Hall of Famer Don Dodge honored
For his extraordinary contributions to the cutting horse industry and commitment to the NCHA, Skull Valley, Arizona resident Don Dodge was inducted into the NCHA Hall of Fame in 1989. On October 19, the Arizona Cutting Horse Association will honor Dodge in a "celebration of his life and contributions" at their Don Dodge Gala Event held at the Best Western Grace Inn in Phoenix, Arizona. For an invitation form, visit the Arizona CHA website

Summer Cutting Spectacular to air
Don't miss any of the action NCHA world-class cutting has to offer. Outdoor Life Network (OLN) will air the NCHA 2001 Summer Cutting Spectacular Finals highlights on Friday, September 8 at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time and again on Saturday, September 14 at 1:00 p.m.

NCHA membership incentives
Save money, save time. For a total of $135 (Savings of $5 per year), join the NCHA as a three-year member beginning with your 2002 membership. You will receive continuous member benefits and the award-winning Cutting Horse Chatter, until December 31, 2004. There is even a three-year option for maintaining your Amateur/Non-Pro card for $30.. Non-Pro/Amateur card holders must complete a new Non-Pro/Amateur form for 2002 to be eligible.

How about an early renewal incentive for current members who wish to renew for one or three years. The NCHA will place names of all early membership renewals received prior to October 31, 2001 in an October drawing for three (3) lifetime memberships. All names not drawn at the end of October will be forwarded to the November drawing for one (1) lifetime membership.

Affiliate spotlight
Kentucky Cutting Horse Association has created a knack for promoting the sport of cutting. They have increased their membership from last year's 35 to 109 today! They are experiencing 60% more cuts per year with a Kentucky CHA record of 261 cuts at their August 4-5 show held at the Dwayne Newton Cutting Horses Arena in Fisherville, Kentucky. They have also increased sponsorship participation by $15,000 for 2001. Additional highlights this year for the Affiliate have been their sanctioning of the North American International Livestock Expedition Cutting held at the Kentucky State Fairgrounds as well as their participation at Equitana USA, where members of the Kentucky CHA along with NCHA staff introduced thousands of horse-savvy visitors to the great sport of cutting.

OFFICERS: Libby Bowman, president; Mike Langley, vice president; Tami Langley, secretary/treasurer; DIRECTORS: Dale Bartlett; Mike Bowman; Andres Castro; Annette Deuser; Kevin McGlothlin; Dwayne Newton; Dieter Strobel; and John Walker.

NCHA Employee of the Quarter
Mindy Harr, Cutting Horse Chatter's graphic artist, is the recipient of the year's second NCHA Employee of the Quarter Award.  The NCHA management created the Employee of the Quarter Award to recognize employees for exemplary work performance and attitude.

"We're proud to have someone as talented and dedicated as Mindy working on the Chatter team," said Director of Publishing Alan Gold. "Mindy's recognition as Employee of the Quarter follows her success in the American Horse Publication's annual design contest, where the ad campaign she created for 2L Custom Trucks took a first-place award.

"Mindy's willingness to help wherever she is needed means that her work is reflected not just in the pages of the Chatter, but in all areas of the NCHA."

J.W. Lindley recuperating
Cutting horse trainer, J.W. Lindley of Memphis, Texas who has beaten cancer in recent months, is now recovering from heart surgery with his doctor’s approval to go home this week from Baptist St. Anthony's Hospital in Amarillo. Lindley has started many winning colts for Billy Cogdell of Tulia, Texas, including the 1999 World Championship Futurity Open Champion Shania Cee.

Doc Bar Ranch closes
"As of August 9, 2001 the Doc Bar Ranch that made San Benito County (California) the epicenter of the horse universe for three decades is no more," says the Pinnacle of San Benito County. Stephanie and Charlie Ward have sold the ranch where Doc Bar, the cutting horse industry's most influential sire, came as a two-year-old to live until his death at age 36 in 1992. It will now be called Windemere Properties, the business run by artist Thomas Kincaid. The Wards are headed for Nevada and they will take the legacy of Doc Bar with them. Full Story .

Cutting helps rodeo queen
Jamie Casper, 23, who was inducted into the NCHA Youth Hall of Fame in 1999, has been named Miss Rodeo Utah. She was born into a rodeo family and began a cutting career nine years ago when introduced to it by her sister Heidi's husband, Lawson Hadlock of Ogden, Utah.  Competing in the sport contributed positively to her victory in the rodeo queen contest, says Miss Casper.  "Cutting helped me a lot when it came to horsemanship in the contest. I was familiar with having to ride horses I had never been on before. Also, the people I've met in cutting competition bent over backwards to help me to become Miss Rodeo Utah. We would talk current events and practice interviews. I have been preparing all my life for this." The new queen is a junior at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah where she majors in communications and public relations.

