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Cutting on TV
There will be an NCHA Special Television Broadcast on Sunday, September 5 at 6 p.m. (EST), 5 p.m. (CST) on cable television's Outdoor Life Network 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.

NCHA Futurity Payouts Expected to Rise
More contestants are expected to take home more money at the 2005 NCHA Futurity thanks to an improved purse breakdown approved by the NCHA Executive Committee on August 17. The new payouts, recommended jointly by the Limited Age Event and Professional Trainers committees during the NCHA Convention in June, will see the sixth through 25th horses each earning a projected $2,400 more than their counterparts in the 2004 Futurity.

In addition, NCHA Futurity Open Semi-Finalists are projected to receive an increase of $3,000 each. So 26th through 70th places in NCHA’s premiere event are projected to be worth $10,000. The total purse is projected to grow by more than $180,000.

The projections are based on the number of horses entered in the 2003 NCHA Futurity, with a new entry fee schedule for the 2005 Futurity. The new fees begin with a $100 payment on October 1, 2004.

Mike Kelly, Russell McCord Take New Roles
NCHA Assistant Executive Director and Director of Judges Mike Kelly and Assistant Director of Judges Russell McCord will take on expanded duties beginning September 1. Kelly will focus on his Assistant Executive Director role, while McCord has been named Director of Judges.

Vesicular Stomatitis Advisory
Animal health officials say that the Vesicular Stomatitis outbreak in Texas appears to be winding down as of mid-August, but more than 150 infected animals have been detected in Texas, New Mexico and Colorado, and more cases may be seen before the outbreak is over. VS is a viral disease that appears every few years. Infected livestock, such as horses, cattle, goats, deer, swine or other susceptible animals, develop blisters, ulcers or sloughing of the skin in and around the mouth, teats or hooves. 

Some states have imposed quarantines or other restrictions on livestock traveling from affected states. If you're traveling out of state to a show, be sure to check with show or state officials on travel restictions before you go.

NWCHA Ranch Festival Underway
Gary Gonsalves marked 222.5 on his CD Olena gelding, CD Chevy, to win the NWCHA Ranch Festival Futurity in Fort Klamath, Oregon, on August 30. The win was worth $13,141. The Open Derby went to Russ Westfall on his homegrown Jeeps Posi Traction yesterday with a score of 222. The show continues through Sunday.

West Texas Futurity Names First Champ
Terry Tanner and Rex Sting Rey marked 217 to win the Amateur Derby at the West Texas Futurity in Amarillo this week. The show runs through September 4.

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.

Time to Buy
Western Bloodstock will handle upcoming on-site sales for EE Ranches of Texas, Hillis Akin Ranch, W.T. Waggoner Estate, plus the PCCHA Futurity Sale. The EE Ranches of Texas Sale at Whitesboro, Texas, on September 10, will feature a tribute to Laney Doc, one of the greatest producers in Quarter Horse history. The Hillis Akin Ranch Dispersal will be held the next day, just down the road in Gainesville, Texas.

Gelding Stakes Deadline Is At Hand
Today 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.

Today is also the deadline for the fifth payment of $400 for the 2004 NCHA Open and Non-Pro Futurity, and the first payment of $500 for the Amateur Futurity.

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.

Kutting for the Kids
The second annual Kutting for the Kids, benefiting the Make A Wish Foundation, is set for Saturday, October 30 at the J.B. Wells Arena in Gonzales, Texas. Headlined by $2,500-added Open and Non-Pro events, a $2,500 Scholarship Cutting, and a Celebrity Cutting, the show will feature great purses and prizes across the board.

Services to 86 stallions have already been donated to the fund-raising stallion auction.

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 $50,605 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. Chubby and Ginger Turner are next in line with Shes A Dream As, with $23,288 in earnings.

In the Non-Pro standings, six-time World Champion Mary Jo Milner holds the lead over 1999 World Champion Joe Howard Williamson, $54,903 to $46,370. Milner will be inducted into the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame this fall.

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.

Affiliate Spotlight
With 13 shows plus the All American Quarter Horse Congress on the calendar, the Ohio Cutting Horse Association has an active schedule. Founded in 1953, the OCHA has great competition for year-end awards. It's going down to the wire in the Open class standings this season has Jack McDonald and Playful Alibi hold a $74 lead over Ryan Pierce on Doc Holladay's Covergirl Solano.

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 here. Contact Shawn McCoy at (817) 244-6188, ext. 160, to reserve your space in what promises to be the best Yearbook ever.

Vested Interest
Keep warm this fall with an NCHA Stormtech vest with micro-fiber outer shell and polar fleece lining from Tioga Territory. NCHA's logo is embroidered on center back and left chest. Vests are available in black and brown and in sizes X-Small through 2X-Large.

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."