National Cutting Horse Association Rider Hall of Fame
National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) Rider Hall of Fame was created and perpetuated to honor outstanding riders who have demonstrated their ability to exhibit the athletic prowess and inherent cow sense of the cutting horses they have shown competitively in NCHA sponsored or approved contests.[1][2] The updated criteria established in 2016 includes:[3]
Win any 2 of the following designated events: NCHA Futurity, Super Stakes, Derby, World Champion
Win any 3 of the following designated events: Super Stakes Classic, 5/6 year old Classic/Challenge, Reserve World Champion.
A win in category 1 plus 2 wins in category 2.
Ride horses ranking in the NCHA Top Five Open Cutting horses five (5) times. A rider must win 90% of the qualifying money to receive credit.
Exceed $1,000,000 in NCHA lifetime earnings.
In addition to their Rider Hall of Fame - Open Division, the NCHA established the Non-Pro Division as well as the following: NCHA Members Hall of Fame, NCHA Horse Hall of Fame, Youth Hall of Fame and Horse of the Year.[4]
The Non-Pro requirements to be inducted in the Non-Pro Rider Hall of Fame began with earnings of $35,000 in NCHA Championship Non-Pro cutting events, a Gold certificate for the rider and a plaque mounted in the NCHA office. Eligible riders had previously received the Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards. In 1981, the monies earned was raised to $100,000 and then to $150,000 in 1985.