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TODAY'S NEWS
By Glory Ann
Kurtz
July 28, 2010
Bill Underhill, Gainesville, Texas,
passes away at 75; Western States Cutting Horse Association
to hold Limited Age Event with $50,000 in added money; Learning
to Read the Foot of the Horse lectures and demonstrations
scheduled for Sept. 24-25 in Aubrey and Pilot Point, Texas;
Steve Anderson and Jennifer Foland in the lead following two
go-rounds of the NCHA Non-Pro Derby; Dates changed for Southwest
Reining Horse Futurity and Indiana Thoroughbred sale averages
increase.
BILL
UNDERHILL, GAINESVILLE, TEXAS, TRAINER PASSES AWAY AT 75
Bill Underhill, 75, a cutting horse trainer with over $74,000
in NCHA lifetime earnings,from Gainesville, Texas, passed
away in the early morning of Wednesday, July 28. In April,
Underhill fell coming out of the barn and hit the asphalt
with his head. Following a CAT scan, they found blood seeping
into his brain. After hospitalization and skilled nursing
and therapy, Underhill went into a coma. Funeral arrangements
are not available at press time. Send your condolences to
his wife Pat and family at 3511 I-35 South, Gainesville, TX
76249-9739 (940) 668-7354.
WESTERN
STATES CUTTING HORSE ASSOCIATION TO HOLD AGED EVENT SEPT 29-OCT
3
The Western States Cutting Horse Association, named the 2010
NCHA Affiliate of the Year, is planning a limited-age event
in Loveland, Colo., Sept. 29-Oct. 3. With $50,000 in added
money, the Open and Non-Pro futurities will have $22,000 in
added money pro-rated, with three full go-rounds for Open
3-year-olds. The Open and Non-Pro Derby and Classic will both
have $12,500 added (pro-rated) with two go-rounds and a finals.
The Pro-Am, with $3,000 in
added money, will have one Open go and one Non-Pro/Amateur
go, on the same horse, with the highest-scoring rider going
to the Finals. The Loveland facility has everthing under one
roof, including the show pen, stalls, practice pen and wash
racks. For entry forms and rules, go to www.westernstatescha.com.
Call Debby Phinney at 970-380-2113 for further information
and stall reservations, which are required, or e-mail justincuttin@aol.com.
LEARNING
TO READ THE HORSE FOOT INSIDE AND OUT LECTURES AND DEMONSRATIONS
SCHEDULED FOR SEPT. 24-25 IN AUBREY AND PILOT POINT, TEXAS
Hosted by Equine Medical Associates, Inc., and Jimbo Stewart,
Dr. Redden's Learning to Read the Foot Inside and Out lectures
and demonstrations will be held in Aubrey and Pilot Point,
Texas, on Sept. 24-25. Morning lectures will be held at The
Center in Aubrey and afternoon demonstrations will be held
at Equine Medical Associates in Pilot Point, Texas.
Lectures will include learning
to read growth rings and other external characteristics that
define the healthy foot; various grades of club feet, crushed
heels, laminitis and the thin-soled foot; understanding how
radiographic information relates to external features and
landmarks; how the mechanical formula is the key to a healthy
foot; ways to manage the club foot; how to help the crushed
heel recover and shoeing options for the navicular horse.
Demonstration topics will
include examining the young and mature foot for external landmarks
and correlating the findings with radiographic information;
basic radiographic protocol - what farriers need to know;
examining, categorizing and shoeing the club foot on the young
and mature horse; shoeing the crushed heel horse and shoeing
the navicular horse.
Early bird discounts will
be given until Aug. 27. For more information call Robin Levison
at (940) 465-6138 or e-mail her at rlevison@aol.com.
STEVE
ANDERSON AND JENNIFER FOLAND TOP NON-PRO NCHA DERBY ENTRIES
GOING TO NON-PRO SEMIFINALS
Steve Anderson, Victoria, Texas, riding Jo Jo Boon (Peptoboonsmal
x Bambi Freckles) and Jennifer Foland, Weatherford, Texas,
riding Shes Twice As Smooth (Smooth As A Cat x Dually Lil
Pep) topped the 150-entry NCHA Non-Pro Derby following two
go-rounds. The event is currently taking place at the Will
Rogers Coliseum in Fort Worth, Texas. Both scored a total
of 434 points following two go-rounds. Anderson also tied
for 13th place riding Scootin Dualquita (Smart Lil Scoot x
Dualquita) with a 428.5.It took a 421.5 to advance to Thursday's
Non-Pro semifinals. A total of 48 entries will go to the semifinals.
The Non-Pro Derby finals will be held Saturday, July 31 at
3 p.m., followed by the Open Derby Finals.
DATES
CHANGED FOR SWRHA FUTURITY/HORSE SHOW
The Southwest Reining Horse Association Futurity & Horse
Show has announced that the dates for the prestigious SWRHA
Futurity and Horse Show have been changed due to a scheduling
conflict with the Hardy Murphy Coliseum in Ardmore, Okla.
The dates were originally slated for Oct. 19-24; however,
the show will now to held one week later, Oct. 26-31. For
further information, call (580) 759-2572 or visit www.swrha.com.
TOTAL
SALES, AVERAGE PRICE INCREASE AT INDIANA T.B. SALE
Total sales at the Indiana Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders
Association for horses of racing age sale held Sunday, July
25, increased 23.6 percent from the 2009 sale.
With 36 horses going through
the sale ring, 22 were reported sold for $224,900, averaging
$10,233, an increase of 12.4 percent from 2009. The buy-back
rate was 38.9 percent slightly lower than the 39.4 percent
during last year's sale. The ony bad news was the median price
which was down 31.9 percent from $5,950 in 2009 to $4,059
this year.
Nineteen of the horses sold
were 2-year-olds in training, accounting for 94.3 percent
($212,200 of the total). The high seller was Benji Blues,
a 2-year-old gelding, bringing $65,000.
GAUGHAN CASE GOES BACK
TO APPELLATE COURT AFTER FAILED MEDIATION
By Glory Ann
Kurtz
July 20, 2010
It's back to the appellate court for
the Paula Gaughan and Dean Sanders 2008 lawsuit against the
NCHA following a mediation hearing held on July 13. The Second
District Court of Appeals had ruled that mediation must be
held prior to Aug. 15.
Following the mediation,
James Walker, attorney for Gaughan and Sanders, said, "Ross
Stoddard did an excellent job as mediator; unfortunately we
were not able to resolve our dispute so its back to the appellate
court for a final opinion."a
It is unknown when the appellate
court will make their decision as to whether or not members
of the NcHA, or the general public, will be able to view most,
if not all, of the NCHA's financial records. The NCHA had
produced the requested records for Gaughan; however, they
designated 41 percent of the financial information (36,555
of the 89,214 pages) confidential and on Nov. 17, 2009 received
a protective order from Judge Donald Cosby of Fort Worth's
67th District Court, saying Gaughan could not share the financial
information with the rest of the membership, or anyone for
that matter. Gaughan filed an appeal.
However, whatever decision
the appellate court makes, it will be a landmark decision
as this particular portion of the non-profit law has never
been challenged.
JEFF MATTHEWS AND SHERI
FORREST “TIE THE KNOT” DESPITE ADVERSITIES AT
CUTTING’S SOCIAL FUNCTION OF THE YEAR
Article and
Photos by Glory Ann Kurtz
July 7, 2010 – Weatherford, Texas
Jeff
Matthews and Sheri Forrest tied the knot on June 25 at their
new home in Silverado on the Brazos - but not without adversities.
He was the most eligible
bachelor in the cutting industry. She was a talented writer,
photographer and publicist. They met each other almost 30
years ago in Reno and went on a single date – then their
lives took them in different directions. But the horse industry
world is small and Jeff Matthews and Sheri Forrest soon met
again and resumed their relationship where they left off –
this time tying the knot at a beautiful, romantic wedding
held June 25 at their new home at Silverado on the Brazos
outside of Weatherford, Texas.
Tom
Holt, who married Jeff and Sheri, shown escorting Jeff.
However, the wedding was
not without adversity. Only a few days before their planned
wedding, Jeff, the owner of One Time Pepto, the industry’s
most popular young stallion, had a heart attack and had two
stents put in his coronary artery. Luckily, the heart attack
came in the hospital.
“I was having my nails
done and just felt like I needed to call home,” said
Sheri. “I asked him how he was doing because he didn’t
sound right. He confessed that he had been having chest pains
for two days. Sheri went into action, calling the ranch to
try to find someone to take him to the hospital. Everyone
was gone for lunch; however, she reached the landscape guy
on his cell phone and talked him into going back to the ranch
and taking Jeff to the hospital. She told him she’d
meet them there.
Obviously Jeff was at the
right place at the right time because an EKG showed he was
having a heart attack at that very moment. The doctors said
he had three arteries blocked; however, their main concern
was the blocked “widow maker” artery. They inserted
two stents into that artery; however, there were two other
arteries also blocked. While one was totally blocked and had
calcified, Jeff’s body had created new arteries for
the flow of blood. The other one would be taken care of less
than a week later, after the wedding.
On a lighter note, some felt
it was inevitable for a bachelor of 55 about to take the “big
step” for the first time.
But Sheri had her own problems,
as just prior to the wedding ceremony, someone stepped on
her foot, breaking her toe. She did her best during the evening
to hide the pain, not realizing the toe had been broken.
Jeff
and Sheri cutting the wedding cake.
But the marriage of Jeff
and Sheri was obviously meant to be. They were constantly
reminded of that as they recited their vows and she wiped
a tear from his face as NCHA’s Tom Holt officiated in
a unique ceremony outdoors under a huge tree decorated with
lanterns filled with lit candles. The birds sang, the crickets
chirped and the weather changed from sweltering heat to pleasant
as the clouds moved in.
From the plastic image of
One Time Pepto, valet parking, a social hour to the backdrop
of a small band, to the catered sit-down dinner of buffalo
steak from Bonnells of Fort Worth, to the thousands of roses
and a full-fledged dance band – the wedding was opulent,
unique, yet romantic friendly and relaxing. Included in the
invitee list were four horse trainers who are training the
first crop of One Time Peptos to reach the performance arena
- including Todd Crawford, Lloyd Cox, Paul Hansma and Gary
Gonsalves To this editor, it was the social event of the year
within the cutting industry and the union of two major players.
Parents of the bride were
Tom and Helen Austin, the bridesmaids were Nan (Mrs. Bob)
Kingsley and Jeff’s sister Carroll Matthews. Carroll
also sung “I Believe” following the wedding and
her daughter, Krystin Baggett, was the flower girl. Carroll’s
son, Will Arthur, was a groomsman, along with Carl Faison,
Jeff’s North Carolina farm manager for over 20 years.
Faison’s son, Josiah, escorted Dallas, Jeff’s
beautiful Australian Shepherd dog that carried the wedding
rings in two separate velvet bags on its collar. Sheri was
escorted by her sons Brent Bahry, a college student majoring
in computer engineering from San Diego, Calif., and Sean,
a music major from Los Angeles who sang at the wedding.
The
table decorations at the social hour included roses and photos
of Jeff and Sheri.
Although the Texas ranch
will be the couple’s primary residence, they will also
retain their homes: Jeff’s broodmare operation in Warsaw,
N.C. and Sheri’s main business address in Gold River,
Calif. “We’re going to be doing a lot of showing
in Texas,” said Sheri.
TODAY’S NEWS
By Glory Ann
Kurtz
June 28, 2010
Both sides of Gaughan and Sanders v
NCHA ordered to participate in mediation to resolve differences
by Aug. 18; Pete Branch wins NCHA Mercuria Energy World Series
of Cutting in Reno riding Ms Peppy Cat while Janet Westfall
rides Jeeps Posi Traction to the Non-Pro title; NRHA Futurity
Champions, Shawn Flarida and Gunnatrashya win NRHA Derby;
Kim Dooley claims Non-Pro.
PETE
BRANCH AND JANET WESTFALL REIGN
The top five horses at the NCHA Mercuria Energy World Series
of Cutting held at the Reno Rodeo on Saturday, June 26 were
sired by High Brow Cat, the industry’s leading sire.
Pete Branch rode Ms Peppy Cat (out of Ms Peppy Doc) to the
championship with a 227 score, taking home the $8,427 first-place
check. The 2010 NCHA leading Open Horse in the World Championship
Standings is owned by Lonnie and Barbara Allsup.
The Reserve title was taken
by Thomas E Hughes (out of Smart Letha), owned by Don and
Kathy Boone, with a 222 score, earning $7,021. Third with
a 218.5 was Tomcat Chex (out of Miss Reed Chex) owned by Rick
and Jalinda Covey and ridden by Gavin Jordan. Tomcat Chex,
ridden by Covey, also finished sixth in the Non-Pro with a
214 score. Tachita Cat (out of Tachitas Last), owned by Margo
Hazell, also ridden by Jordan, finished fourth and also finished
fourth in the Non-Pro with Hazell riding. Starcat Merada (out
of Merada Lena), owned by Daniel Jaeggi and ridden by Chubby
Turner, finished fifth.
In the Non-Pro division,
Janet Westfall riding Jeeps Posi Traction (Genuine Jeep x
Starstruck DB), finished first with a 224, earning $8,737.
The Reserve title went to Mary Jo Milner riding Dulces Joker
(Dulces Smart Lena x Miss Joker Tanquery), scoring a 222.5
and earning $7,269. Third went to Dual R Smokin (Dual Rey
x Smokin Pepto), ridden by Constance Jaeggi. Fifth was Carol
Ward riding Lil Dulce Lu (Dulces Smart Lena x Miss Haulin
Hickory). There was $25,000 added in both divisions. The next
stop will be Oklahoma City for the Battle in The Saddle, July
5-7, followed by the Calgary Stampede July 11-15.
GAUGHAN
AND SANDERS V NCHA ORDERED TO MEDIATION:
Following a hearing of oral arguments before the Second District
Court of Appeals on June 15, Paula Gaughan and Dean Sanders
were ordered to participate in mediation with NCHA lawyers
to resolve their differences by Aug. 18. If they still remain
unresolved, the Appeals Court will rule. Gaughan is requesting
that she be allowed to share the financial records of the
Association with the rest of the members.
SHAWN
FLARIDA RIDES GUNNATRASHYA
TO CHAMPIONSHIP OF NRHA DERBY
Gunnatrashya, a 4-year-old stallion by Colonels Smoking Gun
(Gunner) out of Natrasha by Trashadeous took the championship
of the NRHA Derby on June 26 in Oklahoma City, Okla. The winner
of the 2009 Congress Reining Futurity and over $173,098 in
lifetime earnings before the NRHA Derby win, scored a whopping
235 in the 36-horse finals, taking home the $50,000 paycheck.
The stallion is owned by Arcese Quarter Horses USA, Weatherford,
Texas.
The Reserve title went to
Boom Shernic, a 6-year-old son of Boomernic out of She And
Chic Dunit by Smart Chic Olena, owned by the Boom Shernic
Syndicate, Overbrook, Okla., and ridden by Craig C Schmersal
to a 234 – taking home $35,066.31. The Reserve title
was a replay of the Congress Reining Futurity where Gunnatrashya
finished first and Boom Shernic was Reserve. The pair’s
largest paycheck of $40,500 came from a fourth place in the
2009 NRBC Classic Open Derby. Boom Shernic $237,240 prior
to his NRHA Derby check.
In the 33-horse Non-Pro Finals,
held Friday, June 25, Kim Dooley, Scottsdale, Ariz., rode
Country Custom, a 4-year-old stallion by Custom Crome out
of JJM Sunny Delight by Bar Money Sunny. The pair scored a
225, taking home the $10,451.05 paycheck. The pair won the
Non-Pro Division of the National Reining Breeders Classic,
winning their largest paycheck of $40,908. The stallion currently
has $58,392.46 in lifetime earnings.
Reserve went to Mandy McCutcheon,
Tioga, Texas, riding Starstruck Girl, a 4-year-old daughter
of Smart Starbuck out of Good Time Show Girl by Hollywood
Dun It. The pair scored a 224 and took home an $8,680.60 paycheck.
This was added to their lifetime earnings of $21,461 prior
to the NRHA Derby. For full results, go to http://www.nrha.com.
STATE OF TEXAS APPROVES
$1.3 MILLION IN INCENTIVE FUNDING FOR NCHA TRIPLE CROWN
June 20, 2010
Fort Worth, Texas
The state of Texas has approved a total
of $1,309,759 in state incentive funding for the next cycle
of NCHA Triple Crown of Cutting events. The funding will apply
to the 2010 NCHA Summer Spectacular, 2010 NCHA Futurity and
2011 NCHA Super Stakes. One hundred percent (100%) of the
approved funding will be dedicated to the purses of the NCHA
Triple Crown of Cutting events.
Under legislation passed
in 2005, the office of Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
Susan Combs reviews funding requests submitted by the host
city or municipality (for the NCHA, the City of Fort Worth)
for major special events and sporting events such as the NCHA
Triple Crown. The State Comptroller's office can then grant
approval for funding to retain and/or attract these special
events.
The approval process for
the NCHA is based on the economic impact NCHA's Triple Crown
events have on Fort Worth and North Texas. Independent economic
impact studies have shown that the three events bring 35,751
visitors to the city for a total of 275,599 visitor days and
$57,554,914 in direct, taxable expenditures. The funding approved
is basically a partial rebate to the host city from the state's
share of sales taxes and other applicable taxes generated
by the event. The state still benefits financially, in that
if the events receiving funding were relocated outside the
State of Texas, the state would lose all of the economic benefits
that these major activities produce.
"It is great that the
State of Texas recognizes and supports the tremendous economic
impact that these NCHA events have for our State's economy,
and is willing to support our events at this level,"
said NCHA Executive Director Jeff Hooper.
The latest approval brings
the total amount of State support for NCHA's Triple Crown
events up to $6,428,137 since the inception of this incentive
plan in 2006.
TODAY'S NEWS
June 12, 2010
The Non-Pro in full swing in Oklahoma
City, Okla.; NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Sales to begin earlier
and Intermediate Open class increases added purse for a total
of $70,000; Fort Ranch Sale scheduled for June 19; PBR trims
Finals competition to six rounds; APHA World Shows to become
"qualifying" shows; Editor position open at APHA;
PBR to initiate six-round Finals and PRCA to award Veterinarian
Of the Year" at NFR.
CLINT HIXSON
WINS 5/6-YEAR-OLD AMATEUR FINALS AT THE NON-PRO
Clint Hixson, Monroe, LO\a., riding
Peppers Stylish Cat to a 221, won the 62-entry 5/6-Year-Old
Amateur Finals title at The Non-Pro, held June 8-15 at the
State Fair arena in Oklahoma City, Okla. The pair picked up
the $5,815.81 paycheck. The Reserve title went to Nicholas
Johnson, Benson, N.C., riding Kadabra Jess for Jamie and Lisa
Johnson. The pair scored a 217, picking up a $4,072.85 total
paycheck.
The $10,000 Amateur Finals
were taken by David House, Tulsa, Okla., riding Cats Sandy
Lena to a 219 and took home $6,288.64. The Reserve title went
to Dustini Ham, Whitesboro, Texas, riding Sizzlin Little to
a 213 and a $3,959.09 total paycheck.The event featured 21
total entries.
The 30-entry $15,000 Novice
Non-Pro was won by Dean Holden, Marietta, Okla., riding MK
Dual San to a 221.5 for $1,997.38. Brad Wilson, Lone Grove,
Okla., came in second riding Redneck Style to a 220.5 for
$1,640.71. In the 13-entry one go-round $20,000 Non-Pro, Diane
Foster, Harrisburg, Ill., rode Smart Cinch Olena to a 215
and a $5,363.64 paycheck. Reserve, with a 214 score, went
to Kevin Glover riding WR Lets Roll, owned by Bobby Glover,
Temple, Texas. The pair collected $3,342.42.
Today there will be three
finals: 4-Year-Old Amateur, 5/6-Year-Old Non-Pro and the $50,000
Non-Pro Any-Age Horse. The event finishes on Tuesday, June
15 with three finals: $2,000 Limit Rider Any Horse and the
4- and 5/6-Year-Old Open finals.
NRCHA
SNAFFLE BIT FUTURITY SALES TO BEGIN EARLIER; $30,000 GUARANTEED
TO INTERMEDIATE OPEN CHAMPION
Changes have been made for the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity
Sales, with the event beginning one day earlier and taking
place Sept. 29-Oct. 1. The event takes place in Reno, Nev.,
Sept. 20-Oct. 1.
According to Horse Sale Committee
Chairman Sandy Collier, the Classic Yearling and Broodmare
Sale will take place Wednesday, Sept. 29 at noon in the Pavilion;
the Select Yearling and Broodmare Sale, Thursday, Sept. 30,
9 a.m., Main Arena; Performance Horse Sale, Thurssday, Sept.
30, following the Yearling and Broodmare Sale in the Main
arena (Preview for Performance Horse Sale, 7 a.m., Thursday,
Sept. 30) and Select 2-Year-Old Sale, Friday, Oct. 1, 3 p.m.,
Main Arena (Preview for Select 2-Year-Old Sale, Friday, Oct.
9:45 a.m.)
The premier market place for reined cow horses and prospects,
the Snaffle Bit Futurity Sales have become a major draw of
the Reno, Nevada, event. Despite tough economic conditions,
the Sales grossed $2,934,100 in 2009.
Intermediate Open exhibitors
at the 2010 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity will have increased
added money, thanks to Cinch, who is adding an additional
$25,000 to the already impressive added money. The division
will now have $70,000 in added money, and a guaranteed payout
to the Champion of $30,000. With Cinch being a long-time partner
of NRHA, the division will now be called the Cinch Intermediate
Open Futurity.
Press release from NRCHA
FORT RANCH PRODUCTION SALE
TO BE HELD JUNE 19
The 33rd Annual Fort Ranch Production Sale will be held Saturday,
June 19, 2010 and will include 67 high-quality foals. The
sale begins with a preview at 10:00 a.m., with the sale beginning
at 11:30 a.m. at the Fort Ranch.
The sale will include offerings
from the first foal crop of the ranch's newest Stallion, Quite
A Boon, sired by World Champion, Peptoboonsmal, who has produced
offspring that have earned over $14 million. Quite A Boon's
dam, Meradas Little Sue, is the NCHA All-Time Money-Earning
Mare with lietime earnings of $730,552, the NCHA Horse of
the Year, a three-time NCHA Open World Champion, a member
of the NCHA Hall of Fame, and a 10-time aged event champion.
She also has produced money-earners of over $800,000 to date.
Quite A Boon has earned $61,000 in NCHA cutting competition
to date. His full brother has earned $166,000 and his full
sister has earned $52,000 and they're still going strong.
Also selling will be several
colts by Ricochets Sue, sired by Smart Lil Ricochet out of
Meradas Little Sue. There will also be a number of Zoom Zoom
Shorty colts in the sale. The Buckskin Stallion is a son of
Shorty Lena and his dam, Paloma Quixote, has produced 10 money-earners
with total earnings of $362,038. Included in the sale will
be a number of buckskins, palominos, and duns that he has
sired.
There will also be a set
of foals by Gun Goes Boon. This bay roan stallion is sired
by Playgun out of My Angel of Blue. She was the last daughter
of Royal Blue Boon and is a full sister to Peptoboonsmal and
Peppys from Heaven.
Also featured in the offering
will be a high-quality representation of foals sired by the
beautiful black stallion, Bobalena Bob, sired by Bob Acre
Doc out of Lenas Patent by Smart Little Lena. Bobalena Bob
was an NCHA Futurity Ssemifinalist, a winner of nearly $27,000
and a sire of NCHA money-earners. There will also be colorful
colts with great conformation sired by the Palomino stallion,
Little Pistol Badge, sired by Young Gun out of Little Peppy
Holly by Peppy San Badger.
The high-mountain pastures
of the Fort Ranch are a natural conditioner for their colts
as they graze the steep slopes and travel to water with the
broodmare band. The Fort Ranch horses have proven their versatility
by being winners and money-earners in the cutting, reining,
working cow-horse, and roping arenas.
The Ranch is located just
south of The Golden Spike National Monument in Promontory,
Utah. Promising to be a day of fun for the entire family with
refreshments, a complimentary lunch will be held. The beautiful
scenery of the historic Ranch will serve as the back drop
for an offering of the colts.
A complete and comprehensive
sale catalog is currently being prepared. If you have not
received a catalog in the past, please call Rick Ellis to
receive a copy and visit their website at www.fortranch.com.
APHA WORLD SHOWS TO BECOME "QUALIFYING SHOWS"
Up untiil now, the American Paint Horse Association (APHA)
World Shows were open to anyone; however, that will soon change.
On June 4, 2010, at an APHA Workshop, the APHA Executive Committee
approved an APHA World Show "qualifying" proposal.
Click
here for proposal>>
EDITOR POSITION OPEN AT AMERICAN
PAINT HORSE ASSOCIATION
The APHA has an Editor position open. The selected applicant
will be responsible for all magazines and will report to the
Marketing Director. He or she will directly manage the editorial
staff and the Circulation Manager. The successful candidate
must have strong leadership skills, an eye for detail and
a passion for producing high quality magazines that will appeal
to all members.
Responsibilities will include
but not be limited to: Developing, supervising and motivating
a team of four to five employees; Plan and direct overall
activities of the department; oversee circulation; write and
photograph feature stories; ensure publication schedules are
met; maintain an editorial calendar and database and plan
and manage department budget and business accounts
The Editor must have strong
communication skills and be able to communicate with APHA
members and the Board of Directors as well as present reports
to the Executive Committee and management. He or she must
also be flexible, willing to travel, have the ability to multi-task
and work in a deadline driven environment. The Editor will
also oversee production of the association’s other publications
– Paint Horse Connection and Paint Horse Racing. In
addition to working with the editorial staff and Circulation
manager, the Editor will work closely with the sales team,
the graphics department and the marketing staff.
He or she must have a college
degree in Journalism or English, should have a minimum of
four to six years editorial and photography experience and
some knowledge of magazine advertising sales. Experience in
the equine industry is a must. Interested applicant should
contact HR Director Judy Mitchell at jmitchell@apha.com.
Press release from APHA
SHORTER SIX-ROUND FORMAT AT
PBR FINALS INTENSIFIES COMPETITION
Because the Built Ford Tough World Finals has been trimmed
from eight rounds to six this year, PBR Livestock Director
Cody Lambert won’t be selecting as many bulls to compete.
Last year he took about 180 animals, including 40 ABBI Classic
bulls. This October he expects to have about 150 available.
The event is scheduled for Oct. 20-24 at the Thomas &
Mack arena in Las Vegas, Nev.
“It will be tougher
for a bull to qualify for the Finals, and that’s one
thing that’s really going to be tough,” Lambert
said. “It’s going to take fewer bulls to [stage
the Finals].”
Bulls chosen to compete under
the glare of the Las Vegas neon earned $1,500 for their owners
in a long round last year. Short-round bulls, including the
three re-ride bulls, brought in $4,000. Both figures will
be increasing in 2010.
In addition, the downshift
to six rounds means the competition for World Champion Bull
will be trimmed. In the past three seasons, title contenders
had three outs to impress the judges. This year, bulls will
only have two. The Built Ford Tough Championship Round will
be one of those opportunities.
“I’m not sure
what the other round will be,” Lambert said. Eight bulls
competed for the title last year: five the riders selected,
two that tied in a fan balloting and one that Lambert chose.
No hard-and-fast rule governs how many can vie for the crown.
PRCA
VETERINARIAN OF THE YEAR TO BE AWARDED AT NFR
The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) has created
the PRCA Veterinarian of the Year Award, presented by Purina.
The first recipient will be honored during the 52nd Wrangler
National Finals Rodeo, Dec. 2-11 at the Thomas & Mack
Center in Las Vegas. The award will go to a veterinarian who
exemplifies extraordinary dedication and commitment to the
well being of professional rodeo livestock.
“We will honor one veterinarian each year, but it is
also recognition of the hundreds of veterinarians who are
on-site at PRCA rodeos and who care for livestock in their
communities,” said ProRodeo Hall of Famer and Chairman
of the PRCA’s Animal Welfare Committee, Doug Corey,
DVM. The PRCA Livestock Welfare Department is involved in
outreach and education, along with implementing rules for
the proper care and treatment of livestock.
Article by Chris McManes/PBRNow.com
LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD!
NCHA CONVENTION TO BE HELD NEXT
WEEK
By Glory Ann
Kurtz
June 7, 2010 – Fort Worth, Texas
Whether or not you are perfectly happy
with what goes on within the NCHA, you shouldn’t miss
the opportunity to let your voice be heard at the 2010 NCHA
Convention which will begin next week. The annual event will
be held June 18-20 at the Hilton DFW Lakes in Grapevine, Texas.
Registration to the convention is $45 per person and all attendees
will have the ability to attend all the Committee Meetings.
Go to NCHAcutting.com and click on the Convention ad –
you can register in advance.
The Zack T Wood NCHA Memorial
Golf Tournament will be held prior to the convention on June
17 starting at 9 a.m. and The Tribute Golf Club, 1000 Lebanon
Rd., The Colony, TX 75056. All Committee meetings will be
held on Friday, June 18 and Saturday, June 19
FRIDAY,
JUNE 18:
. On Friday, June 18, registration will start at 7 a.m. and
go until 5 p.m. The Regional Directors meetings will be held
at 8 to 8:45 a.m. Three committee meetings will be held from
9 a.m. to 12 noon and include the Affiliate Officers/Secretaries,
Judges Rules and Amateur Committee meetings.
AFFILIATE
OFFICERS/SECRETARIES AGENDA:
Some interesting subjects on the Agenda for the Affiliate
Officers/Secretaries will discuss include being able to identify
apprentice trainers who have returned to Non-Pro status and
are showing in limited classes. Also they will review show
producers that fail to fulfill their liabilities of show management.
Click
here for Affiliate Officers/Secretaries agenda>>
JUDGES
RULES AGENDA:
On the Judges Rules agenda, it is suggested changing the requirements
for the sixth box judge applicants to be “new applicants
only who have lifetime earnings of over $250,000;” imposing
fines on Limited Age Events who do not have the required escort,
discussing Rule 16 regarding helmets on adults and clarify
the attire rule (probably due to the recent “hoodie-gate”
controversy), and revisiting judges signing their cards at
major Limited Age Events.
Click
here for Judges Rules agenda>>
AMATEUR
MEETING AGENDA:
Items on the agenda for the Amateur meeting including increasing
the Amateur Exception Rule from $5,000 to $15,000; changing
the current payout structure, becoming a Life Amateur if you
are an amateur at age 60; verbage changes for standing rule
6j (All new shows apply for approval must offer both an open
cutting horse contest and an unlimited class for non-pro riders
with parity of added purses) to include the Amateur division
and creating a new entry-level $1,000 Amateur Class as a 3-year-experiment.
Click
here for Amateur agenda>>
Four other committee meetings
will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. and include the Non-Professional,
Professional Trainers, Stallion Owners and Approved LAE Show
Producers. Those meetings will be followed at 4:30 p.m. to
6:30 p.m. by a Board of Directors Meeting, followed by New
Directors Orientation from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
NON-PRO
AGENDA:
The Non-Pro meeting agenda will also include the Amateur Exception
Rule increase it from $5,000 to $15,000; a third horse (gelding)
in the Derby 4-year-old, in the Amateur, Non-Pro and Limited
Non-Pro; Raising the $50,000 cap of Non-Pros showing in the
Open class to $200,000 before they have to forfeit their Non-Pro
status; discuss a “Life Amateur” at age 60, as
well as Non-Pro/Amateur life memberships for life members
and mandatory three head of cattle for all weekend fresh-cattle
classes.
Click
here for Non-Pro agenda>>
PROFESSIONAL
TRAINERS:
Professional trainers will discuss the possibility of honoring
the owner and breeder of the horses that make the NCHA Open
Futurity Finals in the rider introductions; recognizing go-round
winners at the Futurity with a buckle and/or money; time limites
on judge’s hours; eligibility requirements for the John
Deere Division (Limited) of the Open class at the NCHA Triple
Crown events; a gelding class at the Derby; parking at Will
Rogers and fines for Rule 16 – the dress code.
Click
here for Professional Trainers agenda>>
STALLION
OWNERS:
Stallion owners will meeting to discuss planning to alleviate
and/or “grandfather” older stallions; propose
a plan to increase overall purse where breeders/mare owners
pay a nomination fee for foals; review how stallion owners’
nomination fees are currently allocated for the Super Stakes
in the various classes and age divisions and propose a formula
to pay a bonus to the stallion owners from stallion nominations
for finalists in the Super Stakes.
Click
here for Stallion Owners agenda>>
LIMITED
AGE EVENT PRODUCERS:
Discuss if a LAE with added money of less than $10,000 should
be approved within the blocked dates of a major LAE ($10,000
or more in added money); review the major LAE five-year projections
of show dates for 2011-2015 for possible conflicts of dates;
review and vote on the major LAE show dates for Jan. 1-June
20, 2011.
