National Snaffle Bit Association is finalizing plans to establish a Specialty Judges Card, which would credential judges specifically for Hunter Under Saddle, Western Pleasure and Longe Line disciplines. The measure will be presented to the NSBA Board of Directors at its December board meeting for final approval. 

The NSBA’s Judges Committee has been developing the concept for the past two years, guided by feedback from members during the 2024 Town Hall meeting at Back To Berrien, weighing the advantages and considerations of establishing specialty credentials. The committee has reviewed and discussed the measure through multiple conference calls before establishing its final recommendation that will be presented to the NSBA Board of Directors in December. 

“The Judges Committee has vetted this issue for a couple of years, and I see no reason why it will not move forward,” noted NSBA President Phil Harris. 

NSBA Executive Director Stephanie Lynn noted that the initiative aligns with NSBA’s roots and its mission to promote and support the traditional disciplines that serve as the foundation for the show horse industry. “Western Pleasure, Hunter Under Saddle and Longe Line continue to represent the cornerstone classes from which today’s diverse performance events have evolved,” Stephanie said. “Currently NSBA recognizes specialty judges for the Ranch and Hunter/Jumpers based on the criteria of other testing associations. This will allow NSBA to be the primary association to credential judges specifically for the rail events.” 

Pending approval by the NSBA Board of Directors, the Judges Committee anticipates applications for the Specialty Judges Card will become available in early 2026, with testing opportunities expected in the spring of 2026.

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About NSBA

Established in 1983, National Snaffle Bit Association has expanded from its roots in the Western Pleasure discipline to recognize various disciplines and eight breed associations in competition. NSBA’s mission is to grow the show horse community through various equine programs and events where every activity benefits horses, breeders, owners and exhibitors alike.

National Snaffle Bit Association has more than 20,000 active members and more than 44,000 registered horses across its eight alliance breed organizations. NSBA members earn more than $13.5 million in monetary awards at NSBA-sanctioned horse shows annually, and the association sanctions nearly 600 horse show events and close to 200,000 horse show entries each year.

To learn more about NSBA, please visit nsba.com.