HORSE BREEDER AND AQHA CHAMPION EXHIBITOR RITA CRUNDWELL PLEADS NOT GUILTY TO WIRE FRAUD IN $53 MILLION EMBEZZLEMENT CASE

U.S. MARSHALLS TAKE OVER DIXON RANCH, INCLUDING 311 HORSES AROUND THE COUNTRY

By Glory Ann Kurtz
May 7, 2012
Rita Crundwell pleaded not guilty today to stealing more than $53 million from the city of Dixon, Ill.
Chicago Tribune photo

Represented by a public defender, Rita Crundwell, who had formally been indicted on Tuesday, May 1 for stealing more than $53 million from the city of Dixon, Ill., appeared in a Rockford, Ill., courtroom this morning, pleading not guilty. The city’s chief financial officer, as comptroller and treasurer, is accused of transferring money to a secret account since 1990 and using the money to create one of the nation’s leading horse-breeding operations and buying luxury homes, a $2.1 million motor home, several trucks cars and jewelry.
Click here for copy of indictment>>

Also, on Friday, May 12, U. S. District Judge Philip Reinhard ordered the forfeiture of Crundwell’s Dixon ranch to the U. S. Marshall Service, , including 311 horses across the country. Reinhard had granted Crundwell a restraining order giving the U.S. Marshals Service responsibility to oversee the horses’ care until Friday’s hearing.
Click here for Complaint For Forfeiture>>

Crundwell was arrested on April 17, 2012 by the FBI in Dixon, Ill., and was formally indicted on Tuesday May 1. When she was arrested, she stated that all of her horses had identification chips in their necks and she kept a list of horses on a “thumbdrive” storage device and that she used wrongfully obtained proceeds from the embezzled RSCDA account to pay for the upkeep of all the horses and purchase of others.

During a search of her city office, an electronic storage device, known as the “thumb drive” was seized. The records on the thumbdrive, as well as records from the American Quarter Horse Association, show Rita Crundwell as owner of the horses and their locations.

At Friday’s hearing, U.S. Attorney Joseph Pedersen told Reinhard that he wanted to preserve the value of the horses with an eye toward eventually putting them up for auction, stating that if they were not properly cared for and trained, their value would quickly diminish. Marshalls have said they will hire professionals to feed and care for the horses and inventory them to assess their value, as well as submit a request to sell them. Crundwell had been released from custody and was helping inventory the horses, but was not directly taking part in their care.

DIXON COMPTROLLER THEFT NOW UP TO $53 MILLION

May 2, 2012
According to the Associated Press, Rita Crundwell, 58, the chief financial officer of the city of Dixon, Illinois, actually embezzled $53 million since 1990, rather than the $30 million the prosecutors originally thought she had siphoned since 2006 from the city of 16,000 residents, whose annual budget averaged less than $9 million. The $53 million goes back an additional 16 years.

A federal grand jury returned an indictment on Thursday, April 26 against Crundwell for one count of wire fraud for placing the money into a secret account that she owned. Prosecutors have announced plans to try to seize her 311 registered Quarter Horses and dozens of foals that are expected to be born this spring, as well as more than a dozen trucks, trailers, motorized farm equipment, a $2.1 million motor home, a pontoon boat and cars, as well as $224,000 in cash from two bank accounts. They are also seeking criminal forfeiture of two residences: a horse farm in Dixon and a home in Florida.

Crundwell, a nationally well-known breeder and exhibitor of American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) World Champion horses, has bred horses that have earned 52 AQHA World championships, 52 AQHA All-Around Awards, 57 Superior Awards, 243 Register of Merit Awards plus won $490,056 in AQHA Incentive Fund money – plus AQHA World Show and NSBA earnings. For eight years in a row, she was the AAHA leading owner and was even on the cover of the Quarter Horse Journal.

It is alleged that over the years, she created phony invoices that she characterized as being from the state of Illinois and then put that money from a city account into another account, which she repeatedly used for personal use. She reportedly used the state’s much-publicized dire financial straits to her advantage, telling city officials that the state was late in payments as a way to conceal her transfers of funds and her spending.

Crundwell will be arraigned May 7 in U. S. District Court in Rockford, Ill. If convicted, she faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.

MY WEEK WITH MARILYN!

SHE’S RIDDEN HORSES MOST OF HER LIFE. NOW MARILYN HARRIS IS VENTURING INTO THE WORLD OF CUTTING HORSES

By Glory Ann Kurtz
March 28, 2012
Marilyn Harris, Cave Creek, Ariz., is an accomplished horsewoman, but a newcomer to cutting. She loves the sport and has figured out a short cut to success!

When Marilyn Harris showed up at the February Las Vegas Cutting Horse Association Show at the South Point Equestrian Center in Las Vegas, Nev., she knew she didn’t have a lifetime to learn how to become a successful cutter. It was only her third show to compete in and she was just learning about the sport of cutting.

But that didn’t deter the 63-year-old Cave Creek, Ariz., horsewoman, who had ridden most of her life, but never experienced competing in the cutting arena. She set out her plan, which included 1) finding, buying and riding the horse power that would take her to the winner’s circle and 2) make up for the lack of experience and her age by converting the five years of experience she was told it would take to be successful, into four classes at each show.

Her first show was in January, an AQHA cutting at the Sun Circuit. From there, she went to a five-day NCHA show in Queen Creek, Ariz. Following the Queen Creek show, Marilyn went to a club cutting prior to hauling to South Point.
“I showed in 18 classes,” said Marilyn. “As I told someone, every time the gate opened, I was walking in. But I really needed to do that to just get that experience. The riding is not the difficult part, it’s everything else. They told me it took five years to learn how to cut and I said, ‘No, No. I don’t have five years. I’ve got to do this fast forward.’"

“So I went in the $15,000 Amateur, the $35,000 Non-Pro, the $2,000 Limited Rider and the $1,000 Limited rider. I had some moments of brilliance and some just, ‘Oh my gosh, that was the longest two-and-a-half-minutes of my life.’ But I did learn every penalty and what it feels like because I did them all at one time or another. But I ended up winning four or five classes and got checks in a third of them. I got a fair amount of 60s and my high was a 73 – and I scored everything in between”

The 73 1/2 that Marilyn scored in the $2,000 Limited Rider class at South Point, was her highest score, she said, "I could have won the NCHA Futurity Non-Pro and I wouldn't have been any happier."
Photo by Midge Ames

At the South Point show, the 73 ½ Marilyn scored in the $2,000 Limited rider class, finishing second and was the highest score she had ever made. “I love it but it’s very humbling,” said Marilyn, putting in a nutshell what she thought of cutting. “After scoring that 73 1/2 , I could have won the NCHA Non-Pro Futurity and I wouldn’t have been any happier because just the class before, I was terrible.” At the time of the South Point show, Marilyn said she had won from $1,200 to $1,500 in lifetime cutting earnings.

“I have a positive approach to it and the people have been so welcoming and so nice to me. I have a wonderful teacher in Tom Lyons; I think he’s taught half of the people in the arena. He’s demanding because he wants his students to do well, but that’s what I need. It is a great learning experience. I even rode Tom’s horse Tassa Cat in the $2,000 Limited Rider class. That’s been awesome, just cutting and sitting back and letting the horse do the work. He’s a lot of fun.”

IN THE BEGINNING …
Marilyn was raised in Arizona with her family owning a cattle ranch that her grandfather bought in 1917 and has been in the family ever since. Today she is the owner/manager of the ranch for the family, as they also have an on-site manager. She grew up in Phoenix riding horses most of her life, starting with old ranch horses that were “in semi-retirement” from the Southeast Arizona cattle ranch to the family cotton farm in Glendale, Ariz., located near Phoenix.

“I grew up riding an old, crippled ranch horse and other war horses bareback after they had been put to pasture. These horses were so smart; they’d get me out in the cotton fields, far from the barn, and then they’d buck me off. So I was determined I wasn’t going to get bucked off – so I did learn how to ride bareback. I started showing when I was about 10. I showed in pleasure, trail, equitation, stock horse, all-around and horsemanship in American Horse Show Association (AHSA) shows in Arizona and California.”

Marilyn grew up with Al Dunning and they showed horses together when they were 12 or 13. Then she started riding reining horses, competing in reined cow horse and stock horse events, as well as high school competition. “Then I got married and had two children and didn’t show very much for awhile,” said Marilyn.

In the 1970s, she had snaffle bit horses and did work out of a herd and “although it’s the same concept,” Marilyn says, “It’s different because you’re using two reins with a snaffle or a bridle and a romal.” In fact, Tom Lyons had a snaffle bit horse that he rode for her then. In 1981, Marilyn went to a Tom Lyons and Leon Harrel cutting clinic in Arizona. However, after that she rode reined cow horses on and off for 15 years, even showing in the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity once. “I didn’t place, but I enjoyed it,” said Marilyn. “It was good experience.”

Marilyn and her husband even played polo together; however, the marriage ended in a “friendly” divorce. Then her daughter started showing reining and cow horses, riding with Randy Paul and Al Dunning. “I rode with her and started entering Quarter Horse shows,” said Marilyn. “My son was more interested in team sports like golf and tennis. He would do ranch branding and the round-up with us down at the ranch, but he wasn’t real crazy about it. But my daughter loved it so she showed quite a bit.

“Then, in 2000, when she went to college, I started riding again and got very serious with the cow horses and started showing and working with Jimmy Paul. I started showing a nice mare in bridle events and was successful at that. When they had the three events in the Bridle Spectaculars, I became a little bit involved with cutting. Again, it’s the same concept, but different. In the bridle you’ve got the romal and it’s called “reined” cow horse, so they almost expect you to rein some.”

Today, Marilyn’s daughter, Hailey Harris, lives in San Francisco and works for Goldman Sachs. “She just called me in the middle of the night and told me she met a wonderful young man from Dallas and they were planning on getting married,” said Marilyn. “He grew up in Baton Rouge, La., went to SMU and Tulane Business School and is involved in commercial real estate development in Dallas, Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana. So now I am fitting in planning a wedding between my cuttings.


”Her son, Wyatt Harris, lives in New York City and works in the business development department for the new CBS Sports Network, which is the cable part of CBS.

GRADUATING FROM COW HORSE TO CUTTING HORSE
In March of 2011, I had a wonderful cow horse bred by Carol Rose named Irish A Shine, sired by Paddys Irish Whiskey out of a Shining Spark mare named Shine O Lena. The pair was successful in AQHA shows and won a World Championship in the NRCHA in San Angelo, Texas. “I loved that mare, but the older I got, my children started pushing me, saying, ‘Mom, why don’t you start cutting? It’s not quite so dangerous. It’s fun and you have a lot of friends who are cutters. Then in March of last year, my horse fell on me when we were running on wet and slippery ground going down the fence.”

Marilyn hurt her ankle in the fall and it was then that she seriously began thinking that maybe her children were right, even though she loved the working cow horse event. “It was then that I started thinking about cutting. I went to the big NCHA Futurity in Fort Worth. I watched it and realized what an exciting event it is. I was captivated by it and decided, ‘This is what I want to do.’ I knew that cutting was all about the horse power so I knew I had to get some good horses.

“So I sold my mare to a wonderful woman who trains with my trainer, Jimmy Paul, and loved her so much. So Jimmy’s now showing her, the non-pro is showing her and they’re doing great and I’m very, very happy. So this summer, when I was still hobbling from my hurt ankle, Tom was in Colorado and found the horse I am riding now: Jumpin Cat Flash, a gelding by High Brow Cat out of a Grays Starlight mare. He bought him, even though I still wasn’t able to ride because I had also broken my finger while I was riding, so I bought him sight unseen.

“Tom rode him a couple of times and then he came to my house in Cave Creek, Ariz., but I didn’t get to ride him much at all because of my finger. I’ve ridden all my life and shown all different horses in different events: hunter-jumper, all-around, cow horses and reining and I’ve fallen and maybe been sore, but I’ve never hurt myself. With the broken finger, I really couldn’t ride.

“Tom had lots of people who wanted to buy Faith In My Cat,and he loves that horse so much and really wanted to keep showing him, so I ended up buying Faith In My Cat and told Tom to keep showing him and that when I’m ready, I’d start riding him.”

ANALYZING THE SPORT OF CUTTING
“Everything is different in cutting,” says Marilyn. “From the way you braid the tail vs. tying it up, the saddles and the chaps. I’m trying to get the feel of it. Some bits are the same, but not like cow horse bits which have a slobber bars and romal reins, opposed to split reins. But I had done enough with split reins that I was familiar with it.

“I still rely on Tom telling me which cow to pick because I have so many things to think about” said Marilyn. “If I had to sit and analyze each cow, I couldn’t. Now we look at herds and say, that’s the one black mott with the tear drop or the red, fuzzy one, so I know what cow he’s talking about. I’ve been on cattle so much over the years that I can read them pretty well, but in reined cow horse you get one cow and I felt so confident because I loved my mare and with one cow – good, bad, or ugly – you’ve got to work it, so I could read it. The timing and everything was easy with one cow. But when you’ve got the herd, it’s a whole different story.

“My experience with cattle helped but it’s all that ‘cutting for shape’ and everything else, so I have to forget what I know about reading cattle at this point and hopefully when I get to the next level, I can pick my cattle. But I’m not there yet. I just cut for shape or cut what he tells me to cut.”

Asked what she likes best about cutting, Marilyn said, “I think it’s the actual event of cutting. The social aspect of it is great but I have been fortunate to have ridden and shown most of my life and I have so many friends who ride and show, but it’s not something I didn’t have before.”

MARILYN’S GOALS
“I’d love to make the top 15 in one of my classes that I am in,” said Marilyn when asked about her goals in the cutting industry. “I’d also like to get my confidence up in my cutting ability so that I will be able to ride Faith In My Cat in the $50,000 Amateur. Those are my goals for this year: to have fun and to learn as much as I can.”

Asked if she is planning on entering any aged events in the future, Marilyn said, “I want to earn my stripes with these weekend shows first and see. I know it’s horse power. Once I really learn to ride this event, I am determined to keep Faith In My Cat forever but if I am hauling, I know that I need more than one horse.

So, if you see a beautiful, classy, well-dressed blonde woman at a show, more than likely with a camel-colored Shortys Caboy hat that perfectly matches her shirt and if she’s riding with perfect posture in the cutting pen on a well-trained horse, it could more than likely be Marilyn Harris. She bought the hat at the AQHA Select World Show in Amarillo, which has a special place in her heart. It is where she won the Cow Horse event twice and was reserve twice. She’s now up for the “cutting horse challenge.”

STANLEY BUSH, WHOSE CUTTING CAREER SPANNED FIVE DECADES, PASSES AWAY AT 81

Feb. 26, 2012
Stanley Bush, 81, of Mason, Texas, passed away on Sunday, Feb. 26 at the Heart of Texas Memorial Hospital in Brady, after a lengthy illness.

Stanley, who was born in Denton County to Fred & Willie Williams Bush on Feb. 28, 1930, started out his horse career as a Thoroughbred race horse jockey, riding at major race tracks all around the country. Then, several years later, his brother-in-law, Matlock Rose, introduced him to the cutting horse world. He excelled as one of the top cutting horse riders in the world with a career spanning five decades. He rode many horses to the top of the world standings during this time as well as being inducted into several Hall of Fames honoring his cutting horse riding.

Stanley Bush is survived by his wife of almost 55 years, Wanda Harper Bush of Mason; daughter Shanna Bush, a brother Billy Charles Bush and wife Carol, brother-in-law A.C. Harper and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by a brother Jimmy Bush and a sister Freddie Rose.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 29 at 2 pm at the Mason Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Rusty Felts presiding. Burial will be in the Harper/Bush Family Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers will be Tom Tofell, Cotton George, Charlie Bush, Louis Bush, Roy Carter, Bobby Mayes, Roy Beaver, and Ben Walker. Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. Charlie Graham, Dr. Harry Mayo, Earnest Cannon, Sonny Rice, Sonny Davenport, Bud Munroe, Rusty Allen, Ryan Bush, Brad Squires, Silas Brandenberger, Bill Broiller, and Dr. Merlin McAnelly.

Visitation with the family will be Tuesday evening from 6-8 p.m. at Mason Funeral Home. Condolences may be sent to the family on-line at masonfuneralhome.net.
Above information from Mason Funeral Home

LOUISE SERPA, FAMED RODEO PHOTOGRAPHER, SUCCUMBS TO CANCER AT 86

By Glory Ann Kurtz
Feb. 20, 2012
Louise Serpa

The rodeo industry’s leading womanphotographer, Louise Serpa, had as a goal to live long enough to make it to the Tucson Rodeo, held Feb. 18-26, for the 50th time; however, that was one goal she didn’t make. Serpa, 86, succumbed to peritoneal (stomach) cancer on Jan. 6, three years after she was diagnosed with the disease. The Tucson Rodeo, celebrating its 87th annual event, will give a tribute to Serpa, whose images are currently featured in the photo gallery at www.tucsonrodeo.com.

Serpa was born in 1925 in a high society family in New York City. According to an article in Tucson Business by Mary Levy Peachin, Serpa also had a rebellious spirit and during her debutante party, she shocked guests when she slid down the banister at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, tearing the back of her ball gown. Not long afterwards, a trip to Nevada made a lasting impression on her, as she said, “II thought I had died and gone to heaven.”

Serpa worked a summer job at a Wyoming dude ranch, where at 17 she met Lex Connelly who introduced her to rodeo – an event that would become her passion. Not riding in it – but chronicling it with a camera. Famed rodeo announcer Clem McSpadden once said, “She is the Ansel Adams of our sport.”

Even though Serpa studied opera at Vassar College and graduated with a degree in music, rodeo was her true love and she frequently interrupted her studies to watch rodeos at Madison Square Garden. However, after graduation, she married a Yale graduate, only to have it last a few years, after which she headed West, back to a place she loved.

In 1953, she married Nevada cowboy Gordon “Tex” Serpa and the couple moved to a ranch in Ashland, Ore., and started a family – two girls, Mia and Lauren. Unfortunately that marriage also ended and in 1960, Serpa and her daughters moved to Tucson. She dabbled in photography, taking images of cowboys competing in local rodeos; however, when her youngest daughter was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, she started taking rodeo photographs one weekend, charging 75 cents each for the 5 x 7 images. It wasn’t long before she became legendary for her rodeo photographs.

Although she was never trained professionally in photography, she had a natural instinct for anticipating the action and in 1963, when the Rodeo Cowboys Association gave her permission, she was the first woman ever permitted inside a rodeo arena. While shooting in the arena, she had her sternum broke by a bull in Boulder City and was once squeezed against the fence by a bull.

She was also the first woman permitted on the course of England’s Grand National Steeplechase. She shot inside the ring at the Dublin Horse Show and was featured in a national PBS-TV documentary, “When the Dust Settles.” In 1995, her book “Rodeo” was published. She was inducted into the Cowgirl Hall of Fame in 1999 and in 2002, the Rodeo Historical society honored her with the Tad Lucas Award, an award that recognizes contributions and achievements made to rodeo. Her archives have been donated to the National Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City.

Serpa died at home after Chemo no longer worked. She had said that the only way to get relief was from a shot of tequila. She is survived by her daughters Lauren Serpa and Mia Larocque; grandson, Taylor Grammar, all of Tucson; her sisters, Wendy Donahue of Rhode Island and Anne Browne of Washington. Louise and Mia, who also became a professional photographer, learning her trade from her mother have a current exhibit of their rodeo photography at the Tucson Airport Authority Gallery. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that a charitable donation be made to the Tucson Rodeo Committee/UofA Scholarship Fund. Funeral arrangements were taken care of Adair Funeral Homes, Dodge Chapel in Tucson.

AMERICAN PAINT HORSE ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENT OF NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Press release from APHA
Jan. 31, 2012
Billy Smith was recently named new Executive Director of the APHA. Smith comes from the AQHA, where he spent 13 years.

After a three-month national search that reviewed more than 40 candidates, the American Paint Horse Association (APHA) has named longtime equine association executive Billy Smith as its new Executive Director to lead APHA into its second 50 years of operation.

APHA hired MJM Global Search from Colorado to conduct the nationwide search. MJM Global Search came highly recommended as an executive search firm with extensive experience in Equine Association leadership recruiting.

"Billy's direct, confident answers to the Search Committee and the Executive Committee proved to be the deciding factor for all of us," says APHA President Scot Jackson. “After listening to his deep experience with leading efficient operations, directing marketing, and improving member service, the Executive Committee voted unanimously to select him as our next Executive Director."

Smith, 50, spent the last 13 years with the American Quarter Horse Association in both marketing and information technology positions, ending as Executive Director of Information Technology. Prior to that, Smith was a journalism/advertising professor at West Texas A&M University and freelance writer for various news and corporate publications.

“The whole interview process was refreshing and opened my eyes to the possibilities for APHA’s future,” Smith said. "I'm inspired by the history of the Paint Horse breed and can't wait for a chance to help craft the Paint Horse story across the globe. I felt a kindness and warmth from the APHA Executive Committee that truly energized me.”

“I am excited to welcome such a consummate professional to APHA,” Jackson said. “Together we will continue to strive to make APHA a progressive and successful breed organization. I look forward to working with Billy, and putting his expertise in member services, marketing, communications and information technology to work for APHA.”In his role as Executive Director of Information Technology, Smith redesigned the technology arm of the world’s largest breed registry by automating a paperless registration system and architecting a redesign of AQHA’s computing system. Prior to moving into information technology, Smith also initiated various marketing and database mining initiatives.

“I’ve been fortunate to have worked alongside some of the brightest minds in the horse industry,” said Smith. “And I know I’ll have the opportunity to work with similarly talented staff at APHA.”Smith received a Doctor of Education degree from Texas Tech in 1999 along with a Master’s Degree in Mass Communications. He earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and business from the University of North Texas in 1984.
He will begin his duties at APHA in February.

About APHA
The American Paint Horse Association (APHA), the international breed registry for the American Paint Horse headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2012. In fulfillment of its mission to collect, record and preserve pedigrees of the breed, APHA recognizes and supports 111 regional and international clubs, produces championship shows, sponsors trail rides and creates and maintains programs that increase the value of American Paint Horses and enriches members' experiences with their horses. APHA has registered more than a million horses in 59 nations and territories since it was founded, and now serves over 64,000 active youth and adult members around the world.

THE DEATH OF TED PRESSLEY, FOUNDER OF COWBOYS FOR CHRIST, IS A LOSS FOR HORSE COMMUNITY

Jan. 4, 2012
Ted Pressley, 73, Aurora, Texas, founder and president of Cowboys for Christ passed away on New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31, 2011.