Click
here for Limited Age Event Producers agenda>>
SATURDAY,
JUNE 19:
On Saturday, June 19, registration will be from 7 a.m. to
5 p.m. From 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., the Promotion & Development
Committee will meet. Also starting at 8 a.m. and lasting to
11:30 a.m. will be the Open Show Committee meeting. At 9:30
a.m. to 11:30 a.m., the Long-Range Planning Committee will
meet.
PROMOTION
& DEVELOPMENT MEETING:
Discuss ways to utilize the exhibit hall to increase cutting
activities, spectator participation and NCHA growth, promoting
NCHA at the introductory and weekend levels, and increase
media awareness for affiliate shows.
Click
here for Promotion & Development agenda>>
OPEN
SHOW MEETING:
Review options for changing payout structure plus other standing
rules; revise the method to determine the number of finalists
at the National Championship Shows, creating a fixed minimum
number of finalists and a maximum percentage of finalists
for each class; change mandating of Youth weekend classes;
adding three head of fresh cattle per entry at shows having
$750 or more in added money; requiring affiliates to hold
at least three NCHA approved shows per year to qualify entrants
for the National Championship shows; changing minimum class
size from three entries paying one money to five entries paying
one money; guaranteeing first-place check in Open and on-Pro
be larger than for other classes at National Championships;
create a new entry-level $1,000 Amateur class as a 3-year
experiment and raising the earnings limit on the $2,000 Limit
Rider to at least $3,000.
Click
here for Open Show agenda>>
LONG-RANGE PLANNING AGENDA:
Limiting directors, include comments from director nominees
in Chatter or online; replacing directors for lack of attendance
at NCHA Convention; director term limits, a member of the
Year Award and discuss affiliate guidelines and processes
for receiving NCHA Affiliate status.
Click
here for Long-Range-Planning agenda>>
YOUTH
COMMITTEE AGENDA:
Discuss rules regarding NCHA approved Youth cutting horse
contests; distributing more scholarship money at Eastern and
Western; a definitive split in Senior and Junior Youth classes;
have Youth cutting points available on website and awarding
a Reserve Reserve Rookie of the Year award.
Click
here for Youth Committee agenda>>
LIMITED
AGE EVENTS AGENDA:
Discuss selling an Open horse’s position in the draw
of the Super Stakes and Summer Spectacular before the start
of the go-round for a fee; third horse as a gelding during
the Derby portion of the Summer Spectacular; posting the breeder
of the horses during the NCHA events on scoreboard; honoring
owner and breeder of horses making NCHA Open Futurity finals;
running the Open finals of the Derby and Super Stakes before
the Non-Pro finals in case both divisions of the finals are
on the same day; Age 60 Life Amateur; impact the internet
is having on the attendance of the event finals of the Will
Rogers events and possibility of delaying broadcast of any
finals or a charge; raise Non-Pro earnings cap from $50,000
to $200,000; reevaluate draw procedure for semis and finals
of NCHA-produced shows; music played continually throughout
Triple Crown events and create an Open Intermediate, revolving-door
rider’s class during NCHA aged events.
Click
here for Limited Age Events agenda>>
SUNDAY,
JUNE 20:
Sunday’s agenda will include a Christian Cutters for
Christ Church Service from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m., the Board of
Directors Meeting from 8 to 9:15 a.m. and the General Membership
Meeting from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. – where all the
decisions of the committees will be announced by the committee
heads. However, even though members and committee members
agree on a rule change, it is not official until the Executive
Committee meets and votes on it.
Click
here for the Convention schedule>>
For hotel reservations call
the hotel at 1-800-984-1344 or go to http://tinyurl.com/nchaconvention2010.
For further information, contact the NCHA at 817-244-6188.
NEW JURY TRIAL FOR WHITMIRE
V NCHA SCHEDULED FOR SEPT. 27
OPINION FROM APPEALS COURT EXPECTED
ON GAUGHAN V NCHA CASE
By Glory Ann
Kurtz
May 17, 2010 – Fort Worth, Texas
Ray
and Lainie Whitmire.
Photo by Glory Ann Kurtz
A jury trial is scheduled
for the Whitmire v NCHA at 9 a.m. on Sept. 27, 2010 in Judge
Tom Lowe’s 236th District Court, Fort Worth, Texas.
The trial is a continuation of a lawsuit filed by Lainie Whitmire
against the NCHA on Oct. 1, 2006, following a dispute about
her amateur/non-pro status that had been going on since 2004.
On April 9, 2008, Judge Lowe
issued a Summary Judgment in favor of the NCHA as to certain
of Whitmire’s claims, including the membership contract
claims and the breach of oral promise claims. Whitmire appealed
this ruling to the Court of Appeals in the Second District
of Texas in Fort Worth. On July 23, 2008, the Court of Appeals
issued its ruling affirming the trial court’s grant
of summary judgment on the membership contract claims but
it reversed the trial court’s decision on the breach
of oral promise claim. That claim involves a settlement agreement
Whitmire claims was reached between Eldridge Goins, acting
as NCHA General Counsel, and Clark Brewster, who was Whitmire’s
lawyer at the time. The enforcement of this oral agreement
would result in reinstatement of Whitmire as a non-pro NCHA
member. The Court of Appeals has ruled that the NCHA must
prove there is not such an agreement.
Besides the breach of oral
promise claim, Whitmire is also claiming false imprisonment
and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Also, Lainie’s
husband, Ray, is awaiting a decision from Judge Lowe regarding
the suspension of his membership under Article II of the NCHA
Constitution for being “disharmonious” by supporting
his wife financially when she filed the law suit against the
NCHA. Judge Lowe has not yet issued a ruling on the pending
summary judgment motions addressing this claim.
The Court has given Whitmire a “special setting”
which means that the case will be tried to a jury on the Sept.
27 setting without any further delay.
OPINION EXPECTED ON GAUGHAN
V NCHA
In other lawsuit news, an opinion is expected from the Appeals
Court regarding a suit Paula Gaughan filed in May 2008 in
Fort Worth’s 67th District Court seeking a wide range
of NCHA financial information, including bank account and
payroll records, money paid to NCHA administrators and to
all vendors and attorneys who had worked with the association
within the prior three years.
In November 2009, Judge Don
Cosby of Fort Worth’s 67th District Court ruled in favor
of the NCHA in his Summary Judgment and also ruled that as
much as 41 percent of the financial records the NCHA had turned
over to Gaughan were designated as confidential.” The
NCHA secured a ruling from Judge Cosby to the effect that
Gaughan cannot share the financial records and the information
they contain with other NCHA members.
Gaughan says she wants the
membership to have the right to view all of the financial
records and to discuss the information in them as part of
their participation in the governance of the Association without
having to go to court to do so. Initially, Gaughan sought
the financial records to share with NCHA members at the 2008
NCHA Annual Meeting. The Appeals Court took the case without
oral arguments and a ruling could be forthcoming in the near
future.
Gaughan and her husband
Michael own the South Point Hotel, Casino and Equestrian Center
in Las Vegas, Nev., and she puts on several NCHA-approved
aged events during the year. According to Gaughan, the cutting
events have paid out over $14.5 million to NCHA cutters during
these events which have been held since 1992.
FORT WORTH BUSINESS PRESS
FILES FOR BANKRUPTCY
May 10, 2010
According to a May 5, 2010 article in the Fort
Worth Star Telegram, Brown Media
Holdings, a Cincinnati-based owner of the Fort Worth Business
Press and the Collin County Business Press filed for Chapter
11 bankruptcy, indicating that they owed $94 million to two
creditors.
The 90-year-old company
owns 18 dailies and 27 weeklies in 10 states. It purchased
the Fort Worth publication in September 2007 from Richard
Connor, who was the publisher of the Fort Worth Star Telegram
from 1986-1997. The company is seeking $2.5 million in financing
to keep the publications running until the properties are
acquired. The management of the publication are “stalking
horse” bidders, meaning they have set a minimum price
for the assets of the company.
TODAY’S NEWS
By Glory Ann
Kurtz
April 29, 2010
NCHA ballots for Vice President being
mailed; Australian Cutting Futurity won by Corey Holden; Kentucky
Derby favorites starting at opposite ends of the gate; Doug
Williamson wins NRCHA Hackamore Classic for the second year
in a row and Texas tops list of number of Quarter Horses with
461,054.
NCHA
BALLOTS BEING MAILED FOR VICE PRESIDENT ELECTION
Ballots are being mailed this week to members of the NCHA
so they can vote for a new NCHA Vice President. Their choices
include Ernie Beutenmiller Jr. Union, Mo., and Jim Milner,
South Lake, Texas. The ballots will be counted and verified
on June 8 under the supervision of the accounting firm Whitley
Penn. The new Vice President will take office during the 2010
NCHA Convention, June 18-20 in Grapevine, Texas. The Vice
President will become President-Elect the following year,
and will become NCHA President in 2012. Beutenmiller is a
current member of the Board of Directors and Milner is a past
President of the Association.
AUSTRALIAN
CUTTING FUTURITY WON BY COREY HOLDEN
Corey Holden riding Robert Woodward’s Six Spins, a 2005
stallion sired by Dual Rey out of Triple Spin by Docs Spinifex,
won the Australia Armidale Cutting Futurity held Feb. 8 in
Armidale, Australia. The pair picked up $3,764 for their 148.5
finals score. The Reserve title, scoring a close 148, went
to Frank Green riding Winderadeen Grousekitty, a 2005 daughter
of Intricablena out of Winderadeen Scotch Mist by Smart Little
Scotty owned by R.& H Williams.
The Non-Pro division was won by Dominic Williams riding Instant
Sweet Oak, a 2005 daughter of Instant Dulce out of Oaks Cherie
by Docs Freckles Oak, after scoring a 146.5 for $1,900. The
Reserve title went to Peter Shumack riding Eye Brows Cat,
a 2005 gelding by Rackateer Cat out of Barque Sonitas Miss
Doc by Sonitas Rondo, scoring a 146 and earning $1,200.
KENTUCKY
DERBY FAVORITES AT OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE STARTING GATE
Don’t miss the 136th running of the Kentucky Derby to
be held this Saturday at Churchill Downs. The horses have
been drawn for the 20-horse field and the two favorites will
start from opposite ends of the starting gate. Lookin At Lucky,
the favorite at 3-1, sired by Smart Strike, trained by Bob
Baffert and jockeyed by Garrett Gomez claimed the rail in
post No. 1. The second favorite, Sidney’s Candy (5-1),
sired by Candy Ride, trained by John W. Sadler and ridden
by jockey Joseph Talamo drew the outside hole.
DOUG
WILLIAMSON WINS NRCHA HACKAMORE CLASSIC SECOND YEAR IN A ROW
Doug Williamson, Bakersfield, Calif., rode his horse Smart
Miss Merada, a 2005 daughter of Leo Merada out of Uno Smart
Lady by Smart Little Uno, to claim the National Reined Cow
Horse Association (NRCHA) Hackamore Classic Championship April
25 in Paso Robles, Calif. The mare, owned by Williamson and
his wife, Carol, took home a $14,840 check for earning the
title with a 438 composite score, three-and-a-half points
ahead of the Reserve Champion Ken Wold.
Williamson, a throat-cancer
survivor, is the winner of over $800,000 in cutting, reining
and reined cow horse earnings, having won the NRCHA Snaffle
Bit Futurity twice, was the 2010 Reserve World’s Greatest
Horseman and a 2006 NRCHA Hall of Fame inductee.
Wold marked a 434.5 riding a 2006 stallion Moody Blues Brother
(Peptoboonsmal x Lenas Lisette x Doc O’Lena) for owner
Mark Nelson – taking home $11,872. Wold also rode the
No. 3 horse, Cobys Soula, a 2005 mare by Soula Jule Star out
of Coby Jo Chex by Bueno Chex Too, owned by Joe Putnam, to
a close 434. The pair earned $9,646.
The Intermediate Open and
Limited Open were won by Nick Dowers riding JP Royal Boon,
a 2006 gelding by Showstoppin Boon out of Royal Jody Chex
by Bueno Chex Jr, owned by Triple D Ranches LLC, earning a
total of $5,220. The Classic Non-Pro and Intermediate Non-Pro
titles were taken by John Showalter, Fresno, Calif., riding
Tangys Classy Chick (P), a 2005 Paint daughter of Tangys Classy
Peppy out of Crimson Sassychick (P) by Crimson Three (P).
The pair picked up close to $8,000. The Amateur title went
to Toni Hagan riding Just Ask Me Nice, a 2005 daughter of
Captain Nice out of Missy Dual Master by Dual Peppy, to a
420, earning $1,920.
TEXAS
TOPS STATES WITH THE MOST QUARTER HORSES
With a total of 2,758,654 registered Quarter Horses in the
United States in 2009, the figure has dropped 62,518 from
a year ago. According to the American Quarter Horse Association,
new registrations of 93,835 were also down 22,144. Canada
also has 240,184 registered Quarter Horses, up 805 from a
year ago. Also, Canada had 10,612 new registrations, down
1,984 from a year earlier. Internationally, there are 136,198
registered horses, up 14,606 from a year ago and new registrations
for 2009 were up 1,103 to 7,558.
Texas tops the list of Quarter
Horses with 461,054, followed by Oklahoma, 188,381; California
136,583; Missouri 107,630; Colorado, 93,958; Montana, 92,572;
Kansas 85,183; Nebraska, 84,675, and South Dakota 81,970.
Alberta was the leading Canadian province with 106,639 Quarter
Horses. Texas also led the list of transfers within the state
with a whopping 17,369 out of the 79,416 in-state transfers
made nationally. Oklahoma was second with 5,198. Transfers
of horses to Texans totaled 6,460 – the highest of any
state, and transfers from Texas going out of state totaled
7,376, also the highest of all states.
Internationally, the most
Quarter Horses in 2009 were in Mexico with 33,590, up 1,497
from 2008. Mexico also had 1,324 transfers, up seven from
the year before. Germany came in second with 32,693 registered
Quarter Horses in 2009, up 1,349 from the year before. They
also had the most transfers, 1667, down 46 from the year before.
Italy had the second most transfers, 1,366, up 222 from 2008.
They were also third in the list of Quarter Horses in foreign
countries with 21,637, up 780 from 2008.
These figures and many other
statistics that were presented at the AQHA Convention will
be published in the Quarter
Horse Journal.
TODAY’S NEWS
By Glory Ann
Kurtz
April 22, 2010
Bill Underhill, 75, Gainesville, Texas,
is spending time at the Denton Hospital following a fall;
Benny Tidwell’s funeral to be held Friday, April 23;
Nellie Jacobs home from hospital following third operation
for a detached retina, and Ocala Breeders Sale ends on high
note across the board.
BILL
UNDERHILL HOSPITALIZED FOLLOWING FALL
Long-time NCHA member Bill Underhill, 75, Gainesville, Texas,
is in a Denton Hospital following a fall at home. According
to Bill’s wife, Pat, he fell coming out of the barn
and hit the asphalt with his head. “He fought going
to the emergency room,” said Pat, but following a CAT
scan, they found blood was seeping into his brain. They immediately
sent him to John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth, where
he was in ICU for over a week before being transferred to
the Denton Hospital. She says he will more than likely be
in the hospital for at least two more weeks and will then
need some skilled nursing and therapy. Send your get-well
wishes to Bill at 3511 I-35 South, Gainesville, Texas 76240-9739.
BENNY
TIDWELL SERVICES PLANNED FOR FRIDAY, APRIL 23
The funeral services for long-time James “Benny”
Tidwell, 62, Appling, Ga., a long-time NCHA member and AAAA
judge, will be held on Friday, April 23 at 11 a.m. at the
Trinity On The Hill Methodist Church in Augusta, Ga. There
will be a reception following the service. Tidwell was murdered
during a robbery of his pawnshop, Mo’ Money Jewelry
and Pawn Shop, in south Augusta, Ga., on Monday, April 19.
A customer who came to do business at the pawn shop found
Tidwell on the floor. He had been shot to death. The shooter
was caught and arrested the same day after leading investigators
to the city’s largest meth lab in a home. Send your
condolences to his wife, Susie, at 2628 Dozier Rd., Appling,
GA 30802-3062.
NELLIE
JACOBS HOME AFTER THIRD OPERATION FOR A DETACHED RETINA
Nellie Jacobs, the wife of Pat Jacobs, just returned home
from a third operation for a detached retina. According to
Pat, “We only have one good eye between the two of us!”
Pat will soon be coming out with a new book and has just ordered
a reprint of the book, “Outlaws, Outcasts and Second-Chance
Horses,” that he published last year. You can reach
Pat or Nellie at 2825 Brookhollow Drive, Burleson, TX 76028-1954
(817) 919-7358 or e-mail at patjacobs@live.com.
OCALA
SALES CONCLUDES WITH HIGH NUMBERS
The Ocala Breeders’ Sale Co. Spring sale of 2-year-olds
in training ended today with across-the-board increases. After
four days of sales, 739 head sold for $20,754,400, up 4.4
percent from 2009’s $19,879,800 for a $28,084 average
– up 12.9 percent from last year’s $24,881 and
a $20,000 median, up 33.3 percent from last year’s $15,000.
The high-selling horse was a filly, bringing a cool half a
million. The number of not-sold horses was down 7.5 percent
from last year. Also, there were 32 six-figure horses selling
this year, compared to 13 in 2009.
According to an article
in Thoroughbred Times
Today, the final three horses
had to be sold in the back chute rather than inside the building
after the arena filled with smoke from what appeared to be
an electrical or air conditioning system problem.
TODAY'S NEWS
By Glory Ann
Kurtz
April 11, 2010
Orthopedic surgeries on the rise for
cutters; Bonanza changes facilities for 2011; Weatherford
multi-use facility could be just a dream; Van E Snow, prominent
veterinarian dies in private plane crash; Horse Expo Sale
scheduled for June 13 in Sacramento, Calif.; High Plains Ranchers
& Breeders Sale scheduled for May 1; economic impact of
San Angelo, Texas, rodeo tops $30 million and is horse racing
in Texas in a critical state?
ORTHOPEDIC
SURGERIES ON THE RISE IN CUTTING CIRCLES:
Neck and back surgeries for cutters seem to be on the agenda.
The latest is Kay Floyd, Stephenville, Texas, who recently
had back surgery in Fort Worth and is currently in therapy.
You can send your cards and letters to her at her home, PO
Box 733, Stephenville, TX 76401-0733. Kay, the 1988 NCHA World
Champion Non-Pro Rider, was also the owner of the legendary
sire and broodmare sire Freckles Playboy. Trainer Gary Bellenfant,
DeLeon, Texas, is also at home recuperating from back surgery
and Jody Galyean still wears a brace from surgery on his neck.
BONANZA
CUTTING CHANGES FACILITIES FOR 2011
The Bonanza Cutting will be changing locations for their 2011
event. Word has it that the event will be moving to the Glen
Rose facility in February. Their move to Alvarado in 2010
was great for increased entries; however, inclement weather
caused problems for cattle and spectators.
WEATHERFORD
MULTI-USE FACILITY COULD JUST BE A DREAM
The $1 million price tag for the planned Weatherford, Texas,
multi-use facility has reportedly been reduced to $800,000,
which may make it impossible to build during the current economy.
I will try to keep you up on the progress of this facility.
VAN
E. SNOW, PROMINENT VETERINARIAN DIES IN PRIVATE PLANE CRASH
Van E. Snow, 58, a prominent equine veterinarian who was an
early pioneer in shock-wave therapy to treat soft tissue injuries
and stress fractures in horses, was killed in a private plane
crash on Thursday, April 8 in San Diego, Calif., county. According
to his sister, Gayle Stevens, Snow was scheduled to compete
in an air show this weekend in San Diego County and was practicing
flying his experimental Harmon Rocket when it crashed –
evidently from a mechanical malfunction.
“He said to me just last week if he ever died flying,
he would go doing what he loved,” said Stevens in an
article in the Santa Ynez Valley News.
Snow was raised in Glennville, near Bakersfield, Calif., and
graduated from UC Davis. He moved to Virginia to specialize
in equine medicine and then in the early 1980s moved to the
Santa Ynez Valley. He was the brother of Gainesville, Texas,
reined cow horse trainer Ron Ralls. A private service is planned
for Saturday, April 17. On April 18, a barbecue and celebration
of Snow’s life will be held at Santa Lucia Farm, the
facility where Snow practiced.
HORSE EXPO SALE TO BE HELD
IN SACRAMENTO, CALIF.
On Sunday June 13, 2010, the Horse Expo Sale will be held
at the Cal Expo Fairgrounds, in Sacramento, Calif. All horses
will preview as they sell. The entry fee will be $400 with
8 percent commission and no buy-back fee. Sellers need not
make an advance entry fee payment as all entry fees will be
deducted from the sale proceeds. All entries are subject to
sifting. Every horse has an online profile including a video
and photos. Selling will be show horses, cow horses, ranch
horses, pleasure riding horses, rope horses, trail horses
and a special draft horse section. Enter online or download
an entry form at www.dhauctions.com. E-mail Dave Hammond Auctions
at DHAuctions@gmail.com or call 530-677-8956.
HIGH
PLAINS RANCHERS & BREEDERS TO HOLD SALE ON MAY 1
The High Plains Ranchers and Breeders Association will hold
their 11th Annual Sale at Dalhart, Texas, at 1 p.m. on May
1. Over 90 quality horses will be offered, with a preview
held between 10:30 and 12:30 a.m. Offered will be 47 riding
geldings and mares, 33 yearlings and 2-year-olds and 12 broodmares.
The West Texas ranches represented will include: Bar D Quarter
Horses, Hooker, Okla.; Rob A Brown Ranch, Stinnett, Texas;
Chisum Ranch, Dalhart, Texas; H Ranch, Channing, Texas; Bailey
Patterson, Spearman, Texas; Summers Cattle Co, Dimmitt, Texas;
Wing Brothers, Dalhart; Wing Family Q.H., Dalhart; Mike Wing,
Dalhart and the Zieman Ranch, Stratford, Texas.
Bid online or watch the sale at www.cattleusa.com. For more
information e-mail Kathleen Hill at kathleen@hprba.com or
call (806) 674-7337 or 235-3776.
ECONOMIC
IMPACT OF SAN ANGELO RODEO MAY SURPASS $30 MILLION
Estimates for the economic impact to the San Angelo, Texas,
metro area from this year’s San Angelo Stock Show &
Rodeo are expected to surpass $30 million. The 10-day event
in February drew a record number of stock show entries –
nearly 10,300 – and had what is believed to be the largest
field of rodeo competitors this season for a PRCA rodeo, said
Justin Jonas, executive director of the San Angelo Stock Show
& Rodeo Association.
“There’s no doubt we should be able to hit $30
million impact,” Jonas said. “Last year we were
at $26 million, and attendance for the events only grew.”
Jonas said there has been an upward trend of the economic
impact to the city since 2007 because of the passing of the
half-cent sales tax in 2004. The new buildings near the San
Angelo Coliseum have allowed the stock show to increase its
numbers, rivaling entry numbers from San Antonio and Houston
– two of the biggest stock shows in the nation.
IS HORSE RACING
IN TEXAS IN A "CRITICAL" STATE
With Lone Star Race Track in Grand Prairie, Texas, celebrating
their spring opening on April 8, in an article published in
the Fort Worth Star Telegram, race writer Gary West said,
"With the exodus of horses and horsemen pursuing higher
purses in neighboring states, Texas racetracks have seen their
handle and attendance decline dramatically in recent years,
along with the quality of their racing. The inaugural Lone
Star Derby and Texas Mile held at Lone Star Park both offered
a purse of $250,000. The purse for both this year will be
$200,000. The track opened in 1997 with an average daily purse
of $150,000 and purses approached $250,000 by 2001. Today's
purses hope to reach $150,000 a day."
With the current trend, West asks "How can this trend
be turned around?" West also noted that according to
the Jockey Club, from 1998 to 2008, the number of Thoroughbreds
foaled or born in Texas dropped more than 48 percent. During
the same period, the foal crop in Louisiana increased 106
percent and in New Mexico 150 percent. Lone Star celebrated
their opening on April 8. West blames Texas lawmakers’
lack of knowledge or disinterest in the economic impact of
the horse industry.
TODAY’S NEWS
By Glory Ann Kurtz
April 5, 2010
Dualin Blue and Roger Wagner top NCHA
Super Stakes Open semifinals; Super Stakes Sale numbers light;
numbers hold their own at Fasig-Tipton Texas 2-year-old Sale,
and World Champion Steer Wrestler Lee Graves sidelined from
surgery.
DUALIN
BLUE AND ROGER WAGNER TOP NCHA SUPER STAKES SEMIS
Roger
Wagner rode Dualin Blue to the high-score in the NCHA Super
Stakes Open semifinals.
Scoring a 221, Dualin Blue
and Roger Wagner topped the 22 horses headed to the finals
of the NCHA Open Super Stakes. The finals of both the Open
Super Stakes and Open Super Stakes Classic will be held this
afternoon at 2 p.m.
Dualin Blue, a daughter of
Dualin Jewels out of the great mare Quintan Blue by Mecom
Blue is owned by Jon Winkelried’s Marvine Ranch, Meeker,
Colo., and Weatherford, Texas. The pair had scored a modest
215 in the first go-round and a 216 in the second, for a total
of 431. It took a 430 to qualify for the semifinals.
The second high score
of 220.5 was obtained by two contestants: Boyd Rice riding
Boonie Tunes (Peptoboonsmal x Shiney Tari), owned by Danny
Poole, Texline, Texas, and Matt Gaines riding Special Nu Baby
(Dual Rey x Nu I Wood), owned by Gary and Shannon Barker,
Madill, Okla. Boyd’s son Tatum scored a 219, tying for
fourth and fifth riding Shes Twice As Smooth (Smooth As A
Cat x Dually Lil Pep), owned by Jennifer and Jeff Foland,
Weatherford, Texas. He tied with Lee Francois riding Reys
Desire (Dual Rey x Playguns Desire), owned by H. B. (Woody)
Bartlett DVM, Pike Road, Ala.
Click
here for Open semis results>>
NCHA SUPER
STAKES SALE NUMBERS LIGHT – BOTH IN NUMBER OF BUYERS
AND MONEY SPENT
While the results have not all been
posted, the NCHA Super Stakes Sales held Friday and Saturday,
were light on buyers – and in the money they spent for
horses. Figures for the two sessions held on Friday showed
60 percent of the 157-consigned horses sold for a $5,600 average.
Results will be posted as soon as they are posted by Western
Bloodstock. Go to their web site at www.westernbloodstock.com.
NUMBERS HOLD
OWN AT FASIG-TIPTON 2-YEAR-OLD SALE
This year’s figures at the Fasig-Tipton
Texas 2-Year-Old in training sale held Tuesday, March 30.
With 192 offered, a39 sold for $2,371,900, down only 4.2 percent
from 2009. The average was $17,064, down .8 percent from 2009’s
$17,201 and the median was up 8.8 percent – from $9,650
last year to $10,500 this year. Also, Texas-bred horses held
their own against the Louisiana-bred horses.
WORLD CHAMPION
STEER WRESTLER SIDELINED FOR 3-6 MONTHS
Two-time reigning World Champion Steer
Wrestler Lee Graves underwent surgery March 23 to repair a
torn bicep tendon in his left arm and is expected to be sidelined
three to six months. Graves, Alberta, Canada, suffered the
injury during Super Series competition at RodeoHouston, but
chose not to withdraw. He had a time of 9.1 seconds in the
semifinals round after breaking the barrier and failed to
post a time in the Wild Card round. Two years ago, he was
out of action for eight months recovering from surgery to
repair a torn patella tendon in his right knee, but he came
back last year to edge out Luke Branquinho for the World title.
Graves is currently 17th in the current PRCA standings.
TODAY’S NEWS
By Glory Ann Kurtz
March 26, 2010
Correction on High Brow Cat’s
breeding status; has the NCHA Super Stakes gone to the dogs?;
investors purchase Polo Ranch – David Hartman, DVM,
will work out of the facility and Dustan and Maria Horne,
Weatherford, Texas have twin girls
HIGH
BROW CAT DEEMED INFERTILE CORRECTION
In the March 20 Today’s News, I published that according
to a letter from Jack and Susan Waggoner to clients and mare
owners, High Brow Cat - the industry’s leading stallion
- was diagnosed with “age-related testicular degeneration
at the beginning of the breeding season. The Waggoners went
on to say that they have a good supply of frozen semen which
will be used to breed mares and he should remain cryogenically
fertile for years to come. Mares will be inseminated using
the “post-ovulation low-dose, deep-horn insemination”
method, which involves using only a small amount of semen
injected into the mare’s uterine horn. This is the method
currently being used for the frozen semen.
I went on to say that the
cost is currently $4,500 which was misleading, and for that
I apologize. That $4,500 cost would be for ICSI semen straws
allowing for Intracellular Sperm Injection, which was also
mentioned in the letter. According to Waggoner, they have
enough of High Brow Cat’s frozen semen to last for four
or five years and enough ICSI doses to last 20 years –
and, according to Waggoner, by that time, the cost to breed
with ICSI doses should be closer to $500 rather than the $4,500
it currently costs. .
HAS
THE NCHA SUPER STAKES GONE TO THE DOGS?
Due to a schedule conflict, the NCHA Super Stakes began today,
March 26, without exhibitors in the exhibit hall. Instead
the Fort Worth Kennel Club’s 105th all-breed competition
will be held there. The show began today with 1,800 dogs and
Saturday and Sunday, more than 2,400 dogs will be entered
each day, representing160 breeds. NCHA Super Stakes exhibitors
will be opening their booths on April 1.The event will continue
through April 16.
INVESTORS
PURCHASE POLO RANCH:
According to David Hartman, DVM, the old Polo Ranch breeding
facility has been purchased by a couple of investors and he
will be working out of that ranch following the closing of
the transaction. Hartman is currently standing five stallions
at his breeding facility in Whitesboro, Texas, which he will
also be keeping. The stallions he is standing include CD Olena,
a 1991 son of Doc O’Lena out of CD Chica San Badger
by Peppy San Badger, that he has leased from the Bar H Ranche,
Dual Pep, Smart Mate, Boon A Little and Dulces Smart Lena.
You can reach Hartman at 903-564-3200 or e-mail him at www.equinefertilitycenter.com.
DUSTAN
AND MARIA HORNE HAVE TWINS
Dustan and Maria Horne, Weatherford, Texas, recently had twins
– born on two different days! One was born on Thursday,
March 18 and the other Friday, March 19. Beth came in at 5.8
pounds and is was 18 inches long. Katie weighed 6.4 pounds
and was 18.5 inches long. Dustan, continues to work for Steve
and Michelle Anderson, Weatherford, Texas, and is now training
outside horses of all ages, as well as a helping a few Non-Pros
and Amateurs. Send your congratulations to Dustan and Maria
at 344 Carter Ranch Tr, Weatherford, Texas 76086 or you can
contact Dustan at (817) 304-2732 or e-mail him at DmHorne1@aol.com.
TODAY’S NEWS
By Glory Ann
Kurtz
March 20, 2010
The Marketplace Sale, featuring 206
consignments will start at 9 a.m., Saturday, March 27; High
Brow Cat deemed infertile in letter to mare owners; CD Olena
leased by David Hartman, DVM, Whitesboro, Texas and Jeff Matthews
and Sheri Forrest to wed in Weatherford, Texas on June 25.
MARKET
PLACE SALE OFFERS 206 CONSIGNMENTS; 100 ON CATTLE
The Marketplace At Ardmore sale will be held next Saturday,
March 27, starting at 9 a.m. at the Hardy Murphy Coliseum
in Ardmore, Okla. The sale will include 206 head of top cutting-
and performance-bred horses, with at least 100 being exhibited
on cattle.
Highlights will include a
20-head production sale from Bill and Jo Ellards EE Ranches
of Texas. Three of the consignments are geldings, with one
being eligible for the $100,000 Gelding Incentive for the
2010 NCHA Futurity and two for the 2011 Incentive. The money
is paid out to offspring entered in the NCHA Futurity sired
by Cat Ichi, DJ Tracker, Dual Rey, Duals Blue Boon, Freckles
Fancy Twist, High Brow Cougar, Lizzys Gotta Player, Nitas
Wood, Power Proof and Starlights Gypsy in the Non-Pro, Limited
Non-Pro and Amateur divisions. Unfortunately, on March 16,
Bill Ellard passed away at his home following a long battle
with cancer. Click
here for more information about Bill Ellard>>
Managed by Susie Reed and
with Don Green and Steve Friskup, the sale promises to be
fast-moving with some of the industry’s best-bred horses,
including offspring of High Brow Cat, Dual Rey, Peptoboonsmal,
One Time Pepto, Smart Little Lena, Smooth As A Cat, Grays
Starlight, Dual Pep, Freckles Playboy, Peppy San Badger, Playgun,
Spots Hot, Soula Jule Star, and many more. Other consignments
include 16 from Don and McSherry Weber, 8 from Gary and Renee
Lord, 7 from Western States Ranches and many more.
