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A Spectacular Start
As the NCHA Summer Cutting Spectacular, presented by Great American Insurance, moves into the home stretch, several champions have already been crowned. Here's a look at the early winners in the $2.4 million show:

• Classic Challenge Open: Boon San Kitty, ridden by Eddie Flynn for Alice Walton’s Rocking W Ranch, Mineral Wells, Texas.
• Classic Challenge Non-Pro Khader Daoud of Baker, Florida, riding Peponita Times Two.

• Classic Challenge Non-Pro Limited: Clay McCullar of Baird, Texas, riding Duals Play Kit.
• Classic Challenge Open Limited: Pattys Badge, ridden by J.D. Roberts for Jack Woods of Thermal, California; and Shrimp On The Barbie, ridden by Geordie Richardson for Steve Anderson of Victoria, Texas.
• Classic Challenge Amateur: Daegan Arnold of Kermit, Texas, riding KC Again.
• Derby Amateur: Jody Hatchett of Moscow, Tennessee, riding Platinum Bob.
• Senior Youth Scholarship Cutting: Tasha Burgess of Weatherford, Texas, riding La Femme Nikita.
• Junior Youth Scholarship Cutting: Caleb Anderson of Weatherford, texas, riding Sun Valley Shorty.
• NCHA Sponsors Cutting: Elizabeth Brumbaugh, representing Brumbaugh's Leather Gallery.

The NCHA Summer Spectacular concludes Sunday, July 30 with the finals of the Open and Non-Pro Derby, and a special in-house commentary in Will Rogers Memorial Coliseum via Rancharrah Radio.

Throughout the show, you can keep up with the latest news in the Daily Chatter, watch a live web cast of all the action presented by 6666 Ranch, and check for updated scores throughout the day. You can read Heather Raftery's NYCHA Blog, and see hundreds of her photos of youth activities online.

There's plenty of great shopping through the end of the show in the Coors Light Western Mercantile in the Amon G. Carter Exhibit Hall.

Presenting sponsor Great American Insurance's Equine Farm Center is a leader in the specialty field of equine property and casualty insurance, and their Equine Mortality Division is one of the world's leading providers of mortality insurance and related coverage. They offer their services through professional equine independent agents, including businesses well known to cutters, such as Justin Insurance (800) 972 0272, Kay Cassell Equine Insurance (800) 230 8384 and Roger Peters Livestock Insurance (800) 228 8664.

Watch the Summer Spectacular on HorseTV
The NCHA Summer Cutting Spectacular, presented by Great American Insurance, will be featured on the American Quarter Horse Association’s Best of the West series on The HorseTV Channel. The show will feature the Open finals on August 23 and the Non-Pro finals on August 30.
For more information about The HorseTV Channel or to check on availability in your area, visit www.horsetv.com.

Summer Sale Expands to Three Days
The Western Bloodstock NCHA Summer Spectacular Sales will be held over three days at Will Rogers Equestrian Center. The dates will be Friday, July 28, Saturday, July 29 and Sunday, July 30. You can preview the catalog online.

Bill Riddle Installed as President
Bill Riddle of Ringling, Oklahoma was installed as President of the National Cutting Horse Association during the NCHA's Convention in Fort Worth, Texas, June 23-25. Bob Mayfield of Wills Point, Texas, is the President Elect, and Bronc Willoughby of Nocona, Texas, is the new Vice President.

In his address to the membership, Riddle cited the association's growth into a truly national organization since he joined NCHA.
"When I joined this association 29 years ago in 1977, there were 1500 members. There are 16,000-plus today. In 1977, Little Peppy won the NCHA Futurity and he won $48,000. The 18th place horse in our Futurity this year will win about $48,000. That first year, Matlock Rose was World Champion and the total purses for the year were somewhere around a million bucks. It's right at $36 million for this year. What a change in 29 years!"

In his keynote speech to the NCHA Directors, Texas Lt. Governor David Dewhurst traced the path of Senate Bill 1253 which has resulted in $1.2 million in new added money for NCHA's Triple Crown events to fuel the economic impact of cutting in the state..

"When you talk about more jobs in Texas, you talk about more opportunities for young people," he said. "You can improve public education in Texas. You can improve the quality of life in Texas. And you can improve this industry we all love called cutting."

See recommendations of the standing committees and photos from the NCHA Convention online.

NYCHA Officers Elected
National Youth Cutting Horse Association members elected a new slate of officers during the NYCHA Convention at the Summer Spectacular.
The new President is Matthew Blewitt, Hartsville, South Carolina. The 1st Vice President is Paige Kincaid, Peoria, Arizona. The 2nd Vice President is Chance Smith, Paradise, Texas. The Secretary/Treasurer is Kelsey Sayko, College Station, Texas. The Reporter is Jessica Bagley, Taylors, South Carolina.

Grace Period Reinstated
At its meeting during the NCHA Convention, the NCHA Executive Committee reinstated the 10-day grace period for payments for all NCHA limited age events. As in the past, late fees will be assessed for entries which are not postmarked on or before the last day of the grace period.

The Lure of Lucchese NCHA Weekend
Lucchese NCHA Weekend drew 6,158 entries at shows held in each of NCHA's 25 Areas across North America on the first weekend in June. Cutters competed for $535,994 in purses. With boots and cash support from Lucchese, great awards support from Resistol Hats, Teskey's Saddle Shop, Purina Mills, Gist Silversmiths, and NYCHA's scholarship program, the show was the biggest cutting in the world for 2006.

Visit the online NCHA Weekend Photo Gallery.

NCI Building Systems Sponsors NCHA Futurity
With a brand new website for cutters, NCI Building Systems, Inc. will be the title sponsor of the NCHA World Championship Futurity. NCI's support of cutting's showcase event, along with purse enhancements already approved by the NCHA Executive Committee, will help raise the added money for the NCHA Futurity to more than $1,000,000, compared to $300,000 in 2005.

NCI Building Systems is the leading integrated manufacturer and marketer of metal building components, custom engineered metal building systems and metal coil coaters in North America.

Based in Houston, Texas, NCI Building Systems has 44 manufacturing facilities located throughout the United States, in Mexico and in Canada.

NCHA Cutting Academy
The NCHA Cutting Academy Clinics have received rave reviews from cutters. The next NCHA Cutting Academy, will be held August 24 right before the Crawfish Classic in West Monroe, Louisiana. Four clinics will be scheduled annually in different locations, with the emphasis on the education and presentation of showing horses.

October 6 will be the date of the fourth NCHA Cutting Academy, to be held at the Tom Diaz Ranch, Woodland, California. Woodland is about 30 minutes from Sacramento and an hour and a half from San Francisco. The Gold Country CHA will have a club cutting on October 7-8 in Dixon, California, about half an hour from Woodland

Session I of the Cutting Academy includes segments on understanding rules, plus information on membership, amateur and non-pro status, equine nutrition and more. The cost, which includes a light breakfast and lunch, is just $25 at the door. Session II features live work critiques with some of the industry’s leading experts. Cost for Session II is $135, with prepayment required.

Contact Julie Davis (817) 244-6188 at the NCHA office for more information or for pre-payment of live works.

Secretary Handbook Available
NCHA's updated Secretary and Show Management Handbook is now available at no cost on the internet. It's the latest resource in the online toolkit for show secretaries.

EE Ranches Breeders Production Sale
The third annual EE Ranches Breeders Production Sale will be held on Friday, September 22, 2006, at EE Ranches’ state-of-the-art stallion station in Whitesboro, Texas. The sale includes broodmares, yearlings, seasoned cutting horses, 2-year-olds in training and 3-year-old Futurity prospects representing EE’s outstanding stallion battery.

Owned by Bill and Jo Ellard, EE Ranches Stallion Station is the home of four of the Ellard’s stallions, including Cat Ichi, Laker Doc, DJ Tracker and Kodo, all with earnings of $100,000 or more and descended from the Ellard’s great producer Laney Doc. The EE stallion roster for 2006 also includes leading sire Dual Rey, 2004 NCHA Open Futurity champion Spots Hot, High Brow Cougar and Smart Little Levi.

While select consignments are still being accepted for this year’s EE Ranches Breeders Production Sale, the Ellards have already committed six three-year-old Futurity prospects, including a colt out of Laney Doc sired by Color Me Smart.

“This is the best three-year-old crop that we’ve ever had and we are offering six open finalist-caliber Futurity prospects,” said Jo Ellard.

The inaugural EE Ranches Sale saw a record price of $390,000 paid for a cutting horse yearling. Catalaney, by High Brow Cat out of $1.2 million producer Laney Doc, was consigned by EE Ranches and purchased by Three Trees Ranch of Georgia. The top broodmare at $125,000 was seven-year-old Shootin Poo, by Doc’s Hickory, consigned by Double Dove Ranch.

The EE Ranches Breeders Production Sale is produced by Western Bloodstock, the nation’s leader in performance horse sales and the official sale company of the National Cutting Horse Association. For additional information, call (817) 594-9210.

The Race Is On In 2006
CD Lights, owned by Danny Motes and Winston Hansma, is just over $4,000 in front of his nearest rival, Falcon Seaboard Ranches' Playboy Boonsmal in the Open standings for the 2006 point year. The lead has changed yet again in the Non-Pro standings, Done Boone overtaking his wife, Kathy, and two-time World Champion Joe Howard Williamson.

But it's a long year, so keep up with the standings in all NCHA-approved classes online every week.

We Want You Back! 
If you have not renewed your membership for 2006 we want you to know that your membership is important to us.  Even if you are not actively participating at this time, renewing your membership keeps you informed of who is doing what in the world of cutting and keeps you involved with the association and this fantastic equine sport.  The award-winning Cutting Horse Chatter magazine is packed with entertaining features and articles about the world of cutting and NCHA events.  The publication is dedicated to preserving the history of cutting as well as keeping readers abreast of all the latest news. You can renew quickly and easily right now, just click on this link and return to the world of cutting!

