Super Start for Super Stakes
The Flowmaster /NCHA Super Stakes got underway in Fort Worth, Texas, today with the first go-round of the Super Stakes Classic. With a record purse of nearly $2.3 million, the show continues through April 20.

The winner of the 4-year-old Open class will receive a record $102,480, an increase of 28% on last year’s winning purse, and an increase of 106% on the amount paid out as recently as 1999.

Keep up with the action each day with the Daily Chatter newsletter.

Honoring Stallion Owners
The National Cutting Horse Association and Western Bloodstock will host a "Stallion Owners Appreciation Breakfast" during the final weekend of the Super Stakes at 7:30 a.m. April 19 in the Watt Arena. The breakfast in honor of the Super Stakes Stallion Owners is free for NCHA members. It will be followed by the Western Bloodstock Sale, scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m.

Watch the Super Stakes Live
Following the successful live telecast of the 2002 NCHA Futurity on the Dish Network, Cowboy TV and Running J Productions will offer a live, pay-per-view telecast of the NCHA Super Stakes Open Finals on Sunday, April 20, beginning at 6:00 p.m. Central Time. Hosted by Red Steagall, the show will also feature highlights of the Super Stakes Non-Pro Finals and the Gelding Stakes.

Dish Network customers can order by using remote channel 456, or by calling 1-877-347-4778. For satellite installation, call 1-800-333-DISH.

NCHA’s Monthly Television Show Starts This Month
Big Moves & Hard Stops, NCHA’s new half-hour, monthly television program, makes its debut on April 16. It will be seen on the third Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time (5:30 p.m. Central Time), immediately preceding AQHA's popular "America's Horse" which airs weekly on at 7 p.m. EST.

Big Moves & Hard Stops Debut Party
There will be a special Big Moves & Hard Stops viewing party at the Super Stakes in the Amon Carter Exhibit Hall. Refreshments will be served during the program’s debut on April 16 at 5:30 p.m.

Vice President Elections
Bob Mayfield of Wills Point, Texas, and Mike Mowery of Millsap, Texas, are this year’s candidates for Vice President of the NCHA. The successful candidate will serve a one-year term as Vice President, followed by a one-year term as President Elect, followed by one year as President of NCHA. Ballots have been mailed to all members of the NCHA and must be returned no later than May 23.

Widows’ Waltz
Robert and Debbie Middleton’s stallion Widows Freckles scored a double victory on March 22, the final day of the Chevy Trucks/NCHA Eastern National Championships. Ridden by 16-year-old Lauren Middleton, the horse marked  222 to take the Non-Pro Finals. Then Austin Shepard rode the horse to a 225-point win in the Open, recording the highest score of any of the show’s finals.

The North Mississippi Cutting Horse Association dominated the AQHA / NCHA Affiliate Challenge, scoring 1,445 points to runner-up Oil Belt CHA’s 1,045 points. The American Quarter Horse Association paid out $7,500 to the high-scoring affiliate based on participation and achievement at the show. In all, 10 affiliates collected a total of $27,000 from AQHA through the program, which is also offered at the Chevy Trucks/NCHA Western National Championships in Ogden, Utah later this month.

Gist Silversmiths
In addition to the cash prize money provided by the American Quarter Horse Association for the AQHA / NCHA Affiliate Challenge Program, another NCHA sponsor has added their support of the program at the Chevy Trucks / NCHA Eastern and Western National Championships.

Gist Silversmiths, the "Official Buckle Maker of the NCHA", will provide gift certificates to the top two scoring affiliates during each show of the NCHA Affiliate Challenge. The first place Affiliate Team will receive an award certificate with a retail value of $2,000, while the second place Affiliate Team will receive an award certificate with a retail value of $1,000. Affiliates can use these certificates at their discretion.

Affiliate spotlight
The Oil Belt Cutting Horse Association had quite a showing at the 2002 Chevy Trucks / NCHA Eastern National Championships in Jackson, Mississippi, last month. The Oil Belt CHA finished second in the NCHA/AQHA Affiliate Challenge Program, which offered a total of $27,000 to affiliates at the Eastern Nationals.

The Oil Belt CHA was represented in Jackson by 35 cutters. Their "team" earned 350 points for entering and another 695 for excellence in their classes. In sum, their 1,045 points were good for second place, a check for $5,000 from the American Quarter Horse Association, and a $1,000 product certificate from Gist Silversmiths.

Headquartered in Sulphur Springs, Texas, the Oil Belt CHA puts on at least one show per month from January through October. All of those shows take place at the Hopkins County Civic Center just outside of Sulphur Springs. Their next show will be April 19. For more details about their show schedule, standings, and happenings, visit their website.

