Core Classlist Requirements

Show Organization

A given show may be organized in a variety of ways:

A NAMHSA show may be all-halter or all-performance. Performance divisions are optional, but if present, should include the minimum performance classes listed.

Shows may also break halter breed classes down into OF (china/resin and/or plastic) and Custom/LE/OS divisions as well, but this is not a requirement. Gender classes, make, workmanship, and finish classes are optional for any show that prefers to offer them.

Core Classes for Halter

Below are the MINIMUM halter classes that your show MUST offer in both their Original Finish and Customized Divisions.

"Speciality" divisions like OF China or Mini, which traditionally receive smaller amounts of entrants, are exempt from the minimums as long as the minimums are already met in the primary Original Finish and Customized Divisions of that show. Entire "specialty" shows, like All-Mini or All-China or All-Plastic, must still offer all the minimum required classes.

  1. Sport Breed Classes.

    The show must offer at least ONE of the following classes: Thoroughbreds; Thoroughbred/Standardbreds; Standardbreds; Warmbloods; Trakehner; Irish Draft; Oldenburg; Hanoverian; Holsteiner; Cleveland Bay; Dutch Warmblood; Swedish Warmblood; Ahkal Teke; Sport Type Ponies; American Sporthorse*; and/or Other Sport type

    * Includes sport type horses of any breed, but these horses may not ALSO show in their respective breed class. Examples: Paint Sport, Appaloosa Sport, etc.

  2. Light Breed Classes.

    The show must offer at least THREE of the following: Arabian; Arabians/Part Arabians; National Show Horse; Morgan; American Saddlebred; Tennessee Walking Horse; Missouri Fox Trotter; Rocky Mountain Horse; Spanish Breeds;American Gaited Breeds*; Other Light Type**.

    * includes ASB, TWH, RMH, MFT, etc., if these breeds are not offered separately;
    ** may be purebred or grade/mixed, including Light Type Saddle Mules.

  3. Draft Breed Classes.

    At least ONE of the following MUST be offered. The draft breeds can have classes by breed, but if so, an "Other Draft Breeds" class MUST be offered.

    Option One: Offer a "Draft Horse," "Draft Breed," or "Drafter" class.

    Option Two: Offer any one or more of the following classes: Clydesdale; Percheron; Belgian; Shire; Draft Pony*; and an "Other Draft Breed**" class.

    * many shows will include them in the general Pony class;
    ** should include any breed not listed including Draft Mules.


  4. Pony Breed Classes.

    If the show offers more than one pony breed class, then it must also offer an "Other Pony Breed" class. Thus, at least one of these options must be selected by the show:

    Option One: Offer a "Pony Breed," or "Ponies" class.

    Option Two: Offer any one or more of the following classes: Welsh Pony; Shetland; Quarter Pony; Pony of the Americas; Hackney Pony; Chincoteague; Connemara; and an "Other Pony Breed*" class.

    * could include any not listed, such as pony-type mules, mixed breed ponies, etc.

  5. Stock Breed Classes.

    At least three of the following classes must be offered: Quarter Horse; Paint; Appaloosa; Mustang; Stock Ponies; Other Stock Type.

  6. Other Breed Classes.

    At least ONE must be offered. Shows may decide to put some of the less common breeds into one general "Other Breed" class, or have "Other Breeds" by type, or split into "Mixed/Grade" and "Other Purebred" classes. As long as at least one general "Other Breed" class is offered, the requirement has been met.

Collectability Classes

If you choose to offer separate OF classes judged solely on collectibility/rarity (i.e., Decorator, Woodgrain, Pearl, etc.) these will now be counted as NAN qualifiers. Note that no ANIMALS classes will count as NAN qualifiers, as seen below.

The NAN show will offer separate Halter classes for these types of OF models, if entries warrant them. There is a special box on the NAN entry form to note if a model is to be placed in a collectible class rather than breed. (Entrants will have to chose one or the other for each OF model shown at NAN.) Please note that traditional "Collector's Classes" where a GROUP of models is judged as ONE entry are not eligible for NAN qualification.

Halter Classes NOT Allowed as NAN Qualifiers

The following halter classes are absolutely NOT NAN qualifier classes: ANIMALS (cattle, goats, dogs, etc.), FANTASY, MASCOT, YOUTH, NOVICE, FUN, "ANYTHING GOES".

Do not include these in your class count on your application form. You can of course offer these but you must place a note by them in your classlist that they are not NAN qualifiers.

Core Classes for Performance

Any show offering Performance class is required to offer at least the following classes: Western Pleasure; Other Western Performance; Huntseat/English Pleasure; Other English Performance; Other Performance.

Important Note Regarding Performance Judging

ONLY a HORSE or other EQUINE may earn NAN qualification. No Performance entries are allowed with cattle or other animals as the named/tagged entry. Of course these animals can be PROPS when a horse is the entrant.

No TEAM entries in Performance can jointly or as a group win a NAN qualification. In classes like harness where there is a multi-horse hitch entered, you MUST require the owner to tag just ONE horse in the team. That horse alone will be named in the results and on the single NAN ticket card awarded to that entry. Same for team roping and any other performance where more than one horse is involved. The entrant must tag just ONE of the horses... all the others are considered props.

Last updated August 4, 2007


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