The Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) is proud to announce that the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) fully embraced its role as official sponsor for the IHSA Western Semi-Finals (March 24-25). The semi-finals lead up to the 2012 IHSA National Championships (May 3-6) at the Hunt Horse Complex of the North Carolina State Fairgrounds in Raleigh. In addition to an increased Semi-Finals sponsorship, NRHA enhanced their sponsorship of the IHSA National Championships.
"The rapidly expanding support of the Western Semi-Finals by the NRHA has enabled our riders to enjoy a greatly enhanced program,” said IHSA national treasurer, Naomi Blumenthal, who also credited Ohio State University IHSA Western team coach and IHSA Associate National Steward/Director at Large, Ollie Griffith, with negotiating the agreement. “We hope he knows how grateful everyone is for bringing NRHA into our corporate family.”
Under the sponsorship, at each Western Semi-Final Championship, individual class winners and alumni class winners received IHSA-NRHA buckles. NRHA also provided each championship team with jackets, and each reserve championship team with vests. Reining class winners received NRHA trophies. NRHA awards were also presented for other ribbon winners.
The IHSA Western teams, after three Semi-Final championships sponsored by NRHA, going to Raleigh to compete for one of the most prestigious titles in college equestrian sports are: Alfred University; Berry College; Michigan State University; Ohio State University; Oregon State University; St. Andrews University; University of Findlay; University of Nebraska-Lincoln; West Texas A&M University.
“The NRHA is proud to sponsor the IHSA,” said Shianne Megel, Manager of the Reining Horse Sports Foundation and NRHA Youth Programs. “The IHSA and their student competitors have a very bright future and the NRHA is excited to continue to be a part for many years to come.”
Founded in 1966, the NRHA is dedicated to the promotion of the reining horse and serves as the standard-setting body for the sport of Reining worldwide. In addition to an increased Semi-Finals sponsorship, NRHA also upgraded the trophies that will be presented at the IHSA National Championships.
An NRHA Lawson trophy will be awarded to the Individual Open Reining winner, and an NRHA Morrison to the National High Point Reining Phase Champion. NRHA Pewter Trophies will be awarded to the Alumni Reining Pattern winner, National Champion Team Reining Rider and Open Reining Reserve Champion, at the IHSA National Championships.
The IHSA was founded in 1967 on the principle that any college student should be able to participate in horse shows regardless of his or her financial status or riding level. The IHSA national student body consists of more than 8,800 student athletes engaged in equine activities on approximately 1,500 horses nationwide at more than 380 colleges and universities throughout North America. Learn more about IHSA at