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What a World!
A new, expanded format, great facilities and keen competition made the 2003 NCHA World Finals a show to remember. World Champions and Show Champions were crowned in 11 classes at the big event in Amarillo, Texas which concluded January 22. Mary Jo Milner emerged with her record sixth Non-Pro World Championship, while Hollywood Nus Bar, owned by David Plummer and ridden by Robert Rust, took the Open World title. It was Rust's third Open World Championship, and he also took the Reserve Championship on T-Mac Partnership's Young Guns Babe.

Chiquita Pistol Wins Inaugural Western Horseman Cup
Triple Crown winner Chiquita Pistol fired from both barrels at the Augusta Futurity. Ridden by Tag Rice for owner Tooter Dorman, Chiquita Pistol won the inaugural Western Horseman Cup on January 29, marking 230. The special $250,000 event was held in conjunction with the Augusta Futurity. Then she came back to win the Classic Open on January 30 with a 227.

The Non-Pro division of the Western Horseman Cup went to Kyle Manion on Ricochet Pep, marking 225.5.

The Western Horseman Cup will be featured in a special one-hour telecast on the Outdoor Life Network on Sunday, February 22 at 5:00 p.m. CST.

Meanwhile, NCHA Futurity Champion One Smart Lookin Cat is leading the 2004 Western Horseman Cup Open standings for owner John McClaren and trainer Craig Morris with 170 points. Heading the Non-Pro race is Abilene Spectacular Champion Scotty Rice of Weatherford, Texas, on Dee Cats Meow with 160 points.

The Augusta Futurity Concludes
Clint Allen and Aristo Katz marked 224.5 to win the 4-year-old Open title at the Augusta Futurity for Jack and Susan Waggoner of Bridgeport, Texas. Mark Pearson and Haidas Merlin took the Non-Pro title with a 221.

Memphis Futurity, Del Mar Aged Event Underway
A pair of shows in the Western Horseman Cup/NCHA Championship Series started this week. The $110,000-added Memphis Futurity is up and running with the second go of 5/6-year-old competition scheduled for today. The show continues through February 10.

The San Diego Cutting Horse Association's $50,000-added Cutting by the Sea at Del Mar Fairgrounds started Monday and continues through Friday.

Sean Ryon continues his ride with NCHA
Continued relationship with Sean Ryon will provide trophy saddles to NCHA participants
Sean Ryon Western Store and Saddle Shop of Fort Worth will continue its commitment to National Cutting Horse Association members in the next three years under an agreement announced this week. Sean Ryon’s will provide trophy saddles to the NCHA Super Stakes, NCHA Summer Cutting Spectacular and NCHA Summer Youth Scholarship Cutting champions.

The agreement includes a total of 12 trophy saddles to be awarded by Sean Ryon during the NCHA Super Stakes and Summer Cutting Spectacular. The agreement also includes two saddles to be awarded to the champions of the National Youth Cutting Horse Association’s Scholarship Cutting held during the Summer Cutting Spectacular.

“The NYCHA program is a great youth program,” said Sean Ryon. “This is a great way to stay involved with that program. In the past, the association has had to pay for the scholarship cutting saddles and now they will be awarding some of the best saddles on the market.”

Read the full story.

NYCHA Stallion Service Program Bids Due February 5
Don't miss your last chance to bid on more than 160 breedings offered for sale through the 2004 Stallion Service Program. Bids must be at least 50% of the listed breeding fee and must be received by noon (Central Standard Time) on February 5, 2004. Bids can be faxed to (817) 560-2288 only on Feb. 5 with a credit card number. New stallions have been added this week. See a complete list of available breedings and to print a bid form online.

All breedings are donated to the program, so 100% of the money bid goes directly to the youth program to support scholarships, awards and activities.

For more information, contact Danette McGuire.

Affiliate Spotlight
Based in Michigan, the Great Lakes Cutting Horse Association has 13 shows scheduled for 2004, beginning March 6-7 in Adrian, Michigan, and continuing through the season finale at Springville, Michigan September 18-19. The affiliate gives year-end awards based on earnings, with the exception of the youth awards which are based on points. Year-end standings for each class are displayed on their web site.

This year's slate of officers includes president Shari Campbell, vice president Torri Slaby, secretary Crystal Stark, and treasurer Dan Agnew. The past president is Nancy Hebb.

Coors Cowtown Cutting
More than 150,000 spectators will enjoy cutting action during the Coors Cowtown Cutting at the Fort Worth Stock Show which runs through February 8. The unique event, which pays out $23,800 to open and non-pro competitors, is held in conjunction with the daily performances of the show’s rodeo.

Scholarship Applications Invited
Education has always been a fundamental goal of The Fort Worth Stock Show Syndicate. The James M. “Jim Bob” Norman Scholarship Fund was established in 1984 as a permanent endowment in memory of Jim Bob Norman who was chairman of the Syndicate at the time of his death. Jim Bob was active in many youth organizations and it was his dream to start a college scholarship endowment to help young Texas men and women pursue agricultural careers.

The Fund grants two $8,000 scholarships each year to Texas high school students. To find out more and see how to apply, click here.

Tolbert Benefits Raise Funds
Following the recent death of long-time NCHA member Birdy Tolbert in an auto accident, the cutting horse community and North Texas horse people have rallied to the support of her sons. Birdy's employer, North Texas Horse Sales organized an auction featuring cutting horse breedings, training and other goods and services which is believed to have raised a six-figure sum for the trust fund. Online bids are being accepted for more donated breedings and other goods and services through February 14.