Ted was the editor/publisher of the Christian Ranchman, a Christian livestock tabloid newspaper that is circulated throughout the United States, Canada and many other foreign countries. Besides preaching and publishing, Ted was also the author of many Gospel Bible Studies and a syndicated column entitled “Rule Book Talk” that is published monthly in many livestock magazines and newspapers.

He graduated from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, was pastor of two churches and had a radio broadcast in the Rocky Mountains called “Cowboy Chapel.” Before founding Cowboys For Christ in 1970, with a small but dedicated group of supporters working with cowboys in the rodeo profession, he was a rodeo hand, horse trainer and ranch manager of four Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred ranches, resort motel manager and a Florida bar/nightclub manager.

Visitation will be held Sunday, Jan. 8 from 4-6 p.m. at the Mount Olivet Funeral Home, 2301 N. Sylvania Ave., Fort Worth, Texas 76111. The funeral will be held Monday, Jan. 9 at 11:30 a.m. and burial will also be held Monday at 2 p.m. at the DFW Veterans Cemetery.

Pressley is survived by chiildren Russell alan Pressley and wife, Jana; Angela Pressley Summerville and Jon, and richelle Pressley Benton and husband Brad; grandchildren Michael Cobb, Matthew Summerville, Hunter Pressley, Baylor Benton and Campbell Benton; brother Dr. Richard Lamar Pressley and wife, Ann and other family members.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Cowboys For Christ Ministry, www.cowboysforchrist.net or mailed to P.O. Box 7557, Fort Worth, TX 76111.

JILL LONG LOSES BATTLE WITH CANCER

Dec. 19, 2011
Jill and Tom Long in happier times after a Futurity win at the South Point in Las Vegas.

Jill Long, Gardnerville, Nev., lost her battle with cancer on Dec. 18, 2011. Jill, a top non-pro with over $511,000 in lifetime earnings and the earner of a Bronze, Silver and Gold award, and her husband, Tom, who is a top trainer with close to $1.9 million in lifetime earnings, were a winning couple in the cutting arena and Jill will be missed.

According to a friend, Jill was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in July. She had surgery and they found that the cancer had filled her from her diaphram down and they even had to take 10 inches of her colon. She started chemo and was to be finished by Dec. 28. However, she started having problems right after Dec. 1 and went to the hospital. She was diagnosed with an obstruction in the bowel. When they opened her up, the cancer was gone but she was very weak. They were able to fix the obstruction but she never did breathe on her own after that. After about a week of fighting for her life, she lost her battle on Sunday morning, Dec. 18.

Jill is the daughter of Joyce and George Lamb, sister of Jamie and Jordan Lamb, the step-mother of Michelle Dory, Jodi Long and Ryan Long. She was also the step-grandmother of Ktherine Long, Kelsey LaMunyon, Makayla Long, Haley Long and Zayne Long.

According to a posting on the PCCHA's Facebook page, Jodi Long said, "Thank you everyone for all of your prayers and support for Jill, my dad and our family. This has been a very difficult road; we will need everyone's help and support to help pull my family through this time. Thank you so much, we love you all!"

A celebration of life will be held in January.

Tom's address is: 371 State Route 88 - Gardnerville, NV 89460; Ryan, Teresa, Makayla and Haley Long: 7541 Canopus Ct - Sparks, NV 89436; Jodi Budd-Long: 65 Wellington Cutoff - Wellington, NV 89444 (her daughter Kelsey LaMunyon); Kati Long: 6717 Rolling Meadow Dr #2921 (her son Zayne and her sister Dallas Dory); Michelle Long: 900 Sandy Hill Lane - Millsap, TX 76066; George and Joyce Long: 3109 Lee Hill Drive - Boulder, CO 80302 Jill's sister Jamie and her brother Jordan)

THE WORLD’S BEST BIRTHDAY PRESENT

DUB LEETH CELEBRATES HIS BIRTHDAY WITH FRAMED PHOTOS OF HIM AND HIS FAVORITE HORSE - REYMINATE

By Glory Ann Kurtz
Oct. 26, 2011
Dub Leeth received a beautiful framed photo of him and his favorite horse, Reyminate, for his birthday, which is today.
Photo bySusan Ferguson

Some people get cars for their birthday- some just get birthday cards – and in today’s world, many get birthday wishes from hundreds of friends on Face book. But Christy Leeth, Cleburne, Texas, has a surprise for her husband, Dub, whose birthday is today, that only cutters would appreciate: framed photos of him with Reyminate, his favorite horse!

Reyminate, a 5-year-old gelding by Dual Rey out of Amanda Stargun by Playgun, with over $63,100 in lifetime NCHA earnings, is his favorite horse – and that’s saying something since he and Christy, his wife of 15 years, have about 25 horses. He’s won over $359,600 and a Bronze award in NCHA Non-Pro competition since he started cutting in 1996. Prior to that, the President of Allstar Corrugated Inc., a box container company located in Fort Worth, Texas, roped.

Dub also received this framed photo of him and Reyminate, shot by Susan Ferguson.

One of the first cutting horses he purchased was a gelding CC Littlebit Magic, that he purchased for $50,000 from Frank Merrill. At the time, Christy thought that was a lot of money to pay for a horse, but said if that’s what he wanted it was OK with her. CC Littlebit Magic had a lot of proving to do – and he did it. With NCHA earnings of close to $60,000 he went on to win two National Championship trophies and buckles on, as well as two Sean Ryon saddles.

But the Leeths are a team. Christy has been cutting since 1986 and asked if she was the one who got him involved in cutting, she responded, “No, it was a joint passion.”

In celebration of his birthday, Christy and Dub will have a family gathering tonight, including Dub’s two children and Christy’s son. The two enlarged and framed photographs of Dub and Reyminate were taken by Susan Ferguson of Lynnwood Fine Art & Photography in Weatherford, Texas. Ferguson does equine portraiture, equine sale photography, location and family portraits. Her website is lynnwoodimages.com.

MERRITT RANEW, NCHA AAAA JUDGE AND MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PLAYER, LOSES HIS BATTLE WITH PROSTRATE CANCER ON OCT. 18

Oct. 23, 2011
Merritt Thomas Ranew, 73, Leesburg, Ga., passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2011 at Langdale Hospice House in Valdosta, Ga,, following a battle with prostrate cancer. Merritt, a professional cutting horse trainer and a AAAA NCHA judge, was a former American and national League professional baseball catcher. He played for the Colt .45s (19620, Chicago Cubs (1963-1964) Milwaukee Braves (1964), California Angels (1965) and the Seattle Pilots (1969). After his baseball career, he started his 35-year-career training and showing cutting horses professionally.

Merritt was born May 7, 1938 in Albany Ga., and graduated from Lee Co. High School in 1957. He was a well known and well respected man by all who knew him, especially those in the cutting horse industry. According to NCHA records, he had $672,212.47 in lifetime earnings in the NCHA.

He was preceded in death by his parents; Grover Dudley Ranew and Louise McDonald Ranew, his brothers C.D. Ranew and Richard Ranew and a sister Elizabeth Coxwell.
He is survived by his wife Juanita Ranew, Floral City, Fla.; his children: Robin Carter, Valdosta, Ga., (James), Ryan Ranew , Leesburg, Ga. (Angela) and Rebecca Sheltra, Leesburg, Ga. (Jay); Steven Lee, Mebane, N.C., and Monique Denney, Floral City, Fla.; grandchildren Kayla and Kacy Hancock, Austin Denney, Garrett Denney and Tory Carter. his brother and sisters, Clifford Ranew, Betty Clements, Velma Braswell, Albany, Ga,. and Janelle Larkin, Smithville, Ga. and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

The funeral service will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. at Kimbrell-Stern Funeral Home with interment to follow at Crown Hill Cemetery. Rev. Adam Brant will be officiating. The family will receive friends at Kimbrell-Stern and from 12 to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 23.
For those desiring to make donations, please send them to the Bible College Scholarship Fund in Honor of Merritt Ranew, c/o Believers Christian Fellowship, 7410 Commercial Way, Weeki Wachee, FL. 34606.

For more information, call Merritt's daughter at (352) 220-4095 (352) 220-4095. For rooms,(ask for Ranew Family rooms), contact Comfort Suites, 1400 Dawson Road, Albany, GA 31707. Phone (229) 888-3939 (229) 888-3939 .

ROYAL BLUE BOON AND PLAYBOYS RUBY

TWO OF THE INDUSTRY’S LEADING BROODMARES LOST THIS MONTH

By Glory Ann Kurtz
Oct. 18, 2011
The two top broodmares of the cutting horse industry succumbed during the first two weeks of October. Royal Blue Boon, a 1980 daughter of Boon Bar out of Royal Tincie by Royal King) had 17 earners of $2,612,701 averaging $153,688, was owned by Elaine Hall, Weatherford, Texas, and Playboys Ruby, a 1987 daughter of Freckles Playboy out of Lenachick by Doc O’Lena, had 13 offspring earning $1,594,659, averaging $122,666. She was owned by Waco Bend Ranch, Graham, Texas.

ROYAL BLUE BOON:
Immerging from being called an “ugly duckling,” Royal Blue Boon, became a cutting star, earning $381,764.41 in her lifetime, including her largest money-earning championship of the 1984 Augusta Futurity with Larry Hall in the saddle. Her largest paycheck came from a Co-Reserve Champion three-way split in the 1984 NCHA Super Stales. Where she and Reeder picked up a $111,371 paycheck. Other notable paychecks came from an eighth place in the 1982 NCHA Futurity for $39,269; co-championship of the 1984 Bonanza Futurity, $27,720 and Reserve Championship of The Masters, taking home $31,920.

She was bred by Curt Donley, an Oklahoma school teacher who saved her sire, Boon Bar, from death during the NCHA Futurity when he colicked. Donley received a free breeding for his feat, and out of an ugly, 800-pound daughter of Royal King that Donley purchased as a 5-year-old for $650 at Earl Albin’s Royal King Sale. During hard times, Donley sold the mare in the 1981 NCHA Futurity Sale when she was nine months old, to James Eakin, Hondo, Texas, a banker and astute cutting horse pedigree student, who paid $6,500 for her, even though he later called her a “scrawny, ugly thing.” But actions speak louder than words and the following year, trainers Tom Bellamy and Larry Reeder purchased her at the Futurity sale for $20,500. According to “Royal Blue Boon & Her Dynasty,” written by Gala Nettles, Floyd Moore approached him following the sale offering Reeder $40,000 for half of her. Reeder later priced her at $150,000.

After the mare finished eighth in the 1982 NCHA Futurity, Wendyl Hambrick, a Fort Worth general contractor, and Larry Hall, a Fort Worth plumbing, heating and air conditioning contractor, purchased her, with Jim and Mary Jo Milner agreeing to purchase her if the deal fell through. In August, 1984, Larry Hall purchased the mare outright and she remained in the Larry Hall Cutting Horse Estate, managed by his wife Elaine, following Larry’s death. Larry was diagnosed as bi-polar shortly after the 1991 NCHA Derby, which ultimately would caused him to take his own life.

Royal Blue Boon made history on several fronts, including being the leading producer of NCHA cutting horses for 16 years. Of her 18 foals, all but one competed in the arena. She was on the forefront of cutting horse embryo transfer movement as only two of her foals: Red White And Boon by Smart Little Lena, and the industry’s leading cutting horse with lifetime earnings of $922,063 and Bet Yer Blue Boons, sired by Freckles Playboy, with earnings of $350,615, were from natural breedings. The other 16 were the result of embryo transfer.

A lifesize bronze of Royal Blue Boon watching over her baby, by top sculptor Kelly Graham, stands in front of the NCHA office in Fort Worth, Texas. Also, she was on the forefront of the cloning of cutting horses when in 2006 she was cloned – twice – and Elaine Hall has both healthy fillies.

Peptoboonsmal, a 1992 son of Peppy San Badger out of Royal Blue Boon, was the 1995 NCHA Futurity Champion.

Peppy San Badger, the 1977 NCHA Futurity and 1978 NCHA Derby Champion, was the primary sire of her offspring and the sire of her first. She was bred to him six times and bred to four other stallions during her lifetime, including Smart Little Lena, Freckles Playboy, Dual Pep, Haidas Little Pep. She was the dam of Peptoboonsmal, a 1992 son of Peppy San Badger, who was the 1995 NCHA Futurity champion. Peptoboonsmal, who has lifetime earnings of $180,487, is also a leading cutting horse sire, ranking No. 8 in the most recent statistics published by Equi-Stat, with 555 offspring earning over $16,151,800, averaging $29,102 per offspring.

Ironically, one of Peptoboonsmal’s offspring, Pepto Taz, out of Sweet Lil Lena by Smart Little Lena, also died in October only a day after being shipped to Brazil. Having produced over 100 offspring earning over $1.2 million, he was owned by Don and Netha Lester, Canby, Ore., and sold in July to Brazil resident Fabio Anotoni Pozzi.

PLAYBOYS RUBY:
Phil Rapp, a college student at the time, purchased Playboys Ruby in 1988 as a yearling from Terry Riddle. In October 2006, Phil and Mary Ann Rapp sold the great mare Waco Bend Ranch, Graham, Texas.

The breeders of Playboys Ruby were Terry Riddle and Joe Ayres, Holliday, Texas, who owned her dam Lenachick, a daughter of Doc O’Lena who was the Reserve Champion of the 1982 NCHA Derby with Riddle in the saddle. While Phil Rapp was in college, he purchased Playboys Ruby in 1988 as a yearling from Riddle. In October 2006, Rapp sold the mare to Waco Bend Ranch, Graham, Texas, along with a cloned filly, Ruby Too, born that year. Ruby Too became the first cloned horse to compete in a limited-age cutting, competing in the 2010 Augusta Futurity in Augusta, Ga.

Playboys Ruby earned $268,441 during her lifetime, earning many Open and Non-Pro titles with the Rapps in the saddle. Her largest paychecks came from winning the 1991 NCHA Non-Pro Super Stakes, the 1992 NCHA Non-Pro Super Stakes classic and was Reserve Champion of the 1991 NCHA Non-Pro Cutting Derby.
However, she was a star as a broodmare, producing 31 AQHA-registered foals, with 14 being performers. Thirteen competed in NCHA competition, earning $1,594,659, or an average of $122,666, making her the second leading dam in lifetime earnings of her offspring, according to the latest statistics published by Equi-Stat.

Her leading offspring is Jack Ruby DNA, a 1995 gelding sired by Dual Pep, with earnings of $257,779. He is followed by Little Janey Lena, a 1999 daughter of Smart Little Lena, with earnings of $234,856; Playin CDs a 1997 gelding sired by CD Olena, earning $223,931; Ruby Tuesday DNA, a 1995 mare sired by Peppy San Badger, earning $218,916 and Smart Little Jerry, a leading sire by Smart Little Lena, with earnings of $197,389 and 141 offspring earning over $3.26 million.
*Some information for this article was taken from Royal Blue Boon and her Dynasty written by Gala Nettles.

C. T. "TOM" FULLER, AQHA AND NRHA HALL OF FAMER, DIES AT AGE 92

By Glory Ann Kurtz
Sept. 7, 2011
C. T. Fuller, 92, an AQHA and NRHA Hall of Famer, died Monday, Sept. 5 at his home, Willow Brook Farms in Catasauqua, Pa.

Charlton Thomas (C.T.) Fuller, 92, Catasauqua, Pa., an AQHA and NRHA Hall of Famer, who basically changed the style of the reining horse and was a breeder of AQHA and NRHA Champions, died peacefully Monday, Sept. 5, at his home, Willow Brook Farms in Catasauqua, Pa. He and his wife, Alexandra Huston Fuller, had just celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary in June of this year.

Although Fuller's horses were also renowned in the race horse industry through his Thoroughbred farm, Winterwood, located in Unionville, Pa., and Louisiana Stud in Lafayette, La., where he produced horses of national prominence, receiving the Eclipse Award, he was best known for his support of the American Quarter Horse and the sport of reining.

But something most people don't know is that he was also an accomplished photographer and a horse magazine publisher. His photographs have appeared in numerous national magazines, Eastman Kodak ads and at Epcot. Many of his photos appeared on the covers of the Quarter Horse Journal and in his ads on the back cover for over 20 years.

He was also the original publisher of Practical Horseman magazine and the publisher of Performance Horseman. He produced the film "The Horse America Made," traveling more than 100,000 miles to record and share the beauty and diversity of the Quarter Horse. When he was inducted into the AQHA Hall of Fame & Museum in 2001, he was introduced as "someone who had been known for many things in his life, but above all, he was a great horseman."

According to the National Reining Horse Association's website, Fuller established one of the earliest, most prolific and successful reining horse breeding programs in the reining industry. At his AQHA Hall of Fame induction, it was said that Fuller' success in the horse business was boosted mostly by one horse: a 1953 sorrel stallion named Joe Cody by Bill Cody out of Taboo by King P-234. Joe Cody sired 324 Quarter Horses, with 13 of them being AQHA Champions. Some of his famous progeny included World Champion reiner High Proof, World Champion and National Association Champion Topsail Cody and World Champion Benito Paprika. In all, Fuller was connected to some 185 performers, earners of more than 3,500 AQHA points. He developed 10 AQHA Champions and 15 All-Around winners. He bred 736 foals, champions in the show arena and performers on the racetrack.

According to the Brubaker Funeral Home website, Fuller was the son of the late Colonel James W. Fuller, founder of The Fuller Company in Catasauqua and the late Dorothy (Stahlkop) Fuller. He was a graduate of the Choate School in Wallingford, Conn., and a graduate of Washington & Lee University, Lexington, VA., where he has a two-time Southern Conference wrestling champion and national qualifier, captain of the wrestling team and inducted into the Southern Conference Washington & Lee Hall of Fame.

He served in the U.S. Navy in both theatres of the war as ASW officer on a destroyer escort in the Atlantic and as Executive Officer on an APD in the Pacific. He was Chairman of the Board of Allentown Portland Cement Company until the company was sold to National Gypsum in 1960 and President of the Fuller Company.

He was an avid golfer, winning numerous tournaments. He was a philanthropist who gave anonymously to both local and national causes, particiularly for the downtrodden as well as for the conservancy of our nation's ecology.

Survivors include his children: son, Peter and wife Joan of Emmaus, Pa., daughters, Holly of Snowmass, Colo., and Victoria of Chicago, Ill., and five grandchildren. A private will be held at St. Stephens Episcopal Church. Memorial contributions may be sent in his name payable to the Allentown Art Museum or to the Embrace Your Dreams, c/o Brubaker Funeral Home, Inc., 234 Walnut Street, Catasauqua, PA 18032. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.brubakerfuneralhome.com.

PURDY BOY FLASH BECOMES FIRST HORSE WITH A DOUBLE PROSTHESIS

By Glory Ann Kurtz
July 15, 2011
Purdy Boy Flash, a 9-year-old stallion by Pretty Boy Cat by High Brow Cat out of Purdy Aristocrat by Smart Aristocrat, owned by Jack Waggoner, Bridgeport, Texas, has become the first horse in the country to have a double prosthesis.

According to Jack, the promising cutting horse stallion scored a 219 in the first go-round of the 2005 NCHA Futurity; finished fifth in the finals in Abilene when he met up with some bad cows; split third in the 2006 Augusta Futurity and then went on to win Memphis and the Winter South Coast Derby in Las Vegas, where he coliced after his win. Tag Rice was the only one to ride him.

With $83,171 in cutting winnings, it looked like the young stallion's career was over, but Jack wasn't giving up. He rented a plane and flew the stallion home after he had been under a Las Vegas veterinarian's care for four months. He was then kept at Dr. Jeff Foland's Weatherford vet clinic for eight months and then in a paddock at the Waggoner Ranch for three months before he had to be moved into a stall to keep his movement to a minimum as he had lost his hooves.

Purdy Boy Flash could no longer compete but he did breed a limited number of mares. Today his oldest foals are 3-year-olds and Waggoner owns two of them that are headed to the 2011 NCHA Open Futurity. Both are in training with top trainers Clint Allen and Gary Gonsalves. "They are awesome cutting horses," said Waggoner, so by all indications, it looks like Purdy Boy Cat could be a sire to be reckoned with.

Waggoner still owns Purdy Boy Flash's grandsire High Brow Cat, who, at age 23, is the cutting horse industry's leading sire. However, Waggoner is looking for another leading sire for the future.

Following 20 operations on Purdy Boy Flash's front legs and feet and with several veterinarians telling him that he needed to put the stallion down, Waggoner decided the stallion was worth one more chance. He called Dr. R. F. (Ric) Redden, DVM, a highly successful, well-known and rare individual who is both a farrier and a veterinarian from Kentucky. After consultation, Redden felt the horse's only chance to continue as a breeding stallion was a prosthesis on both front legs and feet.

"He put a prosthesis on his left front leg from the cannon bone down and his right foot," said Waggoner, referring to an operation taking place on Thursday, July 7. "He's now the only horse in the country with two prosthetic limbs."

Currently Pretty Boy Flash is back at Foland's clinic as the stallion's stub has to be rederessed every four days. However, according to Waggoner, the young stallion has a big heart and an uncanny will to live.

"He usually spends 23 hours a day laying down," said Waggoner, "but once he gets used to his new limbs, that should soon change and he should be able to spend most of the day standing up."

NCHA WEEKEND JUNE 3-5 CANCELLED

SAN JO LENA PUT DOWN AT PUT DOWN AT AGE 28

May 23, 2011 – Fort Worth, TX
The NCHA Executive Committee met today, cancelled all NCHA approved shows through June 5, which will include the weekend of May 27-29 and AQHA/NCHA Weekend, June 3-5, where shows were scheduled at 25 locations across the country, due to due to the EHV-1 outbreak. The shows were also cancelled last weekend.

According to the notice on www.nchacutting.com, the NCHA Executive Committee will closely monitor the EHV-1 virus during this time and look into the possibility and practicality of rescheduling AQHA/NCHA Weekend and making further decisions for shows scheduled for the weekend of June 10-12. For further information go to www.nchacutting.com.

San Jo Lena, a 1982 stallion sired by Peppy San out of Jo Olena by Doc Olena, was put down yesterday, May 22, according to Sally Dedmon Lowry, the daughter of Bert Dedmon, who owned the stallion prior to his death. The AQHA World Champion in Cutting and NCHA Super Stakes Classic Champion, was born in 1982 at Bobby Shelton’s Ranch, went on to sire offspring which won millions of dollars in cutting, reining, reined cowhorse, team penning and barrel racing. The first time the U.S. Equestrian team competed in reining, his son, San Jo Freckles, won the gold medal ridden by Shawn Flarida.

