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$1,000 Achievement Buckles
$1,000 in lifetime weekend show earnings will remain the plateau cutters need to reach to win an official NCHA Achievement Buckle. A proposal from the 2004 NCHA Convention would have lifted the limit to $2,000, but at their meeting September 8-9 in Fort Worth, Texas, the NCHA Executive Committee elected to maintain the $1,000 limit, which has been a coveted incentive for thousands of cutters over the years.

NCHA Earnings Only to Count for Eligibility
The Executive Committee also voted to continue counting only NCHA earnings towards determining horse and rider eligibility. It had been proposed to incorporate records from other organizations, such as the American Cutting Horse Association and the Australian NCHA for puposes of eligibility, but research found that this was not practical.

"Although counting money in non-NCHA cutting contests is an admirable goal, there is not a source for this information that has the acccuracy of the NCHA database," said NCHA Executive Director Jeff Hooper. "The opportunity for errors or flaws in this system of combining earnings from other associations with NCHA earnings could cause negative issues for the NCHA and our membership. Even if accurate information could be obtained, the timeliness of receiving this information could pose a problem."

Complete minutes from the September Executive Committee meeting will be published in the November Cutting Horse Chatter and posted at nchacutting.com.

NCHA Super Stakes Incentive Purse
The NCHA will introduce a new Super Stakes Incentive Purse at the 2005 show. The Incentive Purse will be structured as a cutting within a cutting. The payout is designed to reward all Incentive Purse foals and nominators of Incentive Purse foals that are Super Stakes finalists. The nominators of the successful subscribed foals, who may or may not be the breeders, will participate in 50% of the purse distribution.

The deadline for nominating a 3-year-old for the 2005 NCHA Super Stakes Incentive Purse is November 28. To subscribe foals for the 2006, 2007 and 2008 Super Stakes Incentive Purse, the payment is due by December 31, 2004.

NCHA Futurity on TV
If you can't make it to Will Rogers Coliseum for the Open Finals of the 2004 NCHA Futurity on December 12, you can still catch the action in a live telecast on DISH TV. The special pay-per-view show will include highlights of the Non-Pro finals. If you're not yet a DISH Network subscriber, contact DISH now to get on board.

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.

Record Set at EE Ranches of Texas Sale
The inaugural EE Ranches of Texas Breeders Production Sale saw a record price of $390,000 paid for a cutting horse yearling on September 10. Sixty-one horses changed hands at the immaculate EE Ranches facilities in Whitesboro, Texas for an average price of $25,706. The sale was managed by Western Bloodstock.

The top seller at $390,000 was Catalaney, a yearling full sister to NCHA Derby champion Cat Ichi, offered by EE Ranches, and purchased by Stan Thomas of Three Trees Ranch, Newman, Georgia. The price broke the previous yearling record of $380,000 from December 2002, for Big Time Pepto. Catalaney is by High Brow Cat out of $1.2 million producer Laney Doc.

The second high yearling was Rockin Rollin Rey at $50,000. She was consigned by Carol Dewrell, Fort Walton, Florida, and purchased by Lonnie & Barbara Allsup, Clovis, New Mexico.

The top broodmare at $125,000 was Shootin Poo, consigned by Gail Holmes, Double Dove Ranch, Longmont, Colorado and purchased by Marshall Chesrown, Black Rock Ranch, Harrison, Idaho

The broodmare Most Unique, consigned by Gary & Alycia Bellenfant of DeLeon, Texas, was purchased for $90,000 by Lonnie & Barbara Allsup.

The top selling show horse at $47,000 was Goran, consigned by EE Ranches, and purchased by S. David Plummer, Fruit Heights, Utah.

Complete results will be published in the October issue of Cutting Horse Chatter.

Nitro Dual Doc Tops Hillis Akin Sale
Nitro Dual Doc, a 6-year-old stallion by Peptoboonsmal out of the dam of Dual Pep, brought the top price of $335,000 at the Hillis Akin Ranch Complete Dispersal held September 11 at Gainesville, Texas. Buyers came from 22 states, Belgium, Italy and Canada to the sale managed by Western Bloodstock. In all, 140 horses were at an average price of $14,685. Nitro Dual Doc was purchased by Marshall Cheserown of Black Rock Ranch, Harrison, Idaho.

Steve Norris of T-Cross Ranch, Colorado Springs, Colorado, paid $172,000 for Mr Gallo Del Cielo, a 6-year-old stallion by Gallo Del Cielo out of Hot Blue Deline.

The top-selling mare at $120,000 was Peppy Ray Jean, a 16-year-old daughter of Peppy San Badger, bred to Im Chairman, purchased by Craig Sweat of Big Sky, Montana. Sweat also paid $95,000 for Hopefletchly, a 16-year-old daughter of Jae Bar Fletch that sold with an embryo by Im Chairman.

HA Nitros Roan Rebel was the top-selling yearling at $50,000. Bill Gunlock of Dayton, Ohio, bought the Nitro Dual Doc x Hopefletchly colt.

Complete results will be published in the October issue of Cutting Horse Chatter.

Aged Event Action
The Idaho CHA Futurity and the Music City Futurity are underway this week. In Idaho, Will Nuttall made a clean sweep of yesterday's finals, winning the Open Derby with a 222 on Dean and Wendy Briggs' Lynneas Lynn, and the Classic Challenge with a 220.5 on Anna Schoeder's Flo Motion. The show continues through Saturday.

After two rounds in the Music City Classic Challenge, Matt Gaines is tied with himself for the lead, riding Bob Kingsley's Its Just About Me and Greg Coalson's Quejanaisalena, each with 436.5 points. The finals of that event are tomorrow and the show continues through September 22.

Heidi Carpenter's Dualerina scored a double at the recently concluded West Texas Futurity in Amarillo. She won the Non-Pro Futurity with a 225, while Dean Holden rode Dualerina to a 221-point victory in the Open Futurity.

Cara Barry and NCHA Super Stakes champion Playin Tag won the 4-year-old Open title at the State of Missouri Futurity. Greg Beutenmiller won the 3-year-old title with Jean Kautzman's Nu Choice, while Tracy Barton took the 5/6-year-old division with Buddy Richman's Cats High Noon.

Summer Season of Western Horseman Cup Heats Up
With the Horsecity.com Summer Season of the Western Horseman Cup series concluding this week, Boon San Kitty holds the lead in the Open standings with 175 points, followed by Jeeps Posi Traction with 150 points, and Cat Ichi and High Stylish Oak, each with 100 points. Cat Ichi has already qualified for the Western Horseman Cup finals by winning the Quarter Horse News Spring Season race.

Gayle Karanges, riding homegrown Stylish Amanda, and Janet Westfall, riding homegrown Jeeps Posi Traction, are tied for the lead in the Non-Pro division at 125 points. Skip Queen is next with 120, followed by Lewie Wood and Cindy Smith at 110.

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 87 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 $58,911 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 $23,474 in earnings.

In the Non-Pro standings, six-time World Champion Mary Jo Milner holds the lead over 1999 World Champion Joe Howard Williamson, $58,048 to $50,481. Milner will be inducted into the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame this fall.

The closest race is in the $10,000 Novice/Non-Pro class, where Marvin Marmande Jr. and Willys Tivio Dell have a $251 lead over Don Lee Smith on Merada Doc, $21,838 to $21,587.

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.

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.

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
Feeling lucky? Contact Shawn McCoy today at (817) 244-6188, ext. 160, to see if there's still an opening in your space in the 2004 NCHA Yearbook & Membership Directory. And while you're on the line, remember that the deadline for the NCHA Futurity Program is coming up fast.

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.