NCHA Summer Cutting Spectacular entries up 5% over 2002

Youth entries near 200 for Scholarship Cutting

(Fort Worth, TX) — Entries are up by 5 percent for the 2003 National Cutting Horse Association Summer Cutting Spectacular. Held annually in July at Will Rogers Coliseum in Fort Worth, Texas, the Summer Cutting Spectacular is the third jewel of the NCHA’s Triple Crown of cutting.

The Summer Cutting Spectacular, sponsored by Emison Insurance Agency and underwritten by the Insurance Corporation of Hannover, begins today and continues through Sunday, July 27. At last count, the NCHA had received 1,488 entries, as compared to 1,419 for the 2002 event. Expected payout for the Summer Cutting Spectacular is $1,534,306.

In addition to winning championship titles and large checks in the Will Rogers arena, some 200 youth cutters are also in Fort Worth to compete for scholarship money in excess of $28,000.

For cutters, fans, and spectators, there are many reasons to attend the Summer Cutting Spectacular during its 20-day span. The cutting, of course, alone is a major draw, the youth cutting is another, and outstanding Western shopping in the Western Mercantile is a third.

What’s more, for the first time in 20 years, the cutting world could have a Triple Crown champion. Chiquita Pistol, owned by Tooter Dorman and ridden by Tag Rice, is in position to earn only the third crown in NCHA history.

The world first met the newest cutting horse phenomenon Chiquita Pistol in November at the NCHA Futurity. There, the three-year-old sorrel mare dazzled the crowd with her natural ability and athleticism. Ridden by Tag Rice, Tooter Dorman’s Smart Little Pistol daughter not only survived the three tough qualifying Open rounds of competition, but excelled. Chiquita Pistol emerged from the Futurity as Open Champion after wowing the judges with a 225-point work in the finals.

From there, Rice, 28, rode Chiquita Pistol to notable wins at the Abilene Spectacular and the Augusta Futurity.

The second jewel in the NCHA’s Triple Crown of cutting is the Super Stakes, held every year in April. All eyes were on the duo as they advanced from the first round and eventually into the finals. In a record-breaking show, Chiquita Pistol became the first Super Stakes winner to collect a six-figure paycheck. She was victorious with a score of 227 points – six points ahead of the second-place horse.

Now, Chiquita Pistol is the first horse since 1985 to be in position to win an NCHA Triple Crown. To do so, she will have to win the NCHA Summer Cutting Spectacular, which wraps up on July 27 at Will Rogers Coliseum in Fort Worth, Texas. If she is successful, it will make her only the third horse in history to do so – and the only mare, at that. The only two other horses to accomplish such a feat were Smart Little Lena (1982-83) and Docs Okie Quixote (1983-84).

Among a host of insurance services provided worldwide, the Insurance Corporation of Hannover writes policies for livestock mortality through agent and NCHA member Ben Emison. ICH is a niche, special-program insurance company that carries a rating of "A" from A.M. Best rating services, and are the fifth largest reinsurer in the world. Currently, ICH insures roughly 20,000 horses ranging from miniature breeding animals to cutting horses to Grand Prix jumping horses.

The NCHA Summer Cutting Spectacular is sure to have something for everyone. Make plans to join the excitement July 8 through 27 at Will Rogers Coliseum in Fort Worth, Texas, for the cutting, the shopping, and your chance to be part of history!

For more information about the NCHA, the Summer Cutting Spectacular, or shopping at the Western Mercantile, please contact the NCHA at 817-244-6188.