Green Rider Level One and Level Two Program

 

 

 

 

The Green Rider Program gives new and developing riders a supportive way to compete, learn, and build confidence in reining. It’s open to Reining Australia (RA) members who want to gain experience in the show pen and work toward Rookie and Non-Pro levels.

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How the program works

• The Green Rider Series begins on 1 September each year.

• Riders enter their local Affiliate shows through Nominate.

• The finals for each Affiliate are held at their last show before the Australian National Reining Championships.

• All riders start the season in Level 1 and stay in that level until the end of the show year, no matter how many points

       they earn.

• Riders who begin in Level 2 stay in that level for the full year as well.

 

Who can enter

• You must be a Non-Pro member of Reining Australia.

• You don’t need a competition licence and you don’t have to own the horse you ride.

• Once you’re no longer eligible for Rookie Level 1, you’re automatically no longer eligible for the Green Rider Program                               

       from the next 1 September.

• All current Green Riders and eligible RA members are automatically enrolled in the program

      - you just pay your regular RA membership fee through Nominate.

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Levels Explained

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Green Rider Level 1
Open to riders who:

• Hold a valid RA Green Rider card

• Have less than $100 in lifetime RA earnings (all categories)

• Have fewer than 25 lifetime Youth points

• Have fewer than 30 Green Rider points

 

Green Rider Level 2
Open to riders who:

• Hold a valid RA Green Rider card

• Have less than $100 in lifetime RA earnings (all categories)

• Have fewer than 25 lifetime Youth points

• Have between 30 and 99 Green Rider points

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Green Rider Level 1 & 2 Conditions

• Entry fees are set by each show’s management team.

• Judges’ fees cannot be charged to exhibitors.

• Show management can retain a percentage of entry fees.

• Any legal headgear and equipment can be used.

• You can ride with one or two hands, and simple lead changes are allowed.

• Patterns 1–18 may be used.

How the points work
Points are based on number of riders in your class, up to 10 points.

• 10 or more riders: 1st = 10, 2nd = 9, 3rd = 8 … down to 10th = 1

• Fewer than 10 riders: points awarded down from the number in the class (e.g. 5 riders = 5, 4, 3, 2, 1)

• No points are awarded for zero scores.

• Tied placings receive the same points.

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Affiliate high point awards

Each Affiliate runs its own Green Rider Level 1 and 2 High Point throughout the year, with the final held at their last show before Nationals.
To be eligible, riders must be a member of that Affiliate when points are counted.

• Winners are announced on the Reining Australia website.

• Each Affiliate High Point winner receives a Green Rider jacket.

• Riders can only receive one jacket per year (from one Affiliate).

 

National awards – proudly sponsored by Stitch Em On Embroidery

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All Green Rider participants are invited to compete in their class at the Australian National Reining Championships, proudly supported by Stitch Em On Embroidery.

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• National awards are presented to the winners of each Green Rider level.

• It’s a clean-slate final — points don’t carry over from Affiliate shows.

• Even if you earn more than 100 points during the year, you can still compete in your level at Nationals.

• Riders can only compete in one level per year, whichever they started in on 1 September.

 

Ready to ride?

If you’re new to reining, this is the perfect place to start!
Talk to your local Affiliate, enter through Nominate, and join the growing community of Green Riders across Australia.

 

Green Rider Level 1 2025 2026 Ineligibilities Listing

Green Rider Level 2 2025 2026 Ineligibilities Listing

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