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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.
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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>>