Top 15 Open and Non-Pro update
Robert Brown of Tallulah, Louisiana has edged his way into the third slot of the NCHA Top 15 Non-Pro riders with $30,310.10 in earnings, just ahead of long-standing third-positioned Tim May who has $29,465.89. The most explosive climb to the top of the Non-Pro heap recently has been made by Bobby F. Kennedy riding his geldings, Hes A Missouri Doc and Special Lil Playboy, to 29 shows. During July he held the 27th position, by August he was 18th and to date he claims the eighth slot with $17,568.11 in earnings.

In Open competition, Christys Acre remains in the lead with $42,051.47 and Rosies Lena retains second place with $39,990.03. The third spot belongs to Smart N Slick, owned by Raymond and Roz Beadle who purchased the 7-year-old last fall strictly for breeding. "Then they found out he was a tremendous show horse," said Smart N Slick's rider, Dan Simpson. "He's attractive, very strong and quick." The pair have earned $18,181.76 on the road headed for the John Deere/NCHA World Championship Finals in Houston, Texas.

Advertising deadlines
Advertising opportunities have never been better with the National Cutting Horse Association. Deadlines to feature your horse, business or even a "thank-you" are as follows:

New, Improved Yearbook - September 1 (available as full page only)

October Chatter - September 1; camera-ready September 5

Travel Planner - September 30

NCHA Futurity Program - October 10

Contact Shawn McCoy  for details.

September is for Youth
The September issue of Cutting Horse Chatter or "Youth issue" will feature highlights of the successful 2001 NYCHA Convention as well as competition in the 2001 John Roberts and Cole McGee Memorial Scholarship Cutting.  All of the challenge and excitement experienced in each division at the 2001 NCHA Summer Cutting Spectacular will also be covered in the September issue along with a wide-ranging view of weekend cuttings across the country.

Affiliate photo gallery
In its September issue, The Cutting Horse Chatter will also unveil an exciting new contest for amateur photographers submitting pictures of local shows and activities. If you’re not an NCHA member, you can get the Chatter delivered to your door by joining now.

On the horizon
A big time this weekend can be had in Big Timber, Montana at the Carriage House Ranch Cutting which offers two one-day shows, August 18 & 19. Each day has NCHA-approved classes along with "beginner" $1,000 Novice Horse and $800 Limit Rider classes. Hosts Sally Destefano and husband, John Haller, accommodate cutters of the Montana CHA-sanctioned event at their historic bed and breakfast resort with an ample arena and plenty of fresh cattle. Also expect an on-site cafe and lots of room to trail ride with fly-fishing rivers nearby. Sec'y Julie Arlian (406) 932-6895.

The Crawfish Classic in Lake Charles, Louisiana kicks into action August 23 with all NCHA-approved classes and lasts through August 26. $500-added to Open, Non-Pro, $10,000 Novice and $10,000 Novice/Non-Pro. Sec'y Gwen Coie (318) 644-5788.

You can create some big rides at the LAE NWCHA Ranch Festival (Aug 27-Sept 2) in Fort Klamath, Oregon, and get some weekend cutting done, too. On August 24 & 25, the Northwest Cutting Horse Association Ranch Festival includes NCHA-approved weekend classes with $500-added to the Open, Non-Pro, $50,000 Amateur, $10,000 Novice, $3,000 Novice, and $10,000 Novice/Non-Pro. Total added money for the LAE portion of the event is $82,500. Sec'y Kathryn Webb (801) 768-0866 or Manager Gary Martin (541) 898-2434.

The State of Missouri CHA Futurity/Maturity/Classic boasts $30,000-added monies to its August 29-Sept 2 LAE cutting. Taking place at the conveniently located Midway Expo Center in Columbia, Missouri, the show offers plenty of stall space and two practice pens at all times. Sec'y Carol Hall (573) 449-0229.

Swing right into September "futurity season" with a West Coast LAE at the Fourth Annual Futurity at Tejon Ranch in Lebec, California taking place Sept 11-16. Indoor showing on the vast ranch attracts many top cutters as does this year's $33,000-added monies. Show in some weekend cutting at Tejon Ranch, September 7-9.  Sec'y LIndsey Mills (520) 636-0695.

Top dollars are also attracting top cutters to the Idaho Cutting Horse Futurity & Aged Event in Hailey, Idaho, September 10-15 at the Cutters of Idaho Arena. Total added purse is $48,000. Sec'y Kathryn Webb (801) 768-0866.

For complete listings, visit the NCHA web site .