New 2025 Box Drive Rules
You MUST NOT pursue a cow while you are working out of position and "run" a cow
Per SIS rules - running a cow into a fence is immediate disqualification. If you find yourself out of position, slow down or stop and correct your position!!
There are new rules instituted for 2025
BOXING/DOWN THE FENCE
Judging for Box Drive Box and Working Cow Horse Classes by Sandy Collier
There are some new rules for the NRACHA's Box Drive Class! (Applies to all cattle classes)
Most of these rules became official in 2024, but it seems not everyone is aware of them. And one of them is new for 2025. If you show in this class, be sure to read this article.
The Box Drive class is a fast-growing class allowing competitors who box to segue to the fence or just to have a new class to show in even if showing down the fence isn't anything they aspire to do. Its also a great way to rehab fence horses who have been shown competitively and need to rate down the fence performing a square stop at the end instead of getting the satisfaction of turning the cow!
As this class gains traction more rules will be instituted, and I'll keep you updated.
The newest rule that will take effect in 2025 states that if the contestant is not in working position that causes the cow to initiate at least one turn/change of direction, on the second boxing phase before crossing the timeline and terminating the work, a penalty of 5 points will be assessed.
The rules instituted in 2024 are:
1 point penalty "T" if on the first drive, there is a failure to drive the cow past the middle marker
3 point penalty "D" for the dangerous position of the horse in relation to the cow
3 point penalty "W" for performing a fence turn (whether initiated be the horse ot the rider)
3 point penalty "Z" for failure to drive the cow past the middle marker on the second drive before time expires. That one means that time expires and the end whistle is blown before the cow is driven past the middle marker on the second drive.
5 point penalty "X" for running the cow into the back fence with force (from 2023)
0 score penalty "Q" on the first drive down the fence, there is failure to drive the cow past the middle marker after 2 attempts.