What a World!
Thousands of cutting horse fans packed the Amarillo National Center Saturday night for the final round of the Open and Non-Pro divisions of the 2005 NCHA World Finals. They tuned into Rancharrah Radio to hear the expert commentary of Tom Holt and Kurt Crawford as the competition unfolded.

Bobs Hickory Rio, ridden by Boyd Rice for the James Kenney Horse Trust, marked 227 in the final round to pass the $100,000 mark for the 2005 season and be named World Champion Open Horse.

Mary Jo Milner, reunited with Red White And Boon, took the Non-Pro World Championship for a record seventh time.

Here are the 2005 World Champions:

• Open: Bobs Hickory Rio
• Non-Pro: Mary Jo Milner
• $10,000 Novice: Smart Play Who
• $3,000 Novice: Lena Brow
• $10,000 Novice/Non-Pro: Tangy Starlight
• $50,000 Amateur: Suzanne Rodoni-Silverberg
• $20,000 Non-Pro: Cody Hedlund
• $10,000 Amateur: Lisa Taylor
• $2,000 Limited Rider: Tammy Bouget
• Senior Youth: Jordan Milner
• Junior Youth: Ty Moore

You can read about all the champions throughout the in the Daily Chatter newsletter.

You can also review the Official Program of the NCHA World Finals online.

James Kenney Dies
James Kenney, 91, passed away on February 9, just 10 days short of the NCHA Open World Finals, which he had planned to attend. His stallion, Bobs Hickory Rio, ridden by Boyd Rice, carried a formidable lead in Open competition, and went on to win the World Championship. Kenney, an NCHA Hall of Fame member, succumbed to complications from a fall at his home on February 3. Ranked among NCHA Open Top 10 in 1958 and 1959 aboard Joe’s Last, and again in 1966 on Jose Uno, Kenney won the 1968 Futurity on the Jose Uno daughter Uno Princess.

Graveside services were held on Monday, February 13 in Del Rio, Texas. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the James L. Kenney Memorial Fund which will benefit NCHA Charities.

The Race Is On In 2006
CD Lights, owned by Danny Motes and Winston Hansma, has shot to a $7,500 lead in the Open standings for the 2006 point year. Two-time Non-Pro World Champion Joe Howard Williamson is on top in that division with Could I Wood I.

Erin Robbins of Alabama has hit the lead in the $3,000 Novice Non-Pro class, riding Little Badger Smart. This is the first year the class has gained official recognition, and it will be featured in the 2006 World Finals, along with the National Championships, to be held in the spring of 2007.

Remember, you can keep up with all the standings online every week.

Eastern Nationals Around the Corner
The draw for the Wayne Hodges Trailers * Outlaw Conversions Eastern National Championships will be held today, and working orders will be posted online by this evening. The show begins March 6 in Jackson, Mississippi, and continues through March 18.

Next Stop, Vegas
The $151,000-added South Coast Winter Championship and the $1.3 million-added MillionHeir Classic are scheduled to get underway tomorrow at the new South Coast Equestrian Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, tomorrow.

NCHA Cutting Academy
The NCHA Cutting Academy, a series of grass roots cutting clinics to be held throughout the country, will be launched on April 22 in DuQuoin, Illinois. Four clinics will be scheduled annually in different locations, with the emphasis on the education and presentation of showing horses.

The inaugural NCHA Cutting Academy clinic will start off with an overview by NCHA by Executive Director Jeff Hooper, and will continue with a session on judging and rules conducted by NCHA Director of Judges Russell McCord. The afternoon session will focus on live works, with evaluations and critiques of each ride by some of the industry’s leading trainers.

Julie Davis, NCHA’s Membership Services Manager, will also be on hand to answer questions relating to NCHA membership and Non-Pro and Amateur status.

Keep Your Membership Active
March 1 is the deadline for renewing your NCHA membership for 2006. If you had an active membership in 2005, but have not renewed by March 1, you will no longer be eligible to show horses in NCHA competition, and beginning with the April issue, you will no longer receive the award-winning Cutting Horse Chatter magazine until your membership is renewed.

