WSRHA A Brief History

The Western Slope Reining Horse Association (“WSRHA”) is an affiliate of the National Reining Horse Association (“NRHA”). The NRHA is an international organization of reining horse enthusiasts with over 16,000 members in 50 countries. The WSRHA is our local group of this much larger association.

WSRHA was organized as a not-for-profit corporation for the benefit of its members and the local economy. Its primary purposes are to provide a venue for Western Colorado Reiners to show their horses locally and to support other horse related groups. The WSRHA affiliate was formed with the help of the front range affiliate, RMRHA, and the staff at NRHA.

In the early 1990’s, a group of 20 Reiners, headed by Caesar and Carol Dotta, and the club’s first president, Chris Carlson, filed the first set of by-laws with the NRHA. The WSRHA hosted its first large horse show, the Rocky Mountain Regional Affiliate Finals, in Grand Junction in 1996. This was a very successful start and brought lots of riders and horses to Grand Junction for the 4 day event. In 1999, the affiliate started its own three show circuit and has continued this venue every year since. Each show lasts 3 or 5 days and is held in Grand Junction or Rifle. The annual WSRHA Affiliate Circuit Shows now qualify riders and their horses for the Regional RAF held in the Mountain region, where some riders qualify to go to the North American Affiliate Championships held every fall in Oklahoma City. We have had WSRHA members win this prestigious event.

WSRHA has an active website (WSRHA.com), fiscally responsible Officers, a committed Board of Directors, as well as the following committees: By-Laws, Sponsorship, Youth, and others, to help guide the organization now and in the future. 

Join us and enjoy the thrill of a “willfully guided horse!”

WSRHA Reining Events

WSRHA hosts multiple reining events offering several divisions of competition, thereby enabling riders to compete at all levels from Youth, Prime Time, Rookie, Green Reiner, Short Stirrup, Non Pro, 70 and over, and Professional. Our reining shows also offer multiple levels of horse divisions, making certain that all level of horses from Novice to Futurity, Derby, Maturity and everything in between are represented. Our goal is to welcome all riders and their horses to have a family-friendly, fun-filled show experience. Reining is not your typical horse show. If you are looking for a fresh new experience where competitors cheer each other on while enjoying a common, yet individual goal of improving their horsemanship and their horses, be sure to check out one of our shows.

Economic Benefits of a Growing Equestrian Community

Show venues, along with private events such as clinics, bring competitors and other horse enthusiasts to the area every year. It is a source of tourism that continues to grow. Every horse brings 2.5-3.5 people, many of them from outside the Western Slope area. That in turn drives restaurant and lodging receipts, fuel and miscellaneous expenditures such as tack, equipment, feed, bedding, etc. The multiplier effect of bringing outside dollars into the community results in an economic windfall to the Western Slope.

Horse businesses encourage cluster economics (small entrepreneurial businesses that revolve around the larger industry). A few examples include truck and trailer sales, real estate sales, barn builders, feed and equipment sales, training and instruction, farm and equine insurance, veterinary care, equine massage and chiropractic, saddle and boot repair, farrier, fencing, equine dentistry, boarding, and the list goes on.