NYCHA and Walton Family Foundation award $100,000 in scholarships
Twenty current and former members of the National Youth Cutting Horse Association have been awarded $5,000 college scholarships by the Walton Family Foundation.  The scholarships for the 2003-2004 academic year were awarded to full-time college, university or trade school students based on their participation in NYCHA, academic achievment, community involvement and financial need.

Catch the Derby on Cowboy TV

DISH Network subscribers can still see Chiquita Pistol in action on the encore presentations of the two-hour telecast of the NCHA Derby. The show will air on August 24, 27, 29 and 31. The pay-per-view telecast is produced by Cowboy TV (http://www.nchacutting.com/summer/tv/cowboytv.htm) who brought cutters the live telecasts of the 2002 NCHA Futurity and the 2003 NCHA Super Stakes.

Western Horseman Cup update

With the results of the latest event in the series, the UBS/Galles Pagosa Springs Rocky Mountain  Championship, tallied, Tapt Twice, owned and shown by Phil Rapp, is leading the Western Horseman Cup  with 145 points. Sweet Lil Pepto, shown by Mike Mowery for John and Dana Harrah, and Tess My Grit, shown by Matt Gaines for Ken and Marcia Hanson, are tied for second with 110 points.

 In the Non-Pro competition, Mary Ann Rapp has amassed 290 points, but because she had already qualified for the Western Horseman Cup during the Spring Season, Dustin Adams is leading the Horsecity.com Summer Season with 180 points earned on Pale Face Jose and CD Fancy Chance.

 The Western Horseman Cup continues through the Horsecity.com Summer Season, and the WesternHorseman.com Fall Season, culminating in a $250,000 Finals at the Augusta Futurity in January 2004.

Check out these links to upcoming Western Horseman Cup events, or see the complete schedule here:

·        Iowa Breeders Cutting

·        NWCHA Ranch Festival

·        West Texas Futurity

·        Idaho CHA Futurity

·        Wine Country Futurity

·        Raleigh Cutting Series

·        Dakota Classic Breeders Futurity

·        Brazos Bash

·        Canadian Supreme

·        CHAN Futurity

·        All American QH Congress

·        Music City Futurity

·        Suncoast Futurity

·        Pacific Coast Futurity

Colorado Champions

The UBS/Galles Pagosa Springs Rocky Mountain Championship  at Pagosa Springs, Colorado, concluded August 14.

Tess My Grit, ridden by Matt Gaines, won the Open Derby with a 222, edging Little Gunolena, ridden by Bronc Willoughby for Mountain Park Ranch. Hope Justice and Foxy Santana marked 225 to win the Non-Pro Derby by three points over Elizabeth Queen. Fifteen-year-old Elizabeth Brumbaugh and Flickaweed took the Amateur Derby, on the heels of their win in the NCHA Derby a few weeks earlier. 

On Top of the World

In the NCHA Open standings, Kyle Manion’s Hollywood Nus Bar ($27,043) has extended his lead over Widows Freckles ($21,773) and One Smart Lad ($20,617) for shows recorded through August 8 (standings). In the Non-Pro race, defending World Champion Mary Jo Milner remains in front on Red White And Boon with $51,147, followed by McKenzie Mullins with $37,981.

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.

 World Finals Entries

It’s likely that many cutters who are not currently ranked in the Top 50 will compete in the NCHA World Finals in Amarillo in January. One reason is that competitors who are in sight of the leaders will increase their efforts to qualify in the remaining months of the point year. Another reason is that if an invitation is declined or not received with the proper postmark, that will open a slot for the next competitor on the list. NCHA will continue to drop down the list in each class until we have 50 entries. 

“We expect to see some great races in all classes toward the end of the season,” said NCHA Executive Director Jeff Hooper. “Since we’ve begun publishing the Top 100 rankings in the Chatter and on the website,  we’ve heard from many members who say they didn’t realize before that the Top 50 is within their reach.

