Program areas at Reining Horse Foundation
Youth: the youth program in fiscal year 2022, awarded $50,200 in scholarships made available by the Foundation through several youth programs. The affiliate regional scholarship program awarded $17,200 in scholarships; these tournaments are held at the nrha affiliate regional championship shows. Participants in the tournament may apply for these scholarships after the conclusion of the championship. Two per region are awarded. Also, of interest to youth is the Reining Horse Foundation academic scholarships. Beginning in 2002, the scholarships were available to support the education of nrha and nrhya members. Scholarships are awarded based on financial need, academic achievement, activities, nrha involvement and references. In fiscal year 2022, $27,000 in academic scholarships were awarded by the Foundation. Individuals who are awarded scholarships are eligible to claim their scholarship as they enter college. In fiscal year 2022, the Foundation paid out $33,300 in scholarships.
Crisis fund: "taking care of our own" the Reining community comes together through the dale wilkinson memorial crisis fund to financially and emotionally support members faced with hardships including medical crises, accidents and disasters. Grants can cover expenses and losses not covered by insurance. After review and following guidelines for distributions, grants in the amount of $17,200 were distributed this year, based on the demonstrated needs of individual members of nrha.
Youth leadership and officer: "educating the future of Reining" the national Reining Horse youth association (nrhya) is a leadership organization supported by the Foundation, and open to all youth members of the association. Nrhya elects two delegates in each region of nrha competition and has five elected national officer positions - president, vice president, treasurer, secretary, and historian. Affiliates can also elect a youth affiliate liaison role to allow for more leadership positions across the country. The nrhya has initiated a youth leadership and educational program titled the varsity Reining club (vrc) that is supported by the Foundation and is open to all youth members of the association. Vrc was established to engage youth members and encourage them to become more active at both the local and national levels. This program offers nrhya members opportunities to contribute to the youth association, in addition to developing valuable life skills that will allow them to be successful contributing members of society. In addition to the youth members interacting with one another and participating in the program, the Foundation wants to provide life skills that will help them grow and mature. Stressing the importance of community service, being an active member in a group and learning to work with others, public speaking, written communication skills, and creativity are all important skills that can be further developed by participating in this program. Nrhya members are awarded points for participating in the following leadership and educational type activities of the varsity Reining club: community service, volunteering and assisting at approved nrha events, assisting with fundraising activities of local clubs, photography of equine related activities, creative writing concerning equine events (fictional or non-fictional), a news style article reporting on factual events that is equine related, arts and crafts with an equine based theme, and holding and organizing an nrhya meeting. The Foundation provides 13 scholarships totaling $5,000 in total awards to the vrc program each year, and the scholarships are awarded based on the points earned by the vrc participants.
Payments to affiliated organizations
Auction expense