FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 25, 2005

Contact: Kristina Gardner

(817) 244-6188 x 121

Lucchese / NCHA Weekend plans underway

NCHA increases awards for Lucchese/NCHA Weekend

(Fort Worth, TX)—Cutting horse enthusiasts from across the nation are looking forward to one of the industry’s biggest events as Lucchese/NCHA Weekend is planned for June 3-5 at 25 different locations across the United States and Canada. This special weekend of cutting horse shows celebrates the “grass-roots” events that are so important to the National Cutting Horse Association.

This year the NCHA is pleased to announce that several corporate sponsors have joined Lucchese Boot Company to support participation at this event. In addition to one pair of Lucchese boots being awarded at each of the 25 shows, ten boot bags will also be awarded at each location courtesy of Lucchese.

Resistol Hat Company will provide one 100X Black Gold straw-hat at each location. Teskey’s will provide two $100 gift certificates and Purina will award one ton of feed to each area. The National Youth Cutting Horse Association will also be awarding two $250 scholarships to youth participants.

“Lucchese Weekend allows our cutters and sponsors the opportunity to build rapport through their involvement in cutting,” says Jeff Hooper, NCHA Executive Director. “The locations hosting the weekend also see a significant boost; together with Lucchese, NCHA is proud to host the event again this year.”

Each year, cutters travel to 25 designated locations across the United States and Canada to compete in the NCHA Weekend – a celebration of the grassroots cutters who brought upon the foundation of the NCHA. Today, added prize money at these locations tops $90,000 for the special weekend of competition. Each location will be receiving more than $5,500 in awards to use at their shows.

Many cutters have been to big shows that operate two arenas in order to get through the day’s entries. NCHA Weekend outdoes them all. The number of entries is so big, you can think of it as 25 arenas operating simultaneously. The last two years have provided unprecedented proof that grassroots cutting is alive and well as a record number of entries competed for unparalleled purses.

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.

To learn more about the National Cutting Horse Association and the sport of cutting, call 817-244-6188 or visit www.nchacutting.com.

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