04/10/2002 E-newsletter sponsored by

Non-Pros advance at Flowmaster/NCHA Super Stakes
After two go-rounds, Hope Justice of Canton, Texas, has the top two scores going into the semi-finals of the Flowmaster/NCHA Super Stakes Non-Pro. Justice marked a 218 and 221 on Freckles Lena Boon to lead with 439 points. She marked a 222 and 215.5 on her homegrown Little Moria Red for the second highest score heading to the April 12 semi-finals. Scores of 422 or higher advanced.

In the Non-Pro division of the Flowmaster/NCHA Super Stakes Classic, Mary Ann Rapp of Weatherford, Texas, and Smokin Trona had the high score of 438 to head into the finals. Thirty-two riders marked 430 or better to advance to the finals, which will be held Saturday, April 13.

Keep up with the scores,  live action and feature stories and statistics via the world wide web.

Flowmaster history
Since its founding in 1983, Flowmaster Inc. has been a world leader in the science of exhaust technology. Each muffler is designed, devoloped and manufactured to improve both the performance and the sound of the vehicle on which it is installed. Flowmaster exhaust systems will improve acceleration and passing power, as well as increase fuel mileage. Visit the Flowmaster booth next time you're at an NCHA-produced show, or go to Flowmaster web site to learn more about what Flowmaster can do for your vehicle's performance.

Western Bloodstock will hold two-day sale
Western Bloodstock has cataloged an outstanding selection of cutting horses, prospects and breeding stock for the NCHA Super Stakes Sale to be held April 20-21 in the John Justin Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. Each sale day will begin with a demonstration of cutting consignments at 8 a.m., followed by a mixed sale session at 10 a.m.

The sale company will continue to accept late consignments through Friday, April 12.

Western Bloodstock has also signed on as sponsor of the popular Daily Chatter newsletter which is packed with features, photos results, statistics and award-winning cartoons to keep cutters up-to-date with the latest news from the Flowmaster/NCHA Super Stakes.

Galbreath Award for Billy Morris
Billy Morris of Augusta, Georgia, received the John W. Galbreath Award at the American Horse Council Convention on April 8. The award is presented annually to an entrepreneur who has utilized leadership and management skills to make a significant impact on the equine industry.

Morris heads the Morris Communications Corporation, whose Cowboy Publishing Group publishes Western Horseman, Quarter Horse News and other equine titles. Morris launched Equi-Stat, a database of performance horse records, in 1985. Morris Communication's horse industry website, horsecity.com, has been named a top equine web site. He is also the long-serving show chairman of the Augusta Futurity.

The University of Louisville's Galbreath Award panel recognized Morris for bringing a high standard of journalism to equine publishing, for providing an independent source of information to an important industry segment, for developing Equi-Stat, for making the Augusta Futurity an innovative, world-class event, and other achievements.

Southern Futurity scholarship
The Southern Cutting Futurity is taking applications from 2002 high school graduates for the Leigh Ann Barnett Scholarship. Applications for the $2,000 perpetuating scholarship must be submitted by May 1. Selection will be based on financial need, scholastic achievement, extracurricular activities, leadership, citizenship, and honors and awards for scholastic achievement or community activities. The recipient will be named in August.

The scholarship was established in 1998 following the death of Ms. Barnett, who died in a car crash prior to her senior year at Leake Academy in Madden, Mississippi.

For more information, contact Charlotte Armstrong, 2881 Doc Webb Road, Lena, MS 39094 or fax (601) 654-9271.

Fun times at the 2002 NCHA Convention
The convention is just around the corner, and this year we added some fun to the schedule of events. Everyone at the convention is invited to join in.

Convention Parties
7:30 pm Friday June 7
Dinner Party Offsite, TBA

5:30 pm Saturday June 8
Wine & Cheese Reception
Honoring our Sponsors
Worthington Renaissance Hotel

Keep checking the Chatter and the NCHA web site for more details about the Convention.

Something new from ACCO Feeds
ACCO Feeds, the official feed of the NCHA, wants to share the "winning experience" with all NCHA members.  Just check out their revised web site and notice the NCHA logo prominently at the top.  Here are just a few items that the site offers:

* Win Big!" Contest offers a chance to win cool prizes such as a Nintendo Game Cube.

* The "Ask the Expert," "Help Me Decide" and Equine Technical Center provide a wealth of nutritional information at your finger tips.

* "Keep Me Posted" allows our staff of trained experts to send you emails with the latest information on what is important to you.

* The "Event Calendar" has the big show events near you.

* "Hall of Champions" shows you the hundreds of winners that have "Experienced Winning" with ACCO Feeds.

Helen Groves honored
NCHA Hall of Fame member Helen Groves has been honored by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association as their owner of the month. (Complete Story)

Tax stimulus bill will benefit horse industry
The economic stimulus package signed into law by President Bush on March 9 includes new depreciation provisions that will benefit the horse industry.  The bill was a scaled-back version of the ambitious tax bill originally proposed by both the Republicans and Democrats. 

Under the new depreciation rules, which will apply retroactively to purchases after September 11, 2001, taxpayers will be allowed a 30% bonus depreciation on business assets, including horses, in the year they are purchased and placed in service, as well as regular depreciation on the balance. (Full Story)

NCHA Director election
Pursuant to the NCHA's Constitution and Bylaws, the director elections for terms of service for the period of June 2002 - June 2005 were concluded on April 2, 2002.  All directors elected in this year's election will begin their three-year term of service at the NCHA Convention June 7-9 in Fort Worth. (Complete Listing of newly elected NCHA Directors).

Equine research overview
A new website for equine research, describes current research being funded by the American Quarter Horse Association, the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, Morris Animal Foundation and American Association of Equine Practitioners.

You can search by the funding organization, by researcher, research institution, or by keywords.

"This joint effort grew out of our four organizations having annual meetings together," said Edward Bowen, president of Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation. "We came to the realization that we could serve both the horse owner and the scientist by creating a quick, convenient way of letting them know what we all are doing in horse related research. We will continue to house our archival database of some 1,500 past projects on our individual Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation web site, but for current matters we will use EquineResearch.net."

North Western Summer Futurities
Although the popular Polo Ranch cutting in Sheridan, Wyoming has been called off due to drought conditions, the North West Cutting Horse Association will be offering plenty of opportunities to show with their North Western Summer Futurity Series. With a total of more than $200,000 added, the series will consist of the NWCHA Ranch Festival and Futurity in Fort Klamath, Oregon, in August, followed by the Idaho CHA Futurity at Nampa, Idaho, and the NWCHA Championship Finals and Futurity at Redmond, Oregon. Both of the latter two shows will be in September.