In a press release from Sally, she said San Jo Lena was shown by Pat Patterson, a legend in the cutting industry and no one who witnessed it will forget Pat, at 75 years of age, scoring a 230 on San Jo Lena in Abilene, Texas. She continued that her family is also indebted to Brett Davis, who rode San Jo Lena to his 1991 AQHA World Championship in Senior Cutting the same year he rode her father’s young stallion, Playboys Remedy, to the championship in the Junior Cutting.

“Our deepest gratitude to these trainers, their families, our many friends and most of all – this wonderful horse, San Jo Lena. It’s been a great ride!”

REAGON WALKER KILLED IN TRUCK/HORSE TRAILER TRAFFIC ACCIDENT

KAITLYN LARSEN INJURED

April 26, 2011
Up-and-coming PRCA steer wrestler Reagon Walker, 21, Ennis, Texas, was killed on April 23 from injuries suffered in a traffic accident. Walker and his girlfriend, Kaitlyn Larsen, a top young cutter from Weatherford, Texas, were on their way to an NCHA cutting with a living-quarter horse trailer on Highway 281 near Jacksboro, Texas. The accident involved a large truck that had pulled off the highway. Kaitlyn, the daughter of Billy Martin and Chris Larsen, was taken to the hospital; however, later was released. The horse were unhurt. Reagon was the son of 1981 World Champion Steer Wrestler Byron Walker of Ennis.

Walker, a student at Blinn College in Texas, had been a member of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association since 2008 after graduating from Ennis (Texas) High School and attending Weatherford College on a rodeo scholarship. While in high school, he earned two All-Around Cowboy titles, two Steer Wrestling titles and was Reserve Champion in Cutting.

He climbed up the PRCA world rankings in each succeeding year and in 2010, Walker won the Henderson County PRCA Stampede in Athens, Texas, in 3.5 seconds and the Crockett (Texas) Lions Club PRCA Rodeo. He qualified for the All American ProRodeo Finals in Waco, Texas, finished in a tie for second place in the Dodge Texas Circuit Finals Rodeo in Waco and finished 82nd in the world.

Survivors include his father, mother, Mary Walker, two grandmothers and several aunts, uncles and counsins. Services were held today in the Knights of Columbus Hall in Ennis, Texas.
Information Courtesy PRCA

TRAINER DAVID KERR PASSES AWAY AT 74

April 15, 2011
NCHA member and horse trainer David Kerr passsed away Wednesday, April 13, following a long battle with cancer.

David Lane Kerr, 74, Valley View, Texas, passed away Wednesday, April 13, 2011 at Presbyterian Hospital of Denton with his family by his side, after a long battle with cancer. He was born Aug. 27, 1936 in Weir, Miss., to Everette Gladney Kerr and Alice Priscilla Gordon Kerr. He married Joyce Williams on July 23, 1958 in Beaumont. She preceded him in death on May 31, 2010.

David began riding horses at a very young age and had a huge passion for horses. He spent his life raising, training and breeding quarter horses. Although his journey included racing, reining, halter, pleasure and cutting, he particularly loved cutting horses. He was a member of the American Quarter Horse Association and the National Cutting Horse Association.He had a successful career as a horse trainer in the 1970s and 1980s, riding and showing such greats as Les O Lena, Sayo Olena, on which he was World Champion in the AQHA and Bay Commander. He bred and trained several World and National champions. According to his friend Art Perlstein, he was a "trainer's trainer. If they couldn't handle a horse, they'd send it to David - and that included the King Ranch. He had a bevy of good horses in his lifetime."

Visitation will be Sunday, April 17, 2011 from 5-7 p.m. at DeBerry Funeral Directors. Funeral service will be Monday, April 18, 2011 at 11 a.m. at Midway Baptist Church in Aubrey with Rev. Sam Redfearn officiating. Burial will follow at Belew Cemetery in Aubrey.

He is survived by daughters, Debbie Jones and husband, Randy of Pilot Point, Darla Wood and husband, Mike of Aubrey, Laura Evans and husband, Greg of Pilot Point; sons, Jerry Kerr and wife, Cathy of Walnut Springs, Danny Kerr of Denton; 5 grandchildren, Chelsea Wood, Delaney Jones, Jordan Jones, Kailee Wood and Garrett Evans; sister, Helen Heller of Sutherland VA; brother, Douglas Kerr of Vidor.He is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Joyce Kerr; brothers, Gladney Kerr, Robert Kerr, Haywood Kerr and sister, Lorene Kerr.

LEE GARNER INDICTED ON HEALTH CARE FRAUD SCHEME

By Glory Ann Kurtz
March 27, 2011
NCHA competitor Lee Garner was one of two men indicted in a health care fraud scheme indictment handed down by the Federal grand jury Feb. 24, sealed and then opened on March 15. The indictments charged Lee Garner, a Batesville, Miss., businessman and former Tri-Lakes Medical Center CEO Ray Shoemaker in an alleged kickback scheme involving nursing homes, which took place from May 2005-June 2007, when the hospital was headed for bankruptcy.

The indictments allege that Garner, former Panola County Administrator and Tri-Lakes Medical Center Board of Trustees President David Chandler and Shoemaker entered a conspiracy in which Garner paid Chandler a bribe to use his influence with Shoemaker to increase Tri-Lakes Medical Center’s use of Garner’s Guardian Angel Nursing Services and On-Call Nursing Servicing for hospital staffing. Court papers state that Garner paid approximately $268,000 in kickbacks and bribes. More information and the 21-page federal indictment can be viewed online at www.panolian.com.

JERRY CARTER, WIFE OF JOHN AND MOTHER OF PUNK AND ROY, DIES AT 85

March 4, 2011
Jerry Carter, wife of cutting horse trainer John Carter and mother of Past NCHA President Punk Carter and Hall of Fame trainer Roy Carter, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011, following a short illness. She was 85.

Jerry, born May 22, 1925 married John Carter Feb. 26, 1944. Had she lived an additional four days the couple would have celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary.

Jerry Carter’s life was immersed in cutting. Had there been a record for cutting attendance, Jerry would most likely hold that honor.She sat in arenas across America supporting her husband, her sons and then her grandchildren as they competed in cutting. Always an outgoing smiling lady, her vibrant laugh was like a magnet, pulling others around her. She considered her friends in the cutting horse world and the PBR her family.

A Memorial Service in her honor will be held March 7 at 2:00 p.m., at the Covenant Church, located at 8690 Liberty Road in Crossroads, Texas. Covenant Church is in charge of the funeral with Joe Howard Williamson assisting. Punk Carter stressed that instead of a funeral service this would be a Memorial to celebrate Jerry’s life.

“Mother was always such a happy person so we want her Memorial to be the same way,” he continued. “Anyone who wishes to talk about her can get up and talk.”

Besides her husband John, sons Punk Carter and wife Rita of Celina, Texas, and Roy Carter of Crockett, Texas, she is survived by seven grandchildren: Colleen Blanks and husband Lance, Cassye Blanks and husband Todd, Caimey Miller and husband Dustin, Hayley Covington and husband Robert, Cole Carter, Jayme Carter and Sorrel Carter as well as 11 great grandchildren,two sisters and one brother. She was preceded in death by her parents and three brothers.

Friends and family will gather at the church fellowship hall following the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to the National Youth Cutting Horse Association, 260 Bailey Ave., Fort Worth, TX 76107. Send your condolences to John Carter, 4009 CR 3395, Crockett, TX 75835.

LEGENDARY COWBOY JOHN R SCOTT PASSES AWAY AT 87

Feb. 28, 2011
John R. Scott Jr., 87, truly a legendary cowboy, passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 22 in San Angelo, Texas. Funeral Services will be held Tuesday, March 01, 2011, at 10:00 a.m. at Johnson's Funeral Home Chapel located at 435 W. Beauregard, San Angelo, Texas.

Scott had deep roots in horses, cattle and Texas and all three helped proliferate him into a great cattleman. His great grandfather settled on West Texas land long before it became a state. Fast-forward to the 1920s and it was his father John R. Scott Sr, who, with a stallion named Jazz and 10 broodmares started the bloodline that now includes such great horses as Royal Jazzy, Jazabelle Quixote, Jazzote, Son Ofa Doc, Bob Acre Doc, as well as 2010 NCHA Futurity Open champion One Time Royalty. John R Scott Jr, born Sept. 6, 1923, to Agnes and John R. Scott Sr. was therefore, no doubt born to be a cowboy.

Scott grew up on the Mertzon family ranch, even attending school there. He then attended Texas A&M University until World War II broke out, at which time he joined the Naval Air Corps and served as a bombardier on B24s in the Pacific Theatre. After the war ended, Scott returned to the West Texas ranching life, met June Owens and the couple wed on Aug. 3, 1947.

Besides ranching Scott, an avid roper competed in rodeos. During the late 1940s drought was taking its toll on West Texas ranchers and while competing at the 1948 Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo Scott learned about green grasses in Montana. According to the S Ranches website, after a quick look for himself, Scott returned home where he, his farther and brothers “agreed to partner on three ranches near the Miles City, Mont., area. John then shipped 800 head of cattle and 25 horses from his family’s Texas ranch to the Big Sky country by train, and the foundation of the modern S Ranch was laid. In 2008, the S Ranch celebrated 60 years of ranching in Montana.”

For 40 years Scott managed two cattle ranches near Miles City and Billings while also building an outstanding remuda of Quarter Horses, “At one time, the ranch encompassed 280,000 acres and employed 25 cowboys to tend 10,000 head of cattle.”

In 1969, John Scott and Sons made headlines in the cattle industry when they sold 5,300 head of branded yearlings for $1,135,000. At that time the sale was noted for being the largest sale of cattle owned by one ranch at one time in recent history.

In August 2000, at the Scott Ranch near Billings, Mont., they again made headlines, this time with a dispersal sale of 243 horses, mostly the product of their ranch sires Paddys Irish Whiskey and Doc O Dynamite. Also in that sale were five 2-year-old Peptoboonsmal daughters and three of those, Meradas Boonsmal, Boons Freckle Lena and Freckles Lena Boon, went on to make names for themselves. That dispersal netted $3.5 million.

Scott and his wife, June, returned to Texas in the 1980 and settled on a ranch near Miles Texas. John was honored in 2001 with the Foy Proctor Memorial Cowman's Award and later was inducted into the Montana Pro Rodeo Hall and Wall of Fame. In 2007 the S Ranch, Pryor, Mont., won the AQHA Best Remuda Award.

Scott is survived by four children: John R. Scott III (Cindy) Maggie Scott Brown, Sissy Croft (Charlie) and Jim Bode Scott (Marcie). He is also survived by10 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

A luncheon will follow the Memorial service. Scott will be buried in Montana beside his wife, June.

WES ADAMS DIES FROM HEART ATTACK WHILE IN THE HOSPITAL

By Glory Ann Kurtz
Feb. 18, 2011
Wes Adams shown last fall following the final MillionHeir show at the South Point Equestrian Center in Las Vegas. He is shown with Debbie Rousey and his son, Dustin.

“He was bigger than life,” said Paula Gaughan about the unexpected death of Wes Adams this morning from a heart attack following a successful surgery. Although details of what happened are not yet available, friends of the Adams family are mourning the loss of an icon.

“It was a sad day for Wes Adams’ family, friends, the sports of rodeo and cutting, as well as the State of Nevada,” said Gaughan. “He was an integral part of this town and the state of Nevada. He will be sorely missed.” Adams’ MillionHeir events were held annually during the South Point Cuttings in Las Vegas. The program started in 2004, with the final show being held last fall, paying out close to $9.2 million. It was the only private stallion incentive program of its magnitude that has ever been paid out as advertised.

In 2008, Adams found out he had pancreatic cancer. Within two days of the diagnosis, he was at the Huntsman Cancer Institute in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he had surgery. They took out his spleen and half of his pancreas. Two weeks later, Wes’s family doctor hold him that he was 99 percent out of the woods, following a PET scan. With that, I figured the “Lord didn’t want me and hell was afraid I’d take over. So they left me here for a while longer.” Wes didn’t let his health issues get him down, saying, “My theory is, ‘We can’t change what is going to happen so why ruin our lives over bad news’. I guess I didn’t realize how sick I was supposed to be.”

Wes is a Utah native who moved to northwest Las Vegas in 1977 from Colorado and over the past years, he built a ranching empire extending over several states
Adams established Western State Contracting in 1979, specializing in heavy construction and underground utility work in the Las Vegas area. A former bull rider, Wes lived Logandale, located in the Las Vegas area, with his wife, Liz. The couple have six children including Dustin, a highly successful non-pro cutter, and his wife Dana, who are expecting their first child in May. Dustin runs the family’s ranch in Dublin, Texas.

The oldest, Weston, is a real estate developer in Las Vegas, who enjoys team roping, while Randon and Jason are both top PRCA roping competitors who qualified for the prestigious National Finals Rodeo. The Adams’ daughter Britney is a barrel racer, while Austin, the youngest, was the state’s reigning high school all-around champion.

Liz, a California native, and Wes’s wife of over 35 years, calls rodeoing a “family affair, as the family was together nearly every weekend, learning how to be responsible and how to do business. In a 2006 article in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Liz said, “If my husband wants something, he will achieve it and he’s passed that on to the children. They’re all confident and they set goals.”

Midge Ames, one of the cutting industry’s leading cutting horse photographers, said, “When I think of Wes, I think of a man who had great integrity, had a vision, a plan and the courage (guts) to carry it through. That’s a rare thing these days. In the ‘old days,’ you could have a verbal agreement, shake hands and it was done. It was like that with Wes Adams. Family was the most important to Wes and whenever the kids were showing, you’d be sure to see Wes and Liz there too.”

Texas cutter Billy Emerson said it all when he described Adams’ death as a “true loss to our industry and especially to such a fine and honorable family. Although more rare than it should be, the grandest thing that can ever be said about a man can easily be said about Wes Adams: He was a man of his word – and the greatest thing a man can do in his lifetime is to raise his family to respect God and others. He did that too.”

The last time that I saw Wes was during the final MillionHeir program in Las Vegas last fall. Debbie Rousey had just presented him with a thick book full of pictures and letters from many thankful individuals involved in the MillionHeir program. As I was walking up the stairs, he was going over the book, surrounded by his family and as he looked up, he had tears in his eyes. That’s the man I remember: highly innovative, honorable and successful - and so strong he
wasn’t afraid to have someone see him cry in public.

Visitation will be Thursday, Feb. 24 from 6-8 p.m. and Friday, Feb. 25 from 9-10:45 a.m., followed by a funeral at Logandale, Nev., Stake Center, 2555 N. St. Joseph Street, Logandale, Nev. 89021. Flowers may be sent to Moapa Valley Mortuary, 5090 N. Moapa Valley Blvd., Logandale, Nev. 89021.

"Our family would like to thank everyone for their support at such a difficult time," said Dustin Don Adams, as a spokesman for the family.

LARRY AND LYNN WELK V JEFF FOLAND DVM AND WEATHERFORD EQUINE CASE POSTPONED

By Glory Ann Kurtz
Weatherford, Texas - Feb. 11, 2011
Due to the illness of one of the lawyers, the court case of Larry and Lynn Welk, Malibu, Calif., v Jeff Foland DVM and Weatherford Equine, Weatherford, Texas, has been postponed. The case was to be held Monday, Feb. 14, 2011 in the Parker County Courthouse, Weatherford, Texas.

NCHA members Larry and Lynn Welk, Malibu, Calif., have a lawsuit against Jeff Foland DVM and Weatherford Equine for malpractice and negligence in the” loss to compete and syndication” of a valuable young stallion. The case will be heard in State District Judge Graham Quisenberry’s 415th District Court in Weatherford, Texas.

Larry is the son of famed bandleader Lawrence Welk, who passed away at 89 in 1992 and who hosted the Lawrence Welk Show from 1955-1982. In fact, the Welk’s Champagne Ranch is named after Larry’s father whose music became well known as “champagne” music.

LARRY AND LYNN WELK V JEFF FOLAND DVM AND WEATHERFORD EQUINE CLINIC CASE TO GO TO TRIAL

By Glory Ann Kurtz
Weatherford, Texas - Feb. 7, 2011
On Feb. 14, 2011 in the Parker County Courthouse, Weatherford, Texas, another cutting horse-related trial will be taking place. NCHA members Larry and Lynn Welk, Malibu, Calif., have a lawsuit against Jeff Foland DVM and Weatherford Equine, Weatherford, Texas, for malpractice and negligence in the "loss to compete and syndication” of a valuable young stallion. The case will be heard in State District Judge Graham Quisenberry’s 415th District Court in Weatherford, Texas.

Larry is the son of famed bandleader Lawrence Welk, who passed away at 89 in 1992 and who hosted the Lawrence Welk Show from 1955-1982. In fact, the Welk’s Champagne Ranch is named after Larry’s father whose music became well known as “champagne” music.

FLYNN WHEELER STEWART PASSES AWAY AT 95

Jan. 1, 2011 - Wichita Falls, Texas
Flynn Wheeler Stewart, 95, Wichita Falls, Texas, father of NCHA member, Flynn Stewart II,passed away at age 95, only days before his 96th birthday.

Flynn Wheeler Stewart, 95, a CPA from Wichita Fall, Texas, passed away on Dec. 31, 2010, in Wichita Falls, Texas. Stewart was the father of Flynn Stewart II, Bowie, Texas, who is active in buying, selling and fitting horses for sales.

Flynn was born Jan. 26, 1915, in the Rock Hill Community south of Bowie, Montague County, Texas, to Cap and Annie Bell Stewart. He attended the Rock Hill School and graduated from Bowie High School in 1930. He worked on the family farm after graduation before enrolling Draughon’s Business College in Wichita Falls. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Wichita Falls from 1939 until his passing and served as a Deacon.

In 1938, he moved to Clinton, Okla., as the first accountant for a young company, White’s Auto Stores. He became their chief accountant and while working in Clinton, he met his future bride, Dewey Adeline Hatchett, also employed by White’s. In 1939, White’s moved their headquarters to Wichita Falls and Flynn and Dewey were married in 1940.

During World War II, Flynn worked as an auditor for Consolidated Vultee Aircraft, a Fort Worth manufacturer of aircraft for the war effort. He remained at Consolidated Vultee until the end of World War II when he returned to Wichita Falls and White’s Auto Stores.

He left White’s to open his own CPA practice in Wichita Falls in 1946. His accounting practice grew to become the firm of Stewart, Davis, Mathis and West. When that firm dissolved in 1970, he formed the firm of Stewart and Rariden, later Stewart, Rariden and Miller. In his later years he had a private practice until his retirement in 2001. He was a widely recognized Tax Accountant, and served on the National Livestock Tax Committee, an industry group and testified before the House Ways and Means Committee on behalf of livestock industry interests. He was involved in several important IRS and Tax Court rulings.

During the late 1940’s and 1950’s, he accumulated property around the old family farm in the Rock Hill community, which had remained under family ownership, with only a short break, since 1886. He raised registered Angus cattle, and was President of the Texas Angus Association. He was elected to the Board of Directors of the American Angus Association in the early 1960’s. He served as President of the American Angus Association in 1969, and represented the Angus Association overseas in several world conferences.

Flynn was preceded in death by his wife, Dewey Adeline Hatchett Stewart, his parents, and daughter Mary Ann Stewart.

Survivors include Thomas Roland Stewart, CPA, and wife Lavonne of Dallas, Flynn W. Stewart II and wife Norma, James W. Stewart and wife Wray, all of Bowie, Nancy McCoy, CPA, and husband John of Houston, and Elizabeth Edmondson and husband Robbie of Wichita Falls. He is also survived by 10 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Flynn was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He had a passion for family, and had done extensive genealogical research, which he could recite up until his death. He was always there for his family. He took great pride in knowing the ages and birthdates of even his great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Jan. 4, 2011, at 2 p.m. at the First Baptist Church, 1200 Ninth Street, Wichita Falls, Texas with the Reverend Rod Payne officiating. Burial will be at the Crestview Memorial Park under the direction of Lunn’s Colonial Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 6 to 7:00 pm Monday, January 3, 2011, at Lunn’s Colonial Funeral Home, 2812 Midwestern Parkway, Wichita Falls, Texas.

Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church, Wichita Falls, or to Hospice of Wichita Falls, 4909 Johnson Road, Wichita Falls, Texas 76310. You can send your condolences to Flynn Stewart II and his wife, Norma, to PO Box 1793, Bowie, TX 786230-1793.

JUNE MITCHELL PASSES AWAY AT 85

By Glory Ann Kurtz
Dec. 21, 2010
His real name was Wallace Mitchell Jr., but most of the cutters who knew him just called him “June” and everyone knew who they were talking about. June, 85, of Lucy, N.M., peacefully passed away at his home on Monday, Dec. 20, 2010.

June, who worked for Helen Groves for almost 30 years, worked for several ranches during his career, including B. F. Phillips, Ruby Ranches, Art Miller and several others. For the past two years, June and his wife, Beth, were living at one of the headquarters on an 80-section ranch owned by Cyle Sharp, Estacia, N.M.

“June gave me my first job out of college working for B. F. Phillips,” said NCHA Judge Tommy Hastings. “We went out to visit him at the branding in May and he rode every step of the way. He is one of the last real cowboys in our business and I don’t want him to be forgotten.”

June was born Aug. 4, 1925 in Roswell, N.M. to Wallace and Alma (Joy) Mitchell Sr. He served in the Navy during WWII and after being discharged, he became a well-known horseman.

“ He will be remembered by all who knew him as a cowboy, loving husband, father and mentor,” said Sharp. “He was a friend to all who knew him, always quick with a good story and a smile. He will be missed.”

June was preceded in death by his parents, a brother Jack Mitchell and his first wife, Billie Jean Mitchell who preceded him in death in December 1992. He is survived by his wife of 17 years, Beth (Giguere) Mitchell of Lucy, N.M.; a son, Wallace Mitchell III and his wife Linda of Ashbury, Va.; daughters Ronna Mitchell Howell and her husband Eldon of Richland, Ga., and Vickie Mitchell Kreighauser and her husband Ben of Hereford, Texas; six grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be on Thursday, Dec. 23, 2010, at 1:30 p.m. at Barn Church in Hereford, Texas, 3948 FM 1057, Hereford, Texas, with Wallace Mitchell III officiating. Internment will follow at Rest Lawn Memorial Cemetery in Hereford, Texas.

Condolences can be sent to his wife and family at PO Box 1241, Estancia NM. 87016.

