The American Ranch Horse Association wants to know: Is your horse an all-around working horse? Based on growing national interest, ARHA developed the new ARHA Ranch Horse Versatility Program with 100 percent payback for its sanctioned competitions in 2009.

“While many of our members aren’t directly involved in ranching, we’ve received a growing number of requests from ARHA members wanting to compete in versatility ranch horse competitions,” said ARHA executive secretary Erica Keeney. “We’re excited to give exhibitors the opportunity to compete in this challenging event to gain ARHA points and titles as well as money earned on a local and national level. As this program grows, so will the payback.”

Ranch horse versatility competition is a five-class event that showcases the true ability of the American ranch horse as a working stock horse, including sound conformation, athletic ability, intelligence, calm temperament and a willing disposition. The five events—ranch riding, ranch trail, ranch cutting, working ranch horse and ranch conformation—are held and placed individually, but overall performance is considered in the competition program.

The ARHA Ranch Horse Versatility Program year runs January 1 through December 31. Exhibitors will be rewarded in three ways:

1. Payback. In the ARHA program, 50 percent of the entry fees will be awarded at the local competitions, to be split equally among the five classes. The remaining 50 percent will be awarded at the end of the year to the top-10 overall national winners. Based on past participation in these classes, ARHA estimates $46,000 will be awarded in the first year of the program.

2. Points. Horses competing in the Versatility Program will continue to be eligible for ARHA points in their regular ARHA classes.

3. Nationally Recognized Records. Earnings reports will also be recorded by the equine statistical service Equi-Stat and will be promoted in industry publications to further promote the American ranch horse and ARHA competitors.

To qualify as a competitor in the ARHA Ranch Horse Versatility Program, the horse can be ridden by multiple exhibitors and must compete in the designated versatility classes as running concurrently with ARHA classes. In addition to regular show entry fees, a $100 Versatility Program entry fee will be charged to compete in all five classes at each show; no additional cattle fees will still apply to working ranch horse and ranch cutting versatility classes.

Formed in 2004, the American Ranch Horse Association promotes the abilities of the all-around versatile working horse in a positive atmosphere where western tradition is genuinely honored. Rapidly growing with more than 7,000 members, ARHA hosts competitions, clinics and educational events throughout the year.

For more information about the ARHA Ranch Horse Versatility Program, visit www.americanranchhorse.net or call 606-271-2963 or 606-653-7097.