1,000,000 Hits
The National Cutting Horse Association website, logged its 1,000,000th visitor on October 9. The association has been tracking hits to its web site since 2002, and traffic has grown dramatically with increasing content.

Visitors have 24-hour access to horse and rider earnings, show results, upcoming event calendars, and much more.

NCHA Saddles Up
NCHA members and staff offered a cutting demonstration October 11 at the Circle T Ranch in Westlake, Texas, to help raise money for Rocky Top Therapy Center in Keller, Texas.

Cutters taking part included Joey, Jordan and Jake Milner, Rick and Shelly Mowery, Bob Tallman and Ellen Leonard, and NCHA staffers Mike Kelly and Dave Brian.

Watch the Futurity Live on DISH TV
The National Cutting Horse Association, in conjunction with Cowboy TV is planning to present a live, pay-per-view telecast of the 2003 NCHA Futurity on DISH TV. The show will start at 7:00 p.m. CST on Sunday, December 14. You must be a DISH TV subscriber to view the telecast, and will be able to order the broadcast through your DISH remote control.

Stay tuned for more information . . .

Watch Big Moves & Hard Stops October 15
Since the 1950s, Canadian Bill Collins has shared his enthusiasm for cutting with horse lovers all around the world. He even gave cutting lessons to England's Prince Phillip. Collins will be featured on the next edition of NCHA's popular monthly television show, Big Moves & Hard Stops. The popular show, sponsored by Diamond Spur Ranch, will air Wednesday, October 15, on the Outdoor Life Network at 2:30 p.m. CST.

Purses Enhanced for 2004
The National Cutting Horse Association will increase purses at its showcase limited age events beginning in 2004. Winners of selected events will be guaranteed substantial sums, and finalists in the Open Division of 2004 NCHA Futurity will receive at least $20,000, if certain conditions are met.

“This additional purse money will help ensure that the remarkable growth we’ve been experiencing continues,” said NCHA Executive Director Jeff Hooper.

The new purse structure will guarantee $75,000 to the winner of the NCHA Open Derby, beginning in 2004. The winners of the open competition in the Super Stakes Classic and the Summer Spectacular’s NCHA Classic/Challenge will each be guaranteed $50,000. The Super Stakes Open Gelding class will carry a $20,000-added purse and will guarantee $10,000 to the winner. The winner of the 2004 NCHA Futurity Open Finals will be guaranteed $200,000 in purse money and the last-place finisher in the 2004 Futurity Open Finals will be guaranteed $20,000, (based on 70 horses advancing to the semi-finals, and 25 horses advancing to the finals). NCHA Open Futurity semi-finalists will share in a guaranteed purse of $490,000.

“We’ve already increased added money for weekend cutters from $200,000 at the NCHA World Finals to $335,000 added to the expanded 2003 World Finals to be held in Amarillo next January,” said Hooper. “These increases for our premier aged events help us balance growth and continue to build momentum in all areas of our sport.”

The purse enhancements were developed by an advisory group which included NCHA President Dick Gaines, Tom Lyons (Chairman of the Limited Age Committee); Lindy Burch, Neil Mussallem, Dave Capps (Chairman of the Promotion & Development Committee); Terry Strange (Chairman of the Finance Committee); Kathy Daughn (Chairperson of the Professional Trainers Committee); Paul Hansma, Steve Smith, Ronnie Rice, and Jimmy Eakin.

Amateurs to Remain in WRMC
The NCHA Executive Committee has voted to continue holding the go-rounds and finals of amateur events in Will Rogers Memorial Coliseum, rather than the Watt Arena, during the NCHA Futurity, Derby and Super Stakes.

Final Futurity Payment Due
The final payment for the 2003 NCHA Futurity is due Monday, October 20. Contact Janie Strotheide for more information.

Western Horseman Cup's WesternHorseman.com Season Underway
In the Western Horseman Cup championship cutting series, Carol Ward's Peppys Pretty Cash, ridden by Carolos Banuelos holds the lead in Open competition with 75 points.

Benjie Neely of Lyons, Georgia, remains in front in the Non-Pro standings with 110 points, earned on Little Lacey and Tronas Chex at the Raleigh Classic and the Brazos Bash.

On Top of the World
In the NCHA Open standings, Hollywood Nus Bar ($38,811), ridden by Robert Rust for new owner David Plummer, remains in first place, while Teles The Scoop, ridden by Brett Davis for Ed & Kathy Blakely, has moved into second with $25,509 for shows recorded through October 8.  In the Non-Pro race, defending World Champion Mary Jo Milner remains in front on Red White And Boon with $70,859, followed by McKenzie Mullins with $49,981. [Standings]

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.

Utah CHA hosts Futurity & Aged Event
The $40,000 Marker LTD Futurity & Aged Event, produced by the Utah Cutting Horse Association, will be held November 4-8 at the Golden Spike Events Center in Ogden, Utah.

The Futurity will be $16,000 Added (Open & Non-Pro); the Derby will be $10,000 Added (Open & Non Pro); the Classic/Challenge will be $10,000 Added (Open & Non Pro), the Uncola will be $4,000 Added (Non-Pro) and there will be Gelding &$50,000 Limited Divisions (class within a class) in all classes.

For more information, contact Kathryn Webb (801) 768-0866 or fax (801)768-2296.

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.”

Entry forms for the show will be published in the Chatter in November, and will also be mailed to Top 100 competitors, or they can be downloaded from the web.

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.

World Finals History Online
Winners of the NCHA Open and Non-Pro World Finals are now listed on the Cutting Horse Chatter’s new website.  The listings include links to detailed results of each event.

Futurity Season
Paula Gaughan, who hosts the Suncoast Futurity in Las Vegas, won the three-year-old Open competition with Thunder Boonies, ridden by Carlos Banuelos. Meanwhile, Gaughan's son, Brendan, has been making his own thunder: last week he won his fourth straight title in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

Back on the cutting front, teenage cutter Elizabeth Brumbaugh of Weatherford, Texas, finished both first and second in the Amateur Derby at the Music City Futurity which concluded yesterday.

Online Membership Renewal Incentive
Renew your NCHA membership online before October 30, and you will have a chance to win a Life Membership, valued at $750.

Kutting for the Kids
The Central Texas CHA and the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Central and South Texas reported phenomenal results from their October 4 “Kutting for the Kids” event, held to raise money for the foundation.

Lisa Ivie-Miller, MAW Chairman of the Board, and Geoff Weisbart organized the event, which included a silent auction, live auction and youth raffle. In addition, Marcy Blanchard coordinated a stallion auction, with 100 percent of the proceeds benefiting MAW.

The $80,000 raised will allow the foundation to grant 16 wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions

Celebrities who participated included George Strait, Tanya Tucker, Steve Stevens, Tee Woolman, Jim Campbell and David Dewhurst.

NYCHA Stallion Service Program
Members of the National Youth Cutting Horse Association are gearing up for the 2004 NYCHA Stallion Service Program. Stallion owners may donate one breeding per year per stallion to the program. Those breedings are then sold in a competitive sealed bid process.

All proceeds benefit the NYCHA to support scholarships, awards, educational activities and postage for the newsletter. To participate in the program, fill out the 2004 contract and return it to the NCHA office with a copy of the stallion's papers. If your stallion will be standing at a breeding facility, be sure you notify them of your donation.

As soon as we receive the signed contract we will post your stallion’s information on the NCHA website and in the Chatter.  Sealed bids on available breedings will be due to the NCHA office by 12 noon on Thursday, February 5, 2004.

Cuttin’ Capital Charity Ball
The Cuttin’ Capital Charity Ball, benefiting Campbell Health System’s Radiology Department in Parker County, Texas, will be held at the Radisson Plaza Hotel in Fort Worth on Saturday, October 18 at 6:00 p.m.

There will be live entertainment by Gene Watson, along with live and silent auctions benefiting Campbell Health Foundation’s CT Scanner Project. For tickets, call (817) 341-1946 or visit www.campbellhealth.com.

Judging 2004 Events
In the 2004 point year, all NCHA-approved events must use NCHA-approved judges.

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.”

Deadlines
Get your ads in for the December issue of Cutting Horse Chatter by November 1. Call Shawn McCoy at (817) 244-6188 for more information.

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.

“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.”

For unique advertising opportunities in the Guide, call Shawn McCoy at (817) 244-6188.

Get a Room
It's time to start thinking about room reservations for the 2003 NCHA World Championship Futurity. Tell the Green Oaks Hotel you're an NCHA member to receive a discount off the regular guest rate. Phone 1-800 433-2174.

Help CIA Help Cutters
Cutters In Action is seeking items for its fund-raising auction to be held on Friday, December 7, at the Trainers Party during the NCHA Futurity in Fort Worth, Texas.

If you can help the organization which helps cutters in need, contact Auction Coordinator Angela Strittmatter 817-341-8197.

The 6666 Today Photo Exhibit
The Cattle Raisers Museum in Fort Worth, Texas, will unveil The 6666 Today: The Art and Evolution of “The Sixes” seen today through the Eyes of Wyman Meinzer, a unique photographic exhibit this month.

The photographic exhibit will capture the historic 6666 Ranch, and it will include western and ranch setting photo from this working cattle ranch today. Photographs from this exhibit will soon grace the pages of Meinzer’s next book that is scheduled to be released in 2004. The 6666 Today will be on display from October 31 through January 2, 2004. A percentage of the sale of the photographs from this exhibit will benefit the Cattle Raisers Museum.

Meinzer’s photographs have graced the covers of more than 250 magazines and books.

King Ranch Celebrates 150 Years
King Ranch, a worldwide legend in ranching, held its 150th Anniversary Legacy Cattle and Horse Sale on October 4. The Fort Worth Business Press was on hand for the first public sale held on the King Ranch in nearly 20 years.

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.

Denim Deal
With cooler weather coming, it's a good time to order a Schaefer's long denim saddle jacket with NCHA cutter embroidered on bottom left pocket flap from Tioga Territory.