ROBERT EUBANKS LOSES VALIANT BATTLE WITH KIDNEY AND LIVER DISEASE

By Glory Ann Kurtz
Oct. 30, 2010 - Fort Worth, Texas
Robert Eubanks, 70, an editor for 25 years at Quarter Horse News, passed away on Friday, Oct. 29.

Robert Eubanks, 70, Fort Worth, Texas, lost his battle with kidney and liver disease at Baylor All Saints Hospital in Fort Worth on Friday, Oct. 29 at 10:48 a.m. Robert, a passionate writer and detail-oriented editor, was employed by Quarter Horse News for 25 years, coming to Fort Worth from the Sports Desk of the Augusta Chronicle in Augusta, Ga. He retired one year ago in October.

Robert is survived by his wife Sharon Holcomb Eubanks, son William Edward Eubanks of Fort Worth, Texas; sisters Sara Sperin, Tate, Ga, Kathleen Eubanks Hall Spring Hill, Fla; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. Send cards to the family at 1020 Banks Street, Fort Worth, TX 76114.

Greenwood Funeral Home and Cemetery is taking care of arrangements and will be carrying an official obituary soon. Services are tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 3 at the Birchman Baptist Church at 1 p.m. The church is located at 9100 N. Normandale Street, Fort Worth, TX 76116 (817) 244-6590.

SMART LITTLE LENA HUMANELY EUTHANIZED FOLLOWING STROKE

By Glory Ann Kurtz
Aug. 30, 2010
Smart Little Lena and Bill Freeman.

According to a letter from Robin Levison, the secretary of the Smart Little Lena Syndicate, that was sent to shareholders this morning, Smart Little Lena suffered a stroke today, Aug. 30, 2010. So that he would not suffer, it was decided by Dr. John McCarroll of Equine Medical Associates, managers Hanes Chatham and Mike Kelly to have him humanely euthanized. He was put to sleep at 11 am, Aug. 30, 2010.

The managers decided to have "Smart Little Lena" cremated, and his ashes will reside in his trophy case at the Tommy Manion Ranch, where he has resided most of his breeding career.

The 31-year-old Triple Crown winner and earner of $743,275 with Bill Freeman in the saddle, is a leading sire of performance horses, with 1,340 earning over $39.1 million, averaging $29,179 for each performer. His leading money-earning offspring is the NCHA World Champion Red White And Boon, a 1988 gelding out of Royal Blue Boon by Boon Bar, with $930,954 in lifetime earnings.

Second is Smart Peppy Lena, a 1984 Paint gelding with $494,214 in lifetime earnings. His leading money-earning daughter is Justa Smart Peanut, a 1997 daughter of Justaswinging Peanut by Justa Swinging Peppy, with $417,739 in lifetime earnings.The leading money-earning stallion sired by Smart Little Lena is Quejanaisalena, a 1999 son of Quejanamia by Son O Mia, with $338,204 in lifetime earnings. He is owned by Greg Coalson, Weatherford, Texas.

As legendary as Smart Little Lena is as a sire, his daughters are more sought after as broodmares as 1,842 performing maternal grandbabies have earned over $44.7 million, for an average of $24,272. During 2010, his maternal grandbabies have won over $2 million. The leading money-earning maternal grandbaby is Dual Rey Me, a 1999 gelding by Dual Pep out of Miss Smart Rey Jay who was an NCHA Open and Non-Pro World Champion with lifetime earnings of $820,905. He is currently being shown and is owned by Jeremy and Candace Barwick.

Second is Redneck Yachtclub, a 2004 gelding by San Tule Freckles out of Sheyssmartlittlelena, with llfetime earnings of $497,007, which includes the $100,000 won by leading rider Phil Rapp during the 2008 MillionHeir Open Derby. The following year Mary Ann Rapp was Reserve Champion in the Non-Pro MillionHeir Derby for a $57,386 paycheck.

Third Cutting, a 2005 stallion by Boonlight Dancer out of Crab Grass, with $400,435 in lifetime earnings, is currently in the running for the 2010 NCHA Horse of the Year. Ridden by Boyd Rice, the popular stallion tied for 8th in the 2008 NCHA Open Futurity, won the 2009 NCHA Open Derby, tied for the championship of the Open Super Stakes and won the Open Classic Challenge at the NCHA Summer Spectacular.

The Manion Ranch, where Smart Little Lena made his home all of his breeding career, stopped collecting Smart Little Lena in July 2008 under Dr. McCarrolls recommendation due to his age, which was 29 at the time. However there is frozen and cooled semen available.

According to Kyle Manion, "Smart Little Lena came here after retiring from competition at the age of 4. Today he was euthanized and passed away in my mother's arms."

NCHA LEGEND BEAMON ASHLEY DIES AT AGE 88

By Robert Eubanks
Aug. 23, 2010 - Dallas, Texas
Beamon Ashley shown with his friend John Carter. He opened the gate during the major NCHA cuttings for some of the greatest cutters and horses. Beamon was inducted into the 2000 NCHA Members Hall of Fame.

He would train any kind of horses people wanted trained and specialized in roping, reining and pleasure horses.

He became familiar with cutting horses in the 1950s through George Glascock, a cattle rancher and cutting horse trainer who owned the first National Cutting Horse Association world champion.

Although he never trained a cutter, Beamon Ashley, who died in his sleep at the Cedar Hill Health Care Center, Cedar Hill, Texas, Sunday, Aug. 22, 2010 at age 88, became a legend in the the NCHA, which inducted him into its Members Hall of Fame in 2000. According to Howard McCleery, DVM, Terrell, Texas, who nominated Ashley to the Members Hall of Fame, "In my opinion, he gave more of himself to the NCHA than anyone else I knew of. He didn't have a whole lot but gave all he had in admiration of the cutting horse. He opened the gate during the major NCHA cuttings for some of the greatest cutters and horses."

“Some of the cutters let me try it (riding cutting horses), but I couldn’t do it,” Said Ashley in a 2001 interview. “I’d rather write a book than ride a cutting horse,” he said, breaking out in a laugh. “I just love to watch them. I’m not going to lie to you. I love it. I love to watch cutting horses work and I like to be around these people. I’ll continue to do it as long as my legs will let me walk.”

Those legs stopped walking on Aug. 22 as the Dallas, Texas, resident passed away to join his wife, Ollie, who died at age 78 on Sunday, Aug. 25, 2006 during the North Texas Cutting Horse Association Summer Circuit in Fort Worth, Texas.

Funeral arrangements are being taken care of by the Singing Hills Funeral Home, 6221 Houston School Road, Dallas, Texas 75241 (214) 371-4311. Funeral services will be held Monday, Aug. 30 at 11 a.m. at the St. Paul Baptist Church, 1600 Pear Street, Dallas, Texas 75217 (214) 421-3741.

Mr. Ashley was associated with the NCHA through his ties to Mr. Glascock, who hired him to let cattle in and out the arena at a 1950 cutting held during the 1950 State Fair in Dallas, and became a fixture at major aged events held by the NCHA at Will Rogers Coliseum in Fort Worth for almost 20 years. A dear friend of cutters, he opened the rear arena gates for cattle changes between the working groups in the go-rounds and the finals, beginning with the 1967 NCHA World Championship Futurity.

Although he gave up his job in 1994, his beloved wife would drive him to Fort Worth each morning and pick him up at the end of the day so he could enjoy generations of cutting horse competitors and horses he had come to love.

One of the highlights of his life came in 2001 when a blue/gray roan named Mr Beamon, owned by Jerry Jones, Granbury, Texas, was ridden by Tag Rice to the Reserve Championship of the NCHA World Championship Futurity. Tag’s dad, Ronnie, won it.

Save for two early days when it was very cold, Ashley was there for every day of the Futurity, which consisted of 20 days.

Ashley said he had watched horses trained by Ronnie and Sonny Rice for many years, because “I kind of liked their style” and thus, he wasn’t surprised when Ronnie’s son Tag emerged as a leading cutting horse trainer.

He really was pleased that Mr Beamon turned out to be a good ’un. He had gone this route once before when a good friend, Larry Bozman, Rockwall, Texas, chose “Beamon Ashley” as the name for a 1995 sorrel by Lil Peppy Tino out of a Doc O’Lena mare, Rosalee Lena.

“But, he never did make and that’s why I didn’t want them to name this horse after me,” Ashley said.

Jones said he had been thwarted on several attempts to register a name the colt, trying to come up with a tag that included “Blue Duck.”

“Blue Duck was this mean Indian that was in ‘Lonesome Dove’ for so long,” Jones said. “This was a tough, young horse, but every Blue Duck name was taken.”

He didn’t name the horse until the end of its 2-year-old year, and it cost him almost $300 to name him after Ashley. Jones thought it was an appropriate way to honor a man who has been a ray of sunshine in the lives of cutters for many years.

“He lives way over in East Dallas; I used to work over there and I know how hard it is to get from there to here in the traffic,” Jones said. “His wife (Ollie) brings him over here every morning then comes back to pick him up in the afternoon. This is a terrible spectator sport but I have never seen anybody that loved it as much as he does. I called Mr. Beamon and I told him I was thinking about doing that, naming the horse after him, and I thought he probably would enjoy it, being a good horse.”

“He said it was going to be a good horse, so I said ‘You need to give him a good name,’ “ and he said ‘I can’t think of a better name,’ “ Ashley said.

On many occasions, Mr. Ashley could be found attending cuttings in East Texas. He said Larry Bozman, Rockwall, Texas, and Terry Adams, Forney, Texas, president of the Lone Star CHA, “used to carry me to cuttings, practices, etc. They’re my road buddies.”

According to McCleery, if you saw him at a weekend show and asked him about your run, you better be ready for the truth."

Several years prior to his wife’s death, his cutting friends and family honored him and his wife during a cutting held at Sulphur Springs, Texas, with a 50th year wedding anniversary party.

The cutting was stopped, a covered-dish meal was spread on the table, a three-tiered wedding cake was brought out and finally, the gift: A blue Chevrolet pick-up, purchased with donations from cutters nationwide. It was presented to the man and his wife who had given unselfishly to cutting, viewing his position as more than a job, and proving it in his friendliness to every cutter. Few dry eyes remained in the coliseum at the time of the presentation.

The event was spearheaded by Larry and Ronda Bozman, as well as Terry and Agnes Adams. Although the Ashleys were aware of the party being given in their honor; the gift, however, was a total surprise. Funds had been secretly gathered underneath Mr. Beamon's nose for almost five months, and remarkably stayed a secret from him. The NCHA made a sizable contribution to its past employee.

"The best part about this story,'' stated cutter Jim Emerson, ``is that Ronda Bozman, who started the fund-raising effort, had to have surgery shortly afterward. Even with some partial paralysis and all that she went through, her No. 1 concern remained the drive for Beamon. She continued to work on the mailings and the bookkeeping as soon as she was able, and even put off a trip to a specialist in Atlanta to attend the party.''

Ashley’s appreciation for horses began as a child. He was born in Huntsville, Texas, and raised on a South Texas cattle ranch. His three brothers and four sisters helped working the beef and dairy herd. He didn’t leave until World War II called him away to France and Germany.

He came back to the ranch in 1945, but stayed only a couple of months before moving to Dallas, where he was the chauffeur for John W. Carpenter, president of Texas Power & Light Co.

He worked for a cotton gin for the next year and began his own horse training business in Oak Cliff.

Ashley said the best hand he ever saw was Glascock, a complete horseman who also trained cutting horses. Next was NCHA legend Buster Welch, a man he ranked in a class by himself.

“That man has more going for him with a horse than any human being I’ve ever seen,” he said in a 1991 interview with Sally Harrison. “He’ll do things different than anyone you’ll ever see. He never stops his cow in the herd. He just drives it out.

“One time he showed a horse called Rey Jay’s Pete. I called him a saddle horse, a Tennessee Walker, (I know that wasn’t right [Rey Jay's Pete was out of a Thoroughbred mare]. In the back of my mind, I said, can a saddle horse do this kind of stuff? But he did it and he won the Futurity. He’s a man I really admire and I love to watch him.”

Ashley’s all-time favorite horse was Sugar Vaquero, the 1973 NCHA World Champion under Bobby Sikes.

CD OLENA MOURNED BY MANY

BAR H RANCHE STALLION DIED AUG. 6 FROM A RUPTURED AORTA

By Steve Warren
Aug. 20, 2010
“Every horseman gets one great horse, CD Olena was mine.” Winston Hansma, August 13, 2010.

CD Olena, the 1994 NCHA Cutting Futurity Champion and 1995 NCHA Cutting Derby Champion and a leading NCHA sire died from a ruptured aorta on Friday, Aug. 6, 2010 at Hartman’s Equine Reproduction Center in Whitesboro, Texas, where he stood the 2010 breeding season. David Hartman DVM had leased CD Olena for the 2010-2013 breeding seasons from Bobby Pidgeon’s Bar H Ranche, located in Moscow, Tenn., and Weatherford, Texas.

The 19-year-old stallion, bred by Pidgeon, a successful non-professional cutter, was sired by the industry’s legendary sire Doc O’Lena out of the great mare CD Chica San Badger by Peppy San Badger and out of Zorra Chica by Otoe. He made a huge impact on the cutting horse industry and his untimely death will be felt by all.

CD Olena sired 1,136 AQHA-registered foals, of which 578 went on to perform. According to Robin Glenn Pedigrees, 555 were money earners in cutting and reining of close to $14 million, averaging $25,196. His daughters produced 865 foals with 158 going on to perform in the show pen and 144 of those earning over $4.65 million, for an average of $32,290. Sister CD, owned and shown by Skip and Elizabeth Queen, may be his best-known and highest money-earning off-spring with earnings of almost $730,000. Winston Hansma, who trained and showed CD Olena to the championship of the 1994 NCHA Futurity and the 1995 NCHA Derby, felt that CD Olena “had all the variables that we look for when we try to raise horses. He had the right size and conformation.”

But he came by his talent naturally, being sired by Doc O’Lena, one of the leading sires in the performance horse industry, and out of CD Chica San Badger, who was originally purchased from the King Ranch by Lonnie Allsup. She was then purchased and shown by Buster and Sheila Welch with great success. In 1988, Pidgeon purchased her for the Bar H Ranche breeding program and Winston was instrumental in arranging for CD Chica San Badger to be bred to Doc O’Lena. The rest is cutting horse history.

By the time CD Chica San Badger was retired from the cutting arena, she had earnings of $279,038, including championships of the 1987 TQHA National Stakes 4-Year-Old Open and Non-Pro, Bonanza 4-Year-Old Non-Pro, the Augusta 4-Year-Old Non-Pro Futurity and the 1988 PCCHA Open Classic. She was also the Reserve Champion of the 1987 Non-Pro NCHA Derby.

According to Winston, CD Olena was the best 2-year-old he ever rode. Hansma said that CD Olena’s first 30 days on cattle didn’t show anything special but by the end of 30 days, CD Olena had figured out what was expected of him and started to really show something. By the fall of his 2-year-old year, CD Olena was the strongest and smartest horse on a cow that Winston had ridden. The pair finished fifth at the NCHA Open Super Stakes Open and seventh at the Bonanza Open 4-year-old – besides his major wins at the NCHA Futurity and Derby. Some felt that only ‘sticky’ cows kept him from winning the NCHA Triple Crown. CD Olena had lifetime earnings of $170,706.42.

Winston went on to say that CD Olena was a “bright-lights horse” who knew when the big money was up and people were in the stands. He knew when there was a huge crowd in the stands watching and would perform accordingly. After his NCHA win, CD Olena “knew he was a champion and thought everyone should look up to him.”

Winston was recently reminded by his loper, Nyoka Johnson, of a quirk CD Olena developed after his Futurity win where he started hanging his tongue out of his mouth. He wouldn’t do this while showing, only afterward, as if to say “look at me, I am the champion.”

Winston put CD Olena at the top of his list of great horses followed by Dual Pep and CD Lights or “Boss,” an up-and-coming son of CD Olena that Winston owns with Danny Motes.

Winston felt it was compelling that Pidgeon had moved his mares and many of his babies back to his place in Tennessee and leased the Bar H in Texas to Paul Hansma at almost the same time as CD Olena died.

CD Olena, the 1995 NCHA Horse Of The Year and the No. 5 leading cutting sire at the time of his death, was buried on the Bar H Ranche by Paul Hansma, Winston’s brother and recently announced as the current manager/lessee of the ranch.

DON WHEELER PASSES AWAY AT 74

June 28, 2010 – Canton, Texas
Don Wheeler, 74, Canton, Texas, passed away on Sunday morning, June 27, only two days before he and his wife, Ellen’s 26th wedding anniversary. Don was a well-known NCHA AAA judge and he and his wife, Ellen, produced the Texas Futurity in Waco, Texas. He died of a heart attack following treatment for lung cancer.

He was born Oct. 23, 1935 in Grand Saline to Wilford Omer and Georgia Mae King Wheeler. He served in the U.S. Army for three years and the Navy for four years. He worked for seven years at Letourneau Mfg., on several ranches, was an inspector for the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC), a paint contractor and most recently was an independent owner/operator truck driver. He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Betty Yarbrough and also grandson Marcus Cox.

Survivors include his wife; twin sons, Tim Wheeler and Sandy Thompson, Athens, Texas and Tom Wheeler and wife Wendy of Jacksonville, Fla; son, Tony Wheeler, Dalhart; twins John Wheeler and wife Stacie, Marshall, Texas and Jodie Hicks and husband James, Otterberg, Germany; daughter, Tami Chew and husband Dennis, Malakoff, Texas; stepchildren, Alton Hargrave and wife Barbara, Warren, Texas; Gil Hargrave and wife Starla, Athens, Texas; Earl Hargrave and wife Lynn, Hurst, Texas; Ann Hargrave and Tim Teague, Austin, Texas; Donna Whittaker, Raweena, Texas, and Jerry Stevens, Murfreesborough, Tenn; sister and brother-in-law, Billie and O.D. Hazel, Fruitvale; 24 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and numerous other relatives and friends.

Pallbearers will be Tommy Wheeler, Robert Wheeler, Heath Wheeler, Austen Hargrave, Ed Earl Hargrave, Wesley Hargrave and Gordon Martens. Honorary pallbearers will be Andrew Wheeler, Jordan Hicks and Marcus Cox, his grandson who joined Don on June 28.

The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Monday, June 28, at the Bartley Funeral Home, Grand Saline, Texas. The funeral is scheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 29, at the funeral home with Don Cannon officiating.

LENAS LUCINDA PUT DOWN AT AGE 28

By Glory Ann Kurtz
June 23, 2010
Lenas Lucinda, a 1982 daughter of Doc O’Lena out of Krissie Moon by Moon Crystal was put to sleep on June 1 at the age of 28. The great mare had over $161,760 in lifetime earnings, including a fourth place paycheck of $88,442 in the 1985 NCHA Open Futurity.

However, the mare’s greatest claim to fame was as a producer, being the dam of 14 foals earning $893,695.74 – for an average of $63,835 per offspring. Her highest money-earning foal was SPL Altisimo, a 1991 daughter of Sugar Pep Leo owned by Tommy Manion, with over $192,492 in lifetime earnings, including the championship of the 1995 Steamboat Springs 4-Year-Old Non-Pro, second in the NCHA Non-Pro Derby and a money earner at the NCHA Non-Pro Super Stakes. She also was Reserve Champion of the El Cid 4-Year-Old Non-Pro.

In 1996 she finished fourth in the NCHA Non-Pro Super Stakes Classic, was Reserve Champion of the Augusta Non-Pro Cutting Classic and finished third at the Memphis Non-Pro Classic. In 1997, she won the Augusta Non-Pro Cutting Classic and was second in the Open Division. She won the championship of the Gold Coast Winter 5/6-Year-Old Non-Pro, split the Reserve at The Bonanza 5/6-Year-Old Non-Pro and was fourth in the NCHA Non-Pro Super Stakes Classic.

Lucindas Catolena, a 2003 daughter of High Brow Cat wasn’t far behind with $173,641 in lifetime earnings, including a $69,458 paycheck for splitting 12th in the 2006 NCHA Open Futurity. In 2007, she was seventh in the NCHA Open Super Stakes, among many other accolades.With $171,951, Lenas Dualin, a 2002 son of Dual Pep, was a finalist in the 2005 NCHA Open Futurity. Her youngest offspring to show was Lena Peptolena, a 2006 son of Peptoboonsmal, with earnings of $16,784, including being a money-earner in the 2009 NCHA Open Futurity and 2010 NCHA Open Super Stakes.

Bred by Shorty Freeman, Inc., and sold by such well-known owners as the Oxbow Ranch and Carl Turner, she was owned during her show career by Tim Brewer, Weatherford, Texas, who purchased her in 1997 from James H Thomas, Savannah, Tenn.

BILL ELLARD PASSES AWAY FOLLOWING A VALIANT BATTLE WITH CANCER

March 17, 2010
Bill and Jo Ellard shown at their 2005 EE Ranches Sale.
Photo by Kurtz

They were called the “couple dedicated to the next generation" when they were selected as honorees at the 2010 Fort Worth Stock Show Open Hereford Show. Bill and Jo Ellard supported the National Junior Hereford Association as well as the National Youth Cutting Horse Association for many years. However, the story of that highly successful and generous couple ended yesterday, March 16, when Bill lost his battle with cancer.

Bill and Jo created EE Ranches, which not only includes a cutting horse training operation outside of Pilot Point, Texas, and a state-of-the-art stallion station just north of Whitesboro, Texas, but also ranching operations in Mississippi, Kansas, Texas and Wyoming. Their extensive Hereford cattle operation has two locations – the original ranch in Jo’s hometown of Winona, Miss., and the more recently acquired ranch in the rolling Flint Hills of southeast Kansas, near Fall River. They also have an alfalfa hay operation near Wheatland, Wyo.

Bill was an Arkansas native, who in 1973 founded the National Teachers Associates Life Insurance Company in Dallas and has grown the company into one of the nation’s premier supplemental health insurance companies. At the time of his death, he served as Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO. Jo was a native of Mississippi and worked as a critical care administrator in Jackson. Both loved the Western lifestyle – Bill rode bulls in high school and Jo rode horses.

The Ellards began their career in the Registered Hereford business when they purchased the George Harris, Circle H Ranch at Winona and a number of Hereford cattle at the famed Circle H Ranch Dispersal Sale in November 1982. Those cattle and others purchased from established breeders, laid the foundation for the Advance Domino genetics predominate in the current EE Hereford Ranch cow herd.

Their EE Ranches built its original cutting horse training facility near Pilot Point, Texas in 1985. With first Roy Cox, then Guy Woods as their trainers, they have bred horses winning over $3.8 million, making them some of the leading breeders in the industry. The EE Ranches Stallion Station was constructed in the fall of 2002 and now is home to 12 resident stallions. Full breeding services, including shipped and frozen semen, embryo transfer, foal-out and year-round mare care are offered.