Super Stakes Payments Due
Final payments for the NCHA Super Stakes and Super Stakes Classic are due March 1. That's also the entry deadline for the Amateur Super Stakes and Super Stakes Classic.

Triple Crown Accommodations
If you're headed to the NCHA Super Stakes, check out the Green Oaks Hotel in Fort Worth, Texas. They offer a 10% discount to NCHA members who make their reservations 60 days out, and 5% for those who make reservations 30 days out. That deal works for all three NCHA shows in Fort Worth. Call (800) 433-2174 for more information.

NYCHA Stallion Service Program
Why spend more for breeding fees if you don’t have to? All remaining breedings donated to the NYCHA Stallion Service Program can be purchased on a first-come, first-serve basis for 60% of the advertised breeding fees. To purchase any of the remaining breedings, contact Danette McGuire, NCHA Youth Coordinator at (817) 244-6188. All proceeds benefit the National Youth Cutting Horse Association.

AHC Urges Action on Immigration Bill
The American Horse Council is urging citizens in the horse industry to contact their senators in support of comprehensive immigration reform that "ensures U.S. employers have access to a legal and stable workforce." HR4437, passed by the House of Representatives in December, is now in the judicial committee in the Senate, and the matter is expected to be considered in the coming weeks.

"The current H-2A and H-2B foreign worker programs do not adequately address the needs of the horse industry or other American businesses that depend on foreign workers for jobs that are not filled by American worker," said an AHC spokesperson. "Without provisions in place that address these needs, the horse industry could face a major labor shortage that will have severe affects on the industry and the U.S. economy."

Judge Recertification Seminars
There will be a series of Judge Recertification Seminars in 2006 held in conjunction with three major shows starting with the Eastern National Championship in March. It is mandatory that all NCHA carded judges attend at least one of these recertification seminars in 2006.

• Jackson, Mississippi – March 2006 (Seminar date – March 11)
• Reno, Nevada – May 2006 (in conjunction with the PCCHA Derby/Classic/Challenge)
• Fort Worth, Texas – July 2006 (in conjunction with the NCHA Summer Cutting Spectacular)

Listen Up!
NCHA Director of Judges Russell McCord and announcer Tom Holt have recorded a new audio CD that examines NCHA's contest rules. The insightful commentary can help you show your horse better and improve your scores. The price for the Rules and Regulations Audio CD is just $10.00, or $10.83 for Texas residents (to cover sales tax). There are no shipping and handling charges except for foreign orders. Visa or MasterCard are accepted. Fax your order to Holly Davis at (817) 244-2015, or email Holly for more information.

The Chatter's 2006 Media Kit and Rate Card and Advertising Contract are now online.

Finish Line Becomes Latest NCHA Sponsor
With its promise of the best quality products at the best value, Finish Line Horse Products has become the newest corporate sponsor on the NCHA roster.

Finish Line will provide products to competitors at all six major shows produced by the National Cutting Horse Association.
"We're extremely delighted to welcome Finish Line supplements to our NCHA sponsorship roster," said Jeff Hooper, NCHA Executive Director. "Finish Line is a great company because they believe in and fully guarantee all their products. Among other things, this sponsorship will enable cutters who haven't yet discovered the benefits of Finish Line supplements the opportunity to try the products for themselves."

Finish Line has been making natural horse supplements for every horse and discipline since the 1970's. Their products were developed by a family of horse trainers whose equine expertise dates back to Roosevelt's Rough Riders in the early 1900's.

Join Us!
Get your NCHA membership today and receive a subscription to the NCHA's award-winning monthly magazine, Cutting Horse Chatter. You can join quickly and easily right now, just click on this link to join online. If you have questions or need additional information about membership please contact the membership department at 817-244-6188 or email Julie Davis or Peggy Cox.

You can also relive some of the great moments of cutting horse history with VHS tapes of many of the past Triple Crown events, available from the NCHA Video Library. Tapes are $29.95, plus $5.95 for shipping and handling. Call the NCHA Marketing Department at (817) 244-6188 for more information about ordering. And right now, there's a special, limited-time offer on the 2003 NCHA World Championship Futurity and 2004 Super Stakes videos together for $49.95 plus $5.95 shipping and handling.