This may be the time to buy,
since according to a recent article in Thoroughbred
Times Today, after two years of major losses, yearling-to-juvenile
pinhookers have a chance at making a profit this year. Pinhookers,
who buy horses as yearlings and sell them as 2-year-olds,
posted an $8.7 million profit as the average price rose 7.6
percent at the first three sales of the year. Historically,
the cutting industry horse sales have closely followed behind
the Thoroughbred sale market. The next Marketplace sale is
scheduled for Nov. 6 at the same location.
Click
here for a copy of the sale catalog>>
HIGH BROW CAT DEEMED INFERTILE IN LETTER TO BREEDERS
According to a letter from Jack and Susan Waggoner to clients
and mare owners, High Brow Cat - the industry’s leading
stallion - was diagnosed with “age-related testicular
degeneration at the beginning of the breeding season. The
Waggoners went on to say that they have a good supply of frozen
semen which will be used to breed mares and he should remain
cryogenically fertile for years to come. Mares will be inseminated
using the “post-ovulation low-dose, deep-horn insemination”
method, which involves using only a small amount of semen
injected into the mare’s uterine horn. The cost is currently
$4,500.
CD
OLENA LEASED BY DAVID HARTMAN
CD Olena, the 1991 son of Doc O’Lena out of CD Chica
San Badger by Peppy San Badger, has been leased by David Hartman,
DVM, from the Bar H Ranche. The winner of the 1994 NCHA Futurity,
1995 NCHA Derby and 1995 NCHA Horse of the Year, is the No.
4 leading sire of NCHA cutting horses, with offspring winning
over $14.2 million. He is standing for a $6,000 stud fee,
with a $600 chute fee and shipped semen is available. Also
standing at Hartman’s breeding facility on Highway 377
in Whitesboro, Texas, is Dual Pep, Smart Mate, Boon A Little
and Dulces Smart Lena. You can reach Hartman at 903-564-3200
or e-mail him at www.equinefertilitycenter.com.
JEFF MATTHEWS
AND SHERI FORREST TO WED
Jeff Matthews, Warsaw, N.C., the owner of Matthews Cutting
Horses and the industry’s popular up-and-coming stallion
– One Time Soon – will be tying the knot with
Sheri Forrest, Gold River, Calif., at Matthews’ Weatherford,
Texas, ranch on June 25, 2010.
TODAY’S NEWS
By Glory Ann
Kurtz
March 16, 2010
In memory of Glenna Smith, Houston,
Texas, Bobby Ezell, Loranger, La., and Dale Wilkinson, Waynesboro,
Ga.; the winners of the Cattlemen's Derby/Classic-Challenge
and the to-date champions at the Eastern Nationals.
GLENNA SMITH PASSES AWAY FROM
SWINE FLU
Glenna Smith, 68, Houston, Texas, passed away on March 14
following a hard-fought and courageous battle with Swine Flu.
Glenna was married for 49 years and nine months to Steve Smith
and both of them showed cutting horses and were involved with
the National Cutting Horse Association. Several years ago,
Steve was chairman of the Finance Committee.
Glenna was born to Idell
and Wallace McKee and raised in Coleman, Texas, where she
met Steve. She was preceded in death by her father, Wallace,
and brother, Gwin Mckee.
She is survived by her husband,
mother, Idell; son Terry Smith and children; son Jeff Smith
and daughter-in-law and their children. She is also survived
by her sister, Kay and John Bitter, and brother, Jerry McKee
and his wife; as well as brother-in-law, Jim and Jare Smith.
Visitation will be from 6-8
p.m., Tuesday, March 16, at Geo H Lewis and Sons, 1010 Bering
Drive, Houston. The memorial service will be held at 10:15
a.m. on Wednesday, March 17 in the Sanctuary of the First
Presbyterian Church, 5300 Main Street, Houston. Following
the service, there will be a reception in an adjacent venue
at the church.
In lieu of flowers, the family
suggests charitable donations be directed to the Assistance
League of Houston, 1902 Commonwealth, Houston, TX 77006-1836;
the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Houston Gulf Coast
Chapter, 2425 Fountainview, Suite 280, Houston, TX 77075;
MD Anderson Cancer Center, PO Box 4486, Houston, TX 77210-4486
or the charity of one’s choice. Send cards to Steve
Smith, 2638 Sutton Ct., Houston, TX 77027.
BOBBY
EZELL VICTIM OF ONE-CAR ACCIDENT
Robert (Bobby) Claude Ezell, 66, Loranger, La., passed away
Wednesday, March 10, following a one-car accident. A member
of the NCHA for many years, he will be missed by all who knew
him. He is survived by his wife, Sandra Ezell and two children:
Vickey Ezell Krantz and Ty Ezell.
Services will be held on
Monday, March 15, at the Resthaven Gardens of Memory &
Funeral Home, 11817 Jefferson Highway, Baton Rouge, LA 70816.
Visitation will be held at 9 a.m., following by the services
at 11 a.m. Send your cards and letters to: Mrs. Sandra Ezell,
51703 Allen Drive, Loranger, LA 70446.
DALE
WILKINSON, 1972 NCHA FUTURITY CHAMPION, DIES AT 84
Dale Wilkinson, 84, Waynesboro, Ga., passed away last week
at Doctors Hospital, Augusta, Ga., only days after a March
4 surgery from a fall he took at home. Wilkinson is better
known as a reiner, as he was instrumental in the formation
of the National Reining Horse Association in 1966. However,
he won the 1972 NCHA Futurity aboard Gun Smoke’s Dream
(Mr Gun Smoke x Lady Badger 71 x Grey Badger III), as well
as the 1966 and 1975 NRHA Futurity.
He was inducted into the
NCHA Members Hall of Fame, the AQHA Hall of Fame and the NRHA
Hall of Fame. He was also instrumental in the formation of
the equestrian program at the University of Findlay, Findlay,
Ohio. Visitation will be Tuesday, March 16 in Waynesboro,
Ga., from 5-7 p.m. at Joiner, Anderson, Saxon Funeral Home,
220 East 6th Street. The main funeral service will take place
at 7 p.m. Another service will be held at the University of
Findlay on Saturday, April 17.
CATTLEMENS
SHOW COMPLETED
Ashley Flynn rode Financial Sugar to
the Non-Pro division of the Cattlemens Classic.
Photo by Kurtz
The new cutting aged event,
the Cattlemens Derby & Classic/Challenge, held in Graham,
Texas, finished up Sunday, March 14. Ashley Flynn, wife of
trainer Sean Flynn, Weatherford, Texas, won the 54-entry Non-Pro
Classic Finals riding Financial Sugar. The pair scored a 218.5,
winning $12,465.96. The Reserve title and $11,332.69 went
to Adan Banuelos, Jacksboro, Texas, riding Purr N Like Magic,
with a 218 score.
Dustin
Adams won the Non-Pro Derby riding KR Winston.
Dustin Adams, Dublin, Texas,
captured the 39-entry 4-Year-Old Derby Non-Pro title riding
KR Winston. The pair scored a 219, collecting $12,464.57.
Brazilian Armando Costa Filho tied himself for the Reserve
title riding Arosesuchaclatter and Miss N Wood to a 212. He
collected $10,127.47 on each horse.
Renee Lord, Granbury, Texas,
rode Playful Sansallyboon to the championship of the 32-entry
Amateur Derby finals, scoring a 216 for $3,755.24. Reserve
was Jose Sigala, Weatherford, Texas, was Reserve riding Sofie
Rey to a 214.5. The pair won $3,218.78. Julie Jarma, Prosper,
Texas, won the 43-entry Classic Amateur Finals riding Short
Scootin to a 219, collecting $3,880.49. The Reserve title
was split between Sandy Barrio, Miami, Fla., riding Hunten
Blue and Viki Williamson, Argyle, riding Meradas Gotta Gun.
Both scored a 215 and collected $3,233.74.
Click
here for the Cattlemens results>>
CLASS
WINNERS FROM EASTERN NATIONALS:
A Track Runs Thru It (DJ Tracker x Royal Replay) owned by
Terry Pigg, Collinsville, Ala., and ridden by Brett Davis,
won the Open Division at the NCHA Eastern Nationals, taking
place in Jackson, Miss., through March 20. The pair scored
a 222. The Reserve title went to Eddie Braxton riding Oh Cay
Starlight (Grays Starlight x Meradas Oh Cay) owned by Susan
Dunne, Clinton, N.C. Braxton also won the $3,000 Novice Division
riding Mississippi Cat for Vick Etheridge, Corinth, Ms.
Third place went to the team
of Sam Shepard and Dees Mr Charles, (Its Just About Me x Dees
Dually x Dual Pep) owned by Edley and Sue Hixson, Deridder,
La. The pair scored a 217 in the Open; however, a 221.5 scored
by the pair in the $10,000 Novice Horse Division.
Click
here for Open results>>
The $2,000 Limited Rider
division was won by Scott Chartier, scoring a 217.5 on Wild
Start, owned by Randy and Kelle Chartier, Cottrellville, Mich.
The Reserve title went to Jamie Moore, Saint George, S.C.,
riding BSR Cat, with a 216.5 score.
Click
here for $2,000 results>>
The Junior Youth was taken
by Matthew Dedden, Burlington, Ky., riding A Cat Named Sue
(High Brow Cat x Merada Hickory Sue) to a 223. Second, with
a 216, was Garrett Hampton, Rogersville, Mo., riding Duallys
Drifter (Dual Pep x Lenaetta).
Click
here for Junior Youth results>>
The Senior Youth was won
by Cody Hedlund, Weatherford, Texas, scoring a 223 riding
CD Boonsmal owned by Ray Baldwin, Weatherford, Texas. Reserve
was Cheyenne Johnson, Pine Level, Ala., with a 217.5 riding
Freckles Blue Jewel (Duals Blue Boon x Freckles Peppy Belle).
The event continues through Saturday, March 20.
Click
here for Senior Youth results>>
STUD BOOK & REGISTRATION
COMMITTEE HAS FINAL WORD ON REGISTRATION OF AQHA HORSES
By Glory Ann
Kurtz
March 10, 2010
Many individuals are thinking that the
recent decision by the AQHA Stud Book & Registration Committee
to not register cloned horses, has to go by the Executive
Committee to be official.
However, this is not the
case and has not been the case for as long as I can remember.
In the Bylaws of the AQHA, on Page 22, Section 6 of the AQHA
Rulebook states: "All powers of the Board of Directors,
EXCEPT the power to
change any Bylaws AND ANY RULES
AND REGULATIONS PERTAINING TO REGISTRATION OF HORSES,
be and are vested in the Executive Committee."
Click
here for Corporation Bylaws of the AQHA>>
TODAY'S NEWS
By Glory Ann
Kurtz
March 8, 2010
Three major events are being held this
week, including two aged events and the NCHA Eastern Nationals.
Also Keeneland is revamping the world's largest yearling sale
held 15 days - Sept. 12-26 and John Mitchell holds cutting
clinic in Temecula, Calif.
The PCCHA
Derby/Classic/Challenge started yesterday, March 7,
and will continue through March 13 in Paso Robles, Calif.
The event features $106,000 in added money and besides the
aged events will include NCHA Open, Non-Pro, Amateur and Youth
classes, as well as a Roo-Hide Ranch Cutting, Invitational
Stick Horse Cutting and a Trainers Party with a Youth Auction.
The event started yesterday with the 8-entry NCHA Open Cutting
won by Gavin Jordan aboard Tachitas Cat, onwed by Margot Hazell,
Livermore, Calif. The pair scored a 220 and picked up $1,615.20.
The Reserve title was Todd Bimat, Orland, Calif., riding Royally
Smart Cat, owned by Jerry Erwin, Ridgefield, Wash., to a 219
for $1,076.80.
The first go-round of the
44-entry Open Classic/Challenge was topped with a 220 scored
by Russ Westfall riding High Style Royal for Tag Chapman.
Tim Smith finished second with a 219 riding Stylin Roxy, owned
by Jim and Patsy Chamberlain.
In the 36-entry $35,000 Non-Pro,
Georgeanne Siegfriend rode Notice My Date to the championship
with a 215, collecting $710.64, while Bernit Talbot, Wilton,
Calif., rode Smart Little Norman to a 213 for $583.74.
In the 35-entry $15,000 Amateur,
Ross Hall, Corcoran, Calif., rode Catsablackboon to a 215.5
and the first-place check of $690.90. Second went to Cassandra
Biller, Tulare, Calif., riding Little Larry DNA to a 215 and
$567.52.Today the first go-round of the 66-entry Open Derby
is currently in progress, along with the second go of the
Open Classic Challenge.
Click
here for PCCHA schedule & results>>
The Cattlemens
Derby & Classic, is a new
event starting today and being held until March 16 in Graham,
Texas. With $115,000 in added money, the aged event sponsored
by Ping Gough, Jeff Gough, Henry Pickett II and Patt Fasano
will be held until next Tuesday. Show secretary is Donna Bachand.
The event starts out today with the first go-round of the
69-entry 5/6-Year-Old Open today. The second go will be held
tomorrow morning, along with the first go-round of the 80-entry
Open 4-Year-Old.
Click
here for Cattlemens schedule & results>>
The NCHA Eastern National
Championships in Jackson, Miss., starts today with a 120-entry
$10,000 Novice Horse class. Tomorrow will start out with the
108-entry $3,000 Novice class, followed by the Taste of Mississippi
party at 7 p.m.
Click
here for Eastern Nat'ls schedule & Results>>
KEENELAND
REVAMPS THE WORLD'S LARGEST YEARLING SALE
In an effort to serve its consignors and buyers better, the
Keeneland Association has revamped the world's largest yearling
sale, a 15-day sale scheduled for Sept. 12-26. The sale will
offer 1,500 yearlings during the first week of the sale, offering
fewer yearlings on average each day in an effort to be "more
relaxed."
According to an article in
Thoroughbred Times Today, Book 1 will include 200 yearlings
that will be spread over Sunday and Monday night sessions,
with about 100 offered each night. Book 2 will run Tuesday
through Friday with 1,300 yearlings averaging 325 per day
- down from the 400 per day offered the past few years.
Officials hope the new format
will create more stability, continuity and excitement within
the Thoroughbred marketplace as economic conditions continue
to rebound domestically and internationally.
JOHN
MITCHELL CLINIC SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 24-15
Top cutter, John Mitchell, resident trainer at the Slate River
Ranch in Weatherford, Texas, will be holding a cutting clinic
April 24-25 at the Casner Ranch, Temecula, Calif. Mitchell
recently finished 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 6th and 7th Feb. 3 in the
5/6-Year-Old finals at Tunica, Miss. There will be fresh cattle
each day. Cost is $1,200 per rider and $50 per day for obsdrvers.
Call (951) 852-1945 or e-mail Lois at lois.horseshow@verizon.net.
REGISTRATION OF CLONED
HORSES TO BE BROUGHT UP AT AQHA CONVENTION
STUD BOOK &
REGISTRATION COMMITTEE WILL DISCUSS AMENDING REGISTRATION
RULES ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, MARCH 6-7 DURING CONVENTION
IN KISSIMMEE, FLA.
By Glory Ann
Kurtz
March 5, 2010
On Saturday and Sunday, March 6-7, the
Stud Book & Registration Committee of the AQHA will discuss
information provided by the cloning task force in regard to
amending Rule 227(a), which prohibits the registration of
horses produced by any cloning process. The meeting will take
place during the 2010 AQHA Convention being held March 5-8
in Kissimmee, Fla.
The suggested amendment would
allow for the registration of clones by somatic cell nuclear
transfer (SCNT). According to Wikipedia, SCNT is a laboratory
technique for creating a colonial embryo using an ovum with
a donor nucleus. It can be used in therapeutic cloning (regenerative
medicine) or it is used as the first step in the process of
reproductive cloning.
The subject of cloning horses is very controversial among
AQHA members for many reasons. Those opposed to cloning saying
that a clone is not an identical copy of the original due
to mitochondrial DNA that is passed through the oocyte (unfertilized
egg) that comes from the donor mare.
Cloned females will pass
on to their offspring the mitrochondrial DNA of the egg used
in the cloning process, but the cloned males do not. This
is because when a stallion sires a foal, his sperm mitochondria
are eliminated and the foal only has the mitochondria from
the egg of its dam – which in some cases could be an
unknown mare from a slaughterhouse.
According to a recent guest
editorial from Lee A Bulla Jr., PhD, a professor of molecular
biology at the University of Texas at Dallas in the Quarter
Horse News. “A clone is not an exact duplicate of the
original and “lies in the capacity of certain nuclear
genes transferred by SCNT to be normally activated or expressed.
In normal development for some genes, one copy is turned off,
depending upon which parent transmits it – which is
called genomic imprinting.
It genetically marks the
DNA from the sire and the dam so that only one copy of a gene
is turned on. In SCNT, genese in a donor nucleus skip passing
through a sperm or egg and thus are not imprinted. Therefore,
this often leads to abnormalities and disorders resulting
from changes in the normal activation and expression of certain
embryonic genes.”
Click
here for a copy of the QHN article>>
Dr. George E. Seidel, Jr.,
associated with Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology Lab
Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colo., who also
published a paper also agrees that Dr. Bulla’s article
“is well written and describes many of the reasons that
clones are not phenotypically identical with the original
and why clonemates will not be identical with each other and
sometimes have abnormalities. He continued that many of the
mechanisms causing dissimilarity are similar to the causes
of differences between identical twins.
Click
here for Seidel's paper>>
Some members argue that
this compromises the purity of the AQHA breed. At the very
least, they contend that if registration of clones is approved,
the source of both the mitochondrial DNA from the oocyte (dam)
and the sire be registered American Quarter Horses –
and that the lineage of the oocyte donor be recorded.on the
registration papers. They contend that the only way to get
a true “clone”, as far as DNA is concerned, is
to take an oocyte from the same maternal line as the nuclear
DNA donor (ie) the dam or a sister on the maternal side. ;
However, owners of highly
successful cloned cutting horses keep pushing for their registration.
According to an article “Pure Genetics” published
in the February 2009 issue of the Quarter Horse Journal, AQHA
Professional Horseman Jason Martin says, “It’s
coming whether we’re ready or not.”
Several well-known cutting
horses were cloned in 2006, including Doc’s Serendipity,.
The 1977 NCHA Futurity Reserve Champion cloned in 2006 by
David Brown; five clones of NCHA Triple Crown Champion and
leading sire Smart Little Lena, cloned by the Smart Little
Lena Syndicate; Royal Blue Boon, the all-time leading NCHA
dam, by Elaine Hall; Playboys Ruby, earner of $262,441, by
Waco Bend Ranch; Tap O Lena, NCHA earner of $450,639, by Phil
Rapp; and Gills Bay Boy “Scamper,” a top barrel
racing gelding owned by WPRA World Champion Charmayne James.
In 2007, Lynx Melody, the
winner of the 1978 NCHA Futurity, by Gregg Veneklasen DVM
and Jason Abraham and two clones of Jae Bar Fletch, NCHA Hall
of Fame stallion owned by Ernest Cannon.
But not all of the clones
worked, as Lindy Burch, Weatherford, Texas, attempted to clone
her 2000 NCHA Futurity winner Bet Yer Blue Boons. Two clones
were born in 2006; however, one was born with an enlarged
umbilicus that hemorrhaged and the other “had all kinds
of things going wrong” and was euthanized at approximately
30 days.”
One of the main points Dr.
Bulla makes is that information available suggests that the
offspring of clones do not have such problems, correcting
themselves in the next generation.
While the clone of Doc’s
Serendipity was in training for the NCHA Futurity, but had
soundness issues, she has a foal by High Brow Cat. Currently
there are three clones standing at stud: “Clayton,”
the clone of Charmayne James great barrel racing gelding Gills
Bay Boy, nicknamed Scamper; and Dave and Eli, two of the clones
of Smart Little Lena.
All three are standing at
Joe Landers Stallion Station in Weatherford, Texas. According
to Lander’s office, the breeding price for Clayton is
$4,000 with consideration given to certain mares. The fees
for Dave and Eli are determined by the Smart Little Lena Clone
Syndicate and will more than likely depend on the mares being
bred. As far as Landers knows, those three are the only cloned
stallions standing at stud.
Asked if he has had a lot
of interest by mare owners, Landers said “a little …
but we’re living in different times right now.”
Nena Winand, DVM of Cornell
University, who discovered the HERDA gene, is opposed to cloning
because “We don’t really know the full effects
of cloning right now; we don’t know if we’re introducing
mutations (into clones). .But she feels cloning amplifies
an individual’s impact on a gene pool – and not
always in a good way.
“I think it is useful
to look at whether or not the expansion of an individual’s
bloodline is causing the emergence of recessive traits and
economic loss resulting from that. “ She was referring
to such undesirable recessive traits such as HERDA, mutations,
which have caused significant economic loss for breeders of
affected cutting horses that come from the Poco Bueno line.
“If a population of horses is already in danger of being
genetically ‘bottle-necked’ with certain bloodlines,
clones could further that problem,” said Winand.
Several Quarter Horse breeders
are opposed to allowing clones to be registered by the AQHA,
including past AQHA Presidents Steve Stevens and Frank Merrill
and legendary breeder Carol Harris, Reddick, Fla. However,
Stevens will not be at this year’s Convention and Stud
Book & Registration meeting due to being hospitalized
with a severe heart attack and Harris is in rehab from an
automobile accident.
ViaGen Inc., Austin, Texas,
is the only commercial entity offering horse cloning and charges
$150,000 for one clone. To help with identification, the company
has offered to microchip clones to differentiate them from
the original (or each other) before it leaves the company’s
care, or there is a possibility they could use iris scan technology
to identify them. However, the AQHA article says there are
some unresolved issues when it comes to verifying whether
a particular offspring was sired by the original donor stallion
or a clone of that stallion.
This could be a problem with
the Smart Little Lena clones as they are currently standing
at stud. It won’t be a problem with Scamper, in that
he is a gelding and his clone, “Clayton,” is a
stallion
Gary Griffith, AQHA executive
director of registration, in the AQHA Journal article said,
“While I understand that a more advanced DNA test could
be used to differentiate the offspring of a cloned mare and
the original donor mare because of different mitochondrial
DNA, the same is not true for stallions. Likewise if a stallion
was cloned twice, we are currently unable to verify whether
a particular foal was sired by a clone stallion No. 1 or cloned
stallion No. 2. This not only creates issues with respect
to maintaining lineage records, but also potentially creates
issues with respect to race, show, produce and get records
being attributed to an incorrect parent.
During 2008, the NCHA became
the first organization to allow cloned horses to compete in
aged events. NCHA member and attorney Lew Stevens recommended
the association adopt a policy to allow clones to compete
since the association was a performance horse association,
not a breed association.
Click
here for Pure Genetics published by the AQHA>>
However, the only clone shown
to date in NCHA competition is Ruby Too, a 4-year-old clone
of Playboys Ruby, a 1987 daughter of Freckles Playboy out
of Lenachick by Doc O’Lena. Playboys Ruby has earned
$268,441 and has produced 12 offspring earning over $1.6 million.
The clone, Ruby Too, is owned by the Waco Bend Ranch, Graham,
Texas. According to her owner, Ray Baldwin, when Waco Bend
Ranch purchased Playboys Ruby, the clone came with her.
Baldwin rode the mare in
the first round of the Augusta Non-Pro Futurity, marking a
207 – bettering her 203 score in the first go-round
of the Open with Turner West, an assistant trainer for Phil
Rapp, in the saddle. West had also shown her during her first
outing at a weekend show at Silverado, making a 70. The horse
did not make the finals in either division. According to Baldwin,
If the mare doesn’t show some good potential, plans
are to breed her in the spring.
Click
here for the AQHA Convention schedule>>
Click
here for the agenda for the Stud Book & Registration Committee>
TODAY'S NEWS
Feb. 24, 2009
Black Rock's Grant Setnicka wins first
go-round of South Point Winter Show Derby and Classic/Challenge;
three tie following first go-round of the new Arbuckle Mountain
Futurity, entries at Eastern Nationals break records and some
are questioning if the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred racing
will survive.
BLACK
ROCK'S GRANT SETNICKA SWEEPS FIRST GO OF SOUTH POINT DERBY
& CLASSIC/CHALLENGE
Grant Setnicka, the resident trainer of Marhsall Chesrown's
Black Rock Ranch won the first go-round of the 70-entry South
Point Derby, as well as the 35-entry $10,000 Ltd Horse, riding
Widows Peak. He topped it off with the first-place paycheck
in the first go-round of the 55-entry Open Classic/Challenge
riding Dual R Smokin. Second in the first go of the Derby
was Tim Smith riding Reys Hot Wheels for the Brinkman Ranch.
Smith also was second in the first go of the Classic/Challenge,
this time riding Oaks On The Skyline owned by Sally Nakasawa.
The second go-round of both
divisions will be held Wednesday, Feb. 24. The South Point
Winter Championship Show is being held Feb. 23-27 at the South
Point Equestrian Center in Las Vegas. The finals of both divisions
will be held Thursday, Feb. 25, with the Non-Pro and Amateur
classes starting Thursday. The schedule and results can be
viewed at: http://www.nchacutting.com/southpointwinter/schedule.shtml
THREE
TIE AFTER FIRST GO IN 5/6 YEAR-OLD OPEN AT NEW ARBUCKLE MOUNTAIN
FUTURITY
Sponsored by the Hardy Murphy Coliseum and the city of Ardmore,
Okla., the Arbuckle Mountain Futurity is in full swing. Following
the first go-round of the 79-entry 5/6-Year-Old Open, three
horses are tied for first with 219s. They include Royals Magnificat,
owned by Dave and Georgia Husby, Weatherford, Texas, ridden
by Clint Allen; Peptos Stylish Miss, owned by Slate River
Ranch, Weatherford, ridden by John Mitchell and Haymaker,
owned by the Center Ranch, Centerville, Texas, ridden by Steve
Oehlhof.
The event, held Feb. 23-March
3 at the Hardy Murphy Coliseum in Ardmore, features $110,000
added to the limited aged events with a guaranteed payout
in the 4-Year-Old and 5/6-Year-Old Open of $20,000 for first,
$17,500 for second and $15,000 for third.
The event continues today
with the second go-round of the 5/6-Year-Old Open. Thursday
and Friday, Feb. 25-26, the 4-Year-Old Open will be held,
followed by the 5/6-Year-Old Open Finals. The 4-Year-Old Open
finals will be held Saturday, Feb. 27. The Non-Pro and Amateur
classes start Sunday, Feb. 28 with finals being held Monday
and Tuesday, March 1-2. For results go to: http://www.nchadella.com/arbuckle/index.htm
Another new event, The Cattlemens
Derby & Classic, in Graham, Texas, will follow the Arbuckle
event on March 8-16 with $115,000 added. The event is being
put on by Ping Goughm, Jeff Gough, Henry Pickett II and Patt
Fasano. For further information go to http://www.cattlemenscutting.com/schedule.html.
Also, the PCCHA Derby/Classic
will be held March 7-13 in Paso Robles, Calif.
ENTRIES
AT EASTERN NATIONALS BREAK RECORD:
According to the NCHA, the 2009 NCHA Eastern National Championships,
to be held March 8-20 in Jackson, Miss., attracted an all-time
record of 1,127 entries - a 24 percent increase in entries
from last year. The added money of $200,000 is a 67 percent
increase from last year and will represent a record $454,367
total - a 36 percent increase from last year. Every finalist
in every class will receive a larger check than last year
and the first-place in each class will pay from $5,264 up
to $8,642. Entry fees remained at $500 per class.
WILL
THE TRIPLE CROWN OF RACING SURVIVE?
The year 2010 is going to be a tough one for the Thoroughbred
racing industry. At stake now are the three greatest races
in the industry - the Preakness, Belmont and the Kentucky
Derby. The Preakness and Belmont venues are threatened by
lack of gaming. The Kentucky Derby seems to be safe for now;
however, the fate of the entire industry is at risk in today's
down economy.
According to Charlie Hayward
of the New York Racing Association, the NYRA will be out of
money by summer and the Belmont Stakes, the third leg of the
Triple Crown, could be threatened if the state doesn't decide
on a video lottery terminal (VLT) operator at Aqueduck Racetrack.
That decision has been postponed for years.Complicating the
matter is the fact that New York City Off-Track Betting has
declared bankruptcy and isn't able to advance funds to the
NYRA, even though the state has an obligation to fund NYRA
until VLTS are operating.
Also Maryland racing
is at risk because it also is funded by slot machine revenue,
which are having a hard time right now - at risk could be
the Preakness. One writer for the Thoroughbred Times pointed
out that although the Kentucky Derby seems safe for the moment,
Thoroughbred racing seems to be at the point where it's success
is dependent on slot machines rather than the sport of racing.
TODAY’S NEWS
By Glory Ann
Kurtz
Feb. 19, 2010
Ernie Beutenmiller and Jim Milner are
in the race for the NCHA Vice President position, a new cutting
program on a new channel on DISH and DirecTV coming in March
and why not listen to NCHARadio.com while you’re working
on your computer?
BEUTENMILLER
AND MILNER TO VY FOR NCHA VICE PRESIDENT
NCHA members will soon be receiving ballots for the new NCHA
Vice President position. The ballot will include Ernie Beutenmiller,
Jr., Union, Mo., a current NCHA Executive Committee member
and Jim Milner, Fort Worth, Texas, a past NCHA Executive Committee
member and President of the NCHA.
Beutenmiller is a cutting
horse trainer with a reputation of having extensive knowledge
of the NCHA Rule Book and who presented the Tour To The Finals
concept at the 2007 NCHA Convention. Milner is a successful
businessman, who along with his family has been involved in
the cutting horse industry since the early 1970s as owners,
breeders and riders. Jim, his wife Mary Jo and son Joey, are
all members of the NCHA Non-Pro Hall of Fame.The new Vice
President will take his position during the 2010 NCHA Convention
THE
WEEKEND CUTTER
“The Weekend Cutter” is a planned television program
on “In Country,” a channel located next to the
RFD on both Dish and DirecTV. According to NCHA member Kenny
Emigh, Cleburne, Texas, equine content is starting to fill
in on the channel and “The Weekend Cutter” will
air on March 29 at 8 p.m. Central time. If you would like
to see a pilot program, go to the Face book page of Kenny
Emigh.
According to Emigh, an Amateur cutter, he started this project
so that “other Amateurs could see, the sport from an
Amateurs point of view, and get to see, AND hear the coaching
from "Amateur Friendly, and Honest" Open Trainers,
that are more concerned with their clients being successful,
rather than draining their bank accounts, until they distrust,
and/or dislike the sport.”
NCHARADIO.COM
If you haven’t listened to “Real Country music
for Real Cutters,” go to NCHAradio.com. This is a new
internet station that goes around the world around the clock.
The radio station not only includes the world’s most
popular country music but also up-to-the-minute news of cutting
events. The venture is a partnership between the NCHA and
Internet Cowboys LLC. You can send your personal comments
to Program Director Billy Thorman at BillyThorman@ILovecutting.com.
For advertising information contact Shawn McCoy at 817-929-8597
or Mark Herron 817-244-6188.
SOUTH POINT CONTINUES
OFFER FOR “FREE” NCHA FINALS
By
Glory Ann Kurtz
Jan. 26, 2010
Do you ever wonder what happened to the offer by South Point
Hotel, Casino and Equestrian Center to hold an NCHA Finals
basically free of charge at their state-of-the-art facility.
Following is a step-by-step of correspondence showing where
the offer stands today.
On Nov. 10, 2009, I published
an article regarding the South Point offer, including a copy
of a Nov. 1, 2009, letter that Steve Stallworth, General Manager
of the South Point Equestrian Center sent to NCHA President
Chubby Turner, extending a proposal to the NCHA to hold a
Finals for the NCHA classes that presently do not have a Finals.
As it stands today, only the NCHA Open and Non-Pro have a
Finals that in 2009 were held during the NCHA Futurity.
Offered was the indoor arena
attached to the South Point Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas,
Nev.,, move-in and move-out expenses, hotel rooms for NCHA
working staff, conversion and take-down expense, dirt, judge’s
stands, cattle pens, practice pens, dirt, drags, show office,
office equipment, a vet clinic and judges lounges. Also, favorable
hotel rates would be given to participants in the event. The
NCHA would also be able to make money on stall rental.
Click
here for proposal letter from Stallworth>>
On Nov. 24, 2009, Executive
Director Jeff Hooper responded saying that the Executive Committee
had met on Nov. 18 and discussed the proposal. He wrote that
the NCHA was no longer conducting an NCHA Finals under the
same structure as it was when it was held in Amarillo for
the past several years and that the other class winners would
be honored during the Futurity.
