, train or assist in training horses astride in any cattle/cow horse equine discipline for direct or indirect remuneration.
Have been an apprentice cutting horse trainer.
Transfer a horse to another person for the sole purpose of sharing expenses.
Have any portion of their expenses paid by another party, except under the family rule.
Ride horses they or an immediate family member do not own in competition unless it is: In RIDER classes with earnings limit less than $2,000. (Includes the $2,000 Limit rider, $1,500, Never Won a Buckle, etc.) If they are eligible, they may show a horse they do not own as long as the owner is also a member.

In YOUTH classes – Youth members that also hold Non-Pro or Non-Pro/Amateur status may show a horse they do not own in youth classes as long as the owner is also a member.

AMATEUR DEFINITION AND ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA – Rule 51.a.6

Certain Non-Professionals within this Association may be classified as Amateurs. See Amateur Rules for details.

Amateurs CAN NOT have done anything in the above section PLUS CAN NOT:

Have EVER ridden or trained horses or riders in any discipline astride for remuneration of any kind.
Have assisted in training horses or riders in any discipline astride for remuneration of any kind.
Have been an apprentice trainer at any time in any discipline.
Be married or have been married to or lived with a professional trainer in any discipline.
Have lived or currently live on the premises of a training operation.
Have lived or currently live with a person who is classified as a trainer in any discipline.
Have been directly or indirectly employed by a professional trainer or work at a horse training operation of any kind.
Have any portion of their expenses paid by another party, except under the family rule.
Ride horses you or a family member do not own inside or outside the arena.

EXCEPTIONS

NCHA Rules contain several exception rules that may allow a member to obtain Non-Pro or Amateur status under certain limited circumstances. Please consult the NCHA rules for the details of these exception rules. If you believe that you may qualify for Non-Pro or Amateur status under one of these exception rules and would like to apply, please contact the NCHA office to obtain an application form for the exception that you are seeking. For complete rules relating to Amateur and/or Non Pro status please refer to the online version of the NCHA Official Guide to Rules and Regulations at www.nchacutting.com