FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June
30, 2005 Contact: Kristina
Gardner (817) 244-6188 x 121
(Fort Worth, TX)—The National Youth Cutting Horse Association’s Stallion Service Program is officially closed following another successful season. This year the program ran from February 1, through June 1, 2005.
In 2005, stallion owners donated more than 140 breedings to support the NYCHA. To date, more than $120,000 has been raised to support youth scholarships, youth awards, and various youth activities. This year, the NYCHA is proud to be able to give two $250 scholarships to each of the 25 Lucchese/NCHA Weekend shows, plus two $500 scholarships in each of the 25 NCHA areas for end of the year champions.
“We are happy to provide the added scholarship money for Lucchese/NCHA Weekend and area champions,” said Danette McGuire, NCHA Youth Coordinator. “We hope that more youth members will stay involved with the NYCHA by reaching out to the grassroots of our organization.”
This is the largest fundraiser of the year for the NYCHA with the majority of earnings supporting the extensive scholarship fund. Each year, stallion owners generously donate breedings to the program and mare owners can bid one of two ways on the breedings. The first phase of the program is a sealed bid auction. Bids must be at least 50% of the breeding fee but are more often as much as 80% of the fee. The sealed bids are opened during the first week of February.
The second phase of the program allows buyers to purchase any remaining breedings for 60% of the breeding fee. A list of these stallions is available through the Youth Coordinator, Danette McGuire. The remaining breedings are sold through June 1. The list of breedings for the 2006 season will be published beginning in October of this year.
“The NYCHA is very happy with the success of this year’s auction,” said McGuire. “The program continues to grow thanks to the great support of our stallion owners. Since the program’s inception in 1994, the NYCHA has raised $733,000 to support our activities.”
The National Cutting Horse Association is made up of 16,000 members across the United States with a wide range of backgrounds. The sport of cutting has roots in Western ranching traditions, where good horses were a necessity for everyday ranch work and cattle handling. From cowgirls to CEOs, from firefighters to professional football players, the common ground is often in the cutting arena. Each year more than 2,200 NCHA-approved events are held throughout the country with more than $35 million in prize money awarded.
For more information about the NCHA, the NYCHA Stallion Service Program, or the sport of cutting, please call 817-244-6188 or log-on to www.nchacutting.com.
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