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.

Cutting on TV
There will be an NCHA Special Television Broadcast on Sunday, September 5 at 6 p.m. (EST), 5 p.m. (CST) entitled "Cutting: The Ultimate Equine Experience."

Learn from NCHA professional trainers and top non-professional competitors on how they got started in cutting, and how newcomers interested in the sport can get involved. The special one-hour national television broadcast will be hosted by Bob Kingsley of American Country Countdown.

Pagosa Springs Wrap Up
There was a three-way tie among High Stylish Oak, owned and ridden by Jason Clark, Boon San Kitty, ridden by Eddie Flynn for Walton's Rocking W Ranch, and Steves Nurse, ridden by Tag Rice for Kelly Schaar in the Open Derby at the UBS/Galles Ranch Championship in Pagosa Springs, Colorado.

Other champions include Cindy Smith in the Non-Pro Derby, Lainie Whitmire in the Amateur Derby, Kathy Daughn on Norda Berger's High Classed Model in the Open Classic, Bob Kingsley in the Non-Pro Classic, and Elizabeth Brumbaugh in the Amateur Classic.

Summer Season of Western Horseman Cup Heats Up
With the first six shows of the Horsecity.com Summer Season of the Western Horseman Cup series decided, Boon San Kitty has pulled into the lead in the Open standings with 175 points, followed by Cat Ichi with 100 points, Laredo Blue with 85, and a four-way tie among Aristo Katz, High Stylish Oak, Jeeps Posi Traction and Steves Nurse at 75 points. Cat Ichi has already qualified for the Western Horseman Cup finals by winning the Quarter Horse News Spring Season race.

Skip Queen's 120 points top the Non-Pro competition, followed by Scott Ferguson with 100, Wesley Galyean and Chad Bushaw with 85, and Gayle Karanges, Lewie Wood and Cindy Smith with 75. Ferguson and Galyean already qualified for the Western Horseman Cup finals during the spring season.

Aged Event Action
The busy schedule of aged events across the country continues in the coming weeks with the $30,500-added Clemson Cutting Series at Clemson, South Carolina beginning August 24, the $105,000-added NWCHA Ranch Festival at Fort Klamath, Oregon also starting August 24. The following week will see the start of the $79,000-added West Texas Futurity at Amarillo, Texas, and the $38,000-added State of Missouri Futurity at Columbia.

Spectacular Coverage
Cat Ichi, owned by EE Ranches of Texas, and ridden by Guy Woods, collected $75,000 for winning the NCHA Derby at the NCHA Summer Cutting Spectacular, presented by Emison Insurance underwritten by the Insurance Corporation of Hannover.

Get the scoop at chatteronline.com, with links to stats, pictures, video clips, go-round scores and lots more.

Spectacular Results at Summer Sale
Western Bloodstock's NCHA Summer Spectacular Sale staked its claim as one of the cutting industry’s premiere auctions. Held at Will Rogers Equestrian Center in Fort Worth, Texas, July 24 and 25, during the NCHA Summer Cutting Spectacular, the sales broke records for all sales averages in 2004, including the 2003 NCHA Futurity Sales.

“It was a fantastic sale,” said Ben Emison of Western Bloodstock, the company that produces and manages all of the NCHA sales in Fort Worth. “I think people have finally recognized what a great opportunity this mid-year sale offers both buyers and sellers.”

Net sales on 223 head averaged $18,492. The top 10 selling horses averaged $152,400, while the top 100 averaged $34,508. Full results are available online and will be published in the September issue of the Chatter.

Time to Buy
Western Bloodstock will also handle upcoming on-site sales for EE Ranches of Texas, Hillis Akin Ranch, W.T. Waggoner Estate, plus the PCCHA Futurity Sale.

Chatter Wins Awards
NCHA's official publication, Cutting Horse Chatter, captured three first-place awards, including one for General Excellence, in the Livestock Publication Council's annual competition.

Gelding Stakes Deadline Is At Hand
September 1 is the deadline for nominating to the $50,000 NCHA Gelding Stakes, sponsored by Western Bloodstock. The class-within-a-class will be held at the 2005 NCHA Super Stakes. First payment is $500. Contact Janie Strotheide for more information.

Clinics Coming Up
Cutters can hone their skills at several upcoming clinics. Donna Phillips and Susannah Cord will focus on Cutting and Dressage at Salida, Colorado, September 11-12. NCHA Hall of Famer Leon Harrel will conduct one of his Five Star Cutting Clinics at Galles Ranch, Pagosa Springs, Colorado, September 13-16. Barbra Schulte will conduct an Intermediate Cutting Clinic in Brenham, Texas, September 30-October 2.

Dates Set for NCHA World Finals
The 2004 NCHA World Finals will be held in Amarillo, Texas, February 10-20, 2005. The schedule includes two weekends of competition.

The Race Is On in 2004
Georgia and David Husby's Flickacat, ridden by Chubby Turner, has a solid lead with $44,689 in the 2004 Open standings. Richard Walpole's Boonsmal Cee Lena, ridden by the late Greg Welch, and now retired in memory of Welch, holds second in the Open World standings with $26,187.

In the Non-Pro standings, six-time World Champion Mary Jo Milner holds the lead over 1999 World Champion Joe Howard Williamson, $50,517 to $39,260. Milner will be inducted into the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame this fall.

Wayne Hodges Trailer Sales/Outlaw Conversions Join NCHA Sponsors
Wayne Hodges Trailer Sales/Outlaw Conversions will be the title sponsor of the 2004 NCHA Eastern and Western National Championships, to be held in Jackson, Mississippi, and Ogden, Utah, respectively, next spring.

Based in Weatherford, Texas, and Wasco, California, Wayne Hodges Trailer Sales specializes in custom-made 4 Star Trailers. Their custom living quarters models are constructed by Outlaw Conversions.

Chevy Truck Giveaway
Everyone over the age of 18 who purchases a National Cutting Horse Association membership in 2004 will have a chance to win a new Chevy Duramax diesel crew-cab truck. In addition, each time you win a check in an NCHA-approved event during the 2004 point year, you will be automatically entered again in the drawing.

Join Now for a Chance at the Truck
You can join the National Cutting Horse Association online right now.

AQHA Accepting Hall of Fame Nominations
Know a person or horse that deserves to be in the American Quarter Horse Association Hall of Fame? October 1 is the deadline for nominations.

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.

Affiliate Spotlight
The Iowa Cutting Horse Association is gearing up for the Iowa Breeders Cutting Futurity to be held in Marshalltown August 20-22. The affiliate's schedule includes nine shows from March through November. Their web site includes past newsletters, a listing of Iowa trainers, show results and more. Tom Swab of Marshalltown is president, Dave Borness of Decorah is vice-president, Sharon Kirchner of Clarinda is secretary, Jim Randall of Mondamin is treasurer, and Diane Borness handles the newsletter.

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.

Advertising Deadlines
The deadline for advertising in the 2004 NCHA Yearbook & Membership Directory is fast approaching. Contact Shawn McCoy at (817) 244-6188, ext. 160, to reserve your space in what promises to be the best Yearbook ever.

Cutter's Cap
Don't get caught with any old cap this summer. Get Kati's six-panel twill zig zag cap with vinyl strap and metal closure in back. One size fits all, and it comes in white/navy, white/forest, white/burgundy, khaki/navy, and khaki/black from Tioga Territory.

Watch It!
You can 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. Contact Darla Bellville 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.

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."