Winners of the 2009 NCHA Futurity Gelding Incentive Award sponsored by the stallions standing at EE Ranches.

They have bred and campaigned successful stallions such as Cat Ichi, DJ Tracker, Laker Doc and Monarcat. Also standing at the facility are Athena Puddy Cat, Duals Blue Boon, Freckles Fancy Twist, High Brow Cougar, Lizzys Gotta Player, Nitas Wood, Power Proof, Smart Little Levi and Spots Hot. The Ellards also created a high-paying gelding award for NCHA Futurity gelding entries sired by stallions stand at EE Ranches Stallion Station.

Bill and Jo invested their time and resources enriching the lives of youth through the National Junior Hereford Association and the National Youth Cutting Horse Association, which Jo organized and established in 1992. Bill and Jo presented the Hereford Youth Foundation with the leading gift of $200,000 to kick off the $5 million Capital Endowment Campaign. Their influence on the cattle/horse industries and its youth has been far-reaching and will continue to be an influence for generations to come.

The couple has two grown sons: Brian, who lives in Dallas and is the President of National Teacher Associates Inc., and affiliated agencies, and Chad, a professional sailor currently finishing the final journey of his around-the-world sailing expedition. They also have two granddaughters: Brinson and Campbell.

Funeral services will be Saturday, March 20 at 10:30 a.m. at the Lee Funeral Home, Winona, Miss., (662-283-4515), with visitation the evening before from 5-7 p.m.. There will be a memorial service in Dallas on Sunday, March 28 at the Bent Tree Country Club. (972-931-7326) at 2 p.m., followed by a reception. Memorial donations may be made to NCHA's Youth Summer Cutting Scholarship Program, 260 Bailey Ave., Fort Worth, TX 76107
Some excerpts in this article are reprinted with permission from the January 2010 issue of Texas Hereford.

RUSS DEASON, A TRUE HORSEMAN

Jan. 17, 2010
Russ Deason, 70, a cutting horse trainer, passed away Jan. 13 at his home in Pensacola, Fla.

Russell “Russ” Deason, 70, a cutting horse trainer from Pensacola, Fla., passed away at 12:30 a.m., Jan. 13 at his home.

Born in Evergreen, Ala., on June 14, 1939, Russ began riding Western Pleasure in the 1950’s. He then developed an interest in cutting as a spectator at the AQHA cuttings in the 1960’s. One of his greatest mentors was Buster Welch, who he considered as one of his good friends and the Master of Cutting.

He considered his greatest accomplishments in the cutting industry as his 1976 World Championship on Mr Blue Bid and a second World Champion on Pride of Honcho. From 1980-1982, he worked for Helen Groves' Silverbrook Farms in Virginia.

With lifetime earnings topping $116,852, Russ had many great accomplishments, including: the 1978 $500 Novice Horse Champion of Florida CHA; 1983, trained Doc’s Royal Sug, a finalist at the NCHA Open Futurity; 1984, a finalist at the NCHA Super Stakes and a finalist at the Jackson, Miss., Summer Cutting Circuit; 1985 Reserve Open Champion of the Heart of Dixie Cutting Association, Reserve Open Champion of Area 16, Open Futurity Champion of the SECHA riding Mist of Luck owned by Billy Hilyer, Reserve Open Champion of the $3,000 Novice Horse at the Area Workoffs in Jackson, Miss., and qualified for an NCHA Bronze Award riding Peppys Scolder.

He was also the 1987 SECHA Futurity Open Champion riding Macajoy Lynx owned by Roger Odum; 1988 National Champion, $1,500 Novice Horse; 1990 Southern Futurity $3,000 Novice Horse finalist and 1991 Augusta Fall Futurity Champion and placed third at the Southern Futurity riding Little Tanquery
A supporter of Area 14 cuttings, Russ was a great friend who was dedicated to the sport of cutting and his wonderfully family, including his wife of 41 years, Janice Minshew Deason, and his children Redetha, Rusty and Josh – as well as grandchildren Courtney and Brianna. Deason Cutting Horses is being operated by his son Josh and Russ’s wife, Janice, in honor of Russ.

Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 19 and the funeral will be held Wednesday, Jan. 20 at 10 a.m. at the Pensacola Memorial Gardens, 7433 Pine Forest Road, Pensacola, FL 32526. Send your cards and letters to Janice Deason, 5845 Beulah Church Rd., Pensacola, FL 32526 (850) 944-2350.

FLOYD MILLER’S GREAT MARE CATTILION SUCCUMBS TO COLIC

TWO WEEKS LATER, HARLEY, HER 3-YEAR-OLD MAKES FINALS OF THE 2009 NCHA OPEN FUTURITY WITH WESLEY GALYEAN

By Glory Ann Kurtz
Jan. 10, 2010 – Bayfield, Colo.
Cattillion shown enjoying retirement at Floyd Miller's Cottonwood Springs Ranch in Bayfield, Colo.

Cattilion, a 2001 daughter of High Brow Cat out of Staraleno by Grays Starlight, had been living out her retirement years on Floyd Miller’s Cottonwood Springs Ranch in Bayfield, Colo. However, the great mare succumbed to a bout of colic on Saturday, Jan. 2 at the Oklahoma Equine Hospital in Washington, Okla., where she was being boarded in anticipation of the 2010 breeding season.

Her loss happened only a little more than two weeks after Harley, her 3-year-old gelded son of Spots Hot, collected his first paycheck of $31,033 for being a finalist in the NCHA Open Futurity. Bred by Tim Barry, Byron, Ill., who had purchased Cattilion from Jerry Durant, Weatherford, Texas, as a 3-year-old in 2005, Harley was owned by Wesley and Kristen Galyean, Claremore, Okla., and ridden by Wesley.

“She passed away very quickly and didn’t suffer,” said Miller talking about Cattilion. “I was thankful for that.”

Miller purchased Cattilion at the 2006 NCHA Preferred Breeders Sale Session 1 during the NCHA Futurity from Billy and Kyla Taylor, Savannah, Ga., for $150,000. With over $150,391 in lifetime earnings, the great mare, bred by Stephan L. Ralston MD, Ogden, Utah, had been a finalist in the 2004 NCHA Open Futurity, earning $37,247, and won the Larry Hall Cutting Stakes Open Award for $92,960. She also was a finalist at the Augusta and Memphis 4-Year-Old Non-Pro Futurity and the Memphis 4-Year-Old Open Futurity. She was also a money earner at the 2005 NCHA Non-Pro Derby. At the time that Miller purchased the mare, she was bred to Bet On Me 498.

According to Miller, after the mare’s death, her ovaries were harvested and shipped to Dr. Carnevale at CSU’s Equine Science Lab. “I knew that if anyone in the world could pull off a miracle and get us just one more Cattilion foal, it was her,” said Miller. “They recovered 12 oocytes which we bred to Dual Rey with the help of Linda Holmes. I called Linda on a Sunday and interrupted her in the middle of yoga class to ask if she’d help me. It was amazing, she dropped what she was doing and helped make it possible to breed to her incredible stallion.”

Unfortunately, the team of Miller, Holmes and Dr. Carnevale was too late to successfully get any embryos, but they at least knew that they had given it their best try.

“Cattilion was young and had tremendous potential with Harley being one of her first foals,” said Miller. “It was very exciting for us to watch Wesley Galyean ride Harley in the finals. He had a bit of tough luck with the cows, gut it was obvious that Hartley’s going to be a terrific show horse.

Miller, who was an advertising executive with a technology background with such major companies as Microsoft, Sun Micro, Symantec, Lotus and Apple, is involved in breeding horses for the working cow horse industry, and along with his partner Michael Moynihan and adopted daughter Lehua, has put together an impressive group of broodmares at his ranch located near Durango, Colo. One such great mare is Kwackin, a daughter of Dual Pep out of Crackin by Smart Little Lena, and the producer of offspring that have won over $403,669. Miller purchased the AQHA Reined Cow Horse Broodmare of the Year and Equi-Stat’s Leading Reined Cowhorse producer in 2006. She was the high-selling horse of the 2008 NCHA Super Stakes Sale, bringing a final bid of $265,000 for consignors Jack and Linda Kenney, Millsap, Texas.

In October, he traveled to the James Vangilder dispersal sale in Weatherford, Texas, where he purchased Poosmal, a 1997 daughter of Peptoboonsmal out of Hickpoo by Doc’s Hickory, bred to Mecom Blue. The great mare, with four offspring earning over $600,000, was the third high-selling horse of the sale, bringing a final bid of $235,000 from Miller.

“Cattilion was very fertile and we are fortunate to have a wonderful 2-year-old filly by Shining Spark in training with Jake Telford, named Shiners Bling Cat, with a Shining Spark and Peptoboonsmal weanling here at the ranch and three Shiners and a Peptoboonsmal on their way in 2010,” said Miller. “Cattilion will likely have a great produce record and hopefully be replaced in our program by one of her daughters.”

WARD RIVER RANCH STANDING STALLION, SMART PEPPY DOC, DIES AT 24

Nov. 8, 2009 - Kingsburg, Calif.
Smart Peppy Doc, a full brother to Smart Little Lena, was put down on Nov. 5 at the age of 24. He was standing at the Ward River Ranch.

Ward River Ranch stallion, Smart Peppy Doc, was euthanized on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009 at the age of 24, due to the infirmities of old age.

Smart Peppy Doc, born in 1985, was sired by Doc O’Lena and out of the great mare Smart Peppy. He was a full brother to Smart Little Lena. During his cutting career, the bay stallion was an Open finalist in the 1989 NCHA Super Stakes, Memphis 4-Year-Old Open Futurity, Bonanza Derby and Sunbelt Open Maturity. As a 5- & 6-year old, he was the 1991 NCHA Open Challenge Reserve Champion and the 1991 Augusta Open Classic Reserve Champion. He had lifetime earnings of $124,489.

Throughout his breeding career, Smart Peppy Doc sired earners of more than $1.4 million including: Smart Peppy Quixote, earner of $195,238; Smart April, earner of over $72,000; Rio Smart, earner of $55,404 and Rolladaker, earner of over $48,000.

“He was the kindest horse I have ever known,” said Dar Hanson, Ward River Ranch manager. “He will be greatly missed.”

Smart Peppy Doc was owned by a syndicate. Syndicate manager Pepper Snyder said, "I am deeply saddened by the passing of Smart Peppy Doc. I've been very fortunate to have owned two great horses, Smart Peppy Doc and Doc's Remedy. They were both great horses that possessed wonderful dispositions. I want to thank Dar Hanson for the great care he gave Smart Peppy Doc during the many years he stood at his facility."

Smart Peppy Doc was laid to rest in the shade of an oak tree on the Ward River Ranch where he had spent so many years. For more information on Smart Peppy Doc, visit HYPERLINK "http://www.wardriverranch.com" www.wardriverranch.com or call (559) 897-8616.

TODAY’S NEWS

By Glory Ann Kurtz
Nov. 4, 2009
Kathy Lee Shaughnessy, Co-Director of the Charles Goodnight Gala, dies at age 58 and the original painting by Orren Mixer of Wimpy P-1 will be auctioned off Sunday, Nov. 15 during the AQHA World Show Sale.

KATHY LEE SHAUGHNESSY, CO-DIRECTOR OF CHARLES GOODNIGHT GALA, DIES AT AGE 58

Kathy Lee Shaughnessy, co-director of the Charles Goodnight Gala, dies at 58.

Kathy Lee Shaughnessy, 58, Arlington, Texas, who helped direct the Charles Goodnight Gala, held each year during the NCHA Futurity and was the executive assistant to the publisher of the Fort Worth Star Telegram, died Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009.

Mrs. Shaughnessy was born Nov. 2, 1950, in St. Louis, Mo., daughter of the late James Spencer Adsit and Dorothy Ballmer Adsit. She was also the owner of Bearfoot Gifts.

She is survived by her husband of 26 years, Steve Shaughnessy; sons, Ian Shaughnessy and Ryan Hope of Arlington; grandson, Blake Boyd of Cape Canaveral, Fla.; sisters, Judy Notestine of St. Louis, Mo., Bonnie Overton and husband, Joe, of Shiner, Vicki Johnson of Shiner, and Laury Gelardi and husband, Bob, of Destin, Fla.; sisters-in-law, Kathy Hope of St. Louis, Mo., and Regina Hegger and husband, Gary, of Charlotte, N.C.; and numerous nephews, nieces, great-nephews and great-nieces. She was preceded in death by her infant daughter, Kelly Ann

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 5819 W. Pleasant Ridge Road, Arlington. The Rev. Thomas L. Craig will be the celebrant. Interment: private. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the American Heart Association .

WIMPY P-1 ORIGINAL PAINTING TO BE AUCTIONED OFF AT AQHA WORLD SHOW SALE
The original painting of Wimpy P-1 by Orren Mixer will be auctioned off at the AQHA World Show Sale, Nov. 15.

An important offering of one of the iconic images in AQHA history, the original oil painting of Wimpy P-1 by Orren Mixer, will be offered at the World Championship Show Sale on Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009. Rex Cauble commissioned the painting from Orren Mixer. The current owner Reynolds Moreland, III is the second owner.
Click here for more information>>

SHINING SPARK NRCHA’S FIRST $3 MILLION SIRE

Press Release from NRCHA
Oct. 21, 2009
Shining Spark by Orren Mixer

At the 2007 National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA) Snaffle Bit Futurity, Shining Spark made history as the first NRCHA $2 million sire when his offspring won enough during the event to propel him past that milestone. Two years later, his talented progeny did it again - and he became the association's first $3 million sire - and he did it before any other horse could reach the $2 million mark!

Of the 19 Shining Spark offspring that competed in the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity in 2009, 13 made their way to the various finals and earned $233,558 in the process. The total earnings of his foals at the event were $246,640.

The venerable stallion's spark has been more of a blaze in the past year! At the 2008 National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Futurity last December, a Shining Spark
daughter, Shining N Sassy, won the Open Division and $175,000! Those earnings helped push Shining Spark over the $3 Million Mark in NRHA offspring earnings. At that event, 11 of the Open finalists were by "Shiner" or out of one of his daughters.

With this latest NRCHA accolade, Shining Spark has become the only stallion in history with earnings exceeding the $3 million mark in both associations. With so many visible achievers, it might seem that there were simply a lot of Shining Spark get "out there" but nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, the 13 foals that made the Snaffle Bit Futurity finals were from a crop of less than 60. With Shiner, it's long been a case of quality over quantity.

Owner Carol Rose has been candid about the repercussions of his bout with chondritis in 1999 and how the subsequent life-saving treatment had a lifelong effect on his fertility, forever reducing the amount of mares he was able to breed yearly. Shining Spark's book is now closed to the public as the career-haunting fertility issue has become increasingly a factor at the age of 21. However, over 50 mares were bred in both 2008 and 2009, and Rose noted that that number is expected to be the same in 2010.

How did the admittedly talented stallion quietly become such an icon in the performance horse breeding industry? Rose smiled, and then responded, "I think that so much of him goes to his babies - no matter what mare they're out of - and regardless of if they are a stallion, gelding or mare – they are the same. They have a great attitude; they're athletic and huge stoppers, they can really run and they can turn around. Most of Shiner's foals have very strong hocks and are really strong over their loin. They've got good conformation, good bone."

She continued, "They're also very sensitive, very willing, they want to do the right things and they love to work cattle. You don't want to abuse them or force them - just show them what you want and they'll work their hearts out. They have a huge work ethic."

The Shining Spark foals came of age at a perfect time to show their prowess on bovines, as the reined cow horse industry was booming. That suited Carol just fine. Originally from California, she had ridden reined cow horses from the age of six and even when she moved to Texas and began riding cutters, she had always retained a soft spot in her heart for that event.

"Cutting and cow horses have always been my passion. When NRCHA became more universal I went that direction with the Shiners because his foals were inclined to be good on cattle and they could do the rein work so well. I never set out to make him a million dollar sire or a $2 million sire. His foals have spoken for themselves and won with premier trainers and with Non Pros. I thank everyone who has believed in this program and in Shiner's babies and appreciate their support," she said.

And while Shining Spark's progeny have obviously excelled in competition, they have carried on their sire's legacy and have begun producing winners of their own. "Shining Spark's sons are making a definite impact on the industry," Rose said. "And the Shining Spark mares add nothing but strength to the bottom side of almost every pedigree. They are proving to be some of the most desired broodmares in the cow horse and reining industries today."

Rose and Shiner have been a team from the beginning and her voice shows her love for this horse. "I owned and showed Genuine Doc's mother, Gay Bar's Gen, bred, raised, and showed Genuine Doc, then bred, raised and am still promoting Shining Spark. These horses are my family. Shiner is my family." And like her famous stallion, Carol has been honored as well. She was inducted into the NRCHA Hall of Fame in 2004, and in 2010 will become a member of the American Quarter Horse Association Hall of Fame.

PEPTOBOONSMAL TO STAND AT ESMS ON THE BRAZOS IN WEATHERFORD, TEXAS, FOR THE 2010 BREEDING SEASON

Oct. 9, 2009 – Weatherford, Texas
Peptoboonsmal, the sire of offspring earning close to $14.6 million in the performance horse arena, will stand the 2010 breeding season at the new breeding facility ESMS On The Brazos in Weatherford, Texas.

Peptoboonsmal, one of the leading sires of performance horses, owned by Jackson Land and Cattle, LLC, will stand the 2010 season at ESMS on the Brazos, a new facility in Weatherford, Texas. ESMS on the Brazos, Equine Reproduction Center & Fertility Lab, is the newest division of Equine Sports Medicine and Surgery.

The creation and expansion of a new world-class reproduction division is a natural step for this practice which prides itself on being cutting edge in the industry. In October, the practice purchased a magnificent 60-acre horse ranch located on the banks of the Brazos River and named it ESMS on the Brazos. The new facilities include several oversized paddocks with run-in sheds, impressive exercise facilities, a show barn, meeting facilities, offices and housing. Currently under construction are a new stallion barn, mare motels and a state-of-the-art reproduction center and fertility lab. The entire facility will include 24-hour supervision, seven days per week. The new facilities will be completed in time for the 2010 breeding season.

The new division will be headed by two of the leading reproduction veterinarians in the industry: Dr. Kory Niswender, and Dr. Semira Mancill. ESMS on the Brazos will offer a full range of equine breeding and reproduction services including advance reproductive techniques in semen processing, embryo transfer, sub-fertile mare breeding, on-site uterine cytology, culture, and biopsy diagnostics.

“We are extremely excited about the arrival of the premier stud Peptoboonsmal,” said Kirk Eddleman, CEO of ESMS. “To be able to introduce our new facility with such a legendary stallion is an honor and shows a great deal of confidence in our team.”

“This has been an extremely important decision for Jackson Land and Cattle,” said Richard Fields, owner of Jackson Land and Cattle and Peptoboonsmal. “Finding the perfect partnership of stallion services, professional veterinary skills, facilities, and commitment to superior client and mare support was essential to our decision. We believe we have found the perfect setting to stand Peptoboonsmal. In addition, we would like to thank all of the various facilities that had shown an interest in standing Peptoboonsmal, as well as all of the individuals who contributed their time and energy into making this final decision.”

For information contact Tracy Ross at Jackson Land & Cattle LLC (307) 732-1011 or the Pepto Team at (817) team-247 / (817) 832-6247 or visit www.peptothelegend.com

About Jackson Land and Cattle, LLC
Located on over 2,000 acres in the historic Spring Gulch corridor of Jackson Hole, Wyo., Jackson Land and Cattle, LLC (JLC) is steeped in ranching tradition and is home to a premier cutting and working cow-horse operation. Peptoboonsmal, a son of Peppy San Badger out of Royal Blue Boon by Boon Bar, was the 1995 NCHA Futurity Champion and earner of close to $180,500 prior to becoming the sire of offspring earning close to $14.6 million in the performance horse arena.

About Equine Sports Medicine and Surgery (ESMS)
Established in 2001 through the partnership of Dr.’s Ivey, Hurlbert and Fox, ESMS began with the vision of a state-of-the-art equine medical and surgery facility. It has since grown into one of the premier equine medical practices in the United States offering a full spectrum of services including internal medicine, surgery, racetrack, , chiropractics, acupuncture, performance, ambulatory, digital radiology, ultrasound, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, new 24-hour critical care facility, an on-site Veterinary Reference laboratory, and a world-class equine reproduction center and fertility lab. ESMS treats a variety of performance, breeding and companion horses throughout the southwestern United States.

About Dr. Kory Niswender
Dr. Niswender comes to ESMS after spending six breeding seasons at Reata Equine Hospital as a reproductive specialist. He earned his Master’s degree and did his residency in the Equine Reproduction Laboratory at Colorado State University and in 2003, became a Diplomate of the American College of Theriogenologists, qualifying him as a reproductive specialist. His special interests include techniques for treating subfertility in mares, breeding mares with frozen semen and embryo transfers.

About Dr. Semira Mancill
Dr. Mancill comes to ESMS after completing a reproduction residency under world-renowned theriogenologists Dr. Dickson Varner and Dr. Katrin Hinrichs at Texas A&M University. Under their guidance and support Dr. Mancill gained experience in the latest technology that equine reproduction has to offer. Her master’s research focused on the advanced semen processing techniques of cushioned cetrifugation, EquiPure™ centrifugation and semen cryopreservation. She earned her Master’s Degree and her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine in 2005, both from Texas A&M University.

CHARLES MAYNARD PASSES AWAY AT AGE 60

Sept. 19, 2009
Charles G. Maynard shown doing what he loved best - cutting.

Charles G. Maynard, 60, Stanfield, Ariz., whose passion was raising, training and ridding cutting horses, passed away on Sept. 12 in Denver, Colo. He was 60.

The longtime member of the NCHA served as an NCHA director for Arizona for many years. He won numerous buckles and saddles and also an NCHA Non-Pro Bronze award. Charles, who was born July 22, 1949 in Antlers, Okla., to Goffrie and Aline Maynard, served in the United State Army during the Vietnam War era. He achieved the rank of Sargeant within 18 months.

He is survived by his wife Kathy Maynard, Stanfield; children: Chuck Maynard and his wife Amber of Antlers, Stephen Maynard and his wife Barbara of Hugo, Pamela Alexander and her husband Tom of Antlers, David Rogers of Scottsdale, Ariz., and Kerrie STumpf and husband Ryan of Winterspring, Fla.; sisters: Melba Musgrave of Oklhaoma City, Betty Waugeman and husband Jim of Oklahoma City, Linda Rabel and husband Frank of Pampa, Texas, as well as numerous grandchildren, nieces and nephews and many other relatives and friends.

