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NCHA introduces web site enhancements
It is now easier than ever to keep track of your NCHA earnings at www.nchacutting.com. The official web site of the National Cutting Horse Association now allows users to check rider earnings by name, and to verify NCHA class eligibility for horses.

The goal of the change is to give NCHA members and site users the chance to "help themselves" to information that is pertinent to their needs. Instead of having to spend time looking up a member's identification number, then going to the web site to research earnings, users now only have to enter a member's name in the Rider Earnings section of www.nchacutting.com to research lifetime earnings. That gives users 24-hour access to statistical information important to their cutting horse interests and activities.

John Deere/NCHA World Finals
John Deere and the National Cutting Horse Association are clearing the way for the 2001 John Deere/NCHA World Finals cutting to be held February 14 -17, 2002 in Houston, Texas. [Schedule]

The Open race has been tight for several months, with Pat Earnheart and Robert Rust each campaigning outstanding horses. When they ride into the arena at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo on February 14^th for the first round of World Finals competition, Rust will be introduced as the leader, riding Ken Sitton's horse, Rosies Lena. In 85 shows, the pair racked up $71,054. Earnheart is close on the trail, though. He is riding Robert and Andrea Finger's stallion, Christys Acre with $65,369 accumulated in 113 shows. [Full Story]

Buster and Sheila Welch honored
NCHA Hall of Famers Buster and Sheila Welch of Rotan, Texas, were inducted into the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame in the historic Fort Worth Stockyards on January 11. They were introduced by NCHA President Lindy Burch, who is already a member of the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame. Other cutters who are in the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame, including Matlock Rose and Kay Floyd, were also on hand.

Augusta Futurity just around the corner
In 1979, a group of Southeastern cutters met in Atlanta to discuss establishing a major cutting horse show for this region of the nation. W.S. (Billy) Morris III convinced his fellow Atlantic Coast Cutting Horse Association members that the best place for the show was Augusta -- a town unfamiliar with the sport of cutting, but with a brand new Civic Center, and the rest, as they say, is history.

The centerpiece of cutting in the Southeastern United States, the 23^rd annual Augusta Futurity, gets underway on Friday, January 25.with any-age classes for $20,000 Non-Pro and $50,000 Amateur. The action will conclude on Saturday, February 2 with the four-year-old Open and Non-Pro finals. [Full Story]

Abilene Spectacular ends on high note
Cutting goes on, despite loss of NCHA member Creacy

The Abilene Spectacular kicked off on January 1, 2002, and continued through January 13. It was the first show since the NCHA World Championship Futurity. Many of the same horses were shown at the Spectacular, except this time as 4-year-olds, as January 1 is the official birthday of all American Quarter Horses.

Futurity favorite Merada Clone won the Open Derby with a 225. Since the Futurity, Merada Clone has been sold to C Bar S Ranch in Aledo, Texas, and is in training with Matt Gaines. Dandy Darlin Bee, ridden by Brady Bowen and owned by Brenda Michael, won the Open Classic with 223.5 points.

In the Non-Pro classes, another Futurity favorite rose to the top. Hope Justice redeemed herself and won the Non-Pro Derby on Freckles Lena Boon with a score of 225. Tom Loeffler rode Malenas Gun to win the Non-Pro Classic/Challenge in Abilene with 224 points.

And in the Amateur, Carol Anderson Ward rode her horse, Miss Dualin Hickory, to win the Derby while Bret Parsons rode his father's horse, Haley Bop Hickory to win the Classic/Challenge. [Complete Results/Full Story]

The excitement of the show was quieted, though, on January 7. On that day, NCHA member, husband, father and friend John Add Creacy died in the arena after riding in the Open Derby class. Creacy, 30, had a known heart condition, and lived every day to the fullest. His funeral was held on January 9 in Stephenville, Texas.

Futurity Videos
The 2001 NCHA World Championship Futurity Video is now available for just $29.95, plus $5.95 shipping & handling per video. You can order with a MasterCard/Visa by calling (817) 244-6188, or mail a check to the NCHA office.

Bids must be received no later than noon (Central Time) on February 8, 2002, and they must be  at least 50% of the advertised breeding fee. A check must accompany each bid.

Some suggestions for a successful bid:
* Bid slightly more than 50%
* Bid an odd amount (instead of an even $1,000, bid an unusual number like $1,011).
* Send in your bid as early as possible; if the highest bid is tied, the earliest postmark wins the breeding.

All of the winning bids go directly to the youth program to support scholarships, awards and youth activities. [Complete Listing of stallions]

Directors: Carl Haag of Manhattan, Kansas; Nick O'Dell of Fort Scott, Kansas; Roy Elrod of Pleasantan, Kansas; Mike Collinge of Hamilton, Kansas; Marty Bloomquist of Topeka, Kansas; Jerry Linaweaver of Leavenworth, Kansas; James Kier of Washington, Kansas; Brenda Jo Reno of St. John, Kansas.

Board Members: Dirk Blakesly, Tom Frey and Jerry Linaweaver.

During 2001, there were 22 KCHA-approved shows which began in March and lasted through November. It is worth noting the Beef Empire Cutting Horse Association of Kansas was the host of several of these shows and on June 2-3, Salina, Kansas, was the place to be for many of the area's cutters during NCHA Days.

For the 2002 point-year, over 20 shows are tentatively scheduled with a finale show set for November 23-24. Champions at year-end are eligible for a saddle of their choice while those through 5th place can win a variety of other great prizes!

Time to re-up
NCHA members have until March 1,2002 to pay their 2002 membership fees before they will be considered delinquent. Membership forms can be found in the Chatter, and on the NCHA website. Don't forget, every person over 18 who joins the NCHA in 2002 is entered to win a Chevy Duramax Diesel Truck.

Chatter deadlines
Advertising deadline for the March issue of NCHA's award-winning magazine, Cutting Horse Chatter, is February 1. Deadline for the Chevy Trucks Eastern National Championships Program will February 14, and theFlowmaster/NCHA Super Stakes Program deadline is February 28. Get your ads in early. Contact Shawn at the NCHA office (817-980-4754) or via email.