In the news . . .

Reys Desire, winner of last year's XTO Energy NCHA Super Stakes, topped Tuesday's Super Stakes Classic Open competition with 221 points, under Lee Francois. Third Cutting, winner of the 2009 Super Stakes and the 2010 Super Stakes Classic, posted 220.5 points, the second-highest score of the day, with Boyd Rice.

Overall, Pounce, owned by Julie Clarke and ridden by Phil Hanson, led the first round of the XTO Energy Super Stakes Classic Open competition with 222 points on Monday.

The second go-round of the Open is on Wednesday's schedule in Fort Worth's Will Rogers Memorial Coliseum. Read more in the Daily Chatter, presented by the David McDavid Family, and watch the live webcast, presented by Big Sky Internet Design.

April Chatter is online:
Can't wait for the mail? You can read the entire April issue of Cutting Horse Chatter, online today.

The online edition of the Chatter is presented by Waco Bend Ranch.

Marcy Blanchard of Bebe, Texas, marked 221.5 for a half-point win over top qualifier Dustin Adams in the Non-Pro finals at the NCHA Eastern National Championships, presented by 6666 Ranch in Jackson, Mississippi, Saturday. She rode Hickorys Indian Macy, a 7-year-old mare by Hickorys Indian Pep out of CDs Masterpiece, by CD Olena.

Caitlin Patty of Lindale, Texas topped the $50,000 Amateur finals at the NCHA Eastern National Championships. Patty, 18, marked 223 on Playboys A Smarty for a 4-point win over Alexis Carissa Stephas. She posted the fifth highest score, 216, behind Page Bowman’s 221 in Thursday’s go-round. She drew ninth in the first bunch in the 31-horse finals which paid out more than $42,000.

The show, with nearly 1,000 entries, and an all-time record purse, concluded March 19 in Jackson, Mississippi. Read more . . .

Texas H.O.R.S.E., a multi-discipline organization that includes the National Cutting Horse Association, announced its enthusiastic support for a constitutional amendment and implementing legislation filed on March 3 in the Texas Senate by Sen. Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa - SJR 33 and SB 1118, and in the Texas House of Representatives by Representative Beverly Woolley - HJR 111 and HB 2111. Senator Jeff Wentworth is listed as a co-author of the bills filed in the Senate.

If approved by the legislature, the constitutional amendment will be voted on by the citizens of Texas on November 8, 2011. Following its approval at the polls, the amendment will authorize video lottery gaming (also referred to as slot machines) at the 13 licensed horse and greyhound racetracks in Texas, and provide that the 3 federally recognized Indian tribes in Texas are not prohibited from operating video lottery machines on their tribal lands. The implementing bill filed today will define the administration and regulation of video lottery gaming when the constitutional amendment becomes effective.

The legislation will pave the way for an industry that will generate hundreds of millions of dollars in taxes annually for Texas. Just as importantly, it will provide the tools to allow the Texas racing industry to compete on a level playing field with all the states bordering Texas, whose respective governments all gave their racing industries the support and mechanisms with which to effectively devastate the industry in Texas during the last decade. Additionally, this legislation reaches out and provides much needed support to the non-racing segments of the horse industry, establishing a Performance Horse Development Fund, and Texas will be unique in that regard. This means that the benefits of this legislation can potentially impact all 254 counties in Texas, down to the local rodeos and other local horse events.

Read more . . .

Rules of cutting
Start the new year off right with NCHA's newest video, Judges Rules & Guidelines, brings every competitor and cutting horse fan an in-depth look at NCHA's 21 Judging Rules and Credits. Plus, NCHA Director of Judges Russell McCord gives you a look inside the Casebook. This is an invaluable reference for improving - or appreciating - showmanship. Order now for just $49.95 plus tax, shipping and handling.

Payout schedule adjusted for 2011
On January 13, the NCHA Executive Committee voted to approve a recommendation from the Open Show Committee to adjust the payout schedule which was published in the NCHA's 2011 Official Handbook of Rules & Regulations. The new payout schedule replaces the one printed in the 2011 Rule Book. Based on input from members and the goal of developing a more logical placings chart, the new schedule takes effect January 21.

Three decades of helping cutters and building for the future
by Joey Milner, President of the NCHA Charities Foundation
Think back to 1982 . . . Nearly 30 years ago, a group of cutters came together to form a charitable foundation entitled the NCHA Charities Foundation to support the goals and values of the National Cutting Horse Association. Now fast forward to today, 2010.

Through the hard work, financial support and selfless service of countless cutters, that foundation has provided over $2 million in scholarship funding for over 500 different youth involved with the sport of cutting, and also supported cutters with financial assistance in times of crisis.

The work of the individuals who started and grew the NCHA Foundation has been invaluable throughout the past 28 years, and in the coming years there is even more the Foundation can do. Read more or pledge your support now . . .

Visit NCHA on Facebook
The National Cutting Horse Association is now on Facebook the world's fastest growing social networking website. You can sign up for free to keep up with the very latest news in the world of cutting. Follow this link.