12/18/2002 E-newsletter sponsored by

Fabulous Futurity
In its 41^st year, the 2002 Chevy Trucks / NCHA World Championship Futurity was the best yet. From November 27 through December 15, the cutting world watched its newest equine stars give their all.

The Futurity has long been regarded as the launching pad for great cutting horses, and this year was no exception. There was a record-breaking number of entries - 1,493 - with an equally record-breaking total purse of $2,788,061.

The 2002 Futurity Open Champion is Chiquita Pistol, owned by Wallace "Tooter" Dorman of Oakwood, Texas, and ridden by Tag Rice. [Full Story ]

In the Non-Pro, Mary Ann Rapp of Weatherford, Texas, and Little Janey Lena marked record score of 228 points in the Finals. [Full Story ]

The Amateur Champion is Bill Brown of Megargel, Texas, riding Twistin On Texas. [ Full Story ]

The Limited Open Championship title went to Clint Allen riding Alisa McCleary's horse, Its Just About Me. In the Limited Non-Pro, Weatherford, Texas, resident Vicki Benedict took home the Championship riding Peptollena. [Full Story ]

Click here for all of the Results and more news about the 2002 Chevy Trucks / NCHA World Championship Futurity.

Daily Chatter for Futurity news as it happened
For first-hand information about each day's events at the 2002 Chevy Trucks / NCHA World Championship Futurity, check out the Daily Chatter !

Visit Tioga Territory to order Futurity-logo merchandise today!

Chevy Truck driven to Roff, Oklahoma
There were an amazing 78,046 entries in the drawing for the fully-loaded 2003 Chevy Duramax diesel crew-cab truck that was given away at the Futurity. Every 2002 NCHA member was entered once, and then each time a member won a check at an NCHA-approved cutting, their name was added into the list again.

One-hundred names were randomly selected from that large group, and then were slowly narrowed down even further through the course of the 19-day Futurity. On the last day of the Futurity, December 15, five names remained and each of those people were given a chance to open the truck with a remote key fob.

The winners of the 2003 Chevy Duramax diesel truck were Mike and Gail Priest of Roff, Oklahoma. [ Full Story ]

NCHA internet show comes online
NCHA Internet Access, a monthly program of cutting horse highlights and features, has arrived. The program, presented in part by Dean Sanders' Diamond Spur Ranch , is hosted by Shelly Burmeister-Mowery.

With revolutionary new technology-a first for the horse industry-computer users can automatically download requested programming in the background whenever they are connected to the internet. When the download is complete, they can watch the program like a smooth, full-screen video write on their computer.

A demonstration program featuring Burmeister with highlights from last year's Futurity action and a wrap up of the activities at this year's show was a popular attraction at the recent NCHA Futurity.

Cutting enthusiasts can download a free sample and subscribe to the new program by clicking the "NCHA Internet Access" button on the NCHA home page .

"The beauty of this system is that it doesn't matter if you have a slow internet connection, or if you're all thumbs when it comes to computers," said NCHA director of publishing Alan Gold. "Setting up your subscription is a snap. After that, the programs are downloaded and stored on your computer without any further effort required.

"We've been working with Affinity Online Media to develop this type of programming that complements our efforts in other media, such as the online version of the Daily Chatter, the e-Chatter electronic newsletter, our website, and the monthly television show, Big Moves & Hard Stops, which will make its debut in April."

Western Horseman Cup unveiled
The Western Horseman Cup, an exciting new program that will recognize and reward top aged event competitors to the tune of $250,000, was unveiled in Fort Worth, Texas, during the Chevy Trucks / NCHA World Championship Futurity.

William Morris III and NCHA Executive Director Jeff Hooper told cutters how the innovative program organizes existing aged events across North America into seasons, culminating in a quarter-million dollar showdown to be held at the Augusta Futurity in January 2004.

Morris, whose Cowboy Publishing Group publishes Western Horseman and Quarter Horse News, said, "I think this is one of the most exciting things that has happened in this industry in a long time. Here is a tremendous example of something the NCHA is doing for all of the shows throughout our nation that have $10,000 in added money or more, in bringing together a year-round world championship show with $250,000 of extra added money at the end of the season."