Arrangements are being made by Mills & Coffey Funeral Home of Antlers. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m.., Monday, SEpt. 21, at the First Assembly of God Church. Officiating will be the Reverend Robert Weeks and Pamela Alexander. Pallbearers will be Sam Tigert, Joey Mills, Donald Walls, Billy Carawaqy, Gary Tali and Howard Boyd. Honorary pallbearers are Bill Glass, Charles Taylor and Roger Vandever. Interment will be at the Rattan Cemetery, Rattan, Okla. Send your sympathies to Kathy at 34395 W. Solano Ave., Stanfield, Ariz. 85272.

DR BOB HILLMAN, TEXAS STATE VETERINARIAN, TO RETIRE

NATIONWIDE EXCECUTIVE SEARCH TO BE CONDUCTED

Sept. 19, 2009
Dr. Bob Hillman, Texas’ state veterinarian and executive director of the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC), has announced that he will retire Dec. 31, ending his nearly seven-year tenure with the state’s livestock and poultry health regulatory agency. The TAHC’s 13 governor-appointed commissioners will establish a committee to conduct a nationwide search to fill Dr. Hillman’s position.

“I have wrestled with the decision to retire, but it is time to put family first,” Dr. Hillman told TAHC commissioners in his announcement. “Texas has made progress in many of our livestock health programs, and we have challenges to overcome in others. Just about every major disease event that has occurred in the United States in the past 6 ½ years has impacted Texas and our livestock industries. With the support of TAHC commissioners and the livestock and poultry industry, we have addressed and resolved many of these issues.”

"Our search committee will look within the TAHC and across the nation for the veterinarian who will best fill the enormous gap created by Dr. Hillman’s retirement," said Mr. Ernie Morales, TAHC chairman and the feedlot representative on the commission

Dr. Hillman, a large animal veterinarian for 35 years, served a short stint with the USDA in Texas, and worked in private practice in both Texas and Idaho. Lauded as one of the country’s most influential state veterinarians, Dr. Hillman was the 2001 president of the U.S. Animal Health Association, and has chaired the organization’s cattle tuberculosis, government relations and animal identification committees and served on the wildlife disease and brucellosis committees. He has served as president of the Western States Livestock Health Association, the National Assembly of State Animal Health Officials, and the Southern Animal Health Association. In 2007, he received the National Assembly Award, the highest honor from state regulatory animal health officials.

Dr. Hillman and his wife, Martha, will return to Idaho after retirement, where he can fish, hunt, pursue hobbies and they can spend time with their children and grandchildren. Dr. Hillman plans to retain strong ties to Texas and will work on animal health projects, but at a pace not requiring constant travel, agency management and endless work hours.

SUSIE WILSON PASSES AWAY

Sept 2, 2009
Susie Wilson, the wife of three-time NCHA President and 1991 NCHA World Champion Sam Wilson, Pattison, Texas, passed away on Tuesday morning, Sept. 1 at St. Luke's Hospital in Houston. Susie suffered from cancer, a side effect of the liver disease for which she received a liver transplant several years ago.

Visitation will be Thursday, Sept. 3, from 5-7 p.m. at Schmidt Funeral Home, 819 Walker Ave., Brooshire, Texas 77423 (281) 934-2424. The funeral will be Friday, Sept. 4 at 10 a..m. at the Church of Christ, 5458 E 5th St., Katy, Texas 7493-2521 (281) 391-7606. Burial will be in the Pattison Methodist Cemetery.

Susie was a competitive cutter in the 1960s and 1970s, and in 1969 was third in the NCHA Non-Pro World Championship. In 1970, she was the Non-Pro Reserve World Champion. According to the NCHA, she has lifetime earnings of over $82,800 and had earned the Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards.

Besides being the NCHA President in 1979, 1980, and 1981, Sam is in the NCHA Members Hall of Fame and NCHA Riders Hall of Fame. He rode the now-deceased stallion Bob Acre Doc, owned by Suzan Cardwell of Houston, to the NCHA World Championship in 1991. He also was Reserve Champion of the 1967 NCHA Futurity.
The Wilsons also owned the now-deceased stallion Son Ofa Doc, the sire of Bob Acre Doc. According to NCHA records, he has lifetime earnings of $565,000.

Send your condolences to Sam at the Wilson Ranch, P.O. Box 59, Pattison, TX 77466-0059.

HALL OF FAME AUCTIONEER DEAN PARKER DIES AT 78

Aug. 22, 2009
Dean Parker, 78, Logan, Utah, a well-known auctioneer and the owner of Dean H. Parker & Associates, passed away on Thursday, Aug. 20. He also founded the Smithfield Livestock Auction.

According to an article in the Cache Valley Daily News, Parker’s health had been declining since this spring, but he was still active with the livestock auction until just recently. He has been an auctioneer since 1949, and a former president and member of the National Auctioneers Association Hall of Fame since 1994. Parker’s specialty was horses and he said that the most expensive horse he ever sold was an Arabian stallion, bringing $3 million.

Parker’s father was in the livestock business and his greatest inspiration was when they went to a local auction every week. Later, he flew his own plane to auctions across the country. Even though his specialty was horses, he was the first auctioneer to llamas. He auctioned off an animal farm at one time that had been used to teach people how to handle animals – and the sale included camels, elephants, wolves, lions, tigers and llamas. When things got slow, he often would sing the “Auctioneer Song.”

He knew a good horse and owned many. At one time, he was a partner with Sid Huntley on the legendary stallion Sugar Bars, a AAA sprinter and a leading sire of race and performance horses.

He was a member of the Mormon (LDS) Church and served six missions for the church, including one in Hawaii. He leaves behind his wife of 54 years, Marilyn, seven children, 36 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

According to the Cache Valley Daily, there will be viewings on Tuesday, Aug. 25, from 6-8 p.m., and Wednesday, Aug. 26 from 10-11:30 a.m. His funeral will be held Wednesday at 12 noon at the Logan Stake Center on Three Point Avenue.

OAK HOMBRE LAID TO REST AT 29

By Glory Ann Kurtz
Aug. 4, 2009
Oak Hombre in April after he just finished playing with the babies. The royally bred gelding was recently laid to rest.

There’s an old saying that things happen in three’s, and Paige Strawn, Mt. Vernon, Ill., has discovered that could be true. During the past two weeks, she has lost three horses, with the latest being the royally bred and well-known 1980 gelding Oak Hombre, sired by Docs Oak out of Queen of King by King Skeet.

Bred by Mr. and Mrs. Tom Lyons, Grandview, Texas, Oak Hombre was owned by a variety of owners before Barry and Paige Strawn purchased him in June 2002 from M. L. Sherry & Lynn Schoonover, Osage City, Kan. Other owners included Ralph and Rae Dell Shelton, Arlington, Texas, Jack Smithhart, Terrell, Texas, Graham Tyson Evans, Carmel By The Sea, Calif., Dale Gash, Weatherford, Texas and Bryan Jackson, Canyon, Texas.

With lifetime earnings of over $132,000, Oak Hombre split third in the NCHA Non-Pro Derby, was Champion Gelding at the Chevy Nationals, Open Champion at the NCHA cutting at the Denver Nationals, split 4th in the Open of the PCCHA Non-Pro Cutting Stakes, Champion Gelding at Harrahs PCCHA Futurity and the Plains Non-Pro Maturity Reserve Champion.

Oak Hombre shown practicing his most recent occupation, toting Paige Strawn's niece, Gabriella, around on one of her first rides. Also shown is a neighbor and friend, who helps with the feeding.

Paige has favorite memories of the old gelding that she and her family nicknamed Grandpa. “We always called him Grandpa and it must have been prophetic because there was nothing he loved more than helping with the babies,” said Paige. “In fact, on his last night, one of this year’s babies by Meradas Blue Sue snuck through the fence to eat dinner with Grandpa. It was so cute. He loved playing with the babies and it was so funny to watch him go after them in his arthritic way. It’s like he forgot that was not easy for him anymore.”

The other horses Paige had to put down recently were Grandpa’s best friend Kindalucky, who was 25 and another friend, Cardanita, 28.

“A lot of people were involved in his career,” said Paige, referring to Oak Hombre, “and my heart is broken even though I know he was a happy boy right up until the end and had a happy life with us for the last seven years.”

PEPTOBOONSMAL TO BE RELOCATED FOR 2010 BREEDING SEASON

By Glory Ann Kurtz
July 29, 2009
Peptoboonsmal

Effective July 23, Peptoboonsmal, one of the performance horse industry’s leading sires, has been relocated by his owners, Richard Fields’ Jackson Land & Cattle LLC, Jackson Hole, Wyo. The Fields extend a sincere thank you to Carol Rose and her exceptional staff for their dedication and hard work to ensure the stallion's health and breeding while he was standing standing at Carol Rose Quarter Horses in Gainesville, Texas.

Rose has stood the 17-year-old NCHA Futurity Champion since he was purchased from Elaine Hall of Larry Hall Cutting Horses, Weatherford, Texas, in February 2007. She is the No. 1 all-time leading AQHA breeder of performance horses and a leading NRCHA and NRHA breeder. She is also scheduled to be inducted into the 2010 AQHA Hall of Fame.

Peptoboonsmal, a son of Peppy San Badger out of Royal Blue Boon, and the sire of offspring earning over $12.6 million in the cutting arena, will be relocated for the 2010 breeding season; however, where he will be standing has not yet been disclosed. According to Equi-Stat, he beautiful red-roan stallion was the second leading sire of cutting and reining horses for the past 10 years, with 461 offspring earning over $12.7 million. He also sired 21 reined cow horses for an additional $357,600 making a total of over $13 million won by his offspring over the past 10 years. Altogether his offspring have won over $14 million.

The stallion’s stud fee for 2009 was $18,000; however, Jackson Land & Cattle is running a lifetime breeding program which, if a mare is booked prior to Dec. 31, 2009, the booking will entitle the mare owner to a $15,000 fee for the first three mares, mare No. 4 and 5 will be $13,500 and the sixth mare is free. Additional mares will be $12,000 each. Due to the response from the lifetime breeding opportunity, the offer is scheduled to end on Dec. 31 – making it truly a lifetime opportunity.

Peptoboonsmal’s leading cutting offspring is Little Pepto Gal, with $523,055 in lifetime earnings, followed by Copaspepto, $431,831; One Time Pepto, $331,097; Freckles Lena Boon, $259,818; Sweet Lil Pepto, $236,843; Boonsmal Doctress, $215,193; Buckaroo Boon, $197,433; Royal Red Pepto, $177,657; Miss Stylish Pepto, $164,909 and Peptos Stylish Miss, $158,593.

Peptoboonsmal's son, Boonlight Dancer, tops the reined cow horse sire list with $118,286 in offspring earnings over the past 10 years. The beautiful roan stallion won the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity prior to his cutting career and currently is gaining recognition as the sire of Third Cutting, the winner of the Open Derby held during the NCHA Super Stakes. Ridden by Boyd Rice, Third Cutting is currently in the lead with a 438.5 following the first two go-rounds of the Open division of the NCHA Summer Spectacular Derby.

For further information contact Tracy Ross at Jackson Land & Cattle LLC., (307) 732-1011 or the Pepto Team at (817) 447-7373. Check out www.peptothelegend.com.

UNIQUE CENTURY CUTTING AT WESTERN STATES CUTTING FILLS THE BLEACHERS

AGES OF CHAMPIONS, WAYNE SURVANT AND DOC CITA, ADD UP TO 106 YEARS

Article and photos by Glory Ann Kurtz
July 18, 2009 – Colorado Springs, Colo.
Wayne Survant, 80, Rocky Ford, Colo., rode his 26-year-old mare Doc Cita to the Championship of the Century Cutting. Their ages added together totaled 106

A “Century Cutting,” consisting of two cutters and their mounts whose ages added up to over 100 years, filled the stands of a WSCHA & BnB cutting event held June 28 at the Penrose Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colo.

The winner, Wayne Survant, 80, riding his 26-year-old mare Doc Cita, with a total age of 106, won the event when during the last few seconds, James Autry, 79, and 23-year-old Budhas Mike lost a cow. The pair had a total age of 102. Both cutters were neighbors from Rocky Ford, Colo., who had cut against each other for years.

“That only happens about once every seven years,” said a disappointed Autry, after his gray gelding quit the cow and lost it. But both entrants were rewarded by a beautiful trophy buckle – with one saying “Champion” and the other “Reserve Champion.”

Wayne Survant, the champion, and James Autry, the Reserve Champion (middle) shown with helpers (from left) Robin Hayes, Nate Miller, Les Bates and Jim Mapes.

This was the second year for the unique event, which filled the spectator stands with relatives of Autry, who along with his wife, Joyce, were celebrating a family reunion during a year when they had been married for 60 years.

The inaugural Century Cutting was held last year in Garden City, Kan., with four entries and it was won by Jack Rydberg. Rydberg, a top Colorado breeder and cutter, was entered this year also but, according to Survant, “he fell the other day and cracked some ribs and broke his cheek bone – so he couldn’t come.” Autry, talking about Rydberg’s run last year, said, “He couldn’t even see. He’s blind as a bat – can’t see nothing. He told me ‘If something is fixin’ to run over me, just tell me’ We thought he might come this year. Even though he couldn’t see nothing, last year he showed better than I ever seen him show.”

Also, Milt Thomas of Garden City, Kan., was scheduled to enter; however didn’t show up. So then there were only two …

WAYNE SURVANT AND DOC CITA:
Wayne Survant and Doc Cita (left) shown with James Autry and Budhas Mike.

Survant, who will be 81 in August, purchased Doc Cita, a 1983 daughter of Docs Legend by Doc O’Lena out of Sail Away Cita by Sailalong, sired by Nick Shoemaker. Bred by Margaret Hammond, Peyton, Colo., the mare had gone through several owners before Survant purchased her 10 years ago in May 1999. He’s had fun with the mare over the years showing mainly in the Southern Colorado Cutting Horse Association, where he serves on the board, and the High Plains Cutting Horse Association.

But Survant also has a 17-year-old gelding that he feels is just as good, so he recently sold Doc Cita. “The guy that bought her lives next door to the high school boy that used her to win the All-Around title at the Colorado High School Finals,” said Survant. “He’s going to use her to train other rodeo kids. I have that 17-year-old at home and I don’t need two – especially with her age and all.”

Survant also started out his rodeo career at a college rodeo at Las Cruces, N.M. “There was no one there to get the bulls off the guys and I had been doing it at Colorado A&M, the college where we practiced,” said Survant. “All I had for a uniform was a Levi jacket, so I got to thinking that if I was going to do this, I was going to get paid for it.” Survant called Levi and they sent him two pair of Levis – size 52 around and 20 long. All the while, he was also rodeoing, even setting two bulldogging records.

From there, Survant started feeding show cattle for a wheat farmer. “This RCA rodeo came to Hettinger N.D., and a neighbor asked if I was going to bulldog. I told him, ‘No, I’m just working for farm wages and we just had a baby six months ago – I don’t have any money to pay for entry fees.’ The guy told me that he’d pay my entry fees for half of what I’d win. I told him, ‘Are you nuts – those guys are pros and I’m must an amateur.’

As most success stories go, Survant won the event, throwing his steer in 4.2 seconds – winning a go-round and the average.

From a rodeo career, Survant headed to Detroit, Mich., to run a 2,000-head brood cow operation and a 4,000-head feedlot. He was even featured on the front page of the Detroit Times. He even talked the owner into castrating and dehorning the cattle according to the “sign of the moon” after the owner lost a calf that swelled up, hid in the woods and bled to death. “After that, we never had any trouble,” said Survant. “I wean the same way.”

Survant took the first registered Quarter Horse stallion to Northern Michigan and was Grand Champion at the Michigan State Fair with a line-bred Old Jim horse named Tater Tuffy. He was sired by Tater and bred by Johnnie Burson. “He was being trained by Buster Welch, and when I sent my buddy to pick him up, Buster wanted to keep him because he was so smart,” said Survant, who drove truck for 24 years while his wife taught school. When his parents got so they couldn’t take care of themselves, they both retired and moved to Rocky Ford. “When they passed away, we just stayed,” said Survant.

It wasn’t long before he got involved with cutting horses and the Western States Cutting Horse Association. “I bought my first cutting-bred horse from the T-Cross ranch in 1990,” said Survant. “A guy told me that the best way to get into the business – since I didn’t have much money – was to buy a broodmare that used to be a cutting horse. So I bought Freckles Nugget from the T-Cross with a colt at her side and one in her. As it turned out, the two colts paid for her – and I cut on the mare for several years.”

Today, Survant, who was also a horse judge, is down to one horse. “I had three broodmares and colts and when the horse market started going bad, I took them all to Lamar College to have them broke and trained. I sure wasn’t going to pay a big breeding fee and then can’t get it back. All three that I sent there were ridden by the top rider and after they were broke, I sold them private.”

Survant and James Autry used to go cutting a lot but according to Survant, “It got to where it was too much driving.” Today he takes care of the barn, gets the cattle, and works the indoor arena up at Rocky Ford.

“Next year I can borrow Doc Cita,” said Survant. “The guy I sold her to said I could borrow her any time. My gelding is 17 – and I’ll soon be 81 – but that would only make 98 – so it will be two more years before I can use him in the Century Cutting.”

JAMES AUTRY AND BUDAS MIKE:
James Autry's relatives filled the spectator stands.

James Autry was raised in Dimmit, Texas, where he farmed and raised cattle for years. Although he rode a lot of horses on cattle, he didn’t start cutting until he was 60 years old. Then he bought a 7-year-old gray gelding named Budhas Mike, a 1986 gelding by Doc’s Budha by Doc Bar out of Chickasha Maud by Chickasha Mike. He had been bred by Dennie and Sue Dunn, Fort Worth, Texas, and Jay Parker Doelling, Gardendale, Texas, bought the gelding’s dam before he was born. Jay hired Willie Richardson to train him and sold him to Autry on Dec. 31, 1993. The match was highly successful.

Jim Mapes helped James Autry learn how to show a cutting horse.

“I have to attribute all I know about cutting to Jim Mapes,” said Autry. “he was a neighbor and we became friends. I stayed over at his house most of the time and his wife, Jan, finally said, ‘You’re going to have to teach him to cut to get him to go home.’ ”

Mapes must have done a good job of it as Autry and Budha won the $20,000 in the WSCHA two years and the $10,000 one year. They also won the Area 5 Year-End title in the $20,000 seven times. “In 1996, I finished 11th in the $10,000 in the Nation, I just didn’t realize it meant anything to get in the Top 10, so I just quit showing before the year was over,” said Autry, who soon learned the importance of the title. The next year, the pair finished in the Top 10 in the Nation in the $20,000 and Autry calls that his most important accomplishment.

“He’s been a once-in-a-lifetime horse,” said Autry. “Buster Welch seen him one day at Allsup’s (ranch) and he thought Budha was one of his kids – since he had been riding Chickasha Mike.”

However, Avery’s breathing started to get difficult and he had to use an oxygen tank when he cut. In 2008, he had a lung transplant, but he never was able to get weaned off the oxygen tank. “I can get along pretty good in Texas, but not here. At his home in Rocky Ford, the altitude is 4,300, “Anywhere from Wichita Falls down, I get along good,” said Autry.

“I guess the only reason I can cut with my oxygen tank on is because I don’t get nervous,” said Autry. The day of the cutting, Autry put a different oxygen tank with a different head on it behind the cantle of his saddle and “turned it up full blast.” Although several onlookers said that usually he still can’t get through a full run, on the day of the Century Cutting, he stayed hooked until the end.

Asked how long he plans to cut, Autry said, “I guess as long as I live. I don’t have any other health problems – if it wasn’t for my air, I feel as good as ever.”

The Autry’s family reunion fell on the same weekend as the cutting, so everyone decided to just come to the cutting. “I had a nephew fly in from Saudi Arabia, one from Washington, others from Nebraska and New Mexico and a couple from Texas,” said Autry.

“They offered me a free practice but I didn’t take it,” said Autry. “I didn’t need it after all these years.” To get Budha ready Autry just lopes him around in a circle about three times. The gelding has over $50,000 in NCHA earnings, his NCHA and ACHA Certificates of Ability and he has also won several jackpots that weren’t approved by any association.

Autry has slowed down on his cutting and hasn’t cut much for the past five or six years. He does; however, belong to the Southern Colorado Cutting Horse Association.

I noticed that Autry wasn’t wearing glasses and when I asked him if he didn’t need glasses, he said, “Only if I want to see.” Asked if anything exciting ever happened when he cut, Autry responded, “Every time I won a class, it was pretty exciting”

However, Autry went on to say that the win he liked the best was at the Wiens Ranch five or six years ago. “Some of the cutters got together and decided they were going to have used cattle in the $50,000 and fresh cattle for the $20,000. I was planning on entering the $50,000 and I fussed at everybody that I could, telling them I wasn’t going to enter the next day.

The next day, Autry – true to his word - entered the No-Pro. “We had some tough cattle and I drew up last in a 14-horse class,” said Autry. “Les Bates picked my cattle and I got them out like he said and scored a 76 – wining the class. When I went out of the herd, I said, ‘By God, don’t make me mad again.’ ”

PAT JACOBS WHEELCHAIR BOUND

By Glory Ann Kurtz
July 9, 2009
Pat Jacobs is wheelchair bound following a swift kick by a horse while he was feeding last Sunday morning. One horse chased another over him and a cat scan showed that the femur bone was shattered. The doctor then decided to take an x-ray.

“Jay Smith, our preacher friend, had come to the hospital and asked them to wait a minute so he could pray with us,” said Pat’s wife Nellie. “After the prayer, Pat asked Jay, ‘Do you think God can heal this on the way to the x-ray?’ Jay said God can do anything.”

The result of the x-ray was that they found only a hairline fracture about 4 inches long on the femur; however, they didn’t do surgery hoping it would heal by itself in 60-80 days. In the meantime, Pat’s in a wheelchair and a walker and, according to Nellie, the doctors are still shaking their heads.

You can send Pat a card of encouragement to: 2825 Brookhollow Drive, Burleson, TX 76028-1954, you can e-mail him at pat.jacobs@live.com or you can call him at 817-919-7358.

WILL THERE BE A NEW AND IMPROVED NCHA IN THE FUTURE?

By Glory Ann Kurtz
June 29, 2009
Is it possible for the NCHA to become more transparent, membership oriented, productive and better listeners?