Click
here for Hooper response>>
On Jan. 14, Stallworth wrote
Hooper, stating that the South Point was still interested
in a relationship with the NCHA, stating that the previous
offer was not just limited to 2010 – and that it was
not meant to interfere with the World Finals of the Open and
Non-Pro held during the Futurity – but rather to accommodate
those members in the rest of the classes that have now been
deleted from having their own Finals.
Click
here for Stallworths offer>>
That same day, Hooper responded
to Stallworth in an e-mail stating that he would make sure
the Executive Committee was updated on the opportunity.
Click
here for Hoopers response>>
If you have an opinion on the above, please e-mail
me at glory@glorykurtz.com with your comments.
PARKING AT FORT WORTH
NCHA EVENTS WILL NO LONGER BE FREE
By
Glory Ann Kurtz
Jan. 22, 2010 – Fort Worth, Texas
Parking at the NCHA events, or any other events for that matter,
at the Will Rogers Coliseum in Fort Worth will no longer be
free. According to Bud Kennedy of the Fort Worth Star Telegram,
when the Fort Worth Stock Show ends on Feb. 7, permanent parking
gates will go up around the Will Rogers Memorial Center and
Amon Carter Square.
Beginning around March 15,
visitors will pay either $5 or $6 a day year round to park
near the coliseum, cattle barns and the Amon G Carter Jr Exhibits
Hall. That’s for horse shows, cattle barn flea markets,
gun shows, the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History and
the Cowgirl Hall of Fame. This means that the fee will be
in effect for the NCHA Super Stakes scheduled for March 26-April
16 and the Sale, April 3.
Although the Fort Worth Cultural
District parking plan isn’t written yet, tenants and
employees are being told that everyone will pay $5 or $6 to
help finance the much-needed 1,100-space Western Heritage
Parking Garage. Whether or not the NCHA or other associations
will provide parking for entries, box-seat holders, ticket
holders or the media is not yet known.
MORRIS PUBLISHING GROUP
ENTERS BANKRUPTCY
REORGANIZATON EXPECTED TO BE ONE
OF THE FASTEST IN U.S. NEWSPAPER HISTORY
By Glory Ann
Kurtz
Jan. 21, 2010
The day before the Augusta Futurity
was set to begin its nine-day run in Augusta, Ga., the man
who is credited with its growth and success, William Morris
III, chairman of Morris Publishing Group saw his company granted
critical “first-day” motions by Judge John Dalis
of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Augusta.
According to Mark A. Berkoff,
a partner with Morris Publishing’s legal counsel Neal,
Gerber & Eisenberg LLP, expects the Morris restructuring
“will be one of the fastest newspaper reorganizations
in U.S. history.”
The motions allowed the company
to continue its business operations by paying wages and benefits
to employees and to continue covering both pre- and post-petition
obligations to suppliers and customers, according to a Morris
press release. The court also granted the company authority
to continue using its cash to fund its operating expenses.
The court also set a deadline of Feb. 10 for objections to
the plan and disclosure statement submitted by Morris, and
scheduled a confirmation hearing for Feb. 17.
“This allows us to complete the final step in our debt
restructuring without any noticeable impact to our newspapers.
Just as important it saves thousands of jobs and enables us
to continue to operate our business with the same high standards
we have for three generations,” said Morris in the press
release.
Morris Publishing filed a
prepackaged bankruptcy plan of reorganization on Tuesday,
Jan. 12. The company is asking the Court to approve a plan
that will reduce bondholder debt through the issuance of $100
million of new second lien secured notes due in 2014 in exchange
for the cancellation of approximately $278.5 million principal
amount of outstanding senior subordinated notes due 2013 plus
accrued interest. Holders of approximately 93 percent of the
existing notes who voted, voted to support the pre-packaged
reorganization plan.
With its restructuring
plan, Morris Publishing will reduce its overall indebtedness
from approximately $415 million to $126.5 million. For more
information about the bankruptcy plan, visit
www.morrisrestructures.com.
MORRIS PUBLISHING GROUP
ANNOUNCES BANKRUPTCY PLAN
MORRIS OWNS 13 DAILY NEWSPAPERS,
WESTERN HORSEMAN MAGAZINE, QUARTER HORSE NEWS AND BARREL HORSE
NEWS
Compiled by
Glory Ann Kurtz
Jan. 14, 2010
Morris Publishing Group, an Augusta,
Ga., company said in a company news release today that it
would file a “prepackaged” plan, preapproved by
a majority of its creditors, in federal bankruptcy court by
Tuesday of next week. The plan, through Chapter 11 bankruptcy,
seeks to slash Morris Publishing’s debt of $415 million
by nearly 70 percent. The decision was made when the holders
of 99 percent of the company’s debt couldn’t be
obtained for its proposed “exchange plan” presented
late last year.
The owner of 13 daily newspapers
plus a group of other publications, including Western Horseman
Magazine, Quarter Horse News and Barrel Horse News, has been
struggling with declining advertising revenue for several
years, resulting in layoffs and other cost-saving measures.
As newspaper profits have dwindled industry wide from the
economic recession and the loss of readers to online media,
Morris Publishing has been saddled with debt which came mostly
from its acquisition of newspapers in the 1990s. The company
was unable to pay $19.4 million in interest on unsecured bond
debt of $278.5 million that was due in two semiannual payments
in February and August of last year.
In 2009, the company was
granted more than a dozen extensions to pay $19.4 million
in interest on a portion of its $417 million debt. Since October,
Morris Publishing has been trying to get creditors to support
the restructuring plan but failed by the deadline earlier
this week to get the near-unanimous approval required to settle
its debt out of court. The new plan allows Morris Publishing
to exchange $100 million in new debt for $278.5 million in
existing debt – which are 7 percent senior subordinated
notes. A statement from Morris said that the offer required
that 99 percent of existing notes be tendered but the condition
was not met by a Jan. 12 deadline, so Morris terminated the
offer.
Morris will follow other
newspapers who have filed bankruptcy, including the Philadelphia
Inquirer and Philadelphia Daily News, the Tribune Company
in Chicago and the Star Tribune in Minnesota. Newspapers owned
by Morris include the Amarillo (Texas) Globe News; Athens
(Ga.) Banner-Herald; Augusta (Ga.) Chronicle; Bluffton (S.C.)
Today; Brainerd (Minn.) Dispatch; Florida Times-Union, Jacksonville;
Juneau (Alaska) Empire; Log Cabin Democrat, Conway, Ark.;
Lubbock (Texas) Avalanche-Journal; Peninsula Clarion, Kenai,
Alaska; The St Augustine (Fla.) Record; Savannah (Ga.) Morning
News and the Topeka (Kan.) Capital-Journal.
After the bond exchange is
approved, Morris Publishing says it plans to further reduce
its debt by paying back $110 million of $136 million in debt
owed to J P Morgan Chase (the administrative agent for Morris’
creditors) and other banks by using funds generated by the
company’s sale of a majority stake in a billboard company
last October. According to the Metro Spirit, an Augusta, Ga.,
publication, JP Morgan had previously forced the Journal Register,
the owner of 20 dailies, to file for bankruptcy. Under that
bankruptcy proposal worked out with JP Morgan, the paper would
trade much of its debt to the banks in exchange for stock
in the newspaper company. The publication also said that William
S. Morris III had sold his MediaCom stock for more than $100
million in a deal that closed early in 2009.
Although the Western publications
have not been as affected by the downturn in advertising and
subscriptions as the daily newspapers, the publications have
cut staff and costs. The position of Robert Eubanks, an employee
of Quarter Horse News for over 20 years, was eliminated several
months ago, Carl Mullins, publisher of the Western publications
and President of MCC Magazines resigned and more recently
employees of the production department of the Western publications
in Fort Worth, Texas, were eliminated, with the work going
to the Augusta Chronicle.
According to Morris’
press release, the plan of reorganization is not expected
to have any noticeable impact on Morris’ ongoing operations.
“Under the terms of a restructuring support agreement
among the company and holders of approximately 75 percent,
or $209 million, of the existing notes, the company agreed
to file voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 11 of
the United States Bankruptcy Code on or prior to Jan. 19,
1010. If the Plan is confirmed by the bankruptcy court, 100
percent of the existing notes, plus all accrued and unpaid
interest, will be canceled.”
Information for the above
article was obtained from press releases issue by Yahoo News,
the Atlanta Business Chronicle, Amarillo Globe News, Savannah
Morning News, Jacksonville Business Journal and the Metro
Spirit.
TODAY’S NEWS
By
Glory Ann Kurtz
Jan. 10, 2010
Kate
Gaughan and Cookie Banuelos were married in Las Vegas on Friday.,
Jan. 8.
PEOPLE,
TRAINERS AND FACILITIES:
Congratulations to KATE GAUGHAN,
the daughter of Michael and Paula Gaughan, and COOKIE
BANUELOS, who tied the knot in their hometown of Las
Vegas, Nev., on Friday, Jan. 8. Both Kate and Cookie qualified
for the recent NCHA World Series Finals held during the NCHA
Futurity, with Kate showing in the Non-Pro and Cookie in the
Open. Cookie trains horses for the Gaughan family.
DUSTAN
HORNE, who has worked for Steve and Michelle Anderson,
Weatherford, Texas, for several years, will be taking some
outside horses of all ages to train, including 2-year-olds.
He will also accept a few Non-Pros and Amateurs. Dustan and
his wife, Maria, who are expecting twins in April, also are
continuing to work for the Andersons. You can contact Dustan
at (817) 304-2732 or e-mail him at DmHorne1@aol.com.
Talking about the Andersons,
their beautiful 137-acre equine facility at Silverado On The
Brazos between Weatherford and Granbury, is for sale. It includes
two stone homes, a 17-stall barn with an upstairs lounge and
game room, two pools, a 125x250 indoor arena with a commercial
kitchen and dining area, two round pens, covered panel walker,
truck and hay barn, seven wells and five stock ponds. The
facility is listed by Mac Coalson.
Also, according to a Mac
Coalson Real Estate ad, the Silverado show arena is for sale.
The 222-acre facility includes an attached barn, plus a separate
barn, outside arena, 117 paved parking spaces, 28 RV hookups,
horse swimming pool, cattle pens etc., five water wells and
five stock ponds – among other amenities. The facility
is equipped to hold large cutting events.
Other news is that Richard Fields, the owner of Jackson Land
& Cattle Co., Jackson, Wyo., is purchasing Lindy Burch’s
Oxbow Ranch in Weatherford, Texas. The final papers haven’t
been signed yet, but that should take place within a week
or so.
KEENELAND
JANUARY HORSES OF ALL AGES SALE TO BEGIN ON MONDAY
For five days, starting on Monday, Jan. 11, the Keeneland
January “Horses of all ages” sale will be held
for five sessions in Lexington, Ky. According to Thoroughbred
Times Today, Keeneland has 1,753 horses cataloged –
down 26.3 percent from last year when the Thoroughbred auction
industry suffered its biggest drop in history – a $308.8
million decline from 2008 – which had been cut in half
from its peak in 2006.
However, Keeneland’s
Director of Sales Geoffrey Russell, says that the sale is
really part of the 2009 sale season. He isn’t expecting
anything to change during this sale from the 2009 sales, especially
since temperatures are expected to be in the teens with negative
wind chills. “We’ll have to wait for the yearling
sales,” said Russell. “Credit is still tight and
it affects everyone on many levels.”
Last year, Dan Liebman wrote
an article on bloodhorse.com regarding the Keeneland yearling
sales, saying, “Markets don’t correct themselves
overnight, especially ones like for Thoroughbred horses that
take a long time to bring the product to the buyers. It is
tough to admit when the market problem you encounter is caused
by none other than yourself, but breeders and consignors recognize
they are paying dearly now for years of sending too many mares
to the breeding shed. They couldn’t resist temptation
to take the money off the table in the short term during a
lengthy up market which has caused harm to the breed in the
long term.”
The result of the down market
in the Thoroughbred industry has been sales that are down
in size and amount and reduced stud fees. Doesn’t that
sound pretty familiar for cutting horse buyers and sellers
as well as stallion and mare owners?
ENTRIES
DUE FOR NCHA WORLD SERIES AT SAN ANTONIO RODEO
The deadline for online entries, as well as the final deadline
for entering the NCHA World Series at the San Antonio Stock
Show, Feb. 6-8, is Jan. 23. A total of $25,000 will be added
to both the Open and the No-Pro, and will play a key role
in the year-end Open and Non-Pro races. There will also be
Youth, Novice and Non-Pro classes and limited age classes.
With new sponsor Mercuria Global Energy, the NCHA World Series
has expanded to eight shows in 2010. Following San Antonio
will be the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, March 3-5,
following a full slate of AQHA cutting and NCHA classes beginning
Feb. 25.
CONGRESS REQUESTS HORSE WELFARE
STUDY:
According to an article in “America’s Horse,”
the U. S. Governments wants the General Accounting Office
to look into the effects that the closure of U. S. horse slaughter
plants have had on horse welfare. The request is part of the
Senate Appropriations Committee Report, which accompanies
the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration
and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for FY2010, which
provides funding for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Congress
wants to know what changes the closures have made on farm
income and trade, any impacts on state and local governments
and animal protection organizations, how the USDA oversees
the transport of horses destined for slaughter in foreign
countries, particularly Canada and Mexico, as well as general
conclusions regarding the welfare of horses as a result of
the ban.
Keith Kleine, the American
Association of Equine Practitioners’ director of industry
relations, says it is hoped that the study will provide facts
to congressional leaders that will help in crafting legislation
to aid the horse industry in dealing with ever-increasing
numbers of unwanted horses
SHOWDOWN ON THE HORIZON
BETWEEN TEXAS HORSE DENTISTS AND VETERINARIANS
Dec. 29, 2009
Horse dentist Carl Mitz, Buda, Texas,
and three other horse dentists have filed a suit against the
Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, who have ordered
unlicensed equine teeth floaters to stop practicing or work
under the supervision of a licensed vet. The Mitz lawsuit
claims that the board is violating the state constitution,
specifically Article 1, Section 19, which holds that "no
citizen of this state shall be deprived of life, liberty,
property, privileges or immunities, or in any manner disfranchised,
except by the due course of the law of the land."
The equine dentists claim
that regulating equine teeth floating deprives them of their
right to earn an honest living. They are represented by Clark
Neily, a senior attorney with the Institute for Justice, a
non-profit libertarian law firm, which wants to stop state
governments from overregulating. The institute is also fighting
on behalf of equine massage therapists. The group lost a teeth-floating
suit in Minnesota last year. several customers of the equine
dentists have also joined in the lawsuit.
According to a Dec. 27 article
in WSJ.com, a website of the Wall Street Journal, states vary
in their approach to floating. Arizona requires floaters to
be certified by their trade association, Nebraska lets licensed
vet techs do the work under supervision and Maryland imposes
no restrictions. Last year, Oklahoma made it a felony to float
teeth without a veterinary license, but when a rodeo star
and state hero was arrested, the law was repealed due to outrage
by citizens and the horse community.
Although several teeth
floaters have quit in the face of cease-and-desist orders,
others have gone underground. Mitz, who has been floating
teeth for 25 years, is currently allowed to continue until
the lawsuit is resolved; however, it has not yet been set
for trial. However, more than likely, a trial will be set
for sometime in 2010.
PITCHFORK RANCH RECEIVES
CHARLES GOODNIGHT AWARD AT 20TH ANNUAL GOODNIGHT GALA
NCHA HALL
OF FAME RECIPIENTS HONORED
Article and photos by Robert Eubanks
Dec. 10, 2009 - Fort Worth, Texas
Ron
Lane, Eugene F. Williams Jr., Bob Moorhouse, Bernice Humphreys
(widow of former manager Jim Humphreys), Eugene F. Williams
III.
The Pitchfork Land
& Cattle Co., popularly known as the Pitchfork Ranch,
with roots in the West Texas counties of King and Dickens,
was presented the Charles Goodnight Award at the 20th annual
Goodnight Gala on Dec. 7 at Fort Worth’s Worthington
Hotel.
The award is named after
Charles Goodnight, a legendary cattleman and trailblazer of
the 19th century. The award acknowledges self-determination,
individualism, achievement and concern for one’s neighbors.
Each recipient personifies the ideals of the Old West and
has made noteworthy contributions to the preservation of the
Western heritage that has meant so much to the economy and
culture of Fort Worth and the state of Texas.
Pitchfork’s brand has
grown steadfastly since 1870s. In addition to its Texas Panhandle
locations, the ranch has a satellite operation in Oklahoma’s
Jefferson County and branch operations once extended to Wyoming
and Kansas.
Accepting the award on behalf
of the ranch was Eugene F. Williams III. Corporate headquarters
are in St. Louis, Mo.
Proceeds from the gala benefit
the ranch management program at Texas Christian University,
the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association and
the Cowgirl Hall of Fame.
Previous recipients of the
Charles Goodnight Award were Perry R. Bass, John S. Justin,
Jr., Anne W. Marion, W.R. “Billy Bob” Watt, W.R.
Watt Jr., Watt Matthews, Stephen Murrin Jr., Dolph Briscoe,
Buster Welch, Waggoner Ranch, Edward P. Bass, King Ranch,
Zack T. Wood Jr., Edwards Family Ranches, Houston Livestock
Show and Rodeo, Beggs Family, Red Steagall, Bob Green/Green
Family Ranches, and Clarence Scharbauer Jr.
Trace
Atkins
Country/Western singer Trace
Atkins provided the entertainment for this year’s gala.
Inductees into the National
Cutting Horse Association Hall of Fame also were recognized.
Inductees into the Members Hall of Fame are Pat Earnheart,
Kenneth Jackson, Murlene Mowery, Mel Shearin and Greg Welch.
New members in the NCHA Riders
Hall of Fame are David Costello, Dennis “Zeke”
Entz, Sean Flynn, Lee Francois, and Gavin Jordan. NCHA Non-Pro
Hall of Fame honorees are Lindy M. Ashlock, James “Spunky”
Hawkins, Billy Martin (Texas), Lach Perks and Stacy Shepard.
Special recognition was given
to Kathy Shaughnessey, who had labored tirelessly for 20 years
to ensure that the gala remained a treasured part of activities
during the National Cutting Horse Association Futurity. Mrs.
Shaughnessey died at age 58 on Nov. 1.
TODAY’S NEWS
By
Glory Ann Kurtz
Nov. 23, 2009
International buyers “save the day” at Keeneland
November Breeding Stock Sale; Cindy Monroe Young gives deceased
dad credit for her AQHA World Show win and you can win a Dodge
Truck to be given away at the National Finals Rodeo in Las
Vegas.
INTERNATIONAL
BUYERS SAVE THE DAY AT KEENELAND NOVEMBER BREEDING STOCK SALE
Even though the 13-day run of the Keeneland November Breeding
Stock Sale was filed with gyrating figures – going up
then down – when all was said and done on the final
day, Sunday, Nov. 22, optimism reigned. Helped by the Overbrook
Farm dispersal and a “globally diverse” group
of buyers, the final results were not as bad as some expected.
A total of 3,545 horses went
through the sale ring, 15.4 percent fewer than in 2008; 2,779
actually sold, down 7.9 percent from 2008’s 3,019 and
21.6 percent didn’t sell – down from 2008’s
27.9 percent. Sales totaled $159,727,800, down 13.9 percent
from 2008’s $185,552,300. The average of $57,477 was
down 6.5 percent from $61,462 2008 average. However, the median
was the most encouraging – staying even with the 2008
median of $20,000.
Five horses topped the $1-million
mark compared with 19 last year. A total of 148 horses sold
for $31,760,000 during the W. T. Young family’s Overbrook
Farm dispersal, averaging a healthy $214,595. Keeneland Director
of Sales Geoffrey Russell gave the dispersal, whose horses
sold without reserve, for “putting confidence back in
the market.” Russell said with optimism that changes
are taking place throughout the industry – a reduced
number of mares bred, reduced stallion fees and other measures
that will insure a return to market profitability in the near
future.”
The next test will be the
Tattersalls’ nine-day December sale which begins today
and includes sections for yearlings, weanlings and mares.
CINDY
MONROE YOUNG GIVES DECEASED DAD CREDIT FOR HER WIN
Cindy Monroe Young, the daughter of cutting horse trainer
Herb Monroe, who passed away in December of 2007, knows her
father is proud of her. Cindy won the AQHA World Show Senior
Hunter Under Saddle at the event just over in Oklahoma City,
Okla. Cindy was Reserve World Junior Hunter-Under-Saddle Champion
last year and also won the 1999 Congress in the 2-Year-Old
Hunter Under Saddle. Also her husband, Shane Young, won the
Congress t his year in the AQHA Junior Western Pleasure and
the NSBA Junior Western Pleasure. Shane also was Reserve Champion
of the AQHA Senior Western
Pleasure in 2000.
WIN
A NEW DODGE TRUCK
The United Horsemen’s Front, a 501 (c) (3) non-profit,
is raffling off a truck at his year’s National Finals
Rodeo in Las Vegas. Chapman Dodge Chrysler Jeep of Las Vegas,
has provided a 2009 Dodge 4WD 2500SLT Short Bed pickup, which
will be displayed at Gaughan’s South Point Casino. No
more than 2,000 tickets will be sold at $100 each. You can
view the pickup and purchase a ticket from their website:
Click
here to register for pickup>>
SOUTH POINT HOTEL &
EQUESTRIAN CENTER MAKES OFFER TO HOLD NCHA FINALS “FREE
OF CHARGE”
By Glory Ann
Kurtz
Nov. 10, 2009 – Las Vegas, Nev.
The
South Point Hotel and Equestrian Center has offered a "free
of charge" facility for the NCHA World Finals.
For the first time
in several years, there will be no NCHA Year-end Finals for
haulers in all the NCHA classes, except for the Open and Non-Pro
– which this year will be held during the NCHA Futurity
this month. Steve Stallworth, general manager of the South
Point Equestrian Center in Las Vegas, Nev., wants to change
that.
In a Nov. 1 letter sent to
NCHA President Chubby Turner, Stallworth outlined a proposal
for the NCHA World Finals to be held “free of charge”
at the South Point Equestrian Center in Las Vegas. “The
South Point Equestrian Center will waive ALL “event
day” rent of $7,800 per day and “move-in/move-out”
rent of $3,760 per day, with a total value of $86,250,”
said the letter. The proposal includes the cost of ushers,
security, video scoreboard (with the video feed from the NCHA),
registration area, media and announcer’s stand, house
sound and house lights.
The paid-up expenses would
also include conversion, arena set-up/take down, panels, gates,
judge’s stands, cattle pens, practice pens, cutting
dirt, drags, show office, all office equipment, veterinarian
clinic and judges lounges. For the NCHA staff, the South Point
will provided up to 10 hotel rooms for working staff at no
charge, plus up to five rooms for judges – plus favorable
hotel room rates will be given to participants in the event.
(Hotel guests can watch and hear the events in the Equestrian
Center on a television channel in their rooms). The NCHA would
also have an opportunity to make money on stall rental.
According to Stallworth,
the proposal presented is for a 2010 event for 2009 qualifiers;
however, if year-end awards have already been purchased for
the 2009 qualifiers, the three-year proposal would include
approximately the same dates in 2011, 2012 and 2013.
“We are extending this
proposal in response to the many favorable comments from our
cutting horse customers regarding our facility,” said
Stallworth. “By providing you with this aggressive proposal
(virtually no expenses), we are hopeful it will enable you
to have a World Finals event. I truly believe the National
Cutting Horse Association World Finals and the South Point
Equestrian Center can come together in Las Vegas to provide
your participants, fans and supporters
the best experience possible.”
Click
here for a complete copy of proposal>>
For
more info on the Events Center, click here>>
LOUISIANA STORM LEADS
TO HORSE EVACUATIONS
Nov.
2, 2009 – Bossier City, La.
With over 25,000 residents of Bossier City urged to evacuate
due to levees being threatened by rising storm water, Louisiana
Downs evacuated approximately 250 horses.
According to an article in
Thoroughbred Times Today, The severe storm on Saturday and
Sunday (Oct. 31-Nov. 1) caused flooding and threatened to
breech the Red Chute Bayou and Flat River guideline levees
– with flood waters splashing over them on Saturday.
The National Guard joined Bossier City authorities, working
to reinforce the levees.
According to authorities,
the water has not yet crested and may not crest until Wednesday
(Nov. 3). The entire property is closed down – including
the casino.
WEATHERFORD, TEXAS, CONSIDERING
THE CONSTRUCTION OF A MULTI-USE ARENA THAT COULD ATTRACT CUTTING
HORSE COMPETITION AND SALES
Oct..
28, 2009 - Weatherford, Texas
According to a Sept. 19 article in the Weatherford Democrat,
the city of Weatherford is considering the building of a multi-use
arena consisting of 6,000 fixed seats plus a number of luxury
suites, private boxes, premium seating, retail office space,
convention space, and a hotel.
The city has already paid
for a feasibility study for the unnamed project that already
has several members of horse associations involved in the
design and layout. The campaign is being initiated by local
attorneys Jim and Jack Eggleston.
Following is a copy of the
Sept. 19 article that ran in the Weatherford Democrat:
Civic center project rises
from grass roots campaign
Sept. 19, 2009 - WEATHERFORD — Cities across the United
States and particularly Texas have turned to convention and
civic center projects for much-needed fuel for economic development,
job creation, increases in property tax bases, increases in
sales and uses taxes, and for entertainment options and commercial
development.
Weatherford may see such
a development thanks to a grass roots campaign initiated by
local attorneys Jim and Jack Eggleston.
The project received a city
appropriation of $85,000 to complete a feasibility study for
the as-yet unnamed project. The city also endorsed the formation
of the Weatherford Civic Center Development Corp. to undertake
the initial planning for the project.
The proposed location is
on Fort Worth Highway, midway between the Courthouse and the
I-20/Highway 180 interchange where a livestock auction barn
used to be.
According to the Development
Corporation, initial plans for the project include a multi-use
arena consisting of 6,000 fixed seats for basketball, hockey
and rodeos, with the capability of adding 2,500 seats for
concerts. The arena is expected to include a number of luxury
suites, private boxes, premium seating and retail and office
space. Plans for the site also include 75,000 square feet
of convention space, a hotel, a 1,200-seat performance theater,
a 500-seat amphitheater and outdoor parks.
Members of several horse
associations have already been involved in design and layout
ideas and have been enthusiastically receptive even to the
point of writing letters of endorsement for the project.
In addition, event promoters
have already begun asking for dates for future shows beginning
in 2012.
Eggleston says that while
it is a little premature to start taking reservations, “You
have to start planning for and seeking out all potential users
in order to prove up the viability of the project. We are
still in the early stages, though we are more certain now
that it can become a reality than we were six months ago.”
The Development Corporation
has also approached several national associations in the equine
and cattle industries who have shown an interest locating
headquarters, major shows or annual sales at the site.
“One of the key ‘hooks’
for Weatherford and this facility,” Eggleston said,
“is our city’s reputation as the ‘Cutting
Horse Capital of the World.’ We plan to build something
that meets the exacting standards of the cutting horse, reining
horse and roping professionals. If we do that, then we can
attract events from all over the country because the competitors
will see the quality of the facility and enjoy the experience.”
He also noted a minor league
hockey group from Scottsdale, Ariz., has already been to the
site several times, engaged in discussions with minor league
sanctioning authorities and has begun to do their own feasibility
study.
“For this to work,
it has to be a multi-use facility,” Jack Eggleston said.
“Weatherford’s city and chamber groups have done
extraordinarily well drawing people to the city with the limited
facilities that we have. Now, with more true tourism, convention
and civic center facilities, we could really ratchet up our
tourism and convention outreach as well.”
When asked how the project
may get funded, Eggleston responded it will have to be a city-owned
facility, but that private funding will be sought to compliment
any public-funding measures.
“[As far as] the impact
on taxes, I can say that we have never contemplated or projected
one penny of tax increase to pay for this,” Jim Eggleston
stated in an e-mail.”
He reported some “very
preliminary” letters of interest have already been received.
The pending feasibility study is expected to reveal sources
of private capital and private interest.
“For example, personal
seat licenses will likely be offered, though not at a ‘Dallas
Cowboys Rate,’ but at more of a Weatherford rate,”
laughed Eggleston. “A preliminary plan of the Development
Corporation would give people the opportunity to ‘buy’
their seats and then have the first right to buy tickets for
rodeos, concerts, horse shows and other events before tickets
are open to the public.
He further projects the economic
impact on the city will be several times what the cost of
facility may entail.
“The key to funding
this kind of a project,” Eggleston said, “is to
remember that the return to the City of Weatherford will be
enormous in terms of economic development, increases in property
values, hotel and motel revenues, retail sales and the creation
of jobs.”
The payoff is most often
projected a 10 to one or above Eggleston said according to
information he has received from officials in Fort Worth,
in excess of $25 million per year goes from Parker County
into Fort Worth because Weatherford lacks the facilities to
keep those events within the county.
Several meetings have reportedly
been held with companies interested in purchasing naming rights
to the arena. Eggleston would not disclose any names of who
has shown such interest, but he did say the companies are
primarily local to the North Texas area.
The Development Corporation
has enlisted the help of people with experience in developing
these kinds of projects. In addition to CSL, Jim Lites, former
president of the Dallas Stars and the Texas Rangers, has been
involved in the early planning.
Lites was instrumental in
building the American Airlines Center in Dallas, several of
the Dr Pepper/Stars Centers and Cedar Park Center near Austin,
the new home of the top minor league franchise of the Dallas
Stars.
“What is encouraging
is that the base of support is really beginning to encompass
all kinds of groups including convention planners, music and
arts supporters, horse people and others who see what this
could do for our future,” Jack Eggleston said. “It
will set us apart from Fort Worth and help us further define
our unique identity.”
“Depending on the results
of the feasibility study,” Jim Eggleston said, “we
will have a clearer picture of the next steps. This is a pretty
big elephant and we are going to just eat it a bite at a time.”
NEW FUTURITY FOR APHA
CUTTING HORSES ANNOUNCED
Sept. 19,
2009 - Fort Worth, Texas
Beginning at the 2013 APHA Fall World
Championship Paint Horse Show, cutting will be added to the
Breeders’ Futurity line-up for eligible 3-year-old horses.
This will be a great opportunity for your Breeders’
Trust-nominated foal to earn cold, hard cash! A 4-year-old
Futurity will begin in 2014 when these foals reach that age.
Make sure your 2010 cutting-bred
Paint foals are eligible for the American Paint Horse Association’s
new Breeders’ Futurity by enrolling their stallion in
the APHA Breeders’ Trust by November 30, 2009.
In order to compete, foals
must be sired by a stallion that was subscribed to the APHA
Breeders’ Trust program for the applicable breeding
year, and the foal must be nominated to the Breeders’
Trust prior to earning any APHA points. The foal’s dam
must also be nominated to the Breeders’ Futurity program
for the respective foaling year, and applicable fees must
be paid prior to competing in Breeders’ Futurity competitions.
The APHA Breeders’
Futurity makes its debut at the 2009 Fall World Championship
Paint Horse Show. The program was created to add value to
Breeders’ Trust-subscribed stallions, the mares bred
to these stallions and their offspring. It also presents yet
another added-money opportunity to the World Championship
Show.
The long-established Breeders’
Trust program provides added incentive for Paint Horse owners
to exhibit their horses in the show arena or on the track.
The Breeders’ Trust pays cash dividends for points earned
by nominated horses at APHA-approved events. In fact, the
Breeders’ Trust is the most unique incentive program
in the horse industry today. Some of the program’s latest
enhancements include:
• Highest stallion subscriber payback ever offered—20%
• Non-owner stallion subscriptions.
• Preferred treatment for re-subscribing stallions.
• Extended deadline for stallions standing for the first
time.
• New Breeders’ Futurity program designed to make
your Breeders’ Trust foal even more valuable.
The Trust is designed so
that everyone responsible for the success of an outstanding
foal is rewarded. The stallion subscriber, foal nominator
and horse’s owner all share in the profit.
For more information
about the Breeders’ Trust and Breeders’ Futurity
programs, visit apha.com/breederstrust, apha.com/breedersfuturity,
or contact Steven Imhof at simhof@apha.com or (817) 222-6441.
VESICULAR STOMATITIS QUARANTINE
LIFTED IN STARR COUNTY, TEXAS
HORSE OWNERS URGED TO CONTINUE CHECKING
WITH STATES OF DESTINATION BEFORE HAULING LIVESTOCK
Aug.