Read about the announcement and the full details of the program and current standings .

You've got to laugh
Cutter Toons , the acclaimed cartoon book by renowned artist Jerry McAdams is now available for just $12.50 postage paid. McAdams' cartoons with a cutting edge are a popular feature of the Daily Chatter newsletter at NCHA shows.

Call Darla Bellville at (817) 244-6188 to order your copy today.

Breedings to Top Stallions Support Youth
Breedings to leading stallions Bet On Me 498, A Hocus Pocus Cat, Smart Little Rondee, Little Trona, Smart Little Pistol, Freckles Doctor Jay and DJ Tracker are included on the all-star list supporting NYCHA's Stallion Service Program .

Sealed bids on available breedings will be due to the NCHA office by noon on Thursday, February 6, 2003.

This 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, 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 well.

Brumbaugh's big contribution
As promised, Brumbaugh's Leather Gallery made a contribution to the National Youth Cutting Horse Association during the Open Finals at the 2002 Chevy Trucks / NCHA World Championship Futurity.

Sally and Elizabeth Brumbaugh presented a check for $2,500 to NYCHA Reporter Ryan McCarty at the close of their Futurity furniture promotion, which was designed to donate 1% of all sales from November 15 through December 15 to the NYCHA.

Renew On-line
More and more NCHA members are discovering how easy it is to renew their membership with on-line processing . On December 2, Stefan and Karin Den Hartog of The Netherlands filed the one-thousandth on-line membership transaction since the service was instituted a few months ago.

And right now there is an extra incentive to renew your membership! If you sign up for a three-year membership (2003-2005) by March 1, 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).

Attention Amateurs
Just a reminder that 2003 Amateur cards are held at the NCHA office until after the point year has closed. If you have renewed for 2003 and have not received your new card, don't panic, it will be mailed in late December.

Weekend Show purses exceed $11 million
Exciting news just in on the weekend show front. Total prize money distributed at NCHA-approved weekend shows across the country exceeded $11,244,000! In fact, the numbers were up in every category. The number of shows is up 117 from last year to a total of 1,448. The number of classes increased 10.8%, entries went up by 10,789 and added money increased 20.8% to $417,791! In all, $11,244,602 was paid out to NCHA cutters in weekend competition.

World Finals around the corner
The 2002 John Deere / NCHA World Finals are scheduled for February 27 through March 2, 2003 in Houston, Texas, during the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo at Reliant Arena.

The top 15 Open horses and the top 15 Non-Professional riders have been invited to compete for $200,000 in added money that is to be paid out in four working finals and an average in each class.

Visit the standings on the NCHA Web site to see how the 2002 competitors stack up. For tickets, visit the HLSR web site and make sure to ask for NCHA World Finals tickets!

Houston Hotel Arrangements
If you're planning to attend the Houston Livestock Show cutting competition or the 2002 John Deere/NCHA World Championship Finals in Houston in February, you ought to start making your hotel arrangements now!

The following hotels have room blocks for the NCHA:
Holiday Inn Astrodome
8111 Kirby Drive
Houston, TX 77054
713-790-1900

Radisson Hotel Astrodome Convention Center
8686 Kirby Drive
Houston, TX 77054
800-552-0942

Advertising deadline
The advertising deadline for the February issue of the Cutting Horse Chatter is December 31. Call Shawn McCoy at (817) 244-6188 or (817) 980-4754 for more information.

Change Our Address
Just a reminder to everyone that the new address for the NCHA is:
260 Bailey Avenue, Fort Worth, Texas 76107
Please make sure and change the information in all of your address books, etc, so that your mail will get through in a timely manner. NCHA's telephone numbers, extensions and fax numbers remain the same in the new office, as well as staff e-mail addresses.

Happy New Year
Your next issue of the NCHA e-newsletter will be sent on January 8, 2003. Happy Holidays!