10/09/02 E-newsletter sponsored by

The race is on
Mary Jo Milner of Southlake, Texas, NCHA's Non-Pro World Champion the past two years, is making a strong bid to take her third title in a row. At shows processed in the past month, Milner added $10,000 to her earnings to shoot to the lead with $60,501, earned on  Red White And Boon. Lee Garner ($58,570) of Batesville, Mississippi, and Joey Milner ($57,725) of Southlake, are close behind.

In Open competition, Quixote Mac, ridden by Don Pooley for owner David Behnen, leads by more than $6,000 over Stylish Pepper. Quixote Mac has earned $44,297 at 74 shows this year. [Complete Standings]

Champions remembered
Trying to remember who was World Champion in what year? It's easy to look up all of NCHA's Open and Non-Pro Champions, and their earnings in their title years on the NCHA website.

Summer Spectacular on TV
The telecast of the NCHA Summer Cutting Spectacular presented by Emison Insurance, underwritten by the Insurance Corporation of Hannover will be shown Sunday, October 20 at 7 p.m. Eastern Time on the Outdoor Life Network.

Payments pending
The final payment for NCHA Futurity Open and Non-Pro entries is due October 26. [Payment Schedule]

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.

All the pretty horses
Center City of Amarillo, Texas, and the American Quarter Horse Association have teamed up on a city-wide public art display featuring 30 fiberglass replicas of an American Quarter Horse. Each horse is a work of art, prepared by a local artist and displayed as an eye-catching tribute to an animal so vital to Amarillo's past, present and future. [Full Story]

Thirty horses have been installed and will be on display through 2003. Up to 20 more horses may be sponsored and installed in the coming months. Maps and brochures leading visitors to each hoof print are available through the Amarillo Convention & Visitor Council.

Education at Congress
The All American Quarter Horse Congress in Columbus, Ohio, will include lectures and demonstrations on a variety of subjects. On October 13, four-time NCHA Non-Pro World Champion Carol Rose will talk about breeding, raising and selecting the performance horse. The schedule for October 18 includes sessions on equipment safety by John Deere's Larry Long, and breeding by Ohio State University's Dr. Walter Threlfall. The next day will feature sessions on West Nile Virus and equine eyesight.

Executive in the news
"Activities such as riding and showing cutting horses will continue to grow in popularity as people become more focused on leisure activities they can enjoy as a family," National Cutting Horse Association Executive Director Jeff Hooper told the Fort Worth Business Press in a recent feature. See what else he said here: [Jeff's interview]

Aged event action!
Smart Lil Scoot, winner of the Super Stakes Classic and the NCHA Classic/Challenge, kept up his sizzling pace by winning the Open Classic at the Brazos Bash which concluded September 29 in Weatherford, Texas. Roy Carter marked 227.5 on Smart Lil Scoot for S&S Farms. The win also put him in front in the Horse of the Year race. Matt Gaines and Little Pepto Gal won the Open Derby for Crystal Creek Ranch with a 225. Troy Riddle rode Nutn Buta Houndog to a 222-point victory in the Open Futurity.

At the Canadian Supreme at Calgary, Alberta, Catjumpedovertheboon, ridden by Brad Pedersen for R Diamond Ranch, won the Open Futurity. Little Baguette, ridden by Gerry Hansma for Dr. Gary Tresidder, won the CS Open Futurity.

The Music City Futurity started this week, and Tess My Grit is leading after two rounds in the Open Futurity. Matt Gaines rides the horse for Crystal Creek Ranch. The show continues through October 16.

$100,000 in scholarships to be offered
Thanks to the Walton Family Foundation, $100,000 in college scholarships will again be available for NYCHA members for the 2003-2004 academic year. The format will be similar to last year, with twenty individual scholarships of $5,000 each offered based on participation and leadership with NYCHA, achievement in NYCHA's LEAP program, academic achievement, financial need, and involvement in school, church and community.

Applications will be available in January.

Stallion owners support Youth
Each week, more and more stallion owners are signing up for the 2003 NYCHA Stallion Service.

The program benefits National Youth Cutting Horse Association activities, while giving stallions greater exposure on the web and in the Cutting Horse Chatter.

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 go towards NYCHA scholarships, awards, activities and postage for the newsletter. 

To participate in the program, please fill out the 2003 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 noon on Thursday, February 6, 2003.

Catch the Futurity live on TV
Viewers of the Dish Network can catch live coverage of the 2002 Chevy Trucks/NCHA World Championship Futurity Open Finals on Sunday, December 15 at 7:00 p.m. Central Time. The show will also feature highlights of the Non-Pro and Amateur Finals. The pay-per-view satellite telecast costs only $19.95 if ordered by October 31. You can order now with your DISH account number and credit card by calling toll free 1-866-285-2378.

Renew on-line
With on-line processing, it's easier than ever to renew your NCHA membership for 2003.

And for a limited time there are extra incentives to renew your membership now:

* Sign up for a three-year membership (2003-2005) before November 15 and your name will be entered in a drawing for one Lifetime membership, valued at $750, in addition to the drawing below.

* Sign up for a three-year membership (2003-2005) by March 1 and you will be entered in a drawing for a Sam's Club Gift Certificate, valued at $1,000.

Because of the already low rate for NYCHA members, youth memberships are not eligible for these special incentives.

Fort Worth Stock Show Cutting
Entry information for the NCHA cutting at the Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show is now available online. The cutting will be held January 14 in Will Rogers Coliseum, Fort Worth, Texas. There will be $2,000 added money in the open and non-pro events. Entries close December 1.

The 107^th Fort Worth Stock Show will kick off with the tradition-filled Ranching Heritage Weekend, presented by Western Horseman, which includes a "Best of the West" Ranch Rodeo on January 11.

Advertising opportunities
The advertising deadline for the 2002 NCHA Futurity Program is October 10. The deadline for the December issue of the Cutting Horse Chatter is November 1. Call Shawn McCoy at (817) 244-6188 or (817) 980-4754 for more information.

The 2003 advertising rates, specifications, and complete Media Kit for the Cutting Horse Chatter are now available.

Keep warm
Winter's coming, and Tioga Territory has women's vests to help you get ready.