“Yes,” says, John King, a 38-year member of the NCHA, who judged for 32 of those years and heads up a company called Roster Technologies, Inc. (RT), which specializes in performance management solutions. “The NCHA has a goal of seeking the Texas Quality Award which will do just that for the association,” said King.

According to King, the idea of Performance Management was hatched by Rick Ivey, the NCHA Chief Financial Officer, to gather job descriptions for the NCHA employees. The idea was approved by the Finance Committee and was funded several years ago. If any of you attended last year’s NCHA Convention, you saw a sampling of those job descriptions in a booklet each member received. (Rick Ivey’s job description has as one of the goals to achieve the Texas Quality Award.)

But that was just one of the first steps toward achieving the award, which is open to small and large businesses, manufacturing, service organizations, organizations from the public sector and not-for-profit organizations.

King introduced the NCHA to the RT System, which provides a path to achieve and sustain world-class performance through the Malcolm Baldrige process. The Texas Quality Award for Performance Excellence is a prestigious award which is as much sought after for the detailed, individualized feedback report for corporations and non-profits as it is for the award.

According to Ivey, there are additional changes that have to be made before the associations is in a position to apply for the annual award and it may even take a year before the NCHA would be in a position to even compete for the award.

“The NCHA has signed off on attempting to document policies and procedures within the Association to try to win this award, said Ivey, who works through the Finance Committee. He feels the processes to win the Texas Quality Award can help the association make it through the maze of new oversights being implemented by the government, as well as the new Internal Revenue rules, regulations and forms that became law in 2008. Most of these new rules and regulations are designed to make the association more transparent.

The preparation for the Texas Quality Award would require documentation policies on conflicts of interest, election and vote-counting methods, judging processes and how members could have more direct input into the decision-making process through their association board members.

RT’s Enterprise Risk Management and Compliance process managed by a software package called PerformanceWare, will help the association achieve the Texas Quality Award and also limit their exposure to liability issues by officers and board members, as well as compliance issues. While the association has “Officer and Director” insurance, there are always different stipulations and holes in insurance policies; therefore, directors need to be aware that they are susceptible to liability if they become directors. (Click below for an article recently published in the Fort Worth Star Telegram regarding the liability of association directors.)

The NCHA also has to be in compliance with portions of Sarbanes-Oxley Act, which was signed into law in 2002 as a response to the corporate and accounting scandals of Enron, Tyco and others. The purpose of this law is to rebuild public trust and adhere to government standards and broaden the Board’s roles in overseeing financial transactions and auditing procedures. The passage of this bill was a wake-up call to the entire non-profit community, as the two provisions of the Act applying to non-profits include document destruction and whistle-blower protection.

There are also a host of other items that will be addressed along the road toward applying for this award, including compliance needs, governance, profitability, business risks, know how’s and quality performance system management and the management techniques that should be used for compliance.

Asked why he supports trying for the Texas Quality Award, Rick Ivey says, “The NCHA already compares favorably with non-profits across the country. The Texas Quality Award will help us find avenues of improvement that will make us a premier association. I’ve never enjoyed second place. It’s important to me that the NCHA is recognized as the best."

NCHA CONVENTION HELD CHANGES AND SURPRISES

By Glory Ann Kurtz
June 24, 2009
The NCHA Convention was held June 19-21 at the Inverness Hotel and Convention Center in Denver, Colo. The event included many Open and closed committee meetings, two meetings of the Board of Directors, the election of new members, a seminar by veterinarian Dr. Wayne McIlwraith, a general membership meeting and for the first time, the honoring of the NcHA Members Hall of Fame at a reception on Saturday evening.

As many as three committee meetings were held at the same time; therefore, I had to chose which meetings I would go to and take notes. I am posting my notes from these meetings, which includes statements from committee members as well as members, at each of these meetings, on my E-Newsletters, which I mail to everyone who has signed up. This service os free of you sign up on the main page of my site. If you haven't received the first reports and would like them, e-maiil me at glory@glorykurtz.com and request them and I will e-mail them to you.

I have decided to publish here my notes from the open Membership meeting because they are an overall view of what decisions were made at the Convention. From there, the suggestions go to the Executive Committee who will have the final word on what rules will be changed and suggestions will be taken.

In the upcoming days, I will publish my personal view of what happened at the Convention.

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE MEETING
June 21, 2009
Going off Executive Committee: Heidi Hadlock, Bruce Richerson, Bobby Hunt, Bronc Willoughby.

On EC: 1) Don Bussey, 2) Jerry Black – 3) Ernie Beutenmiller, Jr. 4) Randy Chartier, 5) Maben Thompson, 6) Edley Hixson, 7) Phil Rapp; 8) Dennie Dunn, 9) Jon White (1 yr at large); 10) Punk Carter, 3-yr-term, 11) Barbara Brooks.

12) Keith Deaviille VP
13) Chris Benedict President Elect
14) Chubby Turner – Pres.

Bronc Willoughby, past NCHA President, and his wife, Patti, receiving outgoing gifts.

Photo by Kurtz

Bronc: The past year has not been about me – It’s been about the NCHA – the whole committee. I take little credit. Bussey had things he wanted to get done; he did things he thought helped the association. I’m proud of the things I got done – but nothing got done by myself – it was a group effort. We are all NCHA and I hope we remember that – all our work goes toward making this organization better.

When I became an officer, I wanted and hoped that when I left – the association would be better than when I came in. Thanks for the opportunity. Thanks for loving the NCHA and cutting as much as I do.

Chubby called Patti Willoughby to the stage saying every year, when the outgoing president and his lovely first lady are invited up to the stage, we try to do something for them. We try to give gifts and momentos to remember this experience. This year, I’m not giving something to Bronc; I’m trading it for the bullet-proof vest he’s been wearing.

Flowers were given to Bronc’s wife, Patti, and Bronc received spurs and an NCHA ring. Chubby said the spurs were expensive, because it cost a lot of money to have the long word “Willoughby” inscribed in silver on the spurs.

“Bronc spent more time at the NCHA office than anyone that’s been president before him,” said Chubby. “For two days, I didn’t get phone calls from Bronc, and I had withdrawal. He has worked so hard, You've just got to be proud.

Bronc: I said a while ago, we couldn’t have done this without the Executive Committee. But I also could not have done it without the fantastic staff at the NCHA office – from top to the bottom – who pull and work together. If you have any question or problem, they wil answer you in 15 minutes. This reflects on Jeff and on down the line – department heads and ladies in the back. I’m proud of the staff we have put together and the way they are all part of our family.

New President Chubby Turner.

Photo by Kurtz

Chubby: I’ll try to be brief – but brief for me can be lengthy. I’ll try not to talk too long and leave time so Don Bussey, so he can get up and roast me. I don’t want to deprive him of the time he needs to do it.

I like being around Bronc. I get too emotional – I knew I couldn’t make that speech last night (at the Hall of Fame Banquet). But we’re not going to miss Bronc - I still have him on speed dial. I’m sorry Patti, we’re going to have to be talking regularly. We’re supposed to support him, he was supporting me. He’s had my back and I have scars on my rear to prove I’m the first elected officer to be drug across the Executive Committee than any other President before me.

There’s concern because of my committee appointments. But they didn’t happen over night. I started the day I got elected as Vice President. The most important thing is to appoint the committee members. The next three years are influential in what happens to the NCHA. I took it to heart and took the time. I put some (members) on, took them off and put them back on. They even had an emergency Executive Committee meeting over me.

When I started in life, my father was rough and gruff- an Eastern Oklahoma cowboy. But my mother was sweet –I was raised to be kind. I was taught to “turn the other cheek.” My dad would say, "Son if you go to the Dairy Queen and you have buddies – but you don’t have enough money to buy them an ice cream – you don't have one either."

I started out in life without enemies. But I found if you try to do something and put your heart into it, you’re going to tick somebody off. What I intend to do is follow in Bronc’s footsteps and if I can do half the job Bronc did, I’ll be happy. I’m fortunate to have a supporting staff – and Chris, a lifelong friend who bailed me out when I didn’t have place to live, for Vice President. I’ve known him for 30 years. And Keith also backed me up.

There are those who are concerned about what I’m going to do – They say, “Chubby and Chris will mess this up. We have four past presidents on the board. I will have an opinion – and I may sure have to keep it to myself. We have such a great group – a lot of fighting goes on – knocking of heads. Bobby Hunt and I have been knocking heads all year. We’re all cutters. When making a speech, I realized I’m not as good as Brady – I didn’t write anything down.

Cutting is a self-serving deal. I have to be self serving and I’m going to brag about the accolades I have received. I got to see great horses like Senor George and Royal Hank, who are some of the greatest. At 13, I picked up the Chatter and looked at the names and saw pictures of Matlock Rose, Don Dodge, Pat Patterson, Buster Welch, Shorty Freeman, and John Carter - over and over. I was fortunate to meet them and be tutored by them. I grew up with great people – Mike Mowery and Gary Bellenfant – my blood brothers. I remember when I had heart problems and I was in a restaurant in Arizona with Mike Mowery. Tom Lyons came up to me and said, “Chubby come on. We’re going to the hospital. Lyons spent 24 hours in the hospital with me until they got me together. That’s the accolades I’ve grown up with.

All these young guns today are our future. There are great horses and non pros and amateurs. They’re unbelievable. I had something to do with that. I had a hand in raising Matt Gaines, Phil Rapp and Lloyd Cox – but I’m not bragging about Lloyd, I haven’t got it done yet. Lloyd to me is like Peter Pan. We love him. The only thing that amazed me was Brady Bowen when he got up and talked.

I cried enough last night (at the Members Hall of Fame inductions) and I’m not going to cry today. If you’re disappointed with me – hang around. I love this so much I’ll do anything to make it better. If you’re upset, I’ll bend over backward to change. I put people on the committees that I knew would work hard for the NCHA. They have broad enough shoulders to stand there.

My long-time friend – Jack Holt from Oregon,and I were sitting and talking after the directors meeting and he wanted to be on a committee if anything came available. I tell you what, I never have been in a position where I get shot at so much. I was afraid to come to the convention. You know everyone has a conception that Bronc and I are joined at the hip. No way – my hip is where his knees are. I backed him because I believed in him. I hope I get that support from this committee. They will put heat on me and I’ll put heat on them.

Last year, I got in a heated argument with the Amateur committee and I was trying to keep quiet – but I jumped up and talked. I didn’t think trainers’ kids had any advantage. They do. I have a grandchild that is 4 years old. She has a Paint pony called Betsy. She works a flag at house every day. Three weeks ago she showed at Waurika. I was in Sweetwater. My son, Sam, her dad, said Raelynn went down there and took 2 ½ minutes to cut a cow – everyone was watching her. She has an opinion while Sam is quiet. We can’t control her. She reminds me of my daughter. How did this happen. Well, last night I was dancing with Lindy (Burch), and I remembered that my daughter-in-law worked for Lindy for a year. I realized what happened. She’s just like her (Lindy).

She showed her horse, though she never got a cow out of the herd, and they called out a 76. She was so proud and looked at Dad and said I did good. The next day, she showed again and my great friend Jim Carr was the judge. Sam has known Jim since he was a kid. I told Jim that my granddaughter, and Sam’s daughter, showed for the first time yesterday. She marked a 76 and anything less she’ll sure be disappointed. Jim said, “She’s just like her grandpa.”

She has shown now for two weekends and that’s all she thinks about. She went to New Mexico for a clinic and we rode in the mountains. She would take off on her pony and go across the water – Sam’s horse wouldn’t go across the water. She told him to spur his horse.

I realized then that she has a slight advantage over a lot o kids – and it really hit last Monday night. She came running into the house (she’s 4 years old and rides a bike with training wheels) with an envelope in her hand – waving it in the air. Nana, Papa, look – I opened this and found an NCHA Youth card and a Youth decal and NCHA decal. “We have to put this on my bike,” she said.

There’s a new publication for the directors called “Directions.” This publication has my e-mail address on it and my cell phone number. I promise you – I do not answer my phone often but I will return calls if you don’t’ scare me to death. I will listen to the membership – it’s about the amateurs, the Lindy’s and the Raelynns – that group will allow this group to grow.

Look at the figures on the board (I know nothing about finance – look at my bank account) – but we have Terry Strange – he’s great with figures, he’s a great individual in business . I understand that – we have great people here.

I challenge the directors and EC members – this assocation at the present time depends on sponsorship money. Go out and do what Bobby Hunt has done (Hunt found a lot of sponsors for the NCHA). A lot of you get in contact with people who would love to be sponsors – but it just never hit you. It could be a person you don’t expect – coming from all walks of life. Think about it, hit him up. We even have Elsie the “Cow.

How that went down - Jeff took a picture to Rick Beamon, who heads up Borden Milk, and gave us Super Stakes money – the picture was taken of Beamon when he made the finals in the Amateur Super Stakes. Jeff took the picture to him and Rick said, “Sit down – I want to talk to you. Who sponsors the Futurity.” Jeff told him that we had a sponsor that didn’t workout and could use one. Beamon said, “What kind of deal can we work out?” and they got a large amount of sponsorship money from Beamon. I called Chris and chris sends Jeff a text that said– “A picture is worth a thousand dollars over hundreds of dollars.”

Last night was terrific – that’s the way we need to honor our Hall of Fame members.

I asked all presidents about Jeff. They all said that without him we’re in trouble. I’m going to watch close. Friday night he gave a great presentation. We’ve been hunting a long time for another Zack Wood. Zack Wood Jr is here. It took a while to get here but he (Jeff) knows what we desire and have to have and the avenue to help us. We are very lucky to have Jeff.

REPORTS FROM EACH COMMITTEE:

OPEN SHOW COMMITTEE:
Mike Stevens: We had perfect attendance though Modine was not present at the public portion. On the Non-Pro Amateur issues, it was moved by Mary Jo Milner, seconded by Frank Merrill, that we accept the Task Force’s recommendations as written, and not accept any changes to the show structure.

Voting issue had to do with a proposed revision of the mandatory payout. It was moved by Frank Merrill, seconded by Chubby Turner, that there be no change at this time. Issue was tabled for continued review.

Standing rule 6K – A limit to the number of shows a producer can produce in a given month and limits number of circuits an affiliate can hold to one per year. Moved by Don Strain, seconded by Frank Merrill to leave as is. Opposed by Joey Milner, passed.

Limited aged event Rule 3b – added money in limited age shows held in conjunction with a weekend show cannot exceed $1000 per division in the Open or Non-Pro classes.

Moved by Ernie Beutenmiller, seconded by Gayle Allen to leave rule as is and lift restriction.

AQHA/NCHA Affiliate Challenge eligibility. Some affiliates work on a point system and end up with a lot of ties in the No. 10 hole, so send more than 10 to the Affiliate Challenge.

Chris Dublin and John Dublin opposed. Beutenmiiller wanted to allow affiliates to keep their standings on points; however, to participate in the Affiiliate Challenge they could only submit their top 10 with no ties – and hold a minimum of three shows. Passed.

NCHA Affiliate Show Requirements – the number of shows required to qualify for the National Championships. Motion made by Jim Johnson to table. Passed.

Determining NCHA Day locations further in advance to allow the affiliate or producers that gets the show to prepare for the show. Motion made by John Dublin, seconded by Chubby Turner to start on Oct 1 – final selection by Dec. 15.

Reminder to make youth classes the fourth or fifth class of the day. No action - Rule Book already instructs for this.

Issues involving engaging judges. Should judging contracts be required between a show and the judge.

Moved by Johnson, seconded by John Dublin – recommended that contracts be used by show management to use judging contracts - but not make it a rule.

Discuss and require NCHA shows to publish their physical address. No action taken.

Discuss current rules for eligility earnings. The NCHA is not getting rider earnings from the Australia CHA and the American CHA the way they would like to. Took no action.

Chairman: Mike Stevens – Vice Chairman – Chris Dublin.

FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORT
Presented by Terry Strange

Strange: We showed a video at the meeting of the top cutting horses from years ago. The first horse shown was all over the pen – didn’t make his stops and didn’t turn. At one time, the cutter was working the cow off the side wall. I realized I was born way too late – every run I made in Fort Worth at the coliseum was just like that. And there’s no cure for it.

This presentation will be posted to the NCHA web site in July . NCHA has financial statements which are audited this year and the Financial Committee met with the auditors; they encountered no issues. There were no weakness in internal controls receipts and disbursements. The statements were accepted.

Several recommendations will be made to the Executive Committee by the Finance Committee: 1) Ask the Executive Committee to consider a formal policy around the reserve that was created out of the state funds. This is a sensitive area and we need a formal policy. 2) Look into creating a Task Force to look at external factors that might affect us in the near and mid-term and craft a way to respond to those factors. 3) Create create a cross committee Task Force to look at opportunities to use the NCHA web site for benefits and revenue opportunities.

Chairman: Terry Strange - Vice Chairman Keith Hargrove.

LONG RANGE PLANNING
Report given by Mike Rutherford

There was discussion regarding a directors’ poll for input on NCHA Convention locations. The current policy is Fort Worth, then move East and West every other year. A motion was made, seconded and passed to continue with the Convention being held in Texas (as opposed to Fort Worth), so it could be held in Arlington, Tarrant County, etc., and have on a rotating basis as in the past.

Moving to the East in 2011, three cities are being considered: Nashville, Charlotte, N .C., and Hot Springs, Ark.

There was discussion on NCHA Hall of Fame inductions – A motion passed that there be a Hall of Fame dinner for all inductees during the NCHA Convention.

Beutenmiller was in attendance for standing committee appointments. It was passed that each region have a director from each of the eight regions have first preference, or a member – be on each standing committee. Ernie will explain the details to all for consideration.

NCHA by-laws. It was passed unanimously that a five-member sub-committee make recommendations for updates and amendments to the NCHA By-laws. This will be implemented in a timely manner and any changes would be presented to the directors at next year’s convention.

A report was given by Lindy Burch and Jerry Black on the Horse and Cattle Welfare Committee.

Mike Rutherford was re-elected Chairman and Walker Vice Chairman.

AFFILIATE OFFICERS AND SECRETARIES COMMITTEE
Report by Kathryn Webb

Regarding the Mandatory payout schedule with $500 and up shows, we will go back to the 2007 payout schedule for weekend classes – With four entries, two will be paid.

Review 6K – limit approved shows: Recommended no action.

Review LAE 3B rule - $1,000 added at weekend limited aged events – leave as is.

AQHA/NCHA Affiliate Challenge eligibility. Use either points or money, whatever the affiliate is using – but with no ties for 10th place. Tie breaker to be used by affiliate. Financials will be used on three days of shows to qualify for Affiliate Challenge.

Youth classes to be set as 4th or 5th class of day. Show management should give the youth classes consideration for travel times

Faster cut program topic – tabled.

New business: Recommended further education and added requirements for horse papers and NCHA membership cards at all shows at the time of entry. For weekend shows, NCHA standing Rule 2 eligibility must be posted, which explains what happens if you compete in a class you are not eligibile for.

Recommend NCHA website list member status – from Jan. 1 to March 11 and list prior year and current year status. March 1, members become inactive if haven’t paid their dues.

Recommend developing an on-line NCHA workshop chat room for secretaries so they can delve into items with other secretaries.

Chairman: Kathryn Webb – Vice Chairman Cheryl Callis.

AMATEUR COMMITTEE MEETING:
Report given by Bernie Kirkland

All recommendations will be posted on NCHA web site later in the week and on the Newsletter later.

Amateur definition and review of class: Remove $75K Non-Pro and leave $20K Non-Pro as is. Remove item G from Amateur definition which involves “apprentice cutting horse trainer, etc.”

Delete 10 year-$10,000 exception. Took no action on Wild Card or World Finals. On Senior amateurs staying in Amateur class for life, recommended not be implemented.

Recommend that the standing committees include the required representative from each region.

Change the way the Chairman and Vice Chairman are appointed. Elect a Vice Chairman who moves up to the Chairman position the following year.

Bernie Kirkland named Chairman; Carol Jenkins Vice Chairman.

JUDGES RULES COMMITTEE
Presented by Ernie Beutenmille, Jr.

I

Ernie Beutenmiller.

Photo by Glory Ann Kurtz

It is very important to recognize this committee should operate with the assistance of the director of judges – Russell McCord. Without him, we would be in a “world of hurt.” I can’t say enough about how important he is to us.

Five items on agenda dealt with education process – no recommendations.

Discuss Rule 9. Loss of cow at the buzzer – hand up or hand down. A loss will be determined whether the hand is up or down. Approved.

Judge applicants and judges must sign a judge’s rule of ethics. Passed

Judge applicants will be approved as AA judges until they judge six shows with no protest. They will then advance to AAA judges.

Recommend rule 17 change which deals with rider falling to the ground or a horse that falls. Change will be that run is terminated and no score given. Have to delete one example. Rule change – is that score will go from a 60 to a zero.

Committee recommends that judges at major limited aged events continue to sign and post signatures on all judge’s cards.

Regarding Protest system, it is recommended that the DVD fee for an inappropriate DVD be raised from $25 to $50. Recommended with one opposed that the protest fee go from $100 to $200. Evaluation forms sent to the NCHA office are to be forwarded to judge’s monitor – if they are valid, the monitor will notify the Director of Judges. Valid spot checks will be made by the Director of Judges and valid spot checks may drop a judge in rating and require them to attend a judges’ workshop.
New business: Delegated with others to write examples concerning horses charging and force-offs. Will send to new committee and will approve before August meeting.

A thank you to Dennie Dunn, Punk Carter, Bob Mayfield, Bruce Morine and Bronc Willoughby, who are going off due to term limits. They have been excellent members and we will miss their expertise.

This committee has nearly 500 years of combined NCHA membership.

Ernie Beutenmiller re-elected chairman – Bret Davis, Vice Chairman.

NON PRO COMMITTEE
Mary Ann Rapp gave report

Discussed Task Force proposal on Amateur definition and class divisions. We support move from $10,000 to $15,000 and increase from $20,000 Non-Pro to $35,000 Non-Pro.

Randy Chartier and Gayle Karanges, recommend we accept amateur definition as stated.

Recommend implementation of Non-Pro review committee.

Recommend to not implement revolving door in Limited Non-Pro at this time. We need to look into this further.

In 5/6-Year-Old Non-Pro - any combination of horses for Super Stakes and Summer Spectacular. Currently it has been changed in the Open so riders can show any combination of 5/6 year-olds. Like to see Non-Pro follow their lead and that Non-Pros be able to show any combination of horses in the Super Stakes and Summer Spectacular.

Limited Non-Pro class as a stand-alone class. The survey will be reviewed after the Super Stakes to make sure everything is going well with the Limited and see what we can do to make it better.

Schedule at NCHA events. We think it would be best to make the schedule user friendly for everyone.