9, 2009
Texas Animal health officials have lifted a quarantine on
a ranch in Starr County, where horses have recovered from
vesicular stomatitis (VS), a virus that occurs sporadically
in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Wyoming and other
western states. Currently, there are no quarantines or active
investigations for vesicular stomatitis in Texas. Livestock
susceptible to VS include horses, cattle, sheep, pigs, deer
and other cloven-hooved animals. Infected animals can develop
blisters, lesions and sloughing of the skin on the muzzles,
tongue, teats and above the hooves and usually recover in
two to three weeks. To prevent the spread of this virus, which
is not fully understood, quarantines remain in effect until
at least 21 days after the animal?s lesions have healed.
"Although the quarantine in Texas is released, some states
may continue to enforce enhanced entry requirements or restrictions
on Texas livestock until the height of the VS season ends
in late fall, when temperatures drop, said Dr. Bob Hillman,
Texas' state veterinarian and head of the Texas Animal Health
Commission, the state?s livestock and poultry health regulatory
agency. New Mexico also has had VS this year, and it is possible
that another VS case could be detected in Texas, since the
virus is active this year." He urged private veterinary
practitioners and livestock owners to check with the states
of destination prior to moving animals to ensure all entry
requirements are met.
Dr. Hillman explained that the clinical signs of VS mimic
the highly dangerous foot-and-mouth disease, and a veterinary
exam and laboratory tests are needed to confirm a diagnosis.
?Horses are not susceptible to foot-and-mouth disease, but
they are often the first animals to get VS,? said Dr. Hillman.
?We can assist with private veterinary practitioners with
disease investigations at no charge, and we can receive disease
reports 24 hours a day at 800-550-8242.
PLANNING ON HAULING HORSES
TO NEW MEXICO - THEY'VE UPDATED THEIR VESICULAR STOMATITIS
REQUIREMENTS
July 1, 2009
According to the Texas Animal Health
Commission, if you are planning to haul Texas horses to New
Mexico, you will have to obtain a certificate of veterinary
inspection issued within seven (7) days prior to arrival in
that state, due to the vesicular stomatitis (VS) outbreak.
New Mexico updated their
vesicular stomatitis requirements Tuesday, June 30. (When
Texas is free of vesicular stomatitis, certificates of veterinary
inspection will again be valid for 30 days for Texas equine
animals entering New Mexico.)
For ALL livestock entering
New Mexico, the New Mexico state veterinarian requires the
following statement on the certificate of veterinary inspection:
"The animals represented
on this CVI (health certificate) have not originated from
a premises or area under quarantine for vesicular stomatitis
(VS), or a premises on which VS has been diagnosed in the
past 21 days. I have examined the animals and have found no
clinical signs of VS."
You must have an entry permit,
issued by the New Mexico Livestock Board, if you are transporting
livestock to New Mexico from a county with vesicular stomatitis.
(Currently in Texas, vesicular stomatitis is limited to STARR
COUNTY in far south Texas.) The entry permit may be obtained
at no charge by calling the New Mexico Livestock Board at
505-841-6161.
LAW CREATES TEXAS HORSE
INCENTIVE PROGRAM
June
30, 2009
According to the AQHA publication, America's Horse, All American
Quarter Horses, American Paint Horses and Appaloosas conceived
by mares and stallions living in Texas during 2009 are eligible
to be nominated to the new Texas Equine Incentive Fund. House
Bill 1881, which was signed by Gov. Rick Perry on June 19,
becomes law Sept. 1.
The bill creates a voluntary
monetary incentive program to keep Quarter, Paint and Appaloosa
horses breeding, showing or racing in Texas.
The bill was introduced into
the Texas House by Rep. Sid Miller (R) of Erath in February
and garnered broad support as a nonpartisan bill that did
not assess taxes on Texas residents.
Miller was the 2006 and 2007
amateur tie-down roping world champion and the 2007 reserve
world champion in amateur breakaway roping at the AQHA World
Championship Show, and the reserve world champion in breakaway
roping at AQHA’s 2008 Bayer Select World Championship
Show.
The Texas Equine Incentive
Fund will provide rural jobs in the state of Texas by providing
incentives to raise and show horses in Texas, rather than
other states. The funds for the program are raised within
the horse industry and will be administered by the Texas Department
of Agriculture. The rules and guidelines for the program will
be determined by a panel representing each of the stock-horse
breeds.
The equine industry was worth
more than $11 billion in 1998, according to studies at Texas
A&M University.
Texas is home to about 900,000
horses. More than 450,000 people are employed by or involved
in the industry. More than 101,000 service-providers’
jobs are affected, including veterinarians, veterinary support
staff, real estate agents, trainers, farriers, horse trailer
dealerships, truck dealerships, fertilizer dealers, feed stores,
saddle and tack makers, western apparel stores, hay growers,
hotels and restaurants.
For more information, contact
the Texas-Bred Horse Association at (214) 223-4188.
SOUTH POINT PLANNING INVITATIONAL
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
By Glory Ann
Kurtz
April 3, 2009 – Las Vegas, Nev.
Are you a weekend cutter? Would you
like an Invitational World Championship Finals with $210,000
in added money and possible $620,000 total purse? If so, you’ll
be happy to hear about the planned South Point Invitational
World Championships, scheduled to take place at the South
Point Hotel, Casino and Equestrian Center, next February,
in Las Vegas, Nev.
Since the NCHA has announced
that their NCHA World Championship Finals will no longer be
held in Amarillo, and instead will be held during the NCHA
Futurity, with only the top 15 Open and Non-Pro riders being
able to compete, weekenders are disappointed that they will
no longer have a World Championship Finals and that their
World titles will be decided by the total money won throughout
the year.
Since 1992, Michael and Paula
Gaughan have had large, added-money aged-event shows that
have paid out over $14.1 million. On the drawing board is
an invitational event for the top 50 in the NCHA approved
divisions, except the Open and Non-Pro, where invitations
will go to contestants ranking. 16-65. The top 15 going to
the finals in Fort Worth will not be eligible. ALL
CLASSES WILL BE A CLEAN SLATE COMING IN – WITH THREE
FULL GO-ROUNDS THAT WILL PAY DOWN 10 PLACES IN EACH GO-ROUND.
The event will not be NCHA approved.
With a planned $210,000 in
added money, the total purse is estimated to be $620,000,
based on 50 entries in each division. The Gaughans are also
currently working on getting sponsors for this event. There
will be an added purse of $25,000 in the Open, Non-Pro, $10,000
Novice Horse and $15,000 Novice Horse Non-Pro rider. The entry
fee will be $1,475 with $900 jackpotted. A total of $23,333
paid out in each go-round and first place in each go-round
will pay $4,000.
There would be $20,000 added
in the $50,000 Amateur, $20,000 Non-Pro, $10,000 Amateur,
$3,000 Novice Horse and $5,000 Novice Horse Non-Pro Rider.
The entry fee will be $1,375 with $800 jackpotted. With $20,000
paid out in three go-rounds, first place in each go-round
will pay $3,100.
The $2,000 Limited Rider
class would have $10,000 in added money, a $1,175 entry fee
and $600 jackpotted. With $13,333 paid out in each of the
three go-rounds, first place in each go-round will pay $1,800.
There are also a lot of quality awards planned.
I would like to hear from
you about whether or not you like this format, how you would
change it and if you would consider attending the show. E-mail
me at glory@glorykurtz.com – or call me at 940-433-5232.
Click
here for a chart of classes and pay-out>>
TODAY’S NEWS
By Glory Ann Kurtz
March 13, 2009
The industry has lost legendary
horseman and clinician Ray Hunt, Ernie Vest passes away from
coronary heart failure and AQHA implements a "Green Pastures"
program.
EMPTY
BOOTS
Legendary Horseman Ray Hunt, who was in his late 70s, passed
away on March 12. With a summer home at the Rattlesnake Ranch
in Mountain Home, Idaho, and a winter home at the Oak Valley
Ranch, Era, Texas, Hunt was the first to become a traveling
clinician. He used the natural horsemanship methods of the
Durance brothers and promoted it throughout the horse industry
by holding clinics across the country for over 30 years. In
fact, he had a spring clinic scheduled at his Texas Ranch.
For more information on Ray Hunt, go to his web site at www.rayhunt.com.
Ernie Vest, 65, Valley View,
Texas, passed away on Feb. 14 at Denton Regional Medical Center,
Denton, Texas, from coronary heart failure. Vest, well known
at horse sales throughout the industry, was cremated.
AQHA IMPLEMENTS
“GREEN PASTURES” PROGRAM
If there is a horse in your life that you would like to provide
a “forever home,” you can now indicate on a horse’s
registration certificate that should that horse ever become
unwanted or unusable, you will, if possible, assist in finding
him or her a suitable home. The program is voluntary and does
not imply that a buy back or exchange of money will occur,
or that a horse is guaranteed a home – because sometimes
situations change. – but at least you will know when
one of your favorite horses is in trouble. You can list up
to five horses with the AQHA. Contact the AQHA customer service
department at (806) 376-4811 or go to their web site at www.aqha.com,
put in your membership number and password – then go
to “Business Services” and then “Greener
Pastures Enrollment.” You will need the horses’
registration numbers and names.
TODAY’S NEWS
By Glory Ann Kurtz
March 11, 2009
Liz Haverty, wife of top
reining horse trainer, Clint Haverty, is hospitalized with
Bacterial Meningitis; John Mitchell and Peptos Stylish Miss
take first go-round in the Open Classic/Challenge at the Bonanza
Cutting; Eastern Nationals offering $334,000 in purse money;
and who’s in the NCHA standings following the high-paying
NCHA World Series held during the Houston Stock Show.
LIZ
HAVERTY HOSPITALIZED WITH BACTERIAL MENINGITIS
Liz Haverty, wife of reining trainer Clint Haverty, has Bacterial
Meningitis and is in ICU at Presbyterian Hospital in Denton,
Texas. For anyone wanting to send flowers, she is in room
2120. The hospital is located at 3000 N I-35, Denton, TX 76201.
PEPTOS
STYLISH MISS/JOHN MITCHELL TAKE FIRST GO-ROUND OF BONANZA
CLASSIC/CHALLENGE
John Mitchell took home $1,500 for his 222 score in the first
go of the 85-entry Open Classic/Challenge during the Bonanza
Cutting, held March 10-17 in Abilene, Texas. Mitchell was
riding Peptos Stylish Miss, owned by Slate River Ranch, Weatherford,
Texas. A championship has eluded the pair as they seem to
always be the bridesmaid, not the bride. Previously they were
Reserve at the 2008 PCCHA 4-Year-Old Open Stakes, and tied
for Reserve at the 2008 Brazos Bash Open Derby and 2009 Augusta
Classic Challenge. The 2004 daughter of Peptoboonsmal out
of Stylish And Foxie by Docs Oak has lifetime earnings of
$163,286 going into the Bonanza.
Second place went to Playin Pistol, a 2003 gelding by Smart
Little Pistol out of Play With Belles by Freckles Playboy,
ridden by Tarin Rice to a 220, taking home a $1,000 paycheck.
The mare came into the Bonanza with $60,621 in lifetime earnings.
Third was a three-way tie between Your Turn To Play ridden
by Boyd Rice, Desires little Rex, ridden by Bubba Matlock
and Rubys Royal CD ridden by Phil Hanson. Each collected a
$166.66 for their 219 score. Riders may ride an unlimted number
of horses in the Open 4 and 5/6-Year-Old classes.
Click
here for the Bonanza schedule & results>>
NCHA EASTERN NATIONALS
TO OFFER $334,000 IN PRIZE MONEY
For the 30th year, the Wayne
Hodges & Outlaw Conversions/NCHA Eastern national Championships
are being held in Jackson, Miss., March 9-20. Texas, with
227 entries, tops the list of states with entries. Obviously,
entries from the Eastern part of the country made up a majority
of the entries, including Florida with 85, Alabama with 71
and Mississippi and Louisana with 64. Oklahoma was represented
by 54 entries.
The purse for the event totals
$120,000, or $12,000 for each of the 10 classes, with the
cut-off day being Nov. 23, 2008 – the last day of the
point year. The entry fee is $500 plus $125 for a stall. Entry
fees for the youth are $150.. Entries are limited to the Top
10 2008 area leaders from the 25 NCHA areas or the Top 10
from each affiliate. However, any horse shown in the Open
or Non-Pro of the world Finals and finishing in the Top 15
in the final standings are ineligible. Classes are one go-round
and finals.
The two classes with their
first go-round already held include the 97-entry $10,000 Novice
Horse and 89-entry $3,000 Novice Horse divisions. Heading
up the $10,000 Novice Horse Division are Peptos Stylish Bay,
owned by Carol Pace, Rossville, Tenn., and ridden by Dennis
(Zeke) Entz to a 218. Second is Lenas Silver Pistol, owned
by Lori Broome, Aubrey, Texas, and ridden by Casey Crouch.
Third place is tied between five horses, all scoring a 216,
including Grandpaws Playgirl, Leon and Peggy Lewis, Carthage,
Texas, owner, Brett Davis rider; Gun N Sandy Candy, owned
by Larry Grimes, Thayer, Mo, ridden by Nathaniel Lansford;
Justa Lil Freck, Randall & Nicole Aldridge, Killeen, Ala.,
ridden by Todd Gann; Miss Rey Hickory, owned by Kenneth Wrobbel,
Hillsdale, Mich., ridden by Randy Chartier and Tracker Jones,
owned by EE Ranches Inc., Whitesboro, Texas, ridden by Guy
Woods.
In the $3,000 Novice division,
the leader is Grandpaws Playgirl, with a 218 and second is
split four ways with a 216. They include bobby Joe Rey, owned
by Connie Price, New Underwood, S.D., ridden by Clinton Price;
Lakers Playboy, owned by EE Ranches, ridden by Guy Woods,
San Tule San doc, owned by Roger and Star Cagle,, Paragould,
Ark., ridden by Rusty Jeffrey and Starcat Merada, owned by
Daniel Jaeggi, Switzerland, ridden by Chubby Turner.
For a schedule and results, go to:
Click
here for Eastern Nat'ls schedule & results>>
NCHA
STANDINGS FOLLOWING NCHA WORLD SERIES OF CUTTING
The new NCHA World Standings following the World Series of
Cutting held Feb. 28-March 7 during the Houston Livestock
Show & Rodeo have been posted. The top 15 money earners
in the Open and Non-Pro divisions for the year will qualify
for the World Finals to be held during the NCHA Futurity in
Fort Worth, Texas. Other class winners will also receive their
year-end awards during the Futurity.
Neat Little Cat, a High Brow
Cat stallion owned by Jim and Judy Spaulding, Millsap, Texas,
and ridden by Scott McClurg tops the Open Standings. The pair
has now shown at 11 shows, earning $11,119.07. A close second
is Cats Royal Jewel, owned by Robert and Connie Rust, Gordon,
Texas, and ridden by Robert during 14 shows, earning $0,150.03.
Third is Mike Coleman riding Lenas Dualin for Buck Daniel
to 10 shows, $7,336.69; fourth Rust riding Jazzys Pep Talk
for Willard Alexander, $7,336.69 and sixth, Austin Shepherd
riding Thomas E Hughes for Don & Kathy Boone, $6,972.95.
Elizabeth Queen, Weatherford,
Texas, who topped the Non-Pro World Series of Cutting, tops
the Non-Pro Standings. Riding Sister CD and Jazzy Touche,
Elizabeth went to nine shows, earning $11,840.79. Second goes
to Steve Norris of Colorado Springs, Colo., is second riding
Freckles Royall Doc to 14 shows, earning $10,049.90. Third
is McKenzie Mullins riding Belles N Bullets, $9,017.77; fourth
Dan Hansen riding Woody Be Lucky, Neverey and CD Owen to $8,387.29
and fifth, Janet Westfall, riding Jeeps Posi Traction to $7,634.95.
Click
here for NCHA Standings>>
TODAY’S NEWS
By Glory Ann
Kurtz
March 9, 2009
It looks like the registration of cloned
horses by the AQHA will be put off until next year following
a decision made at the AQHA Convention in San Antonio, Texas;
AQHA lowers points for most 2009 World Show qualifiers; the
PCCHA Derby and Classic/Challenge are in full swing in Paso
Robles, Calif.; the NCHA World Series of Cutting is won by
Roy Carter while Elizabeth Queen takes Non-Pro; Doug Williamson
wins Open title at National Stock Horse Classic; and Magna
Entertainment, who owns the license for Lone Star Park in
Grand Prairie, Texas, files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
AQHA
CLONING DECISIONS ON HOLD UNTIL 2010 CONVENTION
Following a 2008 proposal to the AQHA Stud Book and Registration
Committee, that cloned horses be registered with the AQHA,
the proposal was revisited during a meeting of the Stud Book
and Registration Committee held March 6 during the AQHA Convention
in San Antonio, Texas. With members being invited to the meeting,
the AQHA announced that it would also be a live webcast so
all members could watch the proceedings. When all was said
and done, the Stud Book and Registration Committee approved
a motion that recommended that action on the proposal to approve
the registration of clones be put off until the 2010 AQHA
Convention.
The forum panelists included
Katrin Hinrichs, a veterinarian involved in equine cloning
at Texas A&M University; Sharon Spier, an epidemiologist
at the University of California-Davis; George Seidel, a professor
specializing in biomedical sciences at Colorado State University
and an expert on cloning and Blake Russell, vice president
of ViaGen, a cloning company that recently moved to Canada.
The Smart Little Lena clones were created at Texas A&M,
while ViaGen cloned several horses, including the cutting
industry’s leading dam Royal Blue Boon and the barrel
racing industry’s most famous gelding – Charmayne
James’ Scamper. Hinrichs stressed that all the clones
from Texas A&M appear to be normal. Even though ViaGen
did not have a 100 percent success rate, Russell spoke out
positively about the technology that makes cloning possible.
Also present was a lawyer
representing an AQHA member who owns some cloned horses, as
well as Chad Pierce, the AQHA attorney. Several members supported
cloning, while others didn’t – bringing up the
fact that the mitochondrial DNA received from the donor mare
carries certain health risks, as well as the fact that there
is no test now available which can distinguish whether a foal
is sired by the original stallion – or his clone.
The NCHA has already made
a ruling that clones will be allowed to show in the NCHA Futurity
and several will be of the age where they can compete this
year. In fact, Doc’s Serendipity, a daughter of Doc
Bar, was cloned and her clone is not only in training for
this year’s Futurity, but was bred to High Brow Cat
last spring. The carrier mare of the embryo transfer foal
should give birth to the first offspring out of a cloned cutting
horse this spring.
AQHA
LOWERS POINTS FOR MOST 2009 WORLD SHOW QUALIFIERS
With the 2009 AQHA World Show scheduled to be held Nov. 6-21
in Oklahoma City, the number of points it takes to qualify
have been lowered for most classes. Amateur and Open performance
halter and ranch sorting were not reduced, as well as classes
that only required two points.
Classes that now take 2.5
to 5 points were lowered by a half point, points that now
take 5.5 to 10 points were lowered by one point, from 10.5
to 15 were lowered 1.5 points, 15.5 to 20 were lowered two
points and points 20.5 and up were lowered by 2.5 points.
Qualifying points necessary
in Junior or Senior cutting are 4.5 each, Amateur Cutting
requires 3 points; Junior Working Cow Horse requires 4 points,
Senior Working Cow Horse requires 5 and Amateur Working cow
Horse requires 2 points. Junior Reining requires 13 points,
Senior reining requires 12.5 and Amateur Reining requires
12 points.
For the requirements for
all classes go to:
http://www.aqha.com/news/2009PressReleases/
030609_conventioncoverage.html
PCCHA
DERBY AND CLASSIC/CHALLENGE IN FULL SWING
Steve Schlesinger and Cats Full Moon, the 2008 Open Derby
Champions and Open Cutting Stakes Champions, are trying to
make it three in a row. The pair won the first round of the
Open Classic/Challenge competition at the PCCHA Derby and
Classic/Challenge held March 8-14 in Paso Robles, Calif. The
pair led the 42-horse field with a 224 score. Cats Full Moon,
owned by the Brinkman Ranch, Lockeford, Calif., is a 5-year-old
stallion sired by High Brow Cat out of Darlin Little Dually
by Dual Pep. Cats Full Moon was also Reserve Champion of the
2007 PCCHA Open Futurity with Tim Smith in the saddle. The
stallion currently has over $96,600 in NCHA earnings.
Finishing second was Smith
riding Gimme A Little Pepto for Mike Rawitser. The pair scored
a 219. The 6-year-old mare is by Peptoboonsmal and out of
Gimme A Little Sugar by Smart Little Lena and has over $13,000
in lifetime earnings. Third was taken by David Costello riding
Smart Little Minnie, owned by Ron and Vicki Mullins, to a
218.5 score.
Leading the eight-entry Classic/Challenge
Gelding Division was Spookys Cat Deville, owned by Jeff Barnes
and ridden by Brent Erickson, Wilton, Calif., with a 217.5
score. The 6-year-old gelding, sired by High Brow Cat out
of San Starlight by Grays Starlight, has over $10,700 in NCHA
money. The leading Novice Horse was High Brow Kitty, owned
by Susan Hearst and ridden by Bonnie Johnson to a 218.
The 77-entry Open Derby began
this morning at 9 a.m., followed by the second go-round of
the Open Classic/Challenge.
Four NCHA classes were held
at the beginning of the show, with Sandy Bonelli, Petaluma,
riding Shakin Rondee to the 14-entry Open Championship and
$2,447.60 paycheck earned for her 222 score. The Reserve title
went to Scott Weis, Ojai, Calif., riding Hick Chicaroo to
a 220.5, earning $1,836.70 for the Latigo Canyon Ranch, Los
Olivos, Calif. Roni Tanner, Salinas, Calif., won the 18-entry
Non-Pro riding Boo Lou Cat to a 219 score and a $2,145.90
paycheck. Second was Debbie hall, Paso Robles, riding Ifitaintgotthatswing
to a 216.5, earning $1,788.25.
The 28-entry $20,000 Non-Pro
was won by Nicole Carson riding Peptos Promise to a 73, earning
$651.42, followed by Lynn Trayham riding Kellys Catalac scoring
72.5 for $535.10. Vicki Mullins rode Flos Remedy to a 145
and the championship of the 30-entry $10,000 Amateur class,
earning $810.75. Second was Teresa Home riding Ms Boons Sweet
N Low to a 144 and $648.60.
For full results, go to:
http://www.pccha.com/shows.asp?id=8
NCHA
WORLD SERIES OF CUTTING WON BY ROY CARTER; ELIZABETH QUEEN
TAKES NON-PRO
Roy Carter rode Scootin Boon to a whopping 226, winning the
first event of the NCHA 6666 Ranch World Series of Cutting
finals held at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, March
7. Owned by Hal Sutton’s S&S Farms, Shreveport,
La., Scootin Boon is a stallion sired by Smart Lil Scoot out
of Susies Blue Boon by Peptoboonsmal. With $25,000 in added
money, Carter picked up $8,013 in the Open Division which
featured 59 entries. The Reserve title went to Lindy Burch
riding Play Peek A Boon for her Oxbow Ranch in Weatherford,
Texas. The daughter of Freckles Playboy out of Peek A Boon
by Smart Little Lena scored a 224.5, earning $7,137. Third
went to the 2007 NCHA World Champions, Dual Rey Me, owned
and ridden by Jeremy Barwick. The Dual Pep gelding out of
Miss Smart Rey Jay by Smart Little Lena scored a 221 and earned
$6,260.
The 51-entry, $25,000-added
Non-Pro Division was won by Elizabeth Queen, Weatherford,
Texas, riding her great gelding Sister CD to a 223. Sired
by CD Olena and out of Little Baby Sister by Dual Pep, the
pair earned $7,797. The Reserve title was split between Nutn
Buta Houndog, owned and ridden by Joe Howard Williamson, Weatherford,
and Snow Rey, owned and shown by Chad Bushaw, also from Weatherford,
to scores of 219. Nutn Buta Houndog is a gelding sired by
Smart Mate and out of Liza Quixote by Doc Quixote while Snow
Rey is a son of Dual Rey out of Lenas Snow by Docs Stylish
oak. Both earned $6,522.
The World Series, which will
culminate with the top Open and Non-Pro riders competing for
the World Championship titles during the 2009 NCHA Futurity,
helped the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo post record
numbers with the NCHA and AQHA cutting totaling close to 1,000
entries. The series will continue at the Calgary Stampede
in Calgary, Alb., Canada, the All-American Quarter Horse Congress
in Columbus, Ohio and the American Royal in Kansas City. All
money earned during this series will count toward the 2009
World Championship title.
DOUG
WILLIAMSON WINS OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP AT NATIONAL STOCK HORSE
ASSOCIATION CLASSIC
Doug Williamson, riding Cattys Dual Doc, a 5-year-old son
of Cattin out of Dual Docs Starlight by Grays Starlight, scored
a total of 438.5, winning the Open title of the National Stock
Horse Association Classic, held Feb. 24-March 1 in Tulare,
Calif. The pair took home $12,000. The Reserve title went
to Lance Johnson riding Shesa Special Pastel (Pastels Smart
Lena out of Especials Poco Bell by Especial), owned by Gary
and Kay Watt, Porterville, Calif. The pair scored a total
of 437.5 after the three events – herd work, reined
work and cow work, taking home $7,762.50.
Get a Dual Pep, owned by
Steven and Kathleen DeBolt, Escondido, Calif., ridden by John
Ward, won the Open Classic Novice $2,500 division, taking
home $2,318.40. Second was Mark Luis riding Pearl Escence
for Joe Kathrein. The pair collected $1,821.60. They also
won the Intermediate Open Novice for an additional $1,188.
The Intermediate Open Classic
was won by Brad Buttrey riding Shock And Awe for Ron Landskroner,
collecting $1,545.60. The Limited Open Classic was won by
Billy Martin riding his horse MH Im Just Booning, Ty Rohrbaugh
won first and second in the Limited Open $2,500 Novice riding
Indian Pep, owned by Linda Mars, and Chic San Olena, owned
by Rogers Heaven Sent Ranch.
The first two places in the Non-Pro Classic were taken by
Anne Reynolds riding Very Smart Sir to first and Very Smart
Flo Jo to second for $3,000 and $2,000 respectfully. The Intermediate
non-Pro Classic was won by Kristi Locatelli riding Last To
Dance.
MAGNA
ENTERTAINMENT FILES CHAPTER 11 BANKRUPTCY; LONE STAR PARK
NOT PART OF FILING
With the prospect of defaulting on multiple loans, Magna Entertainment
Corp., filed for relief under Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Delaware
on Thursday, March 5. According to Frank Stronach, its chairman
and chief executive, the company will continue its day-to-day
operations and will begin selling assets to repay debts. However,
according to a March 6 article in the Fort Worth Star Telegram,
operations at Lone Star park at Grand Prairie, Texas, will
not be affected by the filing and still plans on opening its
new season on April 9, which will run until July 26. According
to General Manager Drew Shubeck is not among the parties filing
for bankruptcy and will not be included in the proceedings.
None of their assets will be frozen or negatively affected
by the filing. However, the Toronto Stock Exchange plans to
delist Magna Entertainment Corp stock at the close of market
on April 1.
According to an article in
the Thoroughbred Times Today, The company and its subsidiaries
will try to reorganize to address their debt problems and
will begin by selling assets, including interests at Lone
Star Park. Magna owns the racing license but leases Lone Star
Park from the Grand Prairie Sports Facilities Development
Corp., which owns the track. Magna has entered into an agreement
with MI Developments, its controlling shareholder and largest
secured creditor, to sell its interests in at least six tracks
and other properties for $195 million.
Magna manages Pimlico
Race Course in Laurel Park, Md., and Santa Anna Park in Arcadia,
Calif. Pimlico is the site of the Preakness Stakes, the second
race in horse racing’s Triple Crown. In bankruptcy proceedings
the Preakness Stakes could be offered as an entity for bidding;
however, Maryland law gives the state the right to match any
offer for the race. The current balance of MI Developments
loans and interest owed by Magna total $372 million, including
$171 million under the Gulfstream Park project financing,
$23 million in Remington Park financing, a $125-million bridge
loan in September 2007 and a $53-million loan in December
2008.
TODAY'S NEWS
By Glory Ann
Kurtz
Feb. 21, 2009
Magna Entertainment default on loans
could affect Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas; the All-American
Quarter Horse Congress could partially relocated to Hillard,
Ohio, and the winners of the cutting at the San Antonio LIvestock
Show.
MAGNA
ENTERTAINMENT DEFAULTING COULD AFFECT ARLINGTON, TEXAS’
LONE STAR PARK
Lone Star Park racetrack in Arlington, Texas, could be in
jeopardy following the release of information that Magna Entertainment,
who operates Lone Star Park, is in danger of defaulting on
loans. However, according to a Feb. 21 article in the Fort
Worth Star Telegram, Magna Entertainment, who could face a
March 20 deadline for repayment of a $126-million bridge loan
owed to an MI Developments subsidiary, $100-million in financing
of its Gulfstream Park project, as well as an additional loan
of $48.5 million owed to the MI Developments subsidiary, owns
the racing license for Lone Star Park and leases it from Grand
Prairie Sports Facilities Development Corp., which owns the
track. (MI Developments Inc., is the parent company of Magna
Entertainment.)
The article said that if
needed, the Sports Corp. could operate the racetrack, which
is continuing to prepare for its April 9 opening. Magna announced
it has been informed by the Toronto Stock Exchange of an “expedited
review” of the company’s eligibility for continued
listing. Friday, on the NASDAQ stock market, the price of
a Magna share fell 21 percent to 30 cents, after having already
fallen 25 percent Thursday.
According to the Thoroughbred
Times Today, Magna had hoped to obtain more capital from MI
Developments to pay off loans but the investors in the companies,
with Frank Stronach as chairman of both, opposed the plan.
With its increasing debt and failure to receive new capital
Magna Entertainment was unable to submit a required $28.5
million license fee with its request to add slot machines
at Laurel Park, and were thereby disqualified by the Maryland
Video Lottery Facility Location Commission. Lone Star Park
had been hoping to also obtain slot machines at their facility.
Lone Star Park general manager Drew Shubeck said he will be
continuing his efforts in Austin on behalf of legislation
favorable to the horse industry.
ALL-AMERICAN
QUARTER HORSE CONGRESS COULD “PARTIALLY” RELOCATE
TO OHIO’S FRANKLIN COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS IN HILLARD
Currently the All-American Quarter Horse Congress is held
annually in October at the Ohio State Fairgrounds in Columbus,
Ohio. However, the event, which attracts about 650,000 visitors
annually, has outgrown the Columbus facilities.
According to Denny Hales, the event’s Executive Vice
President, the Columbus facility is “limited in time
and space” and they want to expand their exhibits by
having satellite operations at the Franklin County Fairgrounds.
A feasibility study, participated in by the Franklin County
Commissioners, Franklin county Agricultural Society, the city
of Hilliard and the All-American Quarter Horse Congress is
currently being done. The commissioners are also appointing
one at-large citizen to help craft the study. Hilliard is
located approximately 15 miles north of Columbus on North
Loop 270, just prior to Dublin.
JAMES
DAVISON WINS SAN ANTONIO LIVESTOCK SHOW CLASSIC
James Davison , Fredericksburg, Texas, rode Tripp Deperier’s
Freckled Leo Lena to the championship of the San Antonio Livestock
Show Open Classic. Davison and the 5-year-old son of Smart
Little Lena out of Freckled Leo Girl by Freckles Playboy scored
a 147.5, earning $2,194. The Reserve title went to Dualin
Lil Playgirl, a daughter of Dual Rey out of Dainty Playgirl
by Freckles Playboy, owned by Gary and Mickey Goodfried, Flint,
Texas, and ridden by Ronnie Rice. The pair scored a close
147 for $1,803.
The Non-Pro Champion was
Lica Pinkston, Mountain Home, Ark., riding Play A Bet, a 6-year-old
daughter of Bet On Me 498 out of Play A Masterpiece by Freckles
Playboy to a 147. The pair picked up $1,524. The mare also
won the AQHA Senior Cutting with Craig Gilham in the saddle.
Second in the Non-Pro, with a 143, was Billy Crenshaw, Beaumont,
Texas, riding Cat Sees De lights, a 6-year-old daughter of
High Brow Cat out of Madrones Last Star by Grays Starlight.
The pair collected $1,252.
The AQHA Junior Cutting was
a tie between Davison and Freckled Leo Lena and Kathy Daughan,
riding Metro Fletch for Kit Moncrief and LeeTennison, Fort
Worth, Texas. Metro Fletch is a 4-year-old gelding by Royal
Fletch out of Mo Flo by Mr Peponita Flo.
The AQHA Amateur Cutting
was won by April Hames Widman, Weatherford, Texas, riding
SR Instant Tee, a 1999 gelding by SR Instant Choice out of
Tee Cross O Lena by Tree Cross. The pair took home $496. Second
was Ray Whitmire, Sallisaw, Okla.m riding Can Yall CD Freckles,
a 2002 daughter of CD Olena out of Miss Freckles Wilson by
Freckles Playboy. The AQHA Novice Amateur Cutting was split
between Dan Osterman riding Gunnin Smart and Dennis Myers
riding HH Poco Hickory. The Youth was also split between Justin
Henson riding Playboys Slider and Lauren Kleck, Sallisaw,
Okla., riding Lucky Nurse.
