Welcome! The North American Trail Ride Conference (NATRC) sanctions long distance competitive trail rides and clinics for riders of all equine breeds and disciplines in six regions throughout North America. We promote safety, sportsmanship, education and trail horse care through qualified evaluation of horse and rider by veterinary and horsemanship judges, in a fun, family-friendly environment. We also offer educational events to provide continuing education year-round.

Divisions were always confusing to me, but this flyer may help or just read below:​

When registering for an NATRC event, knowing the letter associated with the length of ride is very important. 

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OPEN Division : MPH 4-6 - Obstacle level : Moderate - Hard

AA ride is a three day event covering a total of 80-90 miles with no one day having less than 15 miles.

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A ride is a two day event covering a total of 50-60 miles with no one day having less than 15 miles.

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B ride is a one day event covering a total of 25-30 miles. 

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CP Division : MPH 3.5-5 (same as novice) - Obstacle level : Moderate - Hard

AA ride is not offered in CP

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A ride is a two day event covering a total of 30-40 miles with no one day having less than 15 miles. (same as novice)

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B ride is a one day event covering a total of 15-24 miles. (same as novice)

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NOVICE Division : MPH 3.5-5 (same as CP) - Obstacle level : Easy

AA ride is not offered in Novice

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A ride is a two day event covering a total of 30-40 miles with no one day having less than 15 miles or exceeding 24 miles. (same as CP)

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B ride is a one day event covering a total of 15-24 miles. (same as CP)

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LEISURE Division : MPH 3-4.5 (less than Nov/CP) - Obstacle level: Easy

AA ride is not offered in Leisure

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A ride is not offered in Leisure

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B ride is a one day event covering a total of 8-12 miles. (Less than Nov/CP)

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If you have experience in NATRC and have placed out of Novice, can you still enter in Novice? - The answer is YES! - Distance Only is what you need to select when registering. Distance only (DO) allows a rider and horse to be judged but not placed. Therefore, awards are not what you're riding for. Comparatively, it is the mileage and the experience of riding your level on possibly a new horse or otherwise. Maybe you just don't want to ride as long as open or your horse doesn't need to do obstacles as hard. I've been there and it was a hard read as a new NATRC rider to find out how to register for my needs.​

​Exclusions from Novice: Any horse and adult or junior rider combination having earned 250 points, lifetime accumulation, in horse (regardless of class in Open, Competitive Pleasure, and Novice) or in Leisure Team, shall not compete for awards in Novice Horse Division.

 

Any adult or junior rider having earned 250 points, lifetime accumulation, in horsemanship (regardless of horse, or class in Open, Competitive Pleasure and Novice) or in Leisure Team, shall not compete for awards in Novice Horsemanship Division.

 

Any rider having attained 1,500 miles in competition or having won one or more National Championships, President’s Cup, Jim Menefee Combined Horse and Horsemanship, Bev Tibbitts Grand Champion High Average Horse, or Polly Bridges High Average Horsemanship in any class in any previous year is ineligible to compete for horse or horsemanship awards in the Novice Division.

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Other cool things about riding Distance Only: Horses may participate with or without boots (e.g. splint boots, bell boots). A rider may ride DO in any class or division in horsemanship. A horse may participate DO in any class or division only if the rider also enters DO in horsemanship. In Leisure Division, horse and rider both must enter DO since they are scored and placed as a team. One-day option: only available if both horse and rider are riding DO. The DO team has the option of riding 1 or 2 days of a Type A CTR. When choosing to ride 1 day only, the team must ride the first day, or at ride management’s discretion (We will allow this!!), they may start the second day. A DO rider must notify ride management of their intent not to ride a second day after post ride examination, but before 8 p.m. To start on the second day, the second day’s ride distance must also meet Type B ride minimum requirements. The DO team will receive the standard mileage allotments for each day ridden. If the rider chooses to ride the second day, but does not complete that day, then no mileage will be awarded for either day. DO horses/riders will not count as a competitor in the class. Any person or horse excluded from competing (family members or horses owned by family of judges or rules interpreters) may enter the ride DO.

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