Affiliate Groups

Affiliate groups are a bonus for Top Trail members who choose to participate in one or two of these fun side “affiliate” groups!

What you need to know about Affiliate Groups

Top Trail hosts five affiliate group categories (or types):

Associations (MFTHBA, NATRC)
Social (Hags with Nags)
Brand (White Horse Trading Post’s Fuzzy Butters)
Special Event (Michigan Horse Council)
Team Challenge (Double Trouble)

Of those affiliate groups you may participate in two during a calendar year—IF you meet the eligibility requirements of the group you wish to join.

For example, you may join Hags with Nags and Fuzzy Butters, provided you meet the eligibility requirements of both groups. But, you may not be in two groups in the same category. For example, you cannot be in both Hags with Nags and 40 Something Cowgirls.

Likewise, if you were eligible and joined the NATRC Virtual Mileage Challenge, you would not then be able to join MFTHBA’s affiliate group. Choose one or the other if you qualify for both.

Each affiliate group offers a variety of year end and/or quarterly awards/ recognition for the top riders or equines so we encourage you to get involved with a couple groups and get out there and ride!

Affiliate groups have their own criteria to join but the General Top Trail Challenge Rules apply to all affiliate groups. Please see each group description for more information on eligibility.

Renewing Top Trail Members must join an established affiliate group within the first month of the year or join a new affiliate group within the first month of its start.

New Top Trail members must join an affiliate group within one month of your membership start date.

When you decide which affiliate group you want to participate in, be sure to read the group’s description — most have requirements for joining the group. Please do not join an affiliate group that you do not qualify for.

How to Join a Group

You may need to request membership to a particular affiliate group. If that’s the case, submit request to be added to the group and if you meet the requirements of the group, you will be added. Otherwise, you may simply “join” the group provided you’re still only in two affiliate groups, you meet the group criteria, and you’re joining within the timeframe.

For the NATRC Virtual Mileage Challenge you are automatically added to the affiliate group when you join or renew your Top Trail membership by selecting the NATRC + Top Trail Premium or NATRC + Top Trail Basic member level options.

For Double Trouble, you need to decide who you’re going to team up with, decide on a team name, and then follow the directions in this post to establish and enroll your team. You must get your team established in the group no later than February 28th.

Joining Timeline

Current/Renewing Top Trail Members — If you’re currently in a new group and want to make any changes from one year to the next, wait until after January 4 change groups. But definitely make sure you’re set in your groups for the new year no later than January 31.

New Members — you have 30 days from the time you join Top Trail to join an affiliate group that you are eligible to join. Each group has its own eligibility criteria. Please do not join a group that you cannot meet the criteria for.

MHC
Participants in the The Michigan Horse Council’s Statewide Trail Ride Challenge special event affiliate group must join Top Trail at the Michigan Horse Council Member level (Michigan Horse Council Member). Existing Top Trail members may join this group no later than May 1 at your current membership level but will need to request membership in the group.

NATRC
Started in 2022, NATRC’s Virtual Mileage Challenge is available to NATRC members. The first requirement for this group is to be a NATRC member. If you’re new to Top Trail, you must purchase the “NATRC + Top Trail Basic” or “NATRC + Premium” level membership. If you’re an existing Top Trail member, you will need to renew your Top Trail membership & upgrade it to either “NATRC + Top Trail Basic” or “NATRC + Premium” level membership in December or January. Any Top Trail membership time remaining from your current year will be added to your membership time.

How to Leave a Group

If you wish to leave a group, go to your group and click or tap the “Leave Group” button.

How to Find Your Group(s)

A quick link to all your groups can be found under the “My Top Trail” pull down menu — so pull it down and select “My Groups.”

Breed or Riding Club Association

MFTHBA Top Trail Horse Challenge —
To join this group you must be a full Top Trail Member, member in good standing with MFTHBA and own or ride a Registered MFTHBA Fox Trotting Horse.
Moderator: Troy Lynn Norris
Sponsored by MFTHBA

NATRC Virtual Mileage Challenge
Moderators: John Zeliff
To join this group you must be a NATRC member and have an active Top Trail membership

Social Groups

For Top Trail premium and basic level members who are also legitimate members of the official social group.

Hags with Nags
Moderators: Julia Edwards-Dake and Margie Johnson
You must be a member of the Hags with Nags group on Facebook to join this group.
Sponsored by Hags with Nags Swag

Brand Group

Fuzzy Butters Top Trail Challenge
You must own a Fuzzy Butt saddle cover purchased from White Horse Trading Post to join this group.
Moderator: Debi Dill
Sponsored by White Horse Trading Post

For Top Trail premium and basic level members — check the requirements of the specific group to see if you’re eligible to join.

Special Event Group

For Top Trail Michigan Horse Council level members (or existing premium and basic level members) — check the requirements of the specific group to see if you’re eligible to join.

Michigan Horse Council’s Statewide Trail Ride Challenge

Team Challenge

Double Trouble
Team Up with your BRF (Best Riding Friend) and join the Top Trail Double Trouble Challenge 2022 — Your combined rider mileage will be reflected on the special group leaderboard. You do not have to ride together to participate.
How to Join
Moderator: Robin Morris & Tara Smith
Sponsored by: Top Trail