Holding the Open shows in their entirety, followed by the Amateur Ltd NP, and Non-Pro for Super Stakes and Summer Spectacular.

Discussed convention location – no action.

Recommend eliminating Non-Pro Wild Card for the benefit of the horses.

Discuss qualifying for Amateur for life for those over 60 – no action – felt that was an Amateur issue.

Chairman: Mary Ann Rapp – Vice Chairman Gayle Karanges.

We would like to thank Dave Brian and Julie Davis. They have been great – all the staff has. And we have wonderful members of the Non-Pro committee who are going off, including Bruce Richerson, Elizabeth Queen and Mark Pearson.

New members will be Mary Jo Milner, Bob Peterson and Norman Clark.

PROFESSIONAL TRAINERS COMMITTEE
Presented by J. B. McLamb

Ground at NCHA events: This had already been dealt with by the Executive Committee before we got here.

3. John Deere Division of Open – passed unanimously to leave as is.

4. Add a gelding class at Derby – passed through committee – wanted to have gelding class.

5. mandatory payout schedule with classes with $500 added and up. Passed unanimously leave as is.

6. Input from trainers to judges rules with respect to judging at Ltd Aged events and weekend cuttings. Took no action. Russell is changing up something at aged events -d we can meet and talk 24 hours after a run if we want to discuss it.

7. Need for different cattle settlers list for Watt arena events: After discussion, decided to add five cattle settlers to original list of 17. Those will work solely in the Watt arena. They will be made up of trainers and members of the Limited Age Event committee.

8. Need for tent outside loping arena. Passed. Haven’t figured out how to pay for it.

9. move mechanical cow from outside loping to cattle barn. Dave Brian already has this in order.

10. Parking passes at major events for people coming in and out. Definitely a need for a day pass.

NCHA major event show schedule Considering at Super Stakes and Summer Spectacular and Super Stakes – changing schedule so Open is held in its entirety, then Amateurs and Non-Pros. WE have talked with Western Bloodstock and they have agreed to finals during the middle weekend. They will also hold sales then.

12. Lindy gave report on Horse and Cattle Welfare Task Force.

13. Trainers retirement fund – no action last year. This year appointed sub committee and get together with something that would work for all members, including trainers.

New business: Proposal for NCHA Futurity semifinals start at 8 p.m. Saturday morning instead of 5 p.m. Western Bloodstock has agreed to start their sale after the semis are over. Gives horses more time to rest– and we can participate in the sales.

Kathy came up with deal for trainers to be pro-active with sponsors. Vendors at the three major events complain there’s not as much traffic in the Exhibit Hall since the runs are on-line. Through Rebecca and the marketing department, major trainers will go to sponsors’ booths in the Exhibit Hall and have Q&A sessions. They will be there during cattle changes to support sponsors.

3. Diccussed the possibility of an Amateur who has turned 60 can stay an Amateur. Voted unanimously for that.

New Committee members: Kathy DAughn, Greg Smith, Bronc Willoughby and Phil Hanson.

Chairman: David Stewart, Vice Chairman: Matt Gaines

STALLION OWNERS COMMITTEE:
Presented by Jeff Matthews

Formed a committee to explore the opportunity of stallion subscription fees in process that will meet during the Summer Spectacular. Members will include Shane Plummer, Pat Fitzgerald, Jo Ellard, Phil Rapp, Chris Thibidoux, Linda Holmes and Jack Waggoner. Jo Ellard will be chairman with assistance from Rick Ivey.

Third horse in Derby be a gelding.

Tabled issue of cloning to be discussed again at Summer Spectacular.

Chairman: Jeff Matthews. Vice Chairman Pat Fitzgerald.

Members were asked to participate in survey at Summer Spectacular to ride 3 horses if 3rd horse is a gelding.

SHOW PRODUCERS COMMITTEE
Presented by Chuck Smith

Approval for all spring limited age event show applicants except two – these two were on the same date. Committee deferred any recommendation on two shows until further communication.

Discussed the elimination or reduction of weekend shows being intermingled within limited age event show dates. The problem is that it stretchs out show days and makes them hard to work all show approvals in. We can make recommendations after studying further and can have a conference call with committee members.

This committee has worked hard all year with several conference calls and several meetings – with 100 percent attendance on those meetings. Thanks to Dave Brian who has been on the phone a lot working out problems and differences. Most of them are under control.

Chairman: Chuck Smith – Vice Chairman Barbara Brooks

PROMOTION AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Presented by Robin Merrill.

Committee members present: Barbara Brooks, Kurt Crawford, Chris Dublin, Bobby Hunt, Jerry Louie, Robin Merrill, Chuck Smith, Maben Thompson and new member Trish Templeton.

Discussed funding and logistics, appointing a sub committee to evaluate need to reestablish International Cutting.

Appointed in 2008 included reps from international affiliates as part of promotion and development committee.

Recommended to Executive Committee that they revisit budget for Promotion and Development Committee as we feel this is a vital time for funds to maintain programs and sponsors they currently have for International programs.

Chairman: Robin Merrill – Vice Chairman: Maben Thompson

LIMITED AGE EVENT COMMITTEE
Presented by Phil Rapp

Chairman Matt Gaines.
Reviewed Amateur definition Task Force proposal – Chris Benedict moved, seconded by Gail Holmes and approved.

Discussed John Deere Division in Open. Leave in current form. Made motion, passed that no changes be made in Open or Non-Pro.

Hiring one person to maintain ground – resolved by Executive Committee.

Mechanical cow issue – also resolved.

Discussed changing Limited Non-Pro class back to a class-within-a-class. Voted to leave Limited Non-Pro as is and work on scheduling. (ie) In order to stay within rules, horse cannot be shown prior to the Open. Limited Non-Pro will be rescheduled to Nov. 30-Dec. 1-2. Entry deadline will be Friday, Nov. 27, allowing time for draw. Plan is in place to avoid conflicts with draw. Passed unanimously. EC will discuss after this meeting.

Discussed daily parking passes. Moved by Gail Holmes, seconded by Kathy Daughan, to sell passes on the north lot of the arena for $300 and hire a police officer to ticket unhooked trailers. This income will also help pay for a warm-up tent that is 200 x 300 for $60,000 and a police officer.

Discussed need for tent outside. Chubby is working on a less-expensive tent.

Allow 5 new appointed cattle settlers to work two full years before they are taken off. The list will be updated every two years instead of every year. The ive new settlers will be for the Limited class in Watt Arena, which would coincide with Trainers Committee arena.

Bussey – we have made a suggestion about a gelding class at the Derby, if it’s supported by a survey the EC will send out. This will promote geldings and increaase entries and the purse.

Major aged event schedules – recommend for Super Stakes and Summer Spectacular Open divisions be held first in their entirety. We will bring different schedules to the Executive Committee before their September meeting to be approved.

Took a concensus from group in favor of new scheduling for the Super Stakes and Summer Spectacular.

Discussed penalties for adding horses to the Limited, Senior and Novice classes. No action taken.

Lindy made a presentation on Horse and Cattle Welfare Task force. This is going in a positive manner. It’s important to protect ourselves - we’re lucky not to have had problems so far.

New business: Discussed a Senior division held with Non-Pro and Limited – passed to not to add Senior class to Limited at this time.

Support proposal of running NCHA open semis at 8 a.m. – support that benefit to horse and riders, horse sale and attendance.

Chairman: Phil Rapp – Vice Chairman: Lindy Burch

YOUTH COMMITTEE
Presented by Julie Thompson

Discussed NYCHA Fund raising activities. YTB Online Travel Agency approved as fund raiser

Sealed bid beginning with 2009 Summer Spectacular for Futurity Champions quilt until 2009 Futurity. Unveiled at finals of Futurity. Approved.

Motion by Judy Morris to add “buy it now” option at 100 percent of breeding fee at Stallion auction. Seconded by Steve Norris. Approved.

Suggested sending a letter to all secretaries of affiliates recommending they keep youth classes as early as possible as it says in the rule book.

Motion made by Jim Johnson, that there be an awards program at Eastern/Western Championships and they be enhanced by appropriate portion of $2 fee from weekend shows.

Moved by Johnson to keep and maintain youth points on horses retroactive to 1998. Approved.

Thanks to Zeke Entz, Mark Mills, Joe Howard Williamson who are going off the committee.

Chairman: Judy Morris – Vice Chairman: Josh Hopkins

All recommendations will be posted on the NCHA web site this week.

OPENED FLOOR FOR COMMENTS FROM GENERAL MEMBERSHIP:

Craig Morris – In the Committee meetings, we need to look at how the committees are formed and that there is equal representation from all areas. Suggest possibly looking at restructuring of regions which are no longer entirely directly representative of the membership. Some are 2 to 1 to smaller regions. Great idea to do – redistrict and make sure equal representation.

Task Force will go through by laws and rebalance regions. Western states supported event and hosted party.

Adjourn: Frank – seconded and passed.

PAT AND NELLIE JACOBS CELEBRATE 50 YEARS TOGETHER

AFTER 50 YEARS, THE COUPLE RENEW THEIR MARRIAGE VOWS DURING A FESTIVE EVENT

By Glory Ann Kurtz
June 10, 2009
Pat and Nellie Jcobs repeating their marriage vows in front of their friend - Preacher Ray Smith.

“For 50 years, they found a friendship, raised a family and danced through life together.” That was the description on the invitation to a 50th Anniversary party honoring Pat and Nellie Jacobs, Burleson, Texas. The event was held Sunday, June 7 at a “party ranch” in Weatherford, Texas, and to add icing to the cake, the couple danced together, then were remarried by their friend and preacher – Ray Smith.

Brady Bowen, a candidate for NCHA Vice President, gave up a chance to judge a California NCHA Day cutting to play the fiddle during the Anniversary party.

Pat, who trained cutting horses for over 50 years, is just coming off a successful ride from publishing his life story in a book called “Outcasts, Outlaws and Second-Chance Horses – The Pat Jacobs Story.” The book will soon also be available on Amazon.com.

With Pat being a member of a band for as long as he has been a horse trainer, it wasn’t hard to find a group of fiddle players and singers to make great old-time country music at the shin-dig. And showing the importance of the event, Brady Bowen, a candidate for Vice President of the NCHA, gave up a chance to judge a California cutting on NCHA Day to play the fiddle during the Anniversary party.

After Pat and Nellie completed their vows, Pat kissed the bride.

To wish Pat and Nellie a great “50th,” you can contact them at 2825 Brookhollow Drive, Burleson, X 76028-1954 or call them at (817) 919-7358.

JOHN MITCHELL IS TRULY AN AUSTRALIAN HORSEMAN

TAKES RESERVE TITLE IN STOCKMANS CHALLENGE DURING AUSSIE FUTURITY

June 1, 2009 – Tamworth, NSW, Australia
John Mitchell, riding an Australian Brumby during the Stockman's Challenge held during the Aussie Futurity. Mitchell finished second competing against some Austrlian Stockhorse legends..

If you’ve ever wondered if Aussie John Mitchell is truly a horseman who can ride a wild Brumby, have no doubts. The Aussie trainer who came to the United States and went to work for the Slate River Ranch in Weatherford, Texas, took the Reserve Championship of the first-ever NCHA Stockman’s’ Challenge, with the finals being held Saturday May 30. The event was part of the NCHA of Australia Cutting Futurity held May 28-June 7 in the new Tamworth Equine Centre in Tamworth, NSW.

To vie for the title, 10 contestants competed in four grueling categories for a total of $6,000 in prize money. The categories included a two-handed cutting competition and the whip-cracking obstacle course – an Australian tradition - riding the same horse. The next day, they competed in the Brumby (Australian wild horse) catch event and the traditional poly saddle buckjump competition – riding a bronc out of a chute in a small Australian saddle.

His fellow competitors included the champion, Scott Bandy of Tamut, twice winner of The Man From Snowy River Corryong Challenge; Morgan Webb, 2009 winner of the Man From Snowy River Corryong Challenge; Trevor Nash, 2009 winner of the King Of The Ranges Challenge; Brett Welsh, head stockman for the Australian Outback Spectacular and World Champion Campdraft winner from the Sydney Show, Troy Palmer – who finished third.

Mitchell has won over $2 million in USA lifetime earnings, while his wife, Hope, has won $1,350,000. Mitchell is in Australia catch-riding in the Open Futurity. He qualified for the Open finals riding One Moore Chime, owned by Tom Williamson. The pair scored a total of 285 following two go-rounds - good enough for 15th place. He also rode Sex In The City for Parraweena Pastoral Co.

JACKSON L&C OFFERS CHANCE TO WIN FREE BREEDING TO PEPTOBOONSMAL

May 22, 2009
Jackson Land and Cattle LLC is offering the chance to win a FREE 2010 breeding to Peptoboonsmal. All you have to do is Visit www.PeptoTheLegend.com and sign up for your chance to win.

The website features a listing of Peptoboonsmal offspring all in one place. Fans, competitors and owners can write congratulations and post photos, find out who's competing and who's in training, results, stats, news and more.

Also new is a "Lifetime Loyalty Breeding Program," where you can breed multiple mares for deep discounts - and even receive a free breeding. Mares must be booked before Dec. 31, 2009. If you want to lock in now, with a 2009 booking, call immediately.
Click here for full details>>

There is also something for the kids. Bring your colored-in picture of Pepto to the NCHA Futurity to win prizes and goodies - it's open to everyone.

Log on to www.PetoTheLegend.com or click here>>
Or call The Pepto Team - 817-team-247 (817) 832-6247 for more information.

LITTLE BITTY HIPPY DIES AFTER COLON SURGERY

MARE WAS OWNED BY TONY AND LISA LANGDON

By Glory Ann Kurtz
May 11, 2009
Lisa Langdon riding Little Bitty Hippy during the 2007 NCHA Amateur Futurity.

Yesterday was a sad day at the Langdon house in Aubrey, Texas. Little Bitty Hippy, a 5-year-old daughter of Hickorys Indian Pep out of Itty Bitty Boon by Peptoboonsmal, died following surgery for a colon impaction.

Bred by Dean Sanders, Kemah, Texas, who owned her sire and dam, she was sold as a yearling to Mike Rutherford, Jr., Buda, Texas. When she was a 2-year-old, Scott and Patricia McClurg, Lipan, Texas, purchased her and in February of her 3-year-old year, Danny Miller’s Sanctuary Ranch, Poolville, Texas, purchased her.

Nicknamed “Lily,” she has been owned by Tony and Lisa Langdon since December 2007 and trained by David Stewart. During her short lifetime, Lily earned close to $30,000, including tying for sixth in the 2007 NCHA Amateur Futurity with Lisa aboard and qualifying for the Open semifinals ridden by Cody Hall. In 2008, she and Lisa won the Augusta 4-Year-Old Amateur Futurity, were finalists in the NCHA Amateur Super Stakes and the NCHA Amateur Derby.

“She was a tough, gritty little mare,” said Tony. “Lisa has taken this very hard and Lily will be greatly missed by her, Taylor and myself, along with the Stewarts."

TRACY BARTON RELOCATES TO SOUTH DAKOTA'S NORTH RIDGE RANCH

May 2, 2009 - Pierre, S.D.
Tracy Barton moves from Virginia to South Dakota's North Ridge Ranch.

Just in time for summer, world class cutting training is coming to central South Dakota. National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) Hall of Fame trainer, Tracy T. Barton is relocating his cutting training to the well-known North Ridge Ranch of Pierre, S. D.

Barton has been one of the East Coast’s best known cutting horse trainers; however, he has decided to move his entire Virginia operation to South Dakota to train limited aged event horses for Carol and Jerry Ward’s well-known North Ridge Ranch. “I am very excited to have the opportunity to concentrate on the North Ridge Ranch cutting horse program,” Barton said. “I trained Jerry’s first cutting horse many years ago and she went on to become one the ranch’s great foundation mares. She produced Black Catamount’s Rey and is the grand dam to Cats High Noon. Both are great show horses that I was privileged to train.”

The Wards bought the ranch five years ago so they could concentrate on their breeding program and develop young show horses. “A few years ago I realized we had horses in training with five or six trainers in four states and decided it was time to centralize this aspect of our business,” Jerry Ward said. “We first started talking to Tracy and his family about four years ago, recognizing that a move of this nature had a number of dimensions and moving parts.” After four years of planning, the move is finally “on”.

Barton is well known for his training clinics and developing successful amateurs and
non-pros up and down the East Coast. “Of course, I will miss my many customers and the friends I developed over the years, but the chance to concentrate on limited aged horses was irresistible,” Barton said. A number of his customers will send their horses with Barton to the South Dakota ranch so they can finish their limited age training, while others will migrate to other trainers closer to their owners. But Barton’s goal is to make sure no one, horse or owner, misses a beat. He will continue to host his clinics at North Ridge Ranch.

North Ridge Ranch has begun construction of a larger indoor arena to house the expanded training program and expects Barton will complete his move within the next few weeks. “It’s not exactly like the wagon trains heading out west, but with a caravan of six trucks and trailers bringing horses and tack across the country, it’s pretty close,” Barton said. The old west imagery is probably well suited for the move as North Ridge Ranch was a primary location for the Kevin Costner Academy Award winning film “Dances with Wolves”. Tracy and his family will now be making their own historical adventure to South Dakota. The ranch will be the site of clinics, rodeos, and other events to be announced in 2009. Perched above the Missouri River’s Big Bend, North Ridge Ranch is also home to a registered Hereford cattle herd.

For more information, contact Jerry Ward at (605) 224-5544 or from his web site at: http://www.northridgeranch.com. Tracy Barton's web site is: http://www.ttbcuttinghorses.com.

RICKY GLEN LEAVES WESTERN AUSTRALIA FOR MELBOURNE

THE MAN BEHIND PEPTOS STYLISH OAK MOVING ON

April 28, 2009
After 13 years of managing the horse division for the Morning Sun Ranch, located in Western Australia, Ricky Glen has taken up residence to manage Machiavelli Quarter Horses, located just outside Melbourne in Victoria, Australia.

Many cutting horse enthusiasts best know Ricky for his management of the outstanding young sire Peptos Stylish Oak, who has been shuttled back and forth between Australia and Texas for the past several breeding seasons. Ricky purchased him for the Morning Sun Ranch as a weanling at the Drummond Dispersal sale at Fort Worth during the 1998 NCHA Futurity.

Ricky has also been instrumental in the purchase and importation of more than 30 cutting-bred Quarter Horse mares into Australia as well as three other young stallions.

“Myself and Barry Ryan (the owner of the Morning Sun Ranch) would come to the NCHA Derby sales each July to buy mares there and have also purchased some privately as well,” said Ricky. “We brought Comanchie Shorty (Shorty Lena x Paloma Quixote) from Jimmy Reno three years ago as this young stallion was an ideal type to import to Australia”

According to Ricky, Machiavelli Quarter Horses has been a client of the Morning Sun Ranch for a good many years. Just last year they made the decision to invest in the biggest purchase of Quarter Horses ever to be sold privately, as a package, in Australia. The deal was done for them to buy 20 of the Morning Sun Ranch’s imported cutting-bred mares and also Comanchie Shorty.

“It was a hard decision to move and relocate but it was great to be able to keep on with the management of a great group of horses for a keen new player in the industry,” said Ricky. “Jenny McVilly, along with her family, have been involved in the equine industry for a good many years and along with the new group of horses, a new property was also brought hosting 240 acres of land, an indoor arena, 25 stables and a breeding center. Time will come in the near future to have a new stallion coming from the USA to complement the operation and talks are now underway to ensure that the right stallion suited to the Australian industry is either purchased or shuttled to Australia."

BRIAN DURANT HOSPITALIZED FOLLOWING WEATHERFORD SHOOTING

April 20, 2009 - Weatherford, Texas
On Friday, April 17, Brian Durant, the son of Jerry Durant, Weatherford, Texas, one of the owners of the Silverado On The Brazos arena, was shot multiple times by police at his parent’s home in Weatherford after firing his weapon at police officers.

According to an article in the Weatherford Democrat, Brian Durant had reportedly contacted several family members and threatened to kill himself following a police chase from the Lowe’s parking lot to the Durant family home. Following failed negotiations to make Brian Durant drop his weapon, Durant pointed his gun at the police, who returned fire, striking him several times. As of Saturday night, the victim was in critical condition. His condition was unknown as of Monday. No officers were injured.

JOE HEIM'S MOTHER PASSES AWAY IN LOUISVILLE, KY

April 1, 2009
Ethel Heim, 89, mother of Triple Crown Champion Joe Heim, Thackerville, Okla., passed away on Tuesday, March 24 at her home in Louisville, Ky., with her family by her side. She coud often be seen in the stands at major events and in recent years had watched Joe show via the Internet. She had been diagnosed with cancer in late January.

Besides Joe and his wife, Holly, she is survived by her loving husband of 68 years, Cyril F. Heim of Louisville; her oldest son, George Heim and his wife, Mary, of Chicago, Ill.; her daughter Susan Heim, Louisville; three grandchildren, including Joette Duvall and husband Cody of Granada, Colo., and two great grandchildren, Trail and Trip Duvall.

Send your condolences to Joe and Holly at PO Box 100, Thackerville, OK 73459-0100.

DENNY HALES DIES OF HEART ATTACK AT AGE 63

April 1, 2009
Denny Hales, 63, Zanesville, Ohio, a staple at the helm of the Ohio Quarter Horse Association, died of a massive coronary on Sunday morning, March 29 at Genesis Betheda Emergency Room in Zanesville. Hales, who had just returned from a vacation, was at home on Sunday morning and didn’t feel well. He took an aspirin and his wife drove him to the emergency room. As he walked into the hospital, he had a massive coronary and died.

Denny is well known in the horse industry as he was the Executive Vice President of the Ohio Quarter Horse Association and currently Show Manager of the prestigious All-American Quarter Horse Congress in Columbus, Ohio. He was active in many equine associations.

He was born Feb. 23, 1946 in Pittsburg, Pa., the son of Erwin H. and Betty (Bothwell) Hales. He married JoAnn (Osborne) Hales on Saturday, March 24, 1979. He graduated from Muskingum College and received his master’s degree from Ohio University. He was a former principal of Maysville Junior High School and a wrestling coach at Zanesville High School.

In addition to his wife, Denny is survived by two daughters: Stephanie (Dan) Bathrick, Chandlersville and Darci Hales of Columbus; one son, Matthew Hales, Gahanna; two grandchildren, Justin and Lauren Bathrick; a sister, Sandra (Lou) Whitehead of Columbus and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m., Thursday, April 2 at the north Terrace Church of Christ, 1569 Bowers lane, Zanesville, with Dale Livingston officiating. