Send your nomination, along with the reason you feel your nominee deserves the award, to Zane Schulte Award, c/o Jeff Hooper , NCHA, 4704 Hwy 377 South, Fort Worth, TX 76116-8805.

NCHA Sponsors will saddle up for annual seminar at Silverado on the Brazos
Sponsors of the National Cutting Horse Association will be gathering at Silverado on the Brazos on September 12 and 13 for their annual Sponsors' Seminar and cutting.

The NCHA hosts the seminar annually to bring together this elite group and give them a chance to really get a feel for the sport of cutting. Trainers volunteer their time to work one-on-one with each participant, helping them with everything from entering the herd to picking a cow to polishing their showmanship. Some sponsor participants have never ridden a cutting horse before, and others compete very competitively in the association. However, on September 12 and 13, they will all be the guests of the NCHA and Silverado on the Brazos in Weatherford, Texas.

The NCHA has also introduced a pilot program at this year's Sponsors' Seminar. New to the mix will be a handful of people who are top competitors in other Western equine disciplines. Research shows that those most likely to get involved in cutting are people who already own horses and compete in some discipline. So in keeping with the NCHA Strategic Plan and increasing membership, a small group of people meeting this target audience has also been invited. The setting provided by the Sponsors' Seminar is perfect to allow those special guests to "Experience the Thrill" of cutting.

"We see this as a great opportunity to get actively involved in growing the membership of the NCHA. Our primary goal is to create cutters, by providing access to cutting through events like this," notes NCHA Director of Marketing & Media Clay Murray.

Plans finalized for 2003 NCHA Convention
The National Cutting Horse Association leaders and cutting enthusiasts will be heading to Hilton Hotel in Arlington, Texas, as the location for the 2003 NCHA Annual Convention on the weekend of June 20-22. The three-day meeting will be held in the heart of the DFW Metroplex.

NCHA staff researched and visited numerous potential sites in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex and came to the decision that the Hilton offered the best package of options for the NCHA's membership. The hotel's venue, location and pricing were just a few advantages. Others include:

• A lower hotel room rate than recent conventions at $105/night versus $119/night.
• Free parking with ample room for our members' large vehicles.
• Central location in the Metroplex with a free airport shuttle service to and from the DFW airport.
• Close proximity to area attractions which offer options for off-site events as well as vacation opportunities for those members who choose to extend their stay - Texas Rangers baseball, Six Flags Over Texas amusement park, Hurricane Harbor water park, Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie horseracing track, and more.

The NCHA's Annual Conventions are set up as working meetings which are open to all members. The City of Arlington is approximately 20 minutes east of downtown Fort Worth and 25 minutes south of the DFW airport.

Aged event action
The Northwest CHA Ranch Festival ,State of Missouri Futurity, Derby and Classic , and the West Texas Futurity have wrapped up their shows since Labor Day.

"CDs" were all the rage at the Northwest CHA Ranch Festival in Fort Klamath, Oregon, where Chris Bates rode Dean Sanders' CDs Masterpiece to win the Open Futurity; Janet Westfall won the Non-Pro Classic/Challenge on CD Royal; and Rodie Whitman took the Open Derby with Dave and Georgia Husby's CD Royalty.

Looking ahead
It's not too early to start thinking about the 2003 NCHA Futurity . The first payment of $100 is due on October 15, 2002.

Summer Cutting Spectacular telecast
The 2002 NCHA Summer Cutting Spectacular, presented by Emison Insurance underwritten by the Insurance Corporation of Hannover, will be televised on the Outdoor Life Network at 7 pm ET (11 pm PT) on September 22.

Advertising deadlines
The deadline for the 2003 Travel Planner is September 20. The deadline for the 2002 NCHA Futurity Program is October 10. Call Shawn McCoy at (817) 244-6188 or (817) 980-4754 for more information.

Cutters aid orthopaedic research
NCHA members are prominent among the major contributors to Colorado State University's Gail Holmes Equine Orthopaedic Research Center , which will be dedicated on November 1.

This state-of-the-art facility will feature a surgical suite with an observation room, a visitor center, and offices, as well as 32 heated, deluxe horse stalls and several paddocks for the resident horses. The new building, combined with the newly renovated orthopaedic research laboratory, will allow the scientists to achieve a whole new level of research into preventing and treating orthopaedic problems.

Funding for the new Orthopaedic Research Center and remodeling of the laboratory was secured through private donations. A generous gift of $600,000 from Herbert Allen and Gail Holmes brought the Building Fund to $1.1 million, just $500,000 short of the $1.6 million needed to complete the new facility. Work on the laboratory renovation began in August 2001, thanks in part to Barbara Cox Anthony, who donated $250,000 toward the renovations.

CSU's goal is to find new methods to heal joints already damaged; to use state-of-the-art research techniques to find ways to prevent the occurrence of joint diseases and musculoskeletal injuries; and to find methods of early treatment to prevent permanent damage when joint disease does occur.

Look the part
Finish off the point year in style with an attractive, plaid shirt from Tioga Territory. It features the official NCHA logo and is available in men's and women's sizes.

Book series looking for contributors
Lisa Clement, horse trainer for Mark and Patty Hansen, creators of the famous" Chicken Soup for the Soul" books, is collaborating with them on the next edition in the series, "Chicken Soup for the Young Horselover's Soul."

They are seeking simple stories of great adventures, insights, lessons in life, defining moments, teamwork, mentors, and the unspoken ties that bind man and animal; stories that tell how horses have affected and inspired lives with humor, spirituality, generosity, courage, hope, and of course love.

Your story, poem or cartoon can be part of a great volume of works published worldwide. Submissions that are published in the book will be compensated after publication and sources will be listed in our contributor's section. If you would like to participate, contact Young Horselover's Soul .

Health seminar for horse owners
The American Association of Equine Practitioners' annual health seminar for horse owners [ Horseman's Day ] will be held on Sunday, December 8 in Orlando, Florida.  Designed for those interested in equine health care, Horseman's Day features leading veterinary experts delivering the latest news and advances in horse health. Topics range from emerging equine diseases to equine dentistry.

Now in its third year, Horseman's Day offers six interactive sessions.  The seminar is sponsored through the support of the AAEP's Educational Partners. 

American Horse Council moves
The American Horse Council , which lobbies for the horse industry, has moved to 1616 H Street, NW, 7th Floor, Washington, DC 2006. Their phone number is still (202) 296-4031, and their fax number remains (202) 296-1970.