Officers: Randy Smith, president; Shane Stovall, vice-president; Teri Sims, secretary. Board of Directors: Brett Davis, Jim Emerson, Leon Lewis, Linda Mahler, Susan Morrison, Debbie Mullins, Kevin Rucker and David Taylor.

A New Leader
Falcon Seaboard Ranches’ Freckled Leo Girl has taken the lead in the Open standings for the year with $14,228. In the Non-Pro race, defending World Champion Mary Jo Milner remains in front on Red White And Boon with $22,436, for shows recorded through March 28.

And a New World . . .
The World Finals is not just for Open and Non-Pro contestants any more. Horses and riders in all divisions are taking the first steps on the road to the biggest, richest World Finals in history, to be held in Amarillo, Texas January 12-22, 2004. The $335,000-added show will feature 11 classes, with the top 50 year-end contestants in each class being eligible for the finals.

In conjunction with the new World Finals format, NCHA has expanded the standings listed on the web to go 100 deep in each class. The extended listings are also published in the Cutting Horse Chatter.

Ranch Rodeo on TV
The Fort Worth Stock Show Invitational Ranch Rodeo and the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame inductions will be featured on this week's America's Horse, the only television show dedicated to the American Quarter Horse. This show airs at 7:30 p.m. EST on the Outdoor Life Network. Tune in 30 minutes earlier at 7 p.m. EST, to see some of AQHA's extraordinary horses.

NCHA Cutting Video Magazine
NCHA Cutting Video Magazine, an "internet video magazine" features exciting NCHA action, with behind-the-scenes interviews and exclusive footage of NCHA events. Viewers get dynamic full screen TV quality video delivered directly to their PCs.  Dial-up connections with 28K modems work fine and full screen television quality will play on a Pentium I computer or better!

The program is produced by Productive Media Group, LLC and is presented by Teton Investment Capital, LLC promoting NCHA as well as Affinity Online Media, LLC and .Dean Sanders' Diamond Spur Ranch

Cutting enthusiasts can download a free sample and subscribe to the new program by clicking the "NCHA Cutting Video Magazine" button on the NCHA home page.

Western Horseman Cup update
With eight of the qualifying events completed, Chiquita Pistol retains a commanding lead in the Western Horseman Cup Open standings with 275 points. Mary Ann Rapp is still in front of the Non-Pros with 420 points.

Hall of Fame
You don’t need to wait for the 2002 Yearbook to see who is in the NCHA Hall of Fame. The information is just a click away.

Horsecity.Com Partners with NHSRA
HorseCity.com will be the Internet Service Provider for the National High School Rodeo Association, an international, non-profit organization that is dedicated to the development of horsemanship, sportsmanship and character in the youth of the country through the sport of rodeo.

Kent Sturman, NHSRA Executive Director stated, "We are excited to become a partner with HorseCity.com because of the reputation they have in the equine industry, as well as within the Internet world. The possibilities that a partnership with a web site of this magnitude can offer are endless."

NYCHA Stallion Service Program
Why spend more for breeding fees if you don’t have to? All remaining breedings donated to the NYCHA Stallion Service Program can be purchased on a first-come, first-serve basis for 60% of the advertised breeding fees. We have many, great breedings still available including several stallions from the Smart Little Lena bloodline -- Cattin, Lenas Rx, Smokin Smart, Color Me Peppy, Smart Little Tee, Smart Chic O Leo and Blazin Pistol. Other breedings donated recently include Vibrant Docogold, Smokin Manzana, Travelin Thru and Badgers Bay Bar.

To purchase any of the remaining breedings, contact Danette McGuire. All proceeds benefit the National Youth Cutting Horse Association.

Fit to a T
With warmer weather on the horizon, cutters will appreciate these pocket T-shirts with silk-screened NCHA logos in popular sizes from Tioga Territory.

Advertising Deadline
The deadline for the June Cutting Horse Chatter is May 1. Contact Shawn McCoy at (817) 244-6188 for more information.

Western National Championships Entries
All entries for the Chevy Trucks/NCHA Western National Championships must be received in the NCHA office no later than April 4. There is no grace period for entries to this show. Contact Carolyn Crist for more information.

Renew On-line
If you have not yet renewed your NCHA membership, you can do it the easy way with on-line processing.

You’ve Got to Laugh
Cutter Toons, the acclaimed cartoon book by renowned artist Jerry McAdams is now available for just $12.50 postage paid. McAdams’ cartoons with a cutting edge are a popular feature of the Daily Chatter newsletter at NCHA shows.

Call Darla Bellville at (817) 244-6188 to order your copy today.

AHC Cancels Convention
With concerns about travel and security, the American Horse Council has canceled its annual convention, scheduled for April 5-8 in Washington, D.C. Full Story