Fall Season of Western Horseman Cup Nears Conclusion
Boon San Kitty, who had already qualified for the Western Horseman Cup during the summer season, racked up a total of 210 points in the Westernhorseman.com Fall Season of the Western Horseman Cup series with her win in the PCCHA Cutting Stakes last weekend. Hickory Lena Star, ridden by Brad Mitchell for the PSF Partnership, earned 135 points in the season.

In Non-Pro competition, prior qualifiers Wesley Galyean (185 points) is leading Janet Westfall (150), Mary Ann Rapp (145), Julie McCloud (135) and Jim Langdale (135).

The Western Horseman Cup was featured in a recent Dallas Morning News column by Ed Knocke.

Only one event remains in the 2004 Western Horseman Cup series, the Marker Ltd. Aged Event in Ogden, Utah.

More Aged Event Action
The PCCHA Futurity saw red-hot Russ Westfall mark 220 on Glen and Claudia Church's Peptoboonsmal mare, Peptos Church Mouse, and collect a check for $46,789. Dustin Adams posted the same score on his Little Dyno mare MH Lay Down Lady to win the Non-Pro Futurity. Janet Westfall took the PCCHA Non-Pro Cutting Stakes on homegrown Jeeps Posi Traction.

Cutting with the Frogs
NCHA will be showcased on November 20 during TCU’s Western Heritage Day Celebration in Fort Worth, Texas. Several cutting demonstrations will take place from 11 a.m. until the 2 p.m. kickoff of the TCU vs. Southern Miss football game. The demonstration will be held in a special arena just east of TCU's Amon Carter Football Stadium.

NYCHA Area Directors
Applications for 2005 NYCHA Area Director must be postmarked by November 20, 2004. NYCHA Area Directors serve as a source of information to all youth members in the area, assist with NYCHA fundraising projects and vote on all official NYCHA business. The term of service is January 1 through December 31, 2005 and applicants must be an eligible youth member during the term of service. Youth Directors will be elected from each NCHA area based on the number of youth members in that area. One director shall be elected from areas having less than 25 NYCHA members. One additional Director will be elected for every additional 25 youth members in that area. For more information, contact Danette McGuire, NCHA Youth Coordinator.

Ultimate Equine Experience Video
Bob Kingsley hosts "The Ultimate Equine Eperience: Your Guide to Owning A Cutting Horse, a new, one-hour video that features professional and non-professional cutting competitors who provide expert, first-hand experience on how to get involved in cutting. How to select a trainer, purchasing a cutting horse, and what level of involvement best suits you are some of the issues addressed in this video.

This video can be yours for $14.95 plus $5.95 S&H.

You can also 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. Call Darla Bellville at (817) 244-6188 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.

Join or Renew Your NCHA Membership On-Line, the Fast and Easy Way
Check out these great opportunities:

• Everyone who selects the three-year membership for 2005-2007 prior to March 1, 2005 will be entered in a drawing for a really cool prize, valued at $750.
• All new members who join prior to March 1, 2005 will be entered in a drawing for a Cowboy Tack Gift Certificate, valued at $500.
• Existing Members: Now is your opportunity to renew your membership and take advantage of these great opportunities!

If you have questions or need additional information about membership please contact the membership department at 817-244-6188 or email Julie Davis or Peggy Cox.

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.

NYCHA Stallion Service Program
Members of the National Youth Cutting Horse Association are gearing up for the 2005 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 2005 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, please 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 Tuesday, February 1, 2005.

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. Entries are due December 1. The Top 50 money earners in each class at the end of the point year will be invited to participate, but if someone is not able to accept an invitation, that will open a slot for the next highest money earner, so it's recommended that anyone in the Top 100 in their class enter.

Here's a list of recommended hotels in Amarillo.

The Race Is On in 2004
Georgia and David Husby's Flickacat, ridden by Chubby Turner, has lengthened his lead with $66,034 in the 2004 Open standings. Tim and Melissa Drummond's Lizzys Gotta Player, ridden by Robert Rust, has moved into second place with $27,863.

In the Non-Pro standings, six-time World Champion Mary Jo Milner holds the lead over 1999 World Champion Joe Howard Williamson, $78,420 to $72,073.

Affiliate Spotlight
Since its inception in 1972 the Idaho Cutting Horse Association's mission has been to promote and provide both weekend shows and aged events that will enhance cutting horse interests, activities and industry. The ICHA strives to benefit breeders, trainers, owners and participants in the sport of cutting.

The ICHA President is Justin Skaar of Rigby, and Vice President is Nancy Enright, of Sun Valley. The ICHA hosts the $115,000-added Idaho Futurity in September. They hold one or more shows each month from January through September.

Advertising Deadlines
The deadline for the January Cutting Horse Chatter is December 1. Contact Shawn McCoy today at (817) 244-6188, ext. 160. The Chatter's 2005 Media Kit and Rate Card is now online.

American Horse Publication Increases Student Awards
More students pursuing a career in equine journalism will be eligible to compete for American Horse Publications' 2005 Student Award. If you will be a high school senior or an undergraduate college student during the 2004-2005 undergraduate college year, with at least one semester before graduation, you have a chance to win a cash award of $1,000, plus an all-expense paid trip to AHP's annual meeting and seminar. The 2005 AHP Seminar will be held in Seattle, Washington, on June 9-11.

Introducting “Hearts” of the West
The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame will hold an artist preview on Thursday, November 18 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. for the 19 top female western artists whose works comprise the museum’s first annual “Heart of the West” invitational art exhibition and sale. 

“Heart of the West” opens on Friday, November 19, and runs through February 6 at the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, 1720 Gendy St., Fort Worth, Texas.

Gary Carpenter to Head AQH Foundation
Gary Carpenter, who has been serving as the American Quarter Horse Association's Director of Racing, will become Executive Director of the American Quarter Horse Foundation, effective November 15.

NCHA Earnings Only to Count for Eligibility
The Executive Committee voted to continue counting only NCHA earnings toward 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 appear in the November Cutting Horse Chatter.