TODAY’S NEWS
By Glory Ann
Kurtz
Feb. 12, 2009
A deadly tornado in Lone Grove, Okla.,
missed several cutting horse facilities; two trainers running
for Vice President will guarantee that eight trainers will
still be on the NCHA 14-member Executive Committee; Richard
Fields of Jackson Land & Cattle Co supports AQHA Youth
World Show Assistance Program; Tunica Non-Pro and Amateur
champions named; stallion auction planned to fund Doug Ingersoll
fire fund and economic turbulence affects Fasig-Tipton Winter
Mixed Sale.
LONE GROVE TORNADO MISSES
CUTTERS
The devastating tornado that hit Lone Grove, Okla., on the
evening of Feb. 10, went right over several horse facilities,
but miraculously caused no damage to them. It traveled directly
over Bill and Ann Riddle’s facilities, but was not on
the ground at the time. James Payne’s place was just
east of its path but was missed as was Dick and Brenda Pieper’s
facilities – although they were without power for the
evening.
It also dropped down only
a mile from Michael and Emily Townsend’s facilities
in Edmond, where he had broodmares in the pasture. (Michael
owns the stallion Peeka Pep) The Galyeans, who had just had
a tremendously successful show in Tunica were on their way
home and found everything OK when they got there. Also, Brad
Wilson, who won the Classic Non-Pro at Tunica, was already
home but he and his wife, Connie, who is an emergency room
doctor at Mercy Memorial in Ardmore, also were fortunate enough
to be spared.
ANOTHER
TRAINER SCHEDULED TO REPLACE BRONC WILLOUGHBY
When Bronc Willoughby’s year-long NCHA presidency is
over in June, during the NCHA Convention in Denver, another
trainer – Chubby Turner, the president-elect will take
his place. Trainer Chris Benedict will then move up to President
Elect. Two trainers have been selected to run for the vacant
Vice President position – Pete Branch, Farwell, Texas,
and Keith Deaville, Covington, La. Currently there are eight
trainers on the 14-member board and it will stay that way
following the election.
RICHARD
FIELDS FAMILY FOUNDATION SUPPORTS AQHA YOUTH WORLD SHOW ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM
Richard Fields, the owner of Peptoboonsmal and the Jackson
Land & Cattle Co. of Jackson, Wyo., have made it possible
for many qualified youth participants to attend the AQHYA
World Championship Show. Through the assistance program, the
Fields Family Foundation, a nonprofit organization created
by Fields, awards need-based monetary grants to qualified
youths. Since its inception in 2005, the program has helped
about 170 AQHYA members make it to the World Show. Fields
is also a supporter of the Jackson Hole High School rodeo
Cloub and the Teton County 4-H Group.
TUNICA
NON-PRO, AMATEUR CHAMPIONS NAMED
The Non-Pro champion of the 4-Year-Old Futurity at Tunica
was Jimmy Kemp, Eastland, Texas, riding Fantastic Plastic,
a daughter of Whittle Mike O Dual out of Miss Remanita by
Mr Peponita Flo. The pair scored a 217.5 in the finals, collecting
$16,760. The Reserve title went to Phil Layne, Weatherford,
Texas, riding Hills Rim Shot, a son of Playgun out of Lynneas
Smart Lena by Smart Little Lena. The pair scored a 216 for
$13,141.
The Limited Non-Pro Futurity
was won by Max Collins, Channelview, Texas, riding A Tule
Named Su, a gelding by San Tule Freckles out of Layla Su by
Miss N Okie. Their 215 score gave them $2,735 in the Limited
Class, along with a third-place split in the Non-Pro for $9,212.
Collins and A Tule Named Su also tied for the championship
of the 4-Year-Old Amateur with Denver Mead. Both scored a
216 and won $4,139, giving Collins a total paycheck of $16,086.
Denver was riding TRs Smokin Gun by TR Dual Rey out of Smokin
Rita by Tigerote. Second and third went to Christina Galyean,
Ardmore, Okla. She rode Seca Rey Lena, a daughter of Dual
Rey out of Seca Little Lena by Smart Little Lena to second
and His Reyflection, a Dual Rey gelding out of Sweet Shorty
Lena by Shorty Lena for third, for a total paycheck of $2,735.
Sasha Thompson, wife of trainer
Craig Thompson, Buffalo, Texas, tied for the championship
of the 5/6-Year-Old Non-Pro Classic, with Brad Wilson, Lone
Grove, Okla. They both scored a 220 and collected $14,758.
Sasha also won the Limited Non-Pro, collecting an additional
$2,425. Sasha was riding Smart Shiny Bet, a 5-year-old daughter
of The Smart Bet out of Haidas Shiny by Haidas Little Pep,
while Brad rode Redneck Style, a 6-year-old daughter of Peptos
Stylish Oak out of Frontpage Peppy by Peppy Motorscooter.
Third was Dustin Adams, Dublin, Texas, riding WSR Joses Cat,
a 5-year-old gelding by High Brow Cat out of Joses Dually
by Dual Pep to a 219, collecting $11,061.
Chris Thibodeaux, the owner
of Grace Ranch, Jennings, La., won the 5/6-Year-Old Amateur
by scoring a 222 on Ginas Cat, a 6-year-old gelding by High
Brow Cat out of Gina Badger by Peppy San Badger. Reserve went
to Bruce Cournoyer, Miami, Fla., riding Dulces Lena, a 5-year-old
daughter of Dulces Smart Lena by Doobie Pep by Dual Pep.
For full results go to: http://www.nchadella.com/tunica
STALLION
AUCTION PLANNED TO FUND DOUG INGERSOLL FIRE FUND
Following a Jan. 23 fire at Doug Ingersoll’s training
facility in Lincoln, Calif., that killed 12 performance horses
and a 4,000-square-foot barn valued at $250,000, the horse
industry has come together and donated stallion services to
be auctioned off. All money raised will go directly to Doug
and Debbie Ingersoll to rebuild their facility and business.
Over 35 stallion breedings have been donated, with bids starting
for as little as $500. Some of the stallions involved include
Chic Please, Chics Magic Potion, Hollywood Vintage, Lenas
Wright On, Matt Dillon Dunit, Nu Circle Of Cash, Real Gun,
Roosters Wrangler, Smart Lil Highbrow, Smart Spook, Smokums
Prize, Sweet Like Pepto, The Love Man, Topsails Rien Maker,
Doc Soula and Yellow Roan Of Texas. The auction will end at
the Back To Basics show at Rancho Murieta, CA on March 8.
For more information call LaDona Emmons (209) 256-0172 p or
LLLDare@aol.com or mail a check to The Ingersoll Fire Fund,
c/o PO Box 59, Lincoln, CA 95648. www.gotcowhore.com will
be posting bids as they come in.
Also, an auction will be
held Feb. 28 at the NSHA Stock Horse Classic, held Feb. 24-March
1 in Tulare, Calif. Ted Robinson will be the auctioneer. Items
donated so far include: (donator-item) Flanigans- Sliver Brow
Band Headstall; Don Brown - 5/8" Hackamore; Larry Gay
- Silver Snaffle; Glaser Saddlery - Custom Pair of Chaps;
Carlos Silver - Silver Split Ear Head Stall
Ronnie Richards - Spanish Bit; Benny Guitron - Steve Guitron
Custom Braiding Complete Spanish Bridle, Headstall, Bit &
Reins; D Bar M Western Store - Spanish Bit; Bill & Teresa
Black - 5/8" Rawhide Hackamore Horsehair Hitch Quirt;
Les Vogt - Spanish Bit; Avila Pro Shop - Rawhide Reins; Kim
Paul – Spurs and Chuck Chapin - Custom Chaps
ECONOMIC
TURBULENCE AFFECTS FASIG-TIPTON WINTER MIXED SALE
Fasig-Tipton reduced the winter mixed sale from two sessions
last year to one day this year and cataloged 306 horses for
the day, down 40 percent from last year’s 510 horses.
But with the current depressed economy, only three horses
sold for over $100,000 compared with 13 last year. The number
offered were down 42 percent (244), the number sold down 35.2
percent (206) and gross was down a whopping 62.9 percent to
$2,392,900 from $6,452,400 with a 15.6 percent no-sale rate.
The average dropped 42.8 percent to $11,616 from $20,291 and
the median was down 28.6 percent to $5,000 from $7,000. This
year’s high seller was $130,000 down from the $320,000
brought by last year’s high seller.
In other Thoroughbred racing
news, Triple Crown nominations have declined by 10.7 percent
to 401 nominations compared to 2008’s 449. During the
past 10 years, the years with the lowest nominations were2005
with 358 and 2000 with 387. The highest was 450 in 2007.
AQHA CLONING FORUM TO
BE WEBCAST ON AQHA.COM
Press
release from the AQHA
Feb. 6, 2009 - Amarillo, Texas
American Quarter Horse Association members who can’t
make it to the equine cloning forum at the 2009 AQHA Annual
Convention to be held March 6-9 in San Antonio, Texas, can
watch the event online in the members section of www.aqha.com.
The forum Webcast will begin at 2 p.m. March 6.
“Based on member requests
we’ve received, we are going to Webcast the cloning
forum,” said Bill Brewer, AQHA executive vice president.
“We are fortunate that the forums lends itself to being
Webcast so that more AQHA members have up-to-date information
on equine cloning.”
You must be an AQHA member
and have a Personal Identification Number to login to www.aqhamembers.com
and access the Webcast.
Within the past couple of
years, commercial cloning of a number of horses, including
American Quarter Horses, has been well publicized. However,
under Rule 227(a) of the AQHA official handbook, a rule that
became effective in 2004, American Quarter Horses produced
by any cloning process are not eligible for registration.
The AQHA Stud Book and Registration
Committee first considered a proposed change to Rule 227(a)
at the 2008 AQHA Convention. That proposed change would allow
a live foal produced via a particular type of cloning to be
registered if its DNA matches that of a registered American
Quarter Horse. At that time, the SBRC recommended that any
decision regarding the proposed change be postponed pending
further study to be undertaken at the direction of the SBRC.
The proposed change to Rule 227(a) will again be on the SBRC
agenda at the 2009
Convention.
Confirmed forum panelists
include Katrin Hinrichs, a veterinarian involved in equine
cloning at Texas A&M University; Sharon Spier, an epidemiologist
at the University of California-Davis; George Seidel, a professor
specializing in biomedical sciences at Colorado State University;
and Blake Russell of ViaGen.
AQHA anticipates the forum
will include presentations by a panel of speakers from the
equine industry and educational research institutions.This
forum is open to all interested AQHA members.
Following the forum, AQHA
members will have the opportunity to leave online comments
on the information presented. Comments will be limited to
100 words and need to be related to the topics presented during
the forum.
“We know our members
are interested in the topic of cloning,” Brewer said.
“We hope our members will provide some good feedback
on the forum, while becoming more educated on the topic.”
MULTIPLE NCHA WORLD CHAMPION
GUN SMOKES WIMPY PUT DOWN AT 25
By
Glory Ann Kurtz
Feb. 2, 2009
“That was the best Christmas present I ever got,”
said Debbie Patterson, Tecumseh, Okla., when she affectionately
talked about how she got Gun Smokes Wimpy, the gelding who
took her to two NCHA Non-Pro World Championship titles and
won over $670,000. She had to put the gelding, whom she affectionately
calls “Gunner,” down last week following a bout
with colic at age 25. According to Debbie, he had had successful
colic surgery four years ago.
“Gunner was colicking
when I went to feed him Sunday night, so I took hime to the
clinic and Dr. Larry Powers worked with him all night trying
to get his gut to work - to no avail," said Debbie. “I
felt surgery was out of the question since he had surgery
four years earlier.”
The 1984 chestnut gelding
by Gun Smokes Pistol by Mr Gun Smoke out of Lacy Jo Whipple
by Davey Whipple, was bred by Lanna Wolfenbarger, Ledbetter,
Ky. As a 5-year-old in August 1989, he sold to Norman Morefield,
Oxford, Mich. Ernest Cannon, a lawyer from Madisonville, Texas,
and the owner of the now-deceased Hall of Fame horse, Jae
Bar Fletch, found the gelding in 1991 and bought him for Summer
Hightower. However, the horse was soon transferred to Ernest’s
name.
Ernest sent the horse to
Debbie's dad, cutting horse legend Pat Patterson, the winner
of $1.5 million in NCHA lifetime earnings, a 1988 inductee
into the NCHA Members Hall of Fame and a 1989 inductee into
the NCHA Riders Hall of Fame. However, he was suffering from
lung cancer and died in August 1993 when he contracted pneumonia.
"After Dad died, I took Gunner back to Ernest,"
said Debbie.
However, following Pat's
death, Ernest gave Gunner to Debbie on Christmas - Dec. 24,
1993. The rest is history.
Debbie said that her most
memorable win on the gelding was their first World Championship
title in 1995. “He was the last horse that my dad rode
before he died,” said Debbie. "and affter he had
ridden him for a couple of months, his goal was to haul for
the World. So I dedicated my win to him.” Riding Gunner,
she won the NCHA Non-Pro World Championship title again in
1997.
Asked why Ernest gave her the horse, Debbie said, “With
Ernest, he was either really good or he ran off and I think
he just got tired of it.” Debbie gave the horse to her
dad to ride and said that he would still run off occasionally
but there was a vast improvement. “He was a real hyper
and nervous horse and hated to get in trouble,” said
Debbie. “When you were riding him and something went
wrong, he would just run faster and faster and then freak
out.” Debbie said it took about a year after she got
him until he trusted her and he didn’t worry about doing
something wrong. “He would still run off occasionally,”
said Debbie, “but rarely. I guess he trusted me.”
Later she bought a full brother
to Gunner named Whole Lot Of Smoke; however, she felt he wasn’t
quite as good as Gun Smokes Wimpy, so she sold him. “If
I would have kept him, I think I could have gotten him close
to being as good as Gunner. He wasn’t quite as hyper
as him.”
Debbie is currently living with her mother on their home place
in Tecumseh and she still has seven horses. Her mother, who
will be 88 on Feb. 3, is still very active and in good health.
“She still goes to the barn,” said Debbie. For
10 years, Debbie was the stallion manager at Chris and Vickie
Benedict’s DLR Ranch in Weatherford, Texas. “I
just got burned out,” said Debbie. “I’m
a perfectionist and I gave it all I had. It took seven months
out of my life each year and I had no life. So I came home
to spend time with my mother.
Debbie still trains and shows
cutting horses, having made the semifinals of the 2008 NCHA
Non-Pro Futurity. She has a 25-year-old mare who was Gunner’s
partner, and another younger broodmare that is crippled. “I
was going to sell her,” said Debbie, “but she
has a 3-year-old High Brow Cat who is one of Austin Shepard’s
best babies.” She’s in foal to the 2008 NCHA Horse
of the year, Reys Dual Badger and she is planning on breeding
her to High Brow Cat again this year. Debbie previously owned
Dos Palomino, the earner of over $200,000, sired by San Jo
Lena out of Docs Flying Sug by Doc’s Sug. She sold the
Palomino stallion in July to Brazilian buyer Antonio Carbonari
Neto. “I think they were planning on showing him and
breeding him,” said Debbie.
Even though many top trainers
had ridden Gunner, such as Faron Hightower, Don Pooley, Chris
Benedict, Kathy Daughn, and Chubby Turner, the last person
to win on the gelding was Don and Kim Pooley’s son,
Clint, who, following the gelding’s colic surgery, won
the big NCHA Scholarship cutting in Fort Worth.
“I was the last one
to ride him,” said Debbie, “but I wished I hadn’t.”
She said that she had entered Dos Palomino in the 2005 NCHA
Finals, but when Dos Palomino broke his sesmoid bone prior
to the Finals, her friends talked her into showing Gunner.
“It was too late to get Gunner in shape,” said
Debbie, “so we went through two rounds and quit. I wish
I hadn’t rode him – it wasn’t fair to him.”
TODAY’S NEWS
By Glory Ann
Kurtz
Jan. 28, 2009
The Augusta Futurity finals in Augusta,
Ga., are coming up on Thursday and Saturday; cutting winners
from the Fort Worth Stock Show, Flynn Stewart recuperating
from heart surgery, Ken Bartlett scheduled for triple by-pass
heart surgery, tax tips for the horse industry; NRCHA Celebration
to start in San Angelo; the PBR makes cuts; four-time National
Steer Roping Finals qualifier Jim Prather dies at age 74 and
are you interested in Color Genetics?
HAVE
YOU SIGNED UP FOR THE E-NEWSLETTER?
Tomorrow an article with statistical charts will be sent out
in an E-Newsletter, which ranks the sires of the Open and
Non-Pro classes at the 2008 NCHA Futurity by the average money
won by their offspring. You’ll be surprised which stallions
are in the lead, when the number of entries are divided into
the total money won by each stallion’s offspring. There’s
still time to sign up for the E-Newsletter. Just go to www.allaboutcutting.com
and click on the upper right-hand side of the page where it
says, “Sign Up For Newsletter” and fill in your
e-mail information. With a few more days, another article
and chart will be e-mailed, combining all the classes at the
NCHA Futurity, ranking sires the same way. Also listed will
be the latest stud fees for the stallions, as quite a few
of them have been reduced over the past few weeks.
.
AUGUSTA FUTURITY
Brett Davis leads Open Futurity on Sly Angel, scoring a 434
on two go’s; the Open Classic is led by the NCHA Futurity
champs Austin Shepard and High Brow CD scoring a 442 and the
Non-Pro Classic is being led by Brad Wilson with a 437 riding
Redneck Style. The 5/6-Year-Old Open and Non-Pro Classic finals
will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, jan. 29, while the Futurity
Open and Non-Pro finals will be held Saturday at 6:30 p.m.
Click
here for results>>
CUTTING
AT THE FORT WORTH STOCK SHOW:
ARC Catty Dual won first under both judges at the Fort Worth
Stock Show AQHA cutting. The 1994 daughter of Dual Pep is
out of Cat Mist by High Brow Cat was ridden by Phil Rapp,
Weatherford, Texas, and owned by Arcese Quarter Horses. The
Reserve title under Judge No. 1 went to High Classed JPB,
a 2005 stallion by Cats merada out of High Classed Model by
Gallo Del Cielo, owned and ridden by Kathy Daughn. Under Judge
2, Bobby Jolena, a gelding by Little Polo Joe out of Jolena
Folena by San Jo Lena, owned and ridden by Ed Dufurrena, finished
second.
In the Senior Cutting, Dual
Rey Me,, owned by Jeremy and Candace Barwick and ridden by
Jeremy, finished first under both judges. The 1999 gelding
is sired by Dual Pep out of Miss Smart Rey Jay by Smart Little
Lena. Captains Choice, a 1999 gelding by SR Instant Choice
out of Miss CC Wilson by Doc Wilson finished Reserve under
Judge 1, owned by JK Logan LLC and ridden by Casey Crouch.
Under Judgeg 2, Playin By Five, a 2001 gelding by Plain Stylish
out of Swingin By Five by Justa Swinging Peppy, owned by Cole
and Crystal Benedict and ridden by Chris, finished second.
The Amateur Cutting was won
by Karen Hansen under both judges riding Woody Be Lucky, a
2000 gelding by Nitas Wood out of Playboys Ladyluck by Freckles
Playboy, owned by Karen and her husband Dan. Reserve under
both judges was Gayle Karanges riding Tracks On The Moon,
a 2004 stallion by DJ Tracker out of Same Lake Same Moon by
Laker Doc.
In the AQHA Working cow Horse,
C. J. Shopbell rode Mesquite Lena to the championship in all-Age
Open working Cowhorse. The mare is a daughter of Chex That
Out and out of Sweet Mesquite Smoke by Chex My Freckles. Reserve
went to Mr Playinstylish, a 2005 stallion by Playin Stylish
out of Tari Chick Gay by Doc Tari, owned by Charlie and Kit
Moncrief and ridden by Boyd Rice.
In Amateur competition, P.
W. May rode Zezes Superstar for Toby May. The 2001 mare is
by ZeZe Gunsmoke out of Super Lizzie by Superstar Bar. Ashley
Good rode the second-place horse, Cinnabars Lil Spark, a 2005
stallion by Cinnabars Lil Lena out of Shiners Oakie Val by
Shining Spark.
FLYNN STEWART CONSIGNS HIGH
SELLER AT SHAWNEE SALE
Flynn Stewart, Bowie, Texas, who had quadruple by-pass heart
surgery only weeks before the NCHA Futurity –then came
to the Futurity sales where he had horses consigned, had the
high seller at the Triangle Sales Winter Classic Consignment
Sale, held Jan. 16-18 in Shawnee, Okla. Stewart consigned
Twentyfour Karat Cat, a 2-year-old palomino stallion by High
Brow Cat out of Aristocratic Cookie by Smart Aristocrat, who
was purchased for $39,000 by Wayne Sands, Moville, Iowa, a
truck driver for Fed Ex.
“I never saw a horse
sell so fast,” said Stewart. “He just kept going
up. When they looked at me and asked if I had something to
sell, I just said, ‘Sell him.’ “ Flynn was
please with his price and said that he thought the horse market
had stabilized or even rebounded some.
With 710 consignments and
a gross of $1,859,575 for a $2,619 average it was 37.4 percent
lower in the gross than the same sale in 2008. A total of
80.8 percent of the horses sold this year, compared to 85
percent in 2008. The second high seller was Scootin Lil Mate,
a 5-year-old bay gelding by Smart Mate out of PCR San peppy
Lena by Peppy San Badger. Consigned by Les Graham, Byars,
Okla., he sold for $27,000.
Flynn says he is feeling
great following his by-pass surgery and has lost 37 pounds.
“I just kept taking him with me wherever I went,”
said his wife Norma. “The doctor said he needed to get
exercise and he’s getting it.”
KEN
BARTLETT SUFFERS HEART ATTACK
Boyd, Texas, NCHA cutter, Ken Bartlett, suffered a heart attack
last week and is scheduled for triple by-pass surgery next
week – using the same hospital (Decatur) and same doctors
as Flynn had. The new hospital, which is now part of the Baylor
Hospital system, has state-of-the-art equipment with many
high-qualified doctors coming to practice there. Decatur is
located about an hour northwest of Fort Worth. Bartlett, a
non-pro, was a familiar face in the cutting shows around Fort
Worth on his horse Freightrain.
ON
THE MOVE:
Debbie Patterson’s beautiful palomino horse, Dos Palomino,
sold last August, going to a Brazillian buyer. The 1999 stallion
had a semifinalist, Touch Of Lena, owned and ridden by Debbie,
in the semifinals of the 2008 Non-Pro Futurity. Also, Joanne
Parker, Weatherford, Texas, will be standing her stallion
Starlights Gypsy, a 1995 son of Grays Starlight, at her ranch
for a $3,000 stud fee. With only eight 2005 AQHA-registered
foals, the stallion recently had Swinging Gypsy, owned and
ridden by Julie McCloud win $30,439 in the Non-Pro finals
of the NCHA Futurity. Also, with Tim McCloud leaving, Jason
Clark is now working out of her facilities.
INTERESTED
IN COLOR GENETICS?
Animal Genetics, Tallahassee, Fla., is the largest private
provider of genetic tests for birds in the USA and is now
moving into color genetics for horses. If you are interested
in color, genetics you can click on the following link for
equine color testing:
Click
here for more on Color Genetics>>
PBR
MAKES CUTS TO REFLECT TOP 40 RIDERS:
At the beginning of the 2009 Built Ford Tough Series (BFTS)
season, the PBR’s Rules & Regulations Committee
made the decision that only the top forty bull riders in the
world will now compete on the prestigious tour. The decision
was made to create a stronger competitiveness among those
qualified riders. On Monday, January 26, the PBR administration
announced the first official cut of the 2009 season.
The riders who were dropped
from the prestigious BFTS tour following the Dickies Invitational
in Dallas, Texas are: Harve Stewart (Stephenville, Texas),
Reese Cates (Carthage, Texas), Pistol Robinson (Burleson,
Texas); Clayton Williams (Carthage, Texas), LJ Jenkins (Texico,
N.M.), Vince Northrop (Davidson, SK, Canada), Clayton Foltyn
(El Campo, Texas), Dustin Hall (Springfield, Mo.), Aaron Roy
(Asquith, SK, Canada), Brian Canter (Randleman, N.C.), Colby
Yates (Fort Worth, Texas), DJ Domangue (Schriever, La.), and
Ednei Caminhas (P. Alves, SP, Brazil).
However, due to their standings in the Copenhagen Bull Riding
Challenger Tour and as a previous PBR World Champion, Canter
and Caminhas will remain on the BFTS tour. In addition to
those two riders, Pete Farley (Kempsey, AUS), Jock Connolly
(Queensland, AUS), Skeeter Kingsolver (Mclouth, Kan.), and
McKennon Wimberly (Cool, Texas) will also advance to the elite
BFTS tour by virtue of their achievements at the Copenhagen
Bull Riding Challenger Tour level.
The purpose of the cut is to determine which 40 bull riders
will be competing on the elite Built Ford Tough Series (BFTS).
Upon the conclusion of every fifth BFTS tour stop, the lowest
ranked riders in the BFTS point standings are dropped from
the tour and replaced by the top five riders in the Copenhagen
Bull Riding Challenger tour standings. Money earned at all
lower level PBR tours – Copenhagen Bull Riding Tour,
Enterprise Rent-A-Car Tour, Discovery Tour, and international
tours – counts toward earning a spot among the 40 best
bull riding athletes in the PBR. All 2008 PBR Built Ford Tough
World Finals qualifiers received five BFTS events before they
were subject to the cut. (Above article
provided by PBR)
BENEFICIAL
TAX TIPS FOR THE HORSE INDUSTRY
Tax season is near and the American Horse Council has extensive
tax information that can influence your equine business tax
returns. For 40 years, the American Horse Council has provided
the horse industry with tax information through the Tax Bulletin,
the Tax Handbook and other various publications.
The American Horse Council is pleased to announce that Mr.
Joel B. Turner of Frost, Brown, Todd in Louisville, KY will
be joining the AHC’s Tax Bulletin Advisory Board. Mr.
Turner will be joining the very skilled group of professionals
who are currently contributing to the AHC’s Tax Bulletin.
The Tax Bulletin is a must have for the equine business person.
A bi-monthly publication featuring timely articles on equine
tax and business issues written by an editorial board of tax
professionals, as well as updates on the latest tax court
decisions, IRS regulations and legislation that might impact
your ability to run a profitable business.
Order your copy of the Horse Owners and Breeders Tax Handbook.
This 1000-page book explains the Internal Revenue Code as
it pertains to the U.S. horse industry. No one commercially
involved with the horse industry should be without it. Topics
covered in the Handbook include: Business versus hobby-including
summaries of important court decisions; Forms of doing business;
Sales, Exchanges and Involuntary conversions; Tax planning;
Depreciation; Record keeping and accounting rules; and much
more.
Above article provided by the American
Horse Council. AHC’s Tax Bulletin and Tax Handbook are
included in certain levels of membership or can be purchased
separately. For more information on obtaining these items,
call 202-296-4031 or email ahc@horsecouncil.org. Their web
site is www.horsecouncil.org.
NRCHA
CELEBRATION TO START IN SAN ANGELO
Nine days of NRCHA competition will begin on Jan. 31 when
top 4- and 5-year-old cow horses will compete in herd work,
rein work and cow work in the Circle Y Ranch SRCHA Derby,
which concludes on Feb. 2 at the First Community Federal Credit
Union Spur Arena in San Angelo, Texas. The three day event
paid out $107,303 to 203 entries in 2008. The champion, Corey
Cushing pocketed $11,753. On Feb. 3, the NRCHA World Championship
Show will kick off. Last year the show saw 289 entries with
the top 10 advancing to a clean-slate finals and the $171,290
purse. The Finals will be held Friday, Feb. 6 and Saturday,
Feb. 7. On Feb. 8, the World’s Greatest Horseman contest
will be held. The events they must show their skills in are
cutting, reining, cow work and steer stopping. The 31 entries
will compete earlier with the top 10 competing on Feb. 8.
In 2008, Russell Dilday and Topsails Rien Maker won the title
and $30,000 paycheck. They are returning this year to renew
that title.
JIM PRATHER
DIES AT 74
Jim Prather, Post, Texas, died at his home on Jan. 9. He was
74. Prather, who qualified for four consecutive National Steer
Roping Finals (1965-68) worked as a cattle buyer for many
years and produced the OS Ranch Steer Roping and Art Exhibit,
a fund-raiser for the West Texas Children’s Home.
DOUG INGERSOLL LOSES 12
HORSES IN BARN FIRE; TACK DRIVE PLANNED
By
Glory Ann Kurtz
Jan. 24, 2009
Despite the efforts of firefighters, a dozen cutting, reined
cow horse and reining horses were killed early Friday morning,
Jan. 23, when a 4,000-square-foot barn burned at the training
stables of Doug Ingersoll, Lincoln, Calif. Ingersoll and the
firefighters tried to rescue the horses, but it was too late.
The barn was valued at $250,000; however, there was no immediate
estimate on the value of the horses, which were owned by Ingersoll
and his customers.
Ingersoll, a brother to Bobby
Ingersoll, a legendary reined cow horse competitor and trainer,
and his wife, Debbie, who lived only 1,000 feet from the barn
but didn’t hear a thing until it was too late, had a
second barn where eight horses in training were stalled and
which was not impacted by the fire. However, all of his show
and working tack, including saddles, bridles, pads and blankets
were lost in the fire.
Ingersoll’s neighbor,
Deb Shatley, is heading up a drive to obtain some new or used
tack for Ingersoll so that he can continue to train the rest
of his horses. “If anyone has had cutters or reiners
you probably have an idea what he needs,” said Shatley.
“ However, he does work young horses and uses plain
snaffles, wire snaffles, etc., and if anyone has something
they wish to donate, please call or e-mail me so I can determine
if that item is still needed.” Shatley’s phone
number is 916-768-6837 and her e-mail address is dgshatley@gmail.com.
Doug has a daughter
Ashley, married to trainer Corey Cushing, currently living
in Scottsdale, Ariz., and another daughter, Kirsten, living
at home. You can contact Doug at 2499 McCourtney Rd., Lincoln,
CA 95648-9710 or by phone at 916-645-7056.
CEM-INFECTED STALLION
CONFIRMED IN TEXAS
Jan. 15, 2009
Released by the Texas Animal Health Commission
The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC)
reports that laboratory tests have confirmed that a stallion
in Texas is infected with contagious equine metritis (CEM),
a highly contagious venereal disease of horses.
The Texas-born quarter horse had spent the 2008 breeding season
in Kentucky, where CEM was detected in a stallion during routine
testing in mid-December As of January 15, a total of nine
infected stallions have been detected: four in Kentucky, three
in Indiana, and one each in Wisconsin and Texas. All of the
infected stallions have epidemiological links to one or more
CEM-infected equine during the 2007 or 2008 breeding season.
State and federal authorities are continuing to seek the source
of the infection.
At least 38 states are involved in a nationwide epidemiological
investigation and testing of about 275 horses that may have
been exposed to CEM through natural breeding or artificial
insemination. The disease can be spread among stallions, if
strict biosecurity measures are not maintained during the
collection of semen.
CEM is not routinely spread through casual contact or shared
boarding facilities, and horses can be treated with disinfectants
and antibiotics to wipe out the infection. Potentially exposed
and infected equine animals are being held under movement
restrictions by state animal health authorities, until they
test negative for the disease or they complete veterinary
treatment and are certified as CEM-negative.
Currently, the TAHC is working with accredited private veterinary
practitioners to test another stallion and 21 mares with potential
exposure to CEM. In some cases, CEM may cause infected mares
to abort.
CEM is not known to affect humans. The equine disease was
first detected in the U.S. in 1978, then again in 1979. In
both instances, the limited outbreaks were eradicated.
Click
here for USDA web site>>
AHC PRESIDENT JAY HICKEY'S
TAKE ON THE 111th CONGRESS AND THE ISSUES THAT IT FACES
Jan. 13, 2009
The 111th Congress has convened and the Democrats have picked
up seats in both the House and Senate. The country also has
a new President, Barack Obama, who will take office on Jan.
20. President Obama will have to deal with some of the most
difficult issues a new President has faced in modern times.
Many are wondering what these changes will mean for the horse
industry.
“For the most part, issues affecting the horse industry
are not partisan,” noted AHC president Jay Hickey. “Like
most industries, our legislative concerns don’t clearly
split along party lines. Democrats may approach issues from
a different perspective than Republicans, and vice-versa,
but the industry works on a bi-partisan basis with members
of Congress from both sides of the aisle.”
