Welcome to the National Cutting Horse Association's E-Chatter newsletter. We'll be bringing the latest NCHA news direct to your inbox every other week.

For questions or comments, select Comments. If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter; select Remove. To receive this newsletter at a different email address, select New Email address and give your new address as well as the old address.

Big Boost for Futurity Purse
Cutting's most prestigious event, the 2006 NCHA Futurity, will feature $500,000 in added money. At its September meeting in Fort Worth, Texas, the NCHA Executive Committee voted in favor of the 67% increase in added money for the sport's showcase event.

"As the first jewel in cutting's Triple Crown, the NCHA Futurity is well established as the most exciting event on the cutting horse calendar," said NCHA Executive Director Jeff Hooper. "With the upward trend in participation and purses at our Triple Crown shows in recent years, this is an ideal time to sweeten the pot. We anticipate that the total purse for the Futurity will exceed $3 million."

The NCHA Futurity, held in Fort Worth each November/December, is for 3-year-old horses which have not been shown before. The nomination payment for the 2006 NCHA Futurity is due October 1.

Cutters Offer Hurricane Help
NCHA members are stepping forward to help in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina which slammed the Gulf Coast. We're frequently updating the ways cutters and others are helping out.

The LSU School of Veterinary Medicine has offered a hands-on look at horse rescue in the Bayou State.

Neither Rain, Nor Sleet, Nor Snow . . .
Katrina has put an asterisk at the end of the Postman's Creed. Although the United States Postal Service has worked quickly to restore delivery to many affected areas, NCHA members in some ZIP codes will see interruption to the delivery of Cutting Horse Chatter and the Coming Events Supplement. Keep up to date with how Katrina is affecting the mail here.

BI on TV
The telecast of the 2005 Breeder's Invitational cutting has been scheduled for September 19 at 4:00 pm ET on Outdoor Life Network. The event was held in Reno, Nevada, May 25-June 3.

EE Ranches Sale Results
EE Ranches of Texas held their second annual Breeders Production Sale at the ranch in Whitesboro, Texas on September 5, with a top price of $45,000 for Oh Cay Mist Lynx, an Oh Cay Quixote mare bred to NCHA Derby champion Cat Ichi. She was consigned by Younggren Livestock and purchased by Black Rock Ranch.

Can't Win If You're Not In
The first payment for the $500,000-added 2006 Futurity is due October 1. That's also the due date for the Super Stakes Stallion Subscription Fee.

Western Bloodstock and Breeder’s Invitational will each add $20,000 to Limited Classes at NCHA Shows
Two new sponsorship agreements will mean a big boost to added money for the Limited classes at the National Cutting Horse Association Triple Crown events, beginning in 2006. Western Bloodstock and the Breeder’s Invitational will each be contributing $20,000 annually to the added money at the shows.

“The Limited Open and Limited Non-Pro classes are an excellent stepping stone between entry-level classes and the stiffer competition of the Open and Non-Pro ranks,” said NCHA Executive Director Jeff Hooper. “We are pleased to have Western Bloodstock and the Breeder’s Invitational show their support of these classes, and are excited to be able to offer greater rewards to NCHA members who take advantage of the Limited division.

Northwest Ranch Festival Wraps Up
The Northwest CHA Ranch Festival concluded September 3 in Fort Klamath, Oregon. Mark Sanchietti won the Non-Pro Derby on Voice Message while Erica Rubalcaba took the Non-Pro Futurity on Somebodys Starlight..

Western Horseman Cup Summer Season Heats Up
West Texas Derby champ Mates Little Cokette holds the lead with Jason Clark riding for Darren Blanton at 150 points in the Horsecity.com Summer Season of the Western Horseman Cup. NCHA Derby champ Rockin By Choice remains in second with 125 points in the Open standings.

In the Non-Pro ranks, Skip Queen of Lipan, Texas, stays in front with 170 points earned on Nurse Charles and Glow.

World Watch
Bobs Hickory Rio, ridden by Boyd Rice for 91-year-old Hall of Famer James Kenney, has lengthened his lead to more than $21,000 in the Open division of the World Standings, over Allen Crouch on Lee Garner's Show Biz Pep.