In addition, the Central Texas CHA will donate all of the proceeds of their February 6-8 show to the Tolbert boys. They plan to have a silent auction at that show to raise money for the boys as well. Contact Marcy Blanchard for more information.

The Muenster Cutting Horse Association's February 21 show in Gainesville Texas has been re-named the "Tolbert Children Trust Fund" Cutting, with all proceeds going to the trust fund. It was formerly titled Muenster CHA Cutting.

Gelding Gold Mine
Geldings will get on the gravy train at the 2004 Super Stakes when the NCHA adds $20,000 to the Gelding Stakes. And that train really picks up steam in 2005 when NCHA and Western Bloodstock will begin pumping $50,000 annually into the Gelding Stakes program.

Everybody wins with the new purse structure, according to NCHA Executive Director Jeff Hooper.

"We'll be seeing substantial increases in purse money which will increase the value of geldings," Hooper said. "Hand-in-hand with that will be an incentive for people to have those geldings trained, and for trainers to be encouraged to ride them."

Western Bloodstock's Ben Emison added, "With this new program, a person will be able to ride three horses in the Super Stakes, as long as one of them is a gelding. The stallion owners, the breeders and the trainers will all benefit from this great new program."

The Gelding Stakes will be a "class within a class" for 4-year-olds, with a working finals. The new structure kicks off in 2004 with the $20,000-added NCHA Gelding Stakes, which will guarantee $10,000 to the winner. That will have a $1,000 entry fee, with $850 jackpotted.

Then in 2005, the $50,000-added Western Bloodstock/NCHA Gelding Stakes--with $25,000 from each organization--will be launched. A $500 entry fee will be due by September 1, 2004, or $1,000 to enter between September 2, 2004 and time of entry for the Super Stakes.

For the 2006 show, the $500 entry will be due by December 31 of the gelding's 2-year-old year. For 2007, the $500 entry will be due by December 31 of the yearling year. Later entries for each of those shows will increase to $1,000 or $2,000 depending on how tardy they are.

Online Membership Renewal Incentive
Join NCHA or renew your NCHA membership now and take advantage of these special offers! All new and returning members who sign up for a 3-year membership (2004-2006) prior to March 1, 2004 will be included in a drawing for a new Stetson NCHA Supreme 80 limited edition Genuine Beaver Hat with Sterling silver and gold buckle set with ruby stones. These hats have a retail value of $1500, and available in natural beaver, black, silver belly and silver beaver pre-creased or open crown. Only 100 of these limited edition hats will be produced and one of them could be yours.

In addition, all new members who join NCHA prior to March 1, 2004 will also be included in a drawing for a $500 Cowboy Tack Gift Certificate. That's a chance to get $500 worth of great tack! So whether you join for 1 year or 3 years, join today and take advantage of these great opportunities.

Winners will be announced during the 2004 Super Stakes in April 2004. You can join or renew online. If you have any questions please contact the Membership Department at (817) 244-6188.

Need a Guide?
If you're an NCHA member who needs another copy of the popular Guide to Cutting that mailed with the January issue of Cutting Horse Chatter, or if you're not a member and you want to find out more about cutting, help is just a click away. The 64-page magazine is packed with information for cutters of all levels of ability.

Collection of Columns
Last summer, author, cutting horse historian, Daily Chatter editor and Cutting Horse Chatter contributor Sally Harrison began writing a weekly "Hoof Beats" column for the Fort Worth Business Press. Now you can refer back to the Hoof Beats archives online.

Guide to Respiratory Problems in the Horse
Breathing problems are a leading cause of poor performance in horses. Depending on whether it is an infectious or non-infectious respiratory condition, symptoms can range from fever and going off feed to mild cough and nasal discharge.

Request your copy of the Owners Guide to Respiratory Problems in the Horse and then contact your veterinarian if you suspect your horse has a respiratory condition.

Peptotime
Prominent young sire Peptotime was inadvertently omitted from the Stallion Directory listings in the February Cutting Horse Chatter.

Eastern National Championships Entries Due
Entries for the Millennium Trailers NCHA Eastern National Championships are due in the NCHA office no later than Tuesday, February 10. The show will be held in Jackson, Mississippi March 9-20.

Payment Due
The first payment for the NCHA Derby and NCHA Classic/Challenge is due February 15.

Earnings and Eligibility
Beginning with the 2005 point year, horse and rider earnings gained in non-NCHA competition will be considered in determining eligibility for restricted classes.

"In the past, it has been possible for a horse to show extensively outside of NCHA and still be eligible for our novice classes," said NCHA Executive Director Jeff Hooper. "We are working with Equi-Stat and other organizations, such as the American Cutting Horse Association and the Australian Cutting Horse Association, to recognize non-NCHA earnings for eligibility purposes beginning with the 2005 point year."

Advertising Deadline
The deadline for advertising in the April issue of Cutting Horse Chatter is March 1. The deadline for advertising in the Eastern National Championships Program is February 13. Contact Shawn McCoy (817) 244-6188, ext. 160 to reserve your space.

Now you can get special full color business card-size ads in NCHA's Show Programs at a special, affordable rate. Contact Aleasha Dugan (817) 244-6188, ext. 107 for details.

Get Warm
Brave the winter chill with Tioga Territory’s own wool jacket in black with green sleeves or navy with burgundy sleeves and tan black leather. "NCHA" is embroidered down right sleeve. Includes left chest and center back designs. Available in all sizes, including kids' sizes.