Nonetheless, since the Democrats
now hold larger majorities in both houses, there may be less
partisan “gridlock” that has prevented Congress
from acting on a lot of legislation in the past. But the margins
are not so great that the Democrats can simply push through
whatever they want. They will still need some Republican support,
particularly in the Senate, to pass legislation.
In the “new”
category, Congress will have to deal with a down economy,
“bailouts” of various industries, a giant tax
stimulus package to assist industries and states and preserve
jobs, and to fund energy alternatives, health care and two
wars. So there will be many new issues that impact the horse
industry tangentially. But Congress will also be dealing with
issues that are important to the horse industry that were
not dealt with in the last Congress and will be part of the
legislative mix.
Tax issues and the state
of the economy will have a staring role in the coming months.
The inclusion of the Equine Equity Act in the farm bill that
was passed in the last Congress was a victory for the horse
industry. Beginning in 2009, all race horse will be depreciated
over three years, regardless of when they are placed in service.
Previously, race horses were depreciated over three or seven
years.
But the second part of the
Equine Equity Act, reducing the holding period for horses
to one year from two for capitol gains purposes, was not passed.
This issue will once again be pushed by the horse industry,
along with the Pari-Mutuel Conformity and Equality Act, which
would repeal the 25 percent withholding tax on winning wagers
over $5,000 when the odds are at least 300-to-one.
The increase of the Section
179 expense deduction to $250,000 and the reinstatement of
bonus depreciation were benefits to the horse industry that
were included in last year’s tax stimulus bill. Both
expired at the end of 2008, but it is likely that Congress
will extend both provisions in this year’s stimulus
bill. As Congress considers these bills it will be important
to remind Congress of the $102 billion impact of the horse
industry and the 1.4 million jobs the industry supports.
In the “old”
category, the last Congress tried to enact comprehensive immigration
reform several times, but failed. The problems with immigration
and a large undocumented work force have not gone away and
Congress will have to deal with this, although it is not likely
to be one of the first issues to be considered.
The horse industry relies
heavily on foreign labor. Some of this labor is provided by
the H-2A agricultural and H-2B non-agricultural temporary
worker programs, which are costly and inefficient. In addition,
the H-2B program is capped by Congress at 66,000 workers a
year, making competition for these workers from all industries
intense. The horse industry also relies on a large number
of undocumented workers who must be considered in any comprehensive
package.
The AHC supports a comprehensive
approach to our immigration problems that would address a
better guest worker program and a way to handle undocumented
workers in the U.S. The last Congress considered the AgJobs
bill that dealt specifically with undocumented agricultural
workers and would have reformed the H-2A program. In addition,
the Save Our Small and Seasonal Businesses Act would have
provided some cap relief to H-2B users. Both of these bills
will be debated again.
“The agricultural industry
laid a good foundation for reform with the AgJobs bill and
that will be pushed again in this Congress,” said Hickey.
“Senator Obama and Representative Hilda Solis (D-CA),
who has been nominated to be Secretary of Labor, supported
AgJobs, so there is reason to hope for action in this Congress.”
Internet gambling will continue
to be a topic in Congress. The Unlawful Internet Gambling
Enforcement Act (UIGEA), passed in 2006, contains provisions
protecting racing’s activities allowed under the Interstate
Horseracing Act (IHA). However, rules adopted by the Bush
Administration in November could prove troublesome to the
industry. It is likely there will be efforts to modify the
restrictions on internet gambling during this Congress in
order to regulate, license and tax it. The horse industry
will need to watch any such efforts closely to ensure that
any legislation does not adversely impact the current interstate
wagering allowed on pari-mutuel horse racing under the IHA.
Last Congress several bills
were introduced to prohibit the shipping, transporting, or
sale of horses for slaughter for human consumption, including
the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act and the Prevention
of Equine Cruelty Act. Neither bill was voted on in the House
or Senate, but it is likely the same bills will be reintroduced.
The election of Congressman Henry Waxman (D-CA) as chairman
of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, replacing Congressman
John Dingell (D-MI), could impact the passage of the slaughter
prohibition bill. That committee has jurisdiction and Congressman
Waxman was a cosponsor of it in the last Congress, while Mr.
Dingell was not.
Members of Congress can be
expected to look at animal welfare in general, including the
welfare of horses, in the 111th Congress. Some members raised
welfare issues regarding racing and showing last year and
there is no reason to think that will not be a concern again.
Legislation was introduced
in the last Congress to ensure equestrians are not unfairly
excluded or removed from federal public lands to which they
have traditionally had access, including the Right to Ride
Livestock on Federal Lands Act and the Preserving our Equine
Heritage on Public Lands Act. The American Horse Council will
be working to make sure similar legislation is reintroduced.
But we will need substantial support from horse owners and
recreational riders to have any chance of passing this legislation.
Other bills that could impact the horse industry are likely
to come up as well, including the Travel Promotion Act, which
could positively impact equine tourism.
No matter what legislation
is introduced in the coming months, it will be important for
the new Congress to hear from members of the horse industry.
This is why the AHC, in cooperation with its member organizations,
has launched a new grassroots initiative called the Congressional
Cavalry program. All individual horse owners, breeders, veterinarians,
trainers, competitors, recreational riders, service providers,
or anyone who desire to join the grassroots efforts of the
horse community in Washington are encouraged to join. It costs
nothing and the AHC will let you know if legislation that
effects the horse industry is introduced and when and how
to contact your members of Congress. If you would like to
sign up for this program or have any questions please call
the AHC (202) 296 4031 or email ahc@horsecouncil.org .
A new Congress has convened,
just like it does every two years. Some of the players may
change, but if the industry works together as it has in the
past, we will adjust and continue to be successful.
As the national association
representing all segments of the horse industry in Washington,
D.C., the American Horse Council works daily to represent
equine interests and opportunities. Celebrating its 40th anniversary,
the AHC promotes and protects the industry by communicating
with Congress, federal agencies, the media and the industry
on behalf of all horse related interests each and every day.
The AHC is member supported by individuals and organizations
representing virtually every facet of the horse world from
owners, breeders, veterinarians, farriers, breed registries
and horsemen's associations to horse shows, race tracks, rodeos,
commercial suppliers and state horse councils.
CLONING IS THE TOPIC OF FORUM
AT 2009 AQHA ANNUAL CONVENTION
Jan.
6, 2008
Equine cloning will be the focus of a forum at the 2009 AQHA
Annual Convention, March 5-9 at the Grand Hyatt in San Antonio.
Within the past couple of
years, commercial cloning of a number of horses, including
American Quarter Horses, has been well publicized. However,
under Rule 227(a) of the AQHA official handbook, a rule that
became effective in 2004, American Quarter Horses produced
by any cloning process are not eligible for registration.
At AQHA’s 2008 convention,
the AQHA Stud Book and Registration Committee was for the
first time presented with a proposed change to Rule 227(a)
that would allow a live foal produced via a particular type
of cloning to be registered if its DNA matches that of a registered
American Quarter Horse. At that time, the SBRC recommended
that any decision regarding the proposed change be postponed
pending further study to be undertaken at the direction of
the SBRC. As a result, on Oct. 15, representatives from Colorado
State University, Texas A&M University and ViaGen, a commercial
cloning company, met with the SBRC in Amarillo to discuss
equine cloning.
The proposed change to Rule
227(a) will again be on the SBRC agenda at the 2009 AQHA Convention
March 5-9 in San Antonio. In an effort to make the most recent
information on equine cloning available to AQHA members, AQHA
has scheduled an open forum for Friday, March 6 from 2-4:30
p.m. at the Grand Hyatt hotel. AQHA anticipates the forum
will include presentations by a panel of speakers from the
equine industry and educational research institutions. This
forum is open to all interested AQHA members.
Above article reprinted from AQHA's
America's Horse Weekly Newsletter
TODAY’S NEWS
By
Glory Ann Kurtz
Jan. 5, 2009
CHANGES AT THE AQHA:
Most of us knew that on March 9, AQHA Executive Vice President
Bill Brewer will end his 16-tenure with the AQHA. According
to the AQHA, the next day, 34-year-employee Don Treadway will
officially become AQHA’s new executive vice president.
But most weren’t aware of the other changes going on
at the AQHA. Gary Griffith, executive director of registration
will be retiring on April 1 after which the registration and
customer service departments will be combined with the accounting
and human resources areas and will be overseen by Trent Taylor,
a 14-year-employee of the AQHA and the treasurer and executive
director of operations.
Jim Jennings, executive director
of publications retired on Dec. 31 and the marketing and publications
were merged and will be under 16-year-employee Tom Persechino,
the executive director of marketing and communications. Karen
Latta, a 22-year employee will also be promoted to executive
director of corporate and alliance partnerships/business development,
overseeing corporate partnerships, membership services, affiliates,
youth and sales.
R.
L. CHARTIER – MICA MOTES TO MARRY MAY 30
R. L. Chartier, 24, who wowed the audiences of the NCHA Futurity
when he won the Limited Open and finished fourth and fifth
in the Open Finals, will be marrying Mica Motes, 20, daughter
of Danny Motes, at the Motes Weatherford, Texas, ranch on
May 30. Since 2007, Chartier has been an assistant trainer
to Clint Allen, who works for Julie Wrigley in Weatherford.
The couple met during the 2007 NCHA Super Stakes and this
year both made the NCHA Futurity Finals riding two horses.
Chartier rode Hay Maker for
Scott Cusick to fourth place and Pretty Katz to fifth place
in the Open for the Wrigley Ranches LLC., for a total of $243,300.
He also won the Limited Open on Hay Maker for an additional
$24,062. Mica finished 12th in the Non-Pro riding Two times
A Star and 25th riding Too Bossy, winning over $51,850. She
has now won over $300,000 in the cutting arena. Both horses
were from the first full foal crop of CD Light, the stallion
owned by her mother and stepfather and top trainer Winston
Hansma.
Mica’s brother, Ryon Motes, is a third-generation qualifier
for the NFR, followed in the footsteps of his dad, David,
who qualified for the NFR more than 20 times and his grandfather,
Glen, who qualified in 1960. He recently won the Speed Williams
Roping in Las Vegas following the loss of his thumb only last
October. (see article in Industry News Misc.)
Chartier also comes from
a family steeped in cutting horse tradition. His father Randy
Chartier is a long-time NCHA member, judge, judge’s
monitor and Executive committee member and his now-deceased
grandfather, Mel Chartier, owned the famous stallion Dry Doc,
a son of Doc Bar out of Poco Lena and a full brother to Doc
O’Lena.
Danny said that Mica had
always said she wasn’t going to marry anyone until she
found someone just like her brother Ryan. One day cutter Freddie
McGee called Danny and said, “I found Ryan.” Danny
asked what he was talking about and he said that he found
someone just as nice as Ryan for Mica. It wasn’t long
before Mica agreed.
ABILENE
SPECTACULAR IN PROGRESS:
The Abilene Spectacular, held Jan. 2-13 in Abilene, Texas,
is in full progress, following a highly successful cutting
circuit. The event started out with the 4-Year-Old Amateur,
followed by the 5/6-Year-Old Amateur, with their finals being
held Sunday, Jan. 4. The championship of the 4-year-Old Amateur
was split between Erika Black, Stephenville, Texas, riding
TR Show Me Yours and Whitt Bell, Hickory Plains, Ark., riding
Mixmeastrawberrylena, with both scoring a 217.
The 5/6-Year-Old Amateur
was won by Robert Masterson, Guthrie, Texas, riding Classy
Mecum to a 220, Reserve was a tie between Jim Price, Stephenville,
Texas, riding Rey Of Fire and Von Sutten, Fort Worth, Texas,
riding Smartware to 216s.
The first go of the 4-Year-Old
Open, with many of the high money-winners from the NCHA Futurity
entered, including champion Metallic Cat with Beau Galyean
riding, started Jan. 4 and continues on today. After the first
day, Phil Rapp is in the lead with a 219 riding Don’t
Look Twice, owned by the Waco Bend Ranch; Paul Hansma and
Coupe Dualville, owned by the Bar H Ranche scored a 218; J.
B.l McLamb, riding Shez TA Reysa for Leslie Troyer, Weatherford,
finished with a 217.5 and R. L. Chartier and Hay Maker, owned
by Scott Cusick, Orem, Utah, and Kory Pounds riding Tammy
Faye Rey, owned by Winsome Capital, Calgary, Alb., Canada,
both scored a 216.5. Metallic Cat shows today.
The 5/6-Year-Old Open starts Tuesday, Jan. 6 and continues
Wednesday Jan. 7. Both 4-Year-Old and 5/6-Year-Old Open finals
will be held Friday, Jan. 9. Non-Pro classes start Saturday,
Jan. 10 with the finals being held Tuesday, Jan. 13. For current
results of the Abilene Spectacular, go to: http://www.gullyranch.com/abilenespectacular/2009_Schedule.htm
CUTTING
HORSE FORUM – AN INTERESTING B LOG SITE FOR CUTTERS
If you haven’t had a chance to go to www.cuttinghorseforum.com,
you might try it out and see what the talk of the day is.
It’s entirely free, with a variety of subjects (and
you can even add your own), and participated in by cutters
from across the country. Lately, the way today’s cutting
horses stop seem to be the main topic of discussion.
TODAY’S NEWS
By Glory Ann Kurtz
Dec. 30, 2008
BRAZOS VALLEY
CUTTERS HOLD AGED EVENTS:
Aged-event classes were held during
the NCHA cutting held at Silverado on the Brazos, Weatherford,
Texas, Dec. 29-31. The 4-year-old division is being held today
and the 5/6-year-old will end the year on Dec. 31. The winner
of the Open Futurity was Casey Morris riding Fiesta Zack for
Bobby and Francie Butler, also of Weatherford. Scoring a 76,
the pair took home $1,930.77.
Reserve went to Darren Simpkins
riding My Gal Wood for Eddy Longley’s Crystal Creek
Ranch, Aledo, Texas. Their 75 score netted $1,465.09. Matt
Gaines finished third riding ARC Purdy Boonsmal for Gary and
Shannon Barker, Madill, Okla., with a 74.5 score, winning
$1,302.30. Matt also finished sixth on that Catomine, owned
by Jack and Susan Waggoner, Bridgeport, Texas. It was interesting
to note that every horse in the open was ridden by a Weatherford
trainer, except two – which were ridden by Stephenville,
Texas, trainer J. B. McLamb.
In the Non-Pro Division,
Mary Ann Rapp took the top spot riding Amanda Starlena to
a 74 and a $1,365.84 paycheck. Reserve went to Dan Hansen
riding Cuttin Corn to a 73 and $1,024.38. Ray Baldwin finished
third riding Sierra Louie LV, scoring a 72 for a $682.92 check.
Hanson also finished fifth on Woody Jazz, eighth on Tiana
Rey and 12th on Pepcorn.
The Open cutting was won
by Chubby Turner riding Starcat Merada for Daniel Jaeggi of
Switzerland, with a 76 score. The pair picked up $1,528. Reserve
was Jeremy Barwick riding Horse Of The Year Dual Rey Me, scoring
a 75 for $1,146. Short Scootin, owned by Debbie and Don Jarma,
Prosper, Texas, and Dan Popeck came in third with a 74 and
Neat little Cat, ridden by Scott McClurg and owned by Jim
and Judy Spaulding finished fourth with a 73 for $382. Hansen
also won the Non-Pro riding Woody Be Lucky to a 76 and $1,534.
Reserve was Elizabeth Queen riding Sister CD to a 74 and 4920.40.
NATIONAL
TEAM ROPING HORSE ASSOCIATION TO HAVE $50,000 ADDED TO FUTURITY
The inaugural National Team Roping Horse Association (NTRHA)
World Champion Futurity for 5-year-old rope horses will be
held in Tulsa, Okla., April 28-May 3, 2009, along with the
first ever World Championship Sweepstakes for 6- and 7-year-old
horses. With $50,000 added for the six-day extravaganza, it
will be the richest aged event in the history of rope horses.
Horses of any breed can enter
both the Futurity and Sweepstakes; the Futurity will be horses
coming 5 in 2009 – regardless of where they have competed
in the past. The Futurity will be the first leg of the NTRHA
Triple Crown. All horses must be age verified through breed
registration papers, or if unregistered, must be NTRHA permitted.
Divisions will be the Open, Limited Open, Amateur and Novice
Amateur.
Owners may purchase as m
any slots as they like, but the total number of slots is limited.
Entries are open through march 30, 2009. If the slots are
sold out prior to march 15, a waiting list will be kept in
the order of entries made. For more information, contact Taylor
Tune at taylor.tune@ntrha.com or call (817) 598-0110.
DEADLINE
TO NOMINATE FOAL FOR NRHA FUTURITY/DERBY NOMINATION IS DEC.
31
The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) has a new way
of funding their 2011 NRHA Futurity and 2012 Derby. The fact
is that it’s the only way to play at the NRHA Futurity
and NRHA Derby. All 2008 foals by subscribed stallions must
be nominated by tomorrow - Dec. 31 - for the one-time nomination
$300 fee. On Jan. 1, the fee jumps to $2,000. Also at the
time of nomination, you need to complete a competition license
application and send it in along with the nomination –
along with appropriate fees for both.
The purses, based on 3,000
nominations are estimated to create a Level 1 Open Futurity
purse of $46,000 and Level 1 Non-Pro Futurity purse estimated
at $34,000. This would triple the total payout in the Limited
Open Futurity Division and make substantial increases –
as much as 100 percent – to the total payout in the
Intermediate Open, Intermediate Non-pro and Limited Non-Pro
Divisions of the NRHA Futurity.
The Nominator Incentive is
a perk of the program that gives money back to the person
who nominates the horse. Five percent of all the money that
the horse earns at the Futurity and/or Derby is paid back
to the nominator of the horse – even if that person
no longer owns the horse.
When the horse is at
the age to compete, all applicable entry and judge’s
fees will apply. For further information, contact the National
Reining Horse Association t (405) 946-7400 or fax (405) 946-8425.
TODAY’S NEWS
By Glory Ann Kurtz
Dec. 16, 2008
OSCAR BLACK SENTENCING
DELAYED
Sentencing for Oscar Black, the Weatherford,
Texas, mortgage banker and cattleman that allegedly bilked
investors out of hundreds of thousands of dollars in a ponzi
scheme, was delayed to Feb. 17. Several of those investors
were well-known cutting horse owners and trainers in the Weatherford
area.
His sentencing was to take place today in Federal Court; however,
according to Kathy Colvin of the United States Attorney’s
Office, the sentencing has again been delayed. Originally
it was to take place in September, then November and then
yesterday, Dec. 15.
DAVID
MCDAVID WINS $281 MILLION LAWSUIT
David McDavid, Fort Worth, Texas, the owner of the popular
stallion Hes A Peptospoonful, won a $281 million lawsuit stemming
from his failed bid to purchase the Atlanta Hawks and Atlanta
Thrashers sports teams in 2003 from Turner Broadcasting Sytem,
Inc. (TBS) , a Time Warner Inc. company.
According to an article in
the Fort Worth Business Press, the auto dealer and former
Dallas Mavericks minority owner, had formed an investment
company, DMC Group, with his brother-in-law, Stephen Dieb,
to purchase the basketball and hockey franchises and operating
rights to Phillips Arena in Atlanta. A Georgia court ruled
that TBS broke a contract it had with McDavid, 66, by selling
it to a different party. There was no word on whether or not
TBS will appeal.
AMATEUR
MEETING
With the Amateur Meeting scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 13,
I was unable to attend as I was at the sales. If anyone was
at the meeting and would like to share any observations with
me, please e-mail me at glory@glorykurtz.com or call me at
940-433-5232.
HORSE
SALES:
Prior to the NCHA Futurity Sales, the big Thoroughbred sales
were suffering a 50 percent setback in the average of the
horses selling. Also, the NRHA had their sales, which were
down about 30 percent in the net and average. During 2007,
there were 372 consignments, 298 sold (80%) for a net of $4,663,500
and a $15,649 average. This year featured 364 consignments,
with 265 (72.8%) changing hands for $2,905.800 and a $10,965
average.
According to unofficial results
posted by Western Bloodstock, this year’s NCHA Futurity
sales were down about 29 percent in the net and 36 percent
in the average from last year. The percentage of horses sold
was also down 5 percent from 82 percent to 77 percent. The
number of horses consigned was up by 213 and the number sold
was up 106 head.
TODAY’S NEWS
By Glory Ann Kurtz
Dec. 12, 2008 – Fort Worth, Texas
NCHA FUTURITY SALE
RESUTLS:
OXBOW EVENT
– DEC 9
17 head, $384,700 gross, $22,629 average
The high-selling horse was Reys Yer Bet, a weanling red roan
filly by Dual Rey out of Bet Yer Blue Boons by Freckles, Playboy,
however, the filly did not sell. This made Better Sue, a 2003
daughter of Bet On Me 498 out of Meradas Little Sue by Freckles
Merada, the high seller at $50,000. The earner of $51,498
sold with an embryo by One Time Pepto. Although she had arthroscopic
surgery on her stifle in May, she was sold as sound to continue
cutting.
NEW
SIRE SPOTLIGHT - DEC 9
141 head, $1,432,200 gross, $10,157 average
With this sale held for offspring of the industry’s
newest sires, he high seller was Caboom On The Moon, a yearling
daughter of Cats Moonshine out of Stylish Play Lena by Docs
Stylish Oak, bringing $70,000 for consignor Gail Holmes of
the Double Dove Ranch, Longmont, Colo. Second high seller
was One Time Long Legs, a 2007 bay roan daughter of One Time
Pepto out of Lil Lena Long Legs by Smart Little Lena. Consigned
by the Kickapoo Farms, the filly brought a $66,000 final bid.
One Flashy Style, a yearling red roan son of One Time Pepto
was passed out at $53,000 by the southern Star Ranch, as was
One Time Colonel, consigned by Carroll’s Cutting Horses,
and passed out at $45,000. The yearling sorrel colt was also
a son of One Time Pepto.
PREFERRED
BREEDERS SESSION 3 – DEC 10
57 head, $911,800 gross, $15,996 average
Shorta Ticket, bringing $39,000 was the highest-selling horse
in the Preferred Breeders Sale Session 3 that actually sold.
The 1999 daughter of Shorty Lena out of Eticket by Gallo Del
Cielo brought a $39,000 final bid. Consigned by the Wagonhound
Land & Livestock, the mare earned $44,467 and was bred
to Reys Dual Badger.
Daintys Cat, was passed out by Tommy Manion at $145,000. The
daughter of High Brow Cat had earned $48,013 and sold with
an embryo by Smart Little Lena.
ST
NICKS PINES DISPERSAL – DEC. 10
9 head, $141,000 gross, $17,625 average
The high-selling horse was Bowmans Fancy Lena, a 2003 daughter
of Smart Little Lena, a 2003 daughter of Smart Little Lena
out of Bowmans Fancy by Lenas Jewel Bars. She brought a final
bid of $37,000. The earner of $11,124 sold with two embryos
– one by Nitas Wood and one by Sweet Lil Pepto. Second
was Smart Lena Merada, selling for $35,000. The 1994 daughter
of Smart Little Lena out of Lena Merada by Freckles Merada,
had earned $53,948 and sold for $35,000 with three embryos
– two by Cat Ichi and one by Dual Pep.
GASPARILLA
INN DISPERSAL OF DREAMCROSS HORSES PART 2 – DEC 10
44 head, $476,500 gross, $10,830 average
The Dreamcross horses all changed hands, with the high-seller
being Dual Lena Belle, a 1994 daughter of Dual Pep out of
Reylena, with earnings of $61,271. She brought a final bid
of $50,000. The second high seller was Mia Olena Belle, a
yearling daughter of CD Olena out of Dual Lena Belle, bringing
$46,000. A price of $35,000 was paid for Miss Pepto Bar, a
yearling daughter of Peptoboonsmal out of Miss Dual Bar by
Colonel Jay Bar.
NCHA
FUTURITY LIMITED OPEN FINALS WON BY R.L. CHARTIER
R. L. Chartier, son of Randy Chartier rode Hay Maker, Scott
Cusick’s son of Mr Jay Bar Cat to a 223, winning the
Limited Open Division of the NCHA Futurity, held Tuesday,
Dec. 9. The pair won $24,062. Hay Maker is out of Calie Del
Rey by Dual Rey. Cusick is from Orem, Utah, while Chartier,
is from Marine City, Mich., but is working in Weatherford,
Texas.
The Reserve title was split
between Wayne Robinson riding Dual Rock Sugar, owned by Joe
Katin of the Czech Republic and Pat Earnheart riding Reynshine,
owned by Robert C and Aly Brown, Tallulah, La. Both horses
scored a 218.5 and took home $19,911. Dual Rock Sugar is a
son of Dual Pep out of Xclusively Sugar by Poco San Lena and
Reynshine is a son of Dual Rey out of Haidas Shiny by Haidas
Little Pep.
For full results go to: www.nchacutting.com/futurity/i328501.shtml
BILL
COWAN CAPTURES LIMITED N ON-PRO FINALS
Bill Cowan, Ardmore, Okla., rode Catty Hawk (Hight Brow Cat
x Scarlet Dance x Peppy San Badger) to the Limited Non-Pro
Finals, scoring a 224 and taking home the $17,739 paycheck.
Bill also finished 18th riding Play Smart Chance, earning
an additional $4,836. His wife, Michelle, who gave birth to
their third child only five weeks ago, also placed in a tie
for 13th riding Boonin San Tule to a paycheck of $7,492.
The Reserve title went to
Adan Banuelos, Jacksboro, Texas, riding Mr Ed Hardy, a gelding
by Abrakadabracre out of Reeds Instant Choice by SR Instant
Choice to a 218 and a $16,980 paycheck. Adan, 20, is the son
of trainer Ascension Banuelos.
For full results of the Limited Non-Pro finals go to www.nchacutting.com/futurity/i328611.shtml.
RUSSELL
JENKINS LEADS IN AMATEUR SEMI-FINALS
Russell Jenkins, Amite, La., rode Little LOL Colonel to a
215, which was the top score in last night’s Amateur
semifinals. It took a 202 to advance and 27 entrants will
go to the Amateur Finals today at 4 p.m. Little LOL Colonel
is sired by Little Lol Lena out of Miss genuine Colonel by
Genuine Doc. Two horses finished up second and included Barry
McCullar, Albany, Texas, riding Shesa Duals Play Kit (Kit
Dual x Playgiarism by Freckles Playboy) and Tommy Neal, San
Angelo, Texas, riding Peptos Fancy. Both horses scored a 213.
For full results of the Amateur
semifinals, go to: www.nchacutting.com/futurity/i028663.shtml.
MIKE
RUTHERFORD JR RIDES QUITE THE FAT CAT TO THE LEADING SCORE
IN NON-PRO SEMIFINALS
Mike Rutherford Jr., Buda, Texas, rode Quite The Fat Cat to
the top score of 221 in yesterday’s Non-Pro semifinals.
It took a 209.5 to qualify for the finals, which will be held
today following the Amateur Finals. A total of 25 horses qualified.
Quite The Fat Cat is a gelding sired by Mr Peppys Freckles
out of Quite The Cat by High Brow Cat.
Three riders split second
and included Mary Ann Rapp, Weatherford, Texas, riding My
Other Toys A Car, Tatum Rice, Alvarado, Texas, on Yer Cat
Daddy and Brad Wilson, Lone Grove, Okla., riding Rose Colored
Cat. All three scored a 216.
For full results of the Non-Pro
semifinals, go to: www.nchacutting.com/futurity/i028613.shtml.
DOUG
LILLY AND RAY WINBORN LAID TO REST
While the NCHA Futurity has been going on, two well-known
horsemen passed away. Doug Lilly, 58, Mobile, Ala., formerly
of Pilot Point, Texas, passed away on Dec. 3. Lilly was involved
in pleasure horses and was a member of the AQHA, NSBA, NRHA
and APHA. A memorial service was held Dec. 10 at the Slay
Memorial Funeral Center, Aubrey, Texas, with Tim O’Neal
officiating. Honorary pallbearers were Clark Bradley, Charlie
Cole, Troy Compton, Joe Edge, Rick Gervasio, Benny7 Guitron,
Clint Haverty, Casey Hinton, Tommy Manion, Tom McCutcheon,
Tim McQuay, Dave Page, Mark Sheridan and Barry Wyatt.
He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Robin and Scott
Schroeder, Dallas, Ga., and two grandchildren; a sister and
brother-in-law, Sharon and her husband Ray Boley, Brighton,
Mich. Memorial donations can be made in the name of Douglas
Lilly to the AQHA Guy Stoops Professional Horsemen’s
Scholarship Fund, PO Box 200, Amarillo, Texas 79162.
Ray Winborn, 77, Gainesville,
Texas, died Dec. 4 at his residence, with funeral services
being held Sunday, Dec. 7 at the Clement-Keel Chapel. Larry
Sullivant officiated. Winborn was a member of the Cowboy church
in Gainesville, a rancher and showed and raised cutting horses.
Survivors include his wife, Mary, of Gainesville, and 12 nieces
and nephews. Palbearers were Jeff Schuckers, Rick Pittner,
David Kerr, Lynn Templin, Jack Newton, Adam Crum, Wesley Tamplin
and George Saxby.
TODAY’S NEWS
By Glory Ann
Kurtz
Nov. 28, 2008
Flynn Stewart is on the mend, Jerry
Ellis killed in horse accident, Tommy Manion resigns as co-manager
of Smart Little Lena Syndicate, Pat Jacobs book and CD book
available at Futurity and on-line, latest from NCHA Futurity
and Trevor Brazile posed to break career earnings record at
Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.
ON
THE MEND:
Flynn Stewart, Bowie, Texas, who only days ago had quadruple
by-pass surgery is now home and doing fine. “I’m
walking every day and overseeing the operation of the ranch,”
said Flynn. “I want everyone to know how much we appreciate
the cards, calls, e-mail and letters.” Flynn is planning
on being in Fort Worth during the NCHA Futurity – evidently
for the upcoming sales.
CONDOLENCES:
Jerry Ellis, 51, a reining horse trainer from Burleson, Texas,
was killed Tuesday, Nov. 25 in a horse-related accident when
a horse he was training kicked him in the chest. According
to relatives, he was helping to break a horse for a friend.
SMART
LITTLE LENA SYNDICATE RESIGNTION:
Now that the lawsuits are over, I’ve been told that
Tommy Manion, a co-manager of the Smart Little Lena Syndicate,
has resigned, citing the fact that his goals had been met.
Smart Little Lena is no longer being bred to mares; however,
there is still a lot of frozen semen for the upcoming years.
Remaining co-managers include Hanes Chatham and Mike Kelly.
PAT
JACOBS BOOK AVAILABLE AT THE FUTURITY:
With
an introduction by famed author Tom McGuane, Pat Jacob’s
book titled “Outcasts, Outlaws and Second-Chance Horses,”
is available in print or audio form at his booth (612) during
the NCHA Futurity. Don’t miss this interesting book
about the time in the cutting horse industry when one could
take ill-bred and/or bad horses and win major titles across
the country with them. You’ll read interesting and many
times, very funny stories about some of the greats, including
Buster Welch, Stanley Bush, Jim Lee and many others as Jacobs
competed against them.
Jacobs, who is 71 and legally
blind, still rides cutting horses. He also plays the bass
guitar by ear and this year received the Cowtown Society of
Western Lifetime Achievement Award. He also recently engineered
the “Oklahoma Swing Project,” a CD including 18
songs. You can order his book or CD from his web site www.patjacobs.com.
It would make an ideal Christmas gift.
NCHA
FUTURITY:
Today is the final day of the first go-round of the Open division
of the 2008 NCHA Futurity. Boyd Rice, riding Reylinquish,
a daughter of Dual Rey out of Look Never Mind by Squeak Toy,
bred and owned by Don Ballard, Sugar Land, Texas. It’s
interesting to note that Squeak Toy is out of a Thoroughbred
mare. The second go-round will take place Saturday and Sunday,
Nov. 29-30.
Also, during the Futurity,
don’t miss the Amateur Open meeting scheduled for 11
a.m. in the South Texas Room of the Amon Carter Exhibit Hall,
on Saturday, Dec. 13. The Open meeting will be followed by
a closed meeting for committee members.
TREVOR
BRAZILE POISED TO BREAK CAREER EARNINGS RECORD HOLDER AT WRANGLER
NATIONAL FINALS RODEO IN LAS VEGAS
Trevor Brazile seems to have a knack for coming up with something
special for his closing act at the PRCA Wrangler National
Finals Rodeo held at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas,
Nev., each year. This year’s event will begin on Thursday,
Dec. 4 and continue until Saturday, Dec. 13. A year ago it
was the first Triple Crown in 24 years, winning gold buckles
in the steer roping, tie-down roping and all-around.
