RIHA Rules

Note: The show dates printed in this Rule Book may change. Please check this website or contact the show managers for the correct show dates.

Reminder for Medal entries: You must bring your membership card or a copy to enter a medal class. If you do not have it with you, you will have to fill out the new Affidavit for a fee of $25. When received in the office if you are a current member, the money will be returned to you. If you are not a current member, the money will be put towards a new membership.

Rule Changes:

ERROR IN RULEBOOK SUPPLEMENT: There was an error in the Rulebook Supplement. For the Leadline Division, Championships WILL NOT COUNT for points/year end awards. We apologize for this error and any inconvenience it may cause. The corrected version is available below.

  Click to print the corrected 2012/2013 Rulebook Supplement.

The NEHC has approved a new rule affecting the open equitation divisions. This rule goes into affect immediately for both NEHC and RIHA shows. Any show offering Hunt Seat Equitation classes for Under 15 (or 11 & under and 12-14) and 15-17 that also offers an Open Equitation Under 18, the Under 18 will be unrated and will not recieve year-end points. The exact specs will be posted as soon as they are provided to us from the NEHC.

The NEHC has added an NEHC Hunt Seat Pleasure Equitation Medal. Qualifying classes can now be run at RIHA Shows and must include a pattern (similar to the NEHC Stock Seat Medal). Finals will be held at the 2013 Deerfield Fair in September. For more information contact Kathy Keefe at fripony@comcast.net or Camille Pepin at judgecam2@aol.com.

Next year (i.e., the 2013-2014 show season) we will be adding some new divisions: Pre-Children's Equitation, Pre-Adult Hunters, and Pre-Adult Equitation. Specs coming soon but will closely match the specs for the Pre-Children's Hunter division that we currently have.

Don't forget that the 2013 show year has started and PONIES can now compete in the RIHA Pleasure classes!!! Also, there is a new division for 2013:

Hunter Seat Pleasure Equitation
Riders cannot cross enter into any other Hunt Seat Equitation classes for the etire show year. Open to Junior Exhibitors and Amateur Adults, however, may be divided if sufficient entries. Rides to be judged on the flat with emphasis on position, hands, seat and the rider's horsemanship to execute a pleasure ride. No martingales or tie downs.

RIHA is going green! In an effort to "go green", RIHA will not be mailing out rulebooks and will be reducing the number of other mailings. Please download the rulebook from this page and check this website frequently and join the RIHA Facebook group for information on the annual banquet, point standings, calendar changes, the annual meeting, RI Finals information, etc.

If you really need a printed copy of the rulebook, please print the following form, fill it out and mail it to the Points Secretary:

  Rulebook Request Card