Watch the Web this Summer
NCHA's website, www.nchacutting.com will be getting a make-over. We'll keep you posted on the update in the coming weeks.

Futurity Tickets
Select and Reserved Tickets for the 2006 Futurity, and 2007 Super Stakes and Summer Spectacular, may now be purchased. Send orders to Ella Hood in the NCHA Marketing Department by fax (817-560-2288), or mail. Reserved tickets for the Futurity will go on sale in July.

Horse Deaths Linked to Pesticide
Based on necropsies and toxicology evidence, Texas A&M University investigators believe that a fumigant pesticide was responsible for the recent deaths of more than two dozen horses at Carousel Acres Equine Center in Brazos County, Texas.

"This appears to have been an unfortunate on-farm accident attributable to the pesticide application," said Dr. Richard Adams, Dean of the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences. " Contrary to some early misleading speculation, there is no indication that the feed product itself was defective when it was delivered to the farm."

Cutter Featured in Western Horseman
NCHA member Patrick Cox of Pearl, Mississippi, who has overcome severe challenges to pursue his favorite sport, is featured in the August issue of Western Horseman magazine.

Green Oaks Hotel
Being the only full service property on the west side of Fort Worth, the Green Oaks Hotel has proudly served NCHA members for over 35 years. Stop by Horse Feathers for your favorite beverage. They offer a 10% discount to NCHA members who make their reservations 60 days out, and 5% for those who make reservations 30 days out. That deal works for all three NCHA shows in Fort Worth. Call (800) 433-2174 for more information.

Apple Properties
While you’re staying in Fort Worth, don’t forget about Courtyard Fort Worth West/Land’s End, Spring Hill, and Residence Inn on 7th Street.  All of these locations feature a full service restaurant on site and they are proud to be associated with the National Cutting Horse Association.  You can visit them online.

We'll see you there!

Historic Ranches to Hold Joint Sale
The W.T. Waggoner Estate and King Ranch, two of the most well-known names in ranching, are joining together for a production sale on October 8, 2006 at the Whiteface Division of Waggoner Ranch in Electra, Texas.

Both ranches share a long history which began in the mid-19th century when the respective founders Dan Waggoner and Captain Richard King envisioned a ranching dynasty. Today, the W.T. Waggoner Estate is the largest ranch in Texas under one fence, and the King Ranch is the largest ranch in the United States.
These legendary ranches have a long-standing relationship dating back to the Waggoner’s purchase of Pep Up (the maternal grandsire of Mr San Peppy) from the King Ranch in 1942.

The October sale, aptly named, “Texas Legends,” will feature ranch geldings, performance prospects, two-year-olds, yearlings and broodmares selected from the heart of each of their remudas, and will mark the first time in history that King Ranch has ever offered their top-cut geldings for sale at public auction. The “Texas Legends” will be joined by guest consignor and breeder of AQHA Honor Roll horses, Wood Ranch, established in 1820 in White County, Arkansas.
For more information, contact sale management company, Western Bloodstock, (817) 594-9210.

Get Your Gear Here
Tioga Territory is the place for all of your official NCHA gear! Visit Tioga Territory at the Western Mercantile during the Summer Cutting Spectacular, or online at www.tiogaterritory.com.

A Fort Worth Stockyards Tradition
Sean Ryon Western Store and Saddle Shop is a family tradition that continues to flourish in the Stockyards of Fort Worth, Texas.  Sean carries on a tradition that would make his grandfather, Windy Ryon, proud.  Sean Ryon Western Store & Saddle Shop is the trophy saddle sponsor for the NCHA Super Stakes and Summer Cutting Spectacular.  Call 1-800-669 RYON .

Judge Recertification Seminars
Two more Judge Recertification Seminars will be held this year held in conjunction with major shows. It is mandatory that all NCHA carded judges attend a recertification seminar in 2006.

• Fort Worth, Texas – July, 28, 2006, 8:00 a.m., South Texas Room of the Exhibit Hall Building at Will Rogers Memorial Center, for AA and AAA who have not judged a monitored LAE
• Fort Worth, Texas – July, 29, 2006, 8:00 a.m., South Texas Room of the Exhibit Hall Building at Will Rogers Memorial Center, for AAA and AAAA who have judged a monitored LAE

Listen Up!
NCHA Director of Judges Russell McCord and announcer Tom Holt have recorded a new audio CD that examines NCHA's contest rules. The insightful commentary can help you show your horse better and improve your scores. The price for the Rules and Regulations Audio CD is just $10.00, or $10.83 for Texas residents (to cover sales tax). There are no shipping and handling charges except for foreign orders. Visa or MasterCard are accepted. Fax your order to Holly Davis at (817) 244-2015, or email Holly for more information.

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.

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 the NCHA Marketing Department 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.