As the only competitor qualified in more than one event for
this year's 50th Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, Brazile is
almost certain to become the fourth man to win six or more
all-around gold buckles, but he is also in position to make
another sort of history. He needs $50,045 to surpass Joe Beaver
as the ProRodeo career earnings leader and $121,560 to become
the sport's first $3 million cowboy. A year ago he took home
$139,704, competing in the tie-down roping and team roping.
And Brazile is not the only Wrangler NFR competitor on the
verge of reaching a monetary milestone in December. Team roper
Speed Williams is $30,053 away from becoming the 15th PRCA
contestant to reach $2 million in career earnings and his
fellow header Jake Barnes is within $80,798.
TODAY’S NEWS
Article and
photo b y Glory Ann Kurtz
Nov. 23, 2008 – Oklahoma City, Okla.

Gary Gonsalves rode
Mecom bay Roan to the lead after the first day of cutting
at the NCHA Futurity. The colt is a full brother to the great
mare Quintan Blue.
News from the AQHA
World Show, the NCHA Futurity, update on the sick ward, including
Sandy Sokol and Flynn Stewart.
The AQHA World Show is in
full swing with Ron Emmons, Ione, Calif., riding Olena Oak,
a 2002 stallion sired by Smart Chic Olena out of Fritzs Oak
E Doakie by Doc’s Oak, winning the Senior Working Cow
Horse event, with a 444 total score. The stallion is owned
by Mel Smith and Nichole Scott, Dunnigan, Calif., and was
bred by Dave Nogle, Palatine, Ill. The 444 score consisted
of a 219 in the reined work and a 225 in the fence work.
This was the second consecutive
year for a World title for the horse/owner/rider combination,
as Emmons and the 6-year-old stallion also won the 2007 Junior
working Cow Horse class. It was Emmons’ first World
title. The Reserve title, scoring a 441 was Ima Little Tangy,
a 9-year-old chestnut gelding sired by Tangys Classy Peppy
out of Im Street Smart by Smart Little Lena, owned by Susan
Fiely, Edmond, Okla., ridden by Todd Crawford, Blanchard,
Okla. The stallion was bred by Art Haskins, Clements, Calif.
Crawford also finished third with a 437 riding Smart Shinetta,
an 8-year-old Shining Spark daughter out of Smart Hickory
by Doc’s Hickory, owned by the popular singing star
Lyle Lovett, Spring, Texas, and was bred by Jeff Cornelius,
Blountsville, Ala.
The Junior Working Cow Horse
World title went to Jay McLaughlin, 34, Ozark, Mo., riding
Fuel N Shine, a 4-year-old buckskin stallion sired by Shining
Spark out of Boomerita by Boomernic, owned by Lapke quarter
Horses, Logan, Iowa. The stallion, who scored a 444.5, was
bred by William and Michelle Cowan, Ardmore, Okla. This was
the first AQHA World title for McLaughlin.
Reserve went to Docs Soula, a 5-year-old sorrel stallion by
Soula Jule Star out of Docs Hickory Nut by Doc’s Hickory,
ridden by Bob Avila, Temecula, Calif. The stallion, who scored
a 434.5, was owned by D&S Quarter Horses, Terrebonne,
Ore., and was bred by Loyd Forrest, Wilton, Calif.
Both class finals, held Nov.
20, were judged by Robert Ingersoll, Rod Kelley, Billy Cochrane,
Ken Wold and Ian Chisholm.
REINING:
In the AQHA World Show Senior and Junior Reining finals, held
Nov. 21, Casey Hinton, Whitesboro, Texas, rode Slip Slydun
Away, a 12-year-old stallion sired by Mister Slydun Pine out
of Cowgirls Cody by Scooper C Poco, to the Senior Reining
title, scoring a 217.5 under the five judges. Owned by Cecilia
May Hylton, Gainesville, Va., the stallion was bred by Terry
A Glassford, Galena, Ohio.
The stallion, which ran his
pattern to Simon & Garfunkel’s Slip Slidin’
Away,” hadn’t qualified for the AQHA World Show
since 2003 and worked first among the 15 qualifiers. Asked
about riding the 1996 stallion, Hinton told Holly Clanahan
of America’s Horse, “Horses are like tires in
the reining. The more mileage you put on them, the more they
wear out, the more they don’t drive as well. And so
it’s a difficult chess game sometimes when they get
to be an aged horse like him – keeping them mentally
right, physically right and not have old habits override what
you want them to perform like.”
The Reserve was split between
two horses – with each scoring a 216.5. Whizin Off Sparks,
a 6-year-old buckskin daughter of Topsail Whiz out of Setting
Off Sparks by Shining Spark, ridden by Jason Vanlandingham,
Whitesboro, Texas, was bred and is owned by Rosanne Sternberg
of the United Kingdom. Memorable Affair, a 7-year-old daughter
of Major Vaquero out of Coronas Affair by Corona Cody, ridden
by Craig Schmersal, Overbrook, Okla., is owned by Victoria
Lambert, Hempstead, Texas, and was bred by Robert Stinner,
Aubrey, Texas.
The 17-horse AQHA World Championship
finals in the Junior Reining was won by Starbucks Finest,
a 5-year-old buckskin gelding sired by Smart Starbuck out
of Dun It Sweetly by Hollywood Dun It, ridden by Randy J Paul,
Scottsdale, Ariz. The gelding, who scored a 220, is owned
by Rancho Oso Rio LLC, Scottsdale, Ariz., and was bred by
Furniss Quarter Horses, Inc., Newnan, Ga. The win put Randy
in the prestigious “Over $1 million Club,” as
he has now won over $1 million in reining earnings.
The Reserve title, scoring
a 218, was Ruf Whiz, a 5-year-old sorrel gelding by Lil Ruf
Peppy out of Chexy Sugar Whiz by Topsail Whiz, ridden by Carol
Metcalf, Pilot Point, Texas. The gelding is owned by Mark
Shannon Miers, Abilene, Texas, and was bred by Brent Loseke,
Aubrey, Texas.
The judges for the Reining
finals were Terry Thompson, Ed Cridge, Chris Kozlowski, Betsy
Tuckey and Carla Wennberg.
NCHA
FUTURITY:
The NCHA Futurity began on Saturday, Nov. 22 in Will Rogers
Coliseum, Fort Worth, Texas, with the beginning of the Open
class. By the time the day was over, Gary Gonsalves was in
the lead with a 220 riding Mecom Bay Roan, a colt by Mecom
Blue, owned by Lannie Mecom of the Wichita Ranch, Brenham,
Texas. Mecom is the owner and breed of Mecom Blue and Mecom
Bay Roan, who is a full brother to the great Quintan Blue,
Reserve Champion of the 2004 NCHA Futurity with Roger Wagner
in the saddle. The mare, currently owned by James Vangilder,
has over $609,000 in NCHA lifetime earnings. Mecom Blue is
sired by Haidas Little Pep and is out of Royal Blue Boon,
the all-time leading producer of cutting horses.
Second, with a 218.5, was
Eddie Flynn riding Little Bow Peepto, a Peptoboonsmal daughter
out of Bowmans Little Jewel by Smart Little Lena owned by
Peter and Nora Stent. Scoring 218s were Boyd Rice riding Third
Cutting, a Boonlight Dancer stallion that Carl Smith had purchased
for $46,000 at the Oct. 16 Polo Ranch Dispersal; Tim Smith
and Ragtime CD, a High Brow Cat daughter owned by Sally Nakasawa,
Yuma, Ariz., and Crown Him Pistol, a Dual Rey son out of NCHA
Triple Crown and Horse Of The Year Chiquita Pistol, the winner
of the 2002 NCHA Futurity, owned by Tooter Dorman and ridden
by Tag Rice.
On Sunday, Nov. 23, Rice
also rode Lean On Rey, owned by William and Lisa Hefley, Little
Rock, Ark., to a 219.5 – good enough for second place.
The first go-round of the Open ends on Friday, Nov. 28 and
is followed by the second go-round Nov. 29-30. The first go-round
of the Non-Pro starts Monday, Dec. 1 and goes through Thursday,
Dec. 4. The event ends with the Amateur finals at 4 p.m.,
followed by the Non-Pro finals on Friday, Dec. 12, the Open
semifinals at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 13 and the Open finals
on Sunday, Dec. 14 at 6 p.m. Including all the classes, the
event features a record 1,885 entries and a $4,245,015 total
purse, with $1 million in added money.
HIGH
BROW CD NAMED HORSE OF THE YEAR:
High Brow CD will be honored as the NCHA Horse of the Year
on Sunday, Dec. 14, the final evening of the NCHA Futurity.
The stallion, with Austin Shepard in the saddle, won the 2007
NCHA Futurity when he was owned by Arthur Noble. Noble sold
the stallion to Chris and Staci Thibodeaux just before the
Augusta Futurity, where he also won the championship. Before
the year was over, he had won five more limited aged events,
including a tie of the NCHA Super Stakes. According to the
NCHA Daily Chatter, the great stallion has two siblings in
this year’s Futurity – a full sister, Sadie The
Cat, owned by Stan Thomas, rider unnamed, and SDP Sweetest
Thing by Dual Rey, owned by the Buffalo Ranch, rider unnamed.
SICK BAY:
The NCHA Futurity is going on without Sandy Sokol, Saginaw,
Texas, who worked in the NCHA Show Department before becoming
very ill with cancer. Sokol had also been secretary of the
American Cutting Horse Association before going to work for
the NCHA after the retirement of Carolyn Crist. Crist is filling
in for Sandy at the Futurity. Sandy is not doing well and
needs your cards and encouragement. Send them to Sandy at:
312 Bluebonnet St, Saginaw, TX 76179.
Also, Flynn Stewart is doing “as well as can be expected”
after quadruple by-pass surgery performed a week ago. Hopefully,
Flynn will be home before long. Send your cards to Flynn and
Norma at PO Box 1793, Bowie, TXS 76230-1793.
TODAY’S NEWS
By Glory Ann
Kurtz
Oct. 30, 2008
Mary
Ann Rapp and her and Phil's daughter Emma Grace Rapp.
Photo courtesy PCCHA
Today's news includes
information on the upcoming NCHA Futurity Sales which will
feature close to 280 more horses than were consigned in 2007;
the latest from the PCCHA Futurity which is going on right
now, the newest NRHA Millioinaire and a new National Finals
Rodeo broadcast online.
NCHA
FUTURITY SALES FEATURE OVER 1,530 HORSES
Although the Polo Ranch Sale, held Oct. 17 at the Polo Ranch
in Marietta, Okla., was a shining light in a sick economy,
the results of the upcoming NCHA Futurity Sales are a big
question in everyone’s mind.
With over 1,530 horses consigned,
the numbers are close to 280 more than the over 1,250 consigned
in 2007. The eight days of sales, from Dec. 6-13 (with no
sale held on Monday, Dec. 8) will include 57 horses formerly
owned by Dream Cross LLC, consigned by Gasparilla Inn, Inc.;
59 horses in a production sale from the Buffalo Ranch; 17
in a production sale from the Oxbow Ranch and 8 head in a
dispersal sale of St. Nicks Pines.
On Tuesday, Dec. 9, the Select
Seasoned Cutting Horse sale, with 104 entries, will be held
and at 4 p.m., there will be a free party with cocktails,
hors d’oeuvres and music. At 5 p.m., the NCHA Distinguished
Service Award will be presented to well-known auctioneer Col.
Don Green, and that will be followed by the 69-entry Invitational
Yearling Sale.
The longest day will be Wednesday,
Dec. 10 when 272 horses will be sold, including 144 in Session
2 of the Preferred Breeders Sale and 60 in session 3. The
Preferred Breeders session 4, with 231 horses will be Thursday,
Dec. 11. On Friday, Dec. 12, the Auction of 2009 stallion
seasons, lifetime breedings and syndicate shares will be held,
followed by 230 horses in the Preferred Breeders Sale session
5.
Saturday and Sunday will
be Super Stallion days with breeding stallions being paraded
prior to the sales and most will be available for viewing
afterward. Prior to the parade of stallions on Sunday, a free
cutters breakfast will be held at 7:30 a.m. The parade will
be followed each day by the two sections of 2-Year-Olds by
Select Sires sale – 110 on Saturday and 109 on Sunday.
THE
LATEST FROM THE PCCHA FUTURITY:
NON-PRO FUTURITY:
Phil and Mary Ann Rapp brought 21 horses to the PCCHA Futurity
and six of them are being shown by Mary Ann in three Non-Pro
divisions. She started with three in the Non-Pro Futurity
and put all three in the finals – two in the Non-Pro
and one in the Non-Pro Gelding division. Twice Is Right, a
son of Smart Little Lena out of Tapt Twice by Dual Pep, is
leading in the Non-Pro following two go-rounds, with a composite
score of 430. He carried her to a three-way tie for the second
go-round lead (with one of the three being her riding Neat
Little Rey), the lead in the Non-Pro Gelding Stakes plus the
aggregate top score of 430 in both divisions going into the
finals.
Kim Vaughn and Plastic Spoon,
a gelding by Hes A Peptospoonful (the horse her husband Brad
rode to the top scores in the first three rounds of the 2001
NCHA Open Futurity) tied for the second go-round of the Non-Pro
Futurity with Mary Ann and her two horses. The war horse is
also second going into the finals of the Non-Pro Gelding division
and is the only horse to advance in the Open, Open Gelding,
Non-Pro and Non-Pro Gelding divisions of this year’s
PCCHA Futurity. Kim, who has won over $78,000, prefers to
show in weekend events and doesn’t show a lot at aged
events.
NON-PRO
CLASSIC:
Julie Wrigley, Weatherford, Texas, with three horses entered
in the Non-Pro Classic, rode Wood I Never to an impressive
220 for the lead of the day yesterday. Clint Allen was also
a finalist in the 5/6-Year-Old Open held on Monday night.
Julie also rode Faith In
My Cat to a tie for the second highest score, tying with Kyle
Manion and Im Countin Checks (the horse that won the 5/6-Year-Old
Open Classic with Matt Gaines riding), and Mary Ann Rapp and
Miss Reycine – with all three marking a 219. On her
third horse, CD Graceful Dual, she earned a respectable 215.
Wood I Never (Zack T Wood out of Curly Gray Hair by Grays
Starlight) is a full sister to Julie’s awesome gelding
Wood Ya Wanna.
$200K
NON-PRO FUTURITY:
Brian Postill, Coldstream, B.C., won the $200K Non-Pro Futurity
Championship after taking a 20-year sabbatical from the cutting
pen. Postill, 57, rode Quixote Lights (CD Lights x Quixote
From Heaven x Heavens Little Lena) to the winning score of
216. The pair also tied for the lead in the Non-Pro Futurity
Gelding Stakes and has the sole lead in the first run of the
Senior Division. Postill, a brother-in-law to trainer Dave
Batty, is a road building contractor and he and his wife spent
20 years hauling their two daughters to success in hunter-jumper
competition. Monday was the first time he showed the gelding.
Click
here to find all results>>
Click
here for PCCHA Daily Cutter issues>>
CRAIG
JOHNSON NEWEST NRHA MILLIONAIRE
With only 12 competitors reaching the “millionaire”
status in the National Reining Horse Association, Craig Johnson,
Middletown, NY is the most recent member to the exclusive
club. Johnson won the NRHA Open Futurity in 1983 and 1985,
the NRHA Open Superstakes in 1984 and the Open Derby in 1989.
Other reiners who have surpassed $1 million in earnings include
Bill Horn, Tim McQuay, Shawn Flarida, Duane Latimer, Todd
Bergen, Dell Hendricks, Craig Schmersal, Andrea Fappani, Tom
and Mandy McCutcheon and Brent Wright. McQuay and Flarida
have each surpassed the $2 million mark and Flarida is only
dollars away from becoming the NRHA’s richest rider,
with $3 million in lifetime earnings.
There are over 100 millionaires
in the ranks of the National Cutting Horse Association trainers.
NATIONAL
FINALS RODEO TO BE BROADCAST ON PRORODEOLIVE NETWORK
ProRodeoLive will broadcast all 10 rounds of this year’s
50th anniversary Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Dec. 4-13
on a nationwide network of radio stations and on its newly
launched web site ProRodeoLive.com. A link to the site will
be available on the PRCA’s homepage www.prorodeo.com.
Veteran PRCA rodeo announcer
Steve Kenyon, Pendleton, Ore., will anchor the broadcast team
with commentary from ProRodeo Hall of Fame Bareback Rider
Clint Corey and two-time World Champion Barrel Racer Kelly
Kaminski. Derek Barton, a PRCA announcer and radio personality
from Wheatland, Wyo., will interview each nights WNFR go-round
winners.
NCHA FILES RESPONSE TO
WHITMIRE APPEAL
By Glory Ann
Kurtz
Sept. 25, 2008 – Fort Worth, Texas
The National Cutting Horse Association
(NCHA), on Sept. 19, responded to the Appeal filed by Lainie
Whitmire in her lawsuit against the NCHA, following the loss
of her amateur and non-pro status, as well as her membership
within the association.
Basically the response of
the defendant, or Appellee, is that:
1) the summary judgment given to them by Judge Thomas Lowe
was required because Texas law prohibits judicial intervention
in the affairs of a private association.
2) the “procedural defects” alleged by Whitmire
(the Appellant) predate the 2005 Settlement Agreement and
are not supported by record,
3) the alleged Oral Agreement for Automatic Reinstatement
claim fails as a matter of law and
4) the trial court is required to grant summary judgment on
Appellant’s fraud and misrepresentation claims.
The NCHA, represented by
Eldridge Goins and James W. Morris, Jr., of Goins, Underkofler,
Crawford and Langdon, LLP, the NCHA lawyers and Henry Wehrmann
of Stradley & Wright, the insurance company’s lawyers,
concluded that the trial court correctly granted the NCHA’s
Motion for Summary Judgment and its judgment should be affirmed.
Also, they concluded that the NCHA should be awarded its attorneys
fees and costs of the court for this appeal.
Whitmire is represented
by James Walker of Walker Sewell LLP, Dallas, Texas. Oral
arguments for both sides are set for Dec. 2 in Fort Worth.
Click
here for copy of brief>>
HURRICANE IKE MAKES A
SURPRISE VISIT TO HORSE FACILITIES AS IT HEADS NORTHEAST
Sept. 16,
2008
Hurricane Ike downed trees, took off
roofs and toppled sheds at horse facilities as it gained strength
in Ohio. Charlie and Tammy Hutton's Hilldale Farms (shown)
in Princeton, Ky., also lost a lot of trees.
It was the last place
you’d expect to feel the ravages of a hurricane, but
on Sunday afternoon, that is exactly what many cutters, reiners
and other horse enthusiasts in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and
Illinois experienced. The remnants of Hurricane Ike unexpectedly
gained strength as it headed toward the Northeast, dumping
rain and sending wind reminiscent of the storm at its peak
in Texas.
“They said that
when Ike crossed the Ohio River, which is very warm, wide
and deep, it re-energized and strengthened,” explained
Michele Flarida, wife of Shawn Flarida, the industry's top
reining horse trainer. “All of a sudden, we had a hurricane.”
Flarida, Springfield, Ohio,
reported winds up to 78 mph – the strength of a Category
1 Hurricane. The family had minor had damage to yard fences
and their kids’ playground equipment, but all the primary
structures were okay. The wind blew a trailer off blocks,
but it managed to stay upright and sustained no major damage.
The family counted themselves lucky, as a few others in their
neighborhood lost roofs and had other structural damage. The
biggest problem they faced was the lack of power, with a reported
1.3 million in the area without power.
“Since we’re
on a well system, that means we can’t get water,”
she said. “They had to haul water out of the pool for
the horses this morning.” Later, the Flarida family
was able to get a generator in order to get at least the water
back on line.
Horse facilitiees in Ohio
received severe wind damage, but little or no rain. In Atwater,
Ohio, located northwest of Columbus, a surprised Dave and
Mary Dawson, who operate a boarding stable as well as a Western
store, lost their power without warning, and as of today -
almost 36 hours later, they are still without power and no
idea when they will get it back. The Dawson family was also
without water for all their board horses because without electricity,
they had no well water, so they purchased a couple of generators,
so they could at least water the horses - as well as hook
up a deep freeze that they had just filled with pork from
two pigs they purchased at the local youth fair.
"We lost hundreds of
trees, said Jim Pickett, Dublin, Ohio, a suburb of Columbus.
Bob and Sue Southworth, also of Dublin, said they had tree
damage and lost electricity for awhile, but it didn't stop
them from taking vacation time today to play golf in Virginia.
However, Ohio wasn’t
the only area hit hard by the storm – or taken by surprise.
In Princeton, Ky., Tammy Hutton, wife of Charlie Hutton, reported
extensive damage at Hilldale Farm, home of the stallion Nu
Chex To Cash.
“It took the roof off
new hay barn, took shingles off the house, and there were
a bunch of trees down in driveway,” said Hutton, whose
new hay barn was just completed on Saturday. “We had
a bunch of sections of fence down, but luckily we were able
to fix it before anything got out. But it’s a real mess
here!”
The storm took nearly everyone by complete surprise. “There
was no warming. It just blew up and all of a sudden we had
70-mph winds,” she explained. “We did not get
a drop of rain, unfortunately, and we really needed the rain.
We’re sure not hit like they were in South Texas, but
it was still devastating. The rest of my family was at a show
in Alabama, and I called them up and said, ‘you’re
never going to believe what’s happening here!’
I was catching lawn furniture off the patio as it was blowing
away. It was just crazy.”
At Roseland Farms back in
Ohio, trainer Brandon Brant was also taken by surprise, but
probably not as surprised as his dog was. “I was out
in what was probably the worst of the wind, when it was more
than 70 mph,” he explained. “My dog was helping
me bring in my donkey and a broodmare from a pasture when
the wind picked him up. He was airborne and then rolled about
15 to 20 feet. He got right back in there, but I just couldn’t
believe it.”
Both the dog and all the
horses came out fine, but the storm flipped turnout sheds
in the pastures, destroyed the round pen and left the barn
doors hanging by threads. “It’s a mess, that’s
for sure,” Brant said. “I have a lot of friends
and family that live in Houston, and some of them didn’t
even get anything like this. My friends in Galveston were
pretty well wiped out, but it’s hard to believe the
same storm did damage like this here.”
While area residents
have a lot of cleaning up to do, all the horse owners we spoke
to were very happy to report that all their horses were fine,
although the experience is not likely to soon be forgotten!
HORSE OWNERS MAY BE TARGETED
BY CONGRESS WITH UPCOMING VOTE
Sept. 12 2008
Reprint from Oklahoma Farm Report
The Judiciary Committee of
the U.S. House of Representatives debated H.R. 6598 on Wednesday
of this week, a bill that in some cases would criminalize
selling horses. According to the Animal Ag Alliance, this
measure is "inappropriately named Prevention of Equine
Cruelty Act (H.R. 6598), a bill which would criminalize the
sale and transportation of horses for the purposes of slaughter.
The bill was introduced by Judiciary Chairman John Conyers
(D-MI) and Representative Dan Burton (R-IN)." The bill
now has an astounding 80 co-sponsors.
The Alliance fully expects
the measure to be brought up for a Committee vote this coming
week (the week of Sept.15) and that it could pass that body
based on the Chairman's support. Philip Lobo with the Animal
Ag Alliance says that this is the type of measure that could
pass at the end of a Congressional session as a "feel
good" measure- with many lawmakers taking money from
the HSUS and their assurance that it can't hurt anything for
them to support it.
The American Veterinary Medical
Association (AVMA), the leading veterinary association in
the nation, warns, "This new bill will do nothing to
improve the welfare of horses or prevent equine cruelty"
and opposes H.R. 6598. The Animal Ag Alliance adds that "This
bill would severely limit the rights of owners to manage their
private property and subject horse owners to criminal prosecution
should they sell or transport their horses for processing
for human consumption."
Groups that oppose this measure
include the American Quarter Horse Association, American Association
of Equine Practitioners, American Veterinary Medical Association,
American Farm Bureau Federation and National Cattlemen's Beef
Association.
Steve Dittmer of the Agribusiness
Freedom Foundation is one of those speaking out against this
measure - and we have his email sent out to his supporters
on Tuesday linked below. Dittmer writes "Last month,
we noted the Humane Society of the U.S. (HSUS) was supporting
this bill to outlaw the knowing possession, sale, delivery
or transport of horses for slaughter for human consumption
across state lines or international borders, punishable with
fines and prison terms from one-three years." Suddenly
he adds, that this measure has appeared as a item to vote
on by the Judiaciary Committee less than 60days before the
November general elections. While, it's unlikely that supporters
of this measure could sneak all the way through the legislative
process in just three weeks, the amount of money that the
HSUS brings to the table is enormous - and clearly, the Democratic
leadership is trying to curry favor with them by promoting
one of their "pet" issues. (pardon the pun) If it
fails to move in the next three weeks- unless there is a lame
duck session where it advances, the measure would have to
start over in the new Congress in 2009.
We talked on Friday afternoon
with Philip Lobo of the Animal Ag Alliance (click for their
website) and he urges those in animal agriculture to call
members of the Judiciary Committee and urge a NO vote- because
the consequences of even fewer options for owners of horses
at the end of their useful lives are severe if this measure
should slip through and become law. The list of the Judiciary
Committee is at the bottom of that news release we have linked
to. Click on the listen bar below to listen to that conversation.
Click
here to Vote "NO">>
HORSEMEN SHOULD BE HEARD
Sept.
9, 2008
If you are involved in the horse industry and care about the
welfare of horses, this is important to you!This alert is
provided by United Horsemen’s Front, a horse industry-based
group. More information about us can be found at www.UnitedHorsemensFront.com.
H.R. 6598, ironically named
the “Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act,” is scheduled
for a vote by the House Judiciary Committee this Wednesday,
September 10. Please contact the legislators on the committee
and urge them to vote “NO!” Contact information
and a suggested message are below. Here is why:
If enacted into law, this
bill would make it a federal crime to buy, sell, own or transport
a horse, alive or dead, with the intent to use it for human
consumption. The crime would be punishable with a fine and
up to three years in prison.
This bill would further complicate
the plight of horses and horse-related businesses following
the closure of U.S. processing plants.
H.R. 6598 stems from animal
rights activists’ misguided and damaging efforts to
permanently ban horse slaughter. The anti-slaughter movement
campaigns on emotion, ignores the facts, and denies the unintended
consequences of the ban. Since the last U.S. processing plant
was closed almost a year ago, horses have been abandoned in
greater numbers; many more horses now suffer inhumane journeys
and painful deaths at slaughter facilities outside our borders;
and honest, hard-working people involved in the horse industry
find their livelihood in danger.
The animal rights movement
has a well established and well-funded political machine already
in place. Its voice is drowning out the voice of the horse
industry. We, the people who care the most and know the most
about horses and their management, should have the greatest
influence on the laws that affect our industry and the animals
we are devoted to.
Please! Take a moment right
now to contact lawmakers on Capitol Hill. Here is a suggested
message to cut-and-paste into an email. For the committee
members who do not have an email address, this message can
be pasted into a new Word document and faxed to the numbers
below:
Subject: Please vote NO on
HR 6598
Dear House Judiciary Committee Member:
I am a voter and horseman
who strongly opposes H.R. 6598. I believe in humane treatment
for all horses, and this bill would add greater suffering
to the already dire situation facing horses and horse owners
following the closure of the last U.S. horse processing plant.
Without this option, unwanted horses are condemned to neglect,
abandonment or agonizing death in unregulated slaughterhouses
outside our borders. Those of us who make a living in the
horse industry have seen the market value of horses plummet.
There are approximately 100,000
unwanted horses in this country every year. Who will care
for them? Where will they go? Slaughter provides a humane,
federally regulated and cost-effective option for owners of
sick, old, or dangerous horses. Furthermore, because horses
are classified not as livestock, but as personal property,
this bill violates horse owners’ basic property rights
by taking away the option to sell a horse for a minimum price.
Please consider the cruel
and unrealistic effects of this legislation, and vote NO on
H.R. 6598 and any similar legislation.
Sincerely,
(your name)
(your address)
(your phone number)
The following committee members
have email addresses:
John Conyers (MI) John.conyers@mail.house.gov
John Sensenbrenner (WI) sensenbrenner@mail.house.gov
Howard Berman (CA) howard.berman@mail.house.gov
Rick Boucher (VA) ninthnet@mail.house.gov
Marty Meehan (MA) martin.meehan@mail.house.gov
Bill Delahunt (MA) william.delahunt@mail.house.gov
Anthony Weiner (NY) weiner@mail.house.gov
Howard Coble (NC) howard.coble@mail.house.gov
Chris Cannon (UT) cannon.ut03@mail.house.gov
These committee members list phone/fax contact information.:
Lamar Smith (TX) Ranking Member Tel: 202-225-4236 Fax: 202-225-8628
John Sensenbrenner (WI) Tel: 202-225-5101 Fax: 202-225-3190
Jerry Nadler (NY) Tel: 202-225-5635 Fax: 202-225-6923
Bobby Scott (VA) Tel: 202-225-8351 Fax: 202-225-8354
Elton Gallegly (CA) Tel: 202-225-5811 Fax: 202-225-1100
Melvin Watt (NC) Tel: 202-225-1510 Fax: 202-225-1512
Bob Goodlatte (VA) Tel: 202-225-5431 Fax: 202-225-9681
Zoe Lofgren (CA) Tel: 202-225-3072 Fax: 202-225-3336
Steve Chabot (OH) Tel: 202-225-2216 Fax: 202-225-3012
Sheila Jackson Lee (TX) Tel: 202-225-3816 Fax: 202-225-3317
Dan Lungren (CA) Tel: 202-225-5716 Fax: 202-226-1298
Maxine Waters (CA) Tel: 202-225-2201 Fax: 202-225-7854
Ric Keller (FL) Tel: 202-225-2176 Fax: 202-225-0999
Robert Wexler (FL) Tel: 202-225-3001 Fax: 202-225-5974
Darrell Issa (CA) Tel: 202-225-3906 Fax: 202-225-3303
Linda Sanchez (CA) Tel: 202-225-6676 Fax: 202-226-1012
Mike Pence (IN) Tel: 202-225-3021 Fax: 202-225-3382
Steve Cohen (TN) Tel: 202-225-3265 Fax: 202-225-5663
Randy Forbes (VA) Tel: 202-225-6365 Fax: 202-226-1170
Hank Johnson (GA) Tel: 202-225-1605 Fax: 202-226-0691
Steve King (IA) Tel: 202-225-4426 Fax: 202-225-3193
Betty Sutton (OH) Tel: 202-225-3401 Fax: 202-225-2266
Tom Feeney (FL) Tel: 202-225-2706 Fax: 202-226-6299
Luis Gutierrez (IL) Tel: 202-225-8203 Fax: 202-225-7810
Trent Franks (AZ) Tel: 202-225-4576 Fax: 202-225-6328
Brad Sherman (CA) Tel: 202-225-5911 Fax: 202-225-5879
Louie Gohmert (TX) Tel: 202-225-3035 Fax: 202-225-5866
Tammy Baldwin (WI) Tel: 202-225-2906 Fax: 202-225-6942
Jim Jordan (OH) Tel: 202-225-2676 Fax: 202-226-0577
Adam Schiff (CA) Tel: 202-225-4176 Fax: 202-225-5828
Artur Davis (AL) Tel: 202-225-2665 Fax: 202-226-9567
Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL) Tel: 202-225-7931 Fax: 202-226-2052
Keith Ellison (MN) Tel: 202-225-4755 Fax: 202-225-4886
YOU DECIDE WHAT’S
REAL
By Glory Ann
Kurtz
July 18, 2008
On July 14, I posted an article about
the Amateur Committee meeting after the NCHA Convention on
June 21 and unanimously voting to remove the “Amateur”
definition from the Rulebook. (The article is below)
Shortly thereafter, Terry
Adams, the chairman of the Amateur Committee, called my house
and read the riot act to the girl taking care of our horses,
who, of course, knew nothing bout this. He also talked to
another friend of mine telling him that my post was untrue
– I had made it all up. I was accused of spreading “gossip”
on my site. He demanded that I retract the article.
Another reader of my site
told me that they called some other members on the Amateur
Committee and both denied any agreement for the removal of
“Amateur” from the Rule Book; they said what they
did agree on was that it would be taken to the “committee”
for discussion - and that no one was at the meeting taking
notes or the meeting.
Therefore, I am attaching
a copy of the e-mail that was sent out by Julie Davis from
the NCHA office. As you can see, this e-mail was sent out
to a large number of people PLUS it was on the sign-in table
at one of the cuttings in Brenham, Texas, so every one could
see it. With all of these people having access to this e-mail,
I do not understand why the Amateur Committee is denying what
happened. Also, ordinarily minutes are sent out by Julie to
be reviewed and the recipients are asked if any changes need
to be made.
Therefore, I will not retract
my article – instead I’m attaching a copy of the
e-mail and let you decide what’s real.
Click
for Minutes of Amateur Meeting>>
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