Borden Milk NCHA Futurity begins Saturday
Working orders for the Open, Non-Pro and Amateur divisions of the $4 million Borden Milk NCHA Futurity are now online. The show starts Saturday, November 21 at the Will Rogers Memorial Complex in Fort Worth, Texas, and continues through December 13. The draw for the Limited Non-Pro will take place November 28.

Along with the competition, there will be the Celebrity Cutting with cattle donated by Scarmardo Cattle Co and Bar G Feedyard, December 4, the World Finals Party, celebrating the Top 15 competitors in all 12 of NCHA's championship classes, on December 10, the Daily Chatter newsletter, a live webcast, the area's best Christmas shopping at the Western Mercantile presented by Coors Light, and more. So that participants can enjoy Thanksgiving Day with their families and friends, there will be no competition on November 26, although the practice pen will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

World Finals fans get the big picture
As if seeing the world's best older cutting horses is not enough, there will be an extra incentive to watch the $200,000-added NCHA World Finals held during the Borden Milk NCHA World Championship Futurity in Fort Worth. There will be a drawing for a 32" high definition TV each of the four World Finals nights. The World Finals format will feature the Top 15 Open horses and Top 15 Non-Pro riders from the 2009 point year. Go-round action will take place in the Watt Arena on the grounds of the Will Rogers Memorial Center, beginning at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, November 24, Wednesday, November 25, Friday, November 27 and at 8 p.m. on Saturday, November 28. A "non-working finals" fifth go round will also be a part of the World Finals format.

On Thursday, December 10, following the Amateur and Non-Pro semi-finals, the NCHA will host a "blow out" Top 15 Party to honor and present awards to the Top 15 finishers in each of the NCHA's 12 approved weekend classes. The party will start at 7:30 p.m. in the Round-Up Inn at Will Rogers Memorial Center.

Mercuria Energy sponsors NCHA World Championship Finals and World Series of Cutting
Mercuria Energy Group, one of the world's five largest independent energy traders, will be the title sponsor of the National Cutting Horse Association's 2009 and 2010 World Finals, as the initial phase of an ongoing sponsorship role. The 2009 NCHA World Finals will be held November 24-28 in Fort Worth, Texas, as one of the spotlight events at the Borden Milk NCHA Futurity which runs from November 21 through December 13.

"We are delighted to become involved," said Jeff Miller, Director for Upstream and Investments of Mercuria Energy, himself a Fort Worth resident. "There are a lot of cutting horse fans in the oil, gas and coal communities, including some in our own company, so NCHA sponsorship is a terrific fit for Mercuria."

"Mercuria Energy has established itself as a global leader in the energy sector, so it's fitting that they should support a competition that brings the world's leading cutting horses together for a year-end showdown," said Jeff Hooper, Executive Director of the National Cutting Horse Association. Mercuria will also be the title sponsor of the 2010 NCHA World Series of Cutting, a series of eight events across the United States and Canada that draws the world's best Open cutting horses and Non-Pro riders. Each of the World Series shows offers $25,000 in added money to both the Open and Non-Pro events. Read more . . .

Just in time for Christmas!
NCHA's brand new video, How to Score Higher, is now available. This 2-DVD set features Matt Gaines and Roger Wagner, telling you how to get the score you're looking for. Guest stars include Lindy Burch, Tom Lyons, Chubby Turner and Zack T. Wood Jr. Plus there's a new DVD featuring Tom Holt's Top Ten, a selection of great rides from the Voice of Cutting himself. Order now!

NCHA membership hits all-time high
In a "down" economy, some things are still on the way up. Membership in the National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) reached an all-time record high of 20,255, on November 4, 2009, according to NCHA Executive Director Jeff Hooper. "We are especially pleased to have reached this milestone in 2009, during a stressful year for the national and world economy," Hooper said. "And with recent reports of economic growth and recovery, we expect to surpass this new record in 2010." Read more . . .

XTO Energy adds its brand to NCHA Triple Crown series
XTO Energy, Inc., a leading independent U.S. oil and gas producer, has signed on as a title sponsor for the National Cutting Horse Association, according to NCHA executive director Jeff Hooper. "We are extremely proud to christen one of our major events in Fort Worth the XTO Energy/NCHA Super Stakes," said Hooper. "With its high standards of business, XTO exemplifies the famous 'Cowboy Code' of ethics that is the bedrock of the National Cutting Horse Association." Read more . . .

6666 Ranch World Series American Royal Show champions
Austin Shepard rode Thomas E Hughes to win the 6666 Ranch NCHA World Series of Cutting Open finals at the American Royal Show in Kansas City Saturday night. He marked 222 on the High Brow Cat 6-year-old owned by Don and Kathy Boone. Thomas E Hughes' $11,847 paycheck will take his career earnings over $300,000. Two-time World Champion Dual Rey Me was second for Jeremy Barwick. In the Non-Pro, Elizabeth Queen rode Sister CD, by CD Olena, cutting's current active leading money earner, to win with a 228. Paula Wood was second with a 225 on Donas Cool Cat.

NCHA Futurity Sales – December 8 - 13
The annual NCHA Futurity Sales will feature a great line-up of horses in all categories, including trained cutting horses, 3-year-olds, 2-year-old prospects, broodmares, stallions, yearlings and weanlings. Review the sale entries, Super Stallion Saturday entries and the list of generous advertisers who help make the week of sales so enjoyable.

Online catalogs and the Schedule of Events are now displayed on the Western Bloodstock website. Printed catalogs will be available at the sales and in the Western Bloodstock booth in the NCHA Futurity Trade Show. Also in the booth are sale horse videos and special presentations by Western Bloodstock Partners.