Meanwhile in the Non-Pro rankings, six-time World Champion Mary Jo Milner has jumped to a margin of more than $6,000 over her husband, Jim Milner, with Ed Blakey steady in third. The tightest race right now is in the $10,000 Novice/Non-Pro

As always, you can keep a watch on the standings in all classes online.

How the West Was Worn
Discover the dazzling duds of cowboy couture on Thursday, September 22 at 7 p.m. during How the West was Worn – a lecture with Holly George-Warren at the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame in Fort Worth, Texas. The lecture covers her research into western wear and society’s fascination with this truly American original style.

Gist Silversmiths Renews Sponsorship
For more than two decades, Gist Silversmiths of Placerville, California, has worked closely with the National Cutting Horse Association. Millions of dollars worth of unique, handcrafted buckles and merchandise have been awarded to NCHA members during this time. The recently announced three-year extension of Gist’s sponsorship with the NCHA contract ensures that the association’s members will continue to receive the top-notch awards they deserve for their continued effort and hard work.

Consignments Invited
Western Bloodstock is now accepting consignments to the 2005 NCHA Futurity Sales.

Advertising Deadlines
The NCHA Futurity is closer than you think. Get ready now to put your ad in front of the biggest, most avid market in the cutting horse world in the official NCHA Futurity Program. The deadline for booking space is October 10, and all materials must be in by October 15. Contact Shawn McCoy today at (817) 244-6188, ext. 160 or (817) 980-4754 or for Western states advertisers, Loretta Jeppesen at (541) 461-5756 or (541) 225-7935.

And don't forget that the deadline for the November issue of Cutting Horse Chatter is October 1..

The Chatter's 2006 Media Kit and Rate Card and Advertising Contract are now online.

Join Us!
Get your NCHA membership today and receive a subscription to the NCHA's award-winning monthly magazine, Cutting Horse Chatter. You can join quickly and easily right now, just click on this link to join online. If you have questions or need additional information about membership please contact the membership department at 817-244-6188 or email Julie Davis or Peggy Cox.

Cutters Offer Health Seminars
NCHA Members Beverly Branch and Lyn Walsh, founders of Careity Foundation and producers of the annual Celebrity Cutting held during the NCHA World Championship Futurity, are producing health seminars in the Fort Worth area.

Save on Accommodations
Looking ahead to the NCHA Futurity, the Green Oaks Hotel in Fort Worth, offers discounts to NCHA members who make their early reservations. Call (800) 433-2174 for more information.

More Accommodations
Don't miss more cutting specials at NCHA sponsor hotel properties. Courtyard West/Land's End at 6530 West Freeway, (817) 737-6923, or Spring Hill Suites at 3250 Lovell Ave., (817) 878-2554, and Residence Inn Cultural District at 2500 Museum Way (817) 885-8250 or call nationwide reservations at 1-800-321-2211. Be sure to ask about NCHA rates.

Stem Cell Therapy for Horses
California-based Vet-Stem, Inc. claims to have introduced stem cell therapy to the treatment of equine joint disease and joint injuries.

Ultimate Equine Experience Video
Bob Kingsley hosts "The Ultimate Equine Experience: Your Guide to Owning A Cutting Horse, a new, one-hour video that features professional and non-professional cutting competitors who provide expert, first-hand experience on how to get involved in cutting. How to select a trainer, purchasing a cutting horse, and what level of involvement best suits you are some of the issues addressed in this video.

This video can be yours for $14.95 plus $5.95 S&H.

You can also relive some of the great moments of cutting horse history with VHS tapes of many of the past Triple Crown events, available from the NCHA Video Library. Tapes are $29.95, plus $5.95 for shipping and handling. Call Dayna Smith at (817) 244-6188 for more information about ordering. And right now, there's a special, limited-time offer on the 2003 NCHA World Championship Futurity and 2004 Super Stakes videos together for $49.95 plus $5.95 shipping and handling.

Judges Rules Video
The popular Judges Rules Video is a must for every cutter's library. Order it now or contact Holly Davis for more information.