 “Inevitably, some of those cutters who do make the Top 50 will have prior commitments that prevent them from going to the World Finals. It’s important to remember that those ‘declined invitations’ will open up World Finals opportunities for competitors who end up ranked a little below 50^th place.”

In September, NCHA will send notices to all Top 100 cutters that they are in contention for the World Finals. Entry forms for the show will be published in the Chatter in October and November, and will also be mailed to Top 100 competitors. 

World Finals entries must be postmarked or faxed no later than Monday, November 24, with no grace period. Entries that qualify for the World Finals will be posted on the internet on Friday, December 19. 

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.”

Chatter Goes Online

The Cutting Horse Chatter, official publication of the National Cutting Horse Association, launched a new website today. It includes news and feature stories, plus historical and statistical information. 

“We will have selected material from the current issue of the magazine and begin to archive older stories,” said Alan Gold, NCHA Director of Publishing. “Making our content more readily available can help us reach a wider audience of cutting horse enthusiasts.

 “We have also begun to upload our huge library of historical information. That will give our horses and riders, past and present, greater recognition for the accomplishments. It will also give our members and the media a valuable research tool. This will be an ongoing project, and internet visitors will find the library of information growing each week.”

 Special Publications

The Chatter will publish a special Guide to Cutting  this fall. This will be a separate magazine packed with information about the sport which will be sent to all NCHA members in November. 

“This will be a great resource for our members, and for new members coming into the NCHA,” said Gold. “We’ve had a lot of demand for a single publication that contains answers to all of the most common questions people have about cutting. We’ll feature everything from the history of cutting to tips for improving your showmanship. Our goal is not only to provide a great introduction to cutting, but also offer enough substance that even seasoned cutters will keep coming back to it.”

Color Me Smart Reaches Milestone

Color Me Smart  has become the first Paint stallion to sire winners of more than $1 million. At this year’s American Paint Horse Association World Show, he was represented by 25 offspring, and achieved two World Champions, two Reserve World Champions, and eight horses that finished in the top five of their classes.

Color Me Smart is owned by Esperanza Ranch,  managed by Larry Heathington. He stands at DLR Stallion Station, Weatherford, Texas.

Futurity Payment Due

The fifth payment for the 2003 NCHA Futurity, in the amount of $400, is due September 1.

 DNA/AQHA Registration

To help NCHA maintain accurate records, owners of National DNA Horse Registry Inc. -registered horses who have double-registered their horses with the American Quarter Horse Association should submit a copy of the DNA registration papers and the AQHA registration papers to NCHA.

The papers can be faxed to (817) 244-2015, or copies can be mailed to:

NCHA, Attention: Linda Smith, 260 Bailey Ave., Fort Worth, TX 76107.

For more information, contact Linda Smith  (817) 244-6188.

Advertising Deadlines

Deadline for the NCHA Yearbook is August 22. The deadline for the exciting special edition Cutting Horse Chatter Guide to Cutting is September 15. Contact Shawn McCoy  at (817) 244-6188 for more information.

Todd Drummond Award Nominations Sought

Each National Cutting Horse Association affiliate may nominate one outstanding youth member for the annual Todd Drummond Award. The youth member will be recognized for scholastic achievement, extracurricular activities and cutting horse involvement.

A special committee will review all nominations and recommend a maximum of three nominees to the Executive Committee, who will then chose the award winner at their fall meeting. During the 2003 NCHA World Championship Futurity, the Todd Drummond Award winner will be honored and presented a custom-designed trophy buckle.

The nomination deadline is September 1. Affiliates should send their nomination and supporting information to the NCHA office, Attention Todd Drummond Award, 260 Bailey Avenue, Fort Worth, Texas 76107. For more information, contact Pam Robison  at (817) 244-6188, ext. 111.     

Sharp Shirts

Look sharp with a 100% combed ringspun cotton variegated ribbed golf shirt with official NCHA embroidery on left chest. Available in sizes for everyone  (http://www.tiogaterritory.com/cgi-bin/merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=NCHA&Product_Code=NcBHP&Category_Code=NcES) from Tioga Territory.