A link to the live webcasts of the sales will be available on the NCHA and Western Bloodstock websites. Additionally, the sale session on Saturday night will be broadcast on RFD-TV. Thanks to all sellers, RFD-TV partners and owner/managers of the cutting horse industry's finest Super Stallions. This will be a fun and exciting week.

Final leaders of 2009 . . .
Here's a look at the leaders at the end of the 2009 point year:

Ornamental gate donated by Trails West Gate Company to be raffled off at the Futurity
Tickets can be purchased at the NCHA booth, or Trails West Custom Gate Company booth during the 2009 NCHA Futurity for only $20, buy 5 get one FREE!  This is a steel, ornamental ranch entrance gate with real turquoise donated by John Renner, southwestern jewelry designer, mounted on it.  (gate will be available to view)  All proceeds will benefit the NYCHA and the winner will be announced at the 2009 NCHA Futurity Open Finals. Contact the Youth Department at (817) 244-6188.

NYCHA offers unique quilt as fundraiser
Visit the NCHA booth during the Futurity to view this amazing quilt.  Being offered at sealed bid is this one-of-a-kind quilt with photos of all the Past Futurity Champions, 1962-2008. All proceeds will benefit the NYCHA and the winner will be announced at the 2009 NCHA Futurity Open Finals. See the ad in the Chatter for more information, or call the Youth Department at NCHA.

Toy-For-Tots
The NYCHA community service project this year is the Marine Toys-For-Tots Foundation.  Please bring new unwrapped toys, for ages 0-12 to the donation boxes that will be located at the NCHA booth during all of the 2009 NCHA Futurity.  Marine representatives from the local Toys-For-Tots organization will be available to take your toy or monetary donations:

• December 12 with Cowboy Santa
• December 13 at the NCHA booth and the entrances to the coliseum

NYCHA Business Meeting and Fall Gathering
The NYCHA Futurity business meeting is set for December 12 at 4 pm in the Silver Spur Room. New this year will be a 'Fall Gathering' following the meeting. There will be games, food and activities for all youth. Come join the fun and if you have any questions contact the Youth Department at NCHA.

NYCHA Stallion Service Program online bidding begins December 15

New this year you can register to bid at the NYCHA booth during the 8th Annual Super Stallion Saturday December 12 in the Watt Arena at the 2009 NCHA Futurity.  The Stallion Service Program is the primary fundraiser for the NYCHA. 100% of the money from the winning bids goes to the NYCHA. Funds raised from this program help support youth scholarships, youth awards and various youth activities.

Support the NYCHA by getting involved in the 2010 Stallion Service Program now! Remember, stallions donated receive great exposure in the Cutting Horse Chatter magazine, on the NCHA web site and in other publications. It's easy to donate a breeding from your stallion - just send in this form, call the NCHA Youth Department at 817-244-6188, or email youth@nchacutting.com.

November 20 deadline fast approaching for NYCHA Area Directors
The NYCHA is accepting applications through November 20 for members who are interested in serving as an NYCHA Area Director. To read more about Area Director duties, and to access the application click here.

A million hits a month
Sallyharrison.com, the world's most popular cutting horse blog, is averaging more than a million page views each month. Written by author, historian and Daily Chatter editor Sally Harrison, sallyharrison.com is an official news outlet of the National Cutting Horse Association. Recent posts include a recap of Southern Futurity and Pacific Coast Futurity, the passing of an NCHA Futurity champion, a family that won $100,000 at two shows, the world's largest equine statue, an early equine clinician, and the latest all-time sire standings, the leading riders, leading sires and leading dams of 2009, and lots more.

Besides keeping up with the latest news and greatest features, you can find out about cost-effective advertising solutions on the world's most popular cutting horse blog.

November Chatter is online
Can't wait for the mail? You can read the entire November issue of Cutting Horse Chatter, with stories on stem cell therapy, equine stress management, a major dispersal sale, international news, and much more.

Million-dollar bonus offered
The David McDavid family has announced a $1 million bonus to any horse sired by Hes A Peptospoonful that wins the NCHA Open Futurity from 2009 through 2013. The McDavids, who sponsor the live telecast of the NCHA Futurity on RFD-TV, are also offering a sizable bonus to Non-Pro, Limited Non-Pro and Amateur winners sired by Hes A Peptospoonful or Widows Freckles at all three of NCHA's Triple Crown events, through the 2014 NCHA Summer Spectacular. Read more here.

Cutters on TV
Don't miss NCHA Rode to the Winner's Circle on RFD-TV this week, Friday at 2:30 p.m. Central. This week's show features Cutting industry highlights and interviews from across the country. See the week's complete schedule for re-broadcast times and see what's scheduled in coming weeks here.

Who's winning?
Having trouble figuring out the breeding on this year's big winners? Can't remember who won what? Blogger, author and statistician Sally Harrison has compiled an interactive guide to the results of this season's major limited age events, at www.sallyharrison.com, an official news outlet of the NCHA. You can review the details on all the finalists, and click on a horse's name for a listing of all the events where it was a finalist. New results are added as they become available, including these recent events:

• World Series American Royal
• Texas Futurity
• Pacific Coast Futurity
• Southern Futurity
• South Point
• MillionHeir
• Chisholm Trail Roundup

NCHA Director elections
The 2010 Director District Summary and Consent Form are now online, showing the number of Directors to be elected in each district.If you meet the requirements and return the Consent Form by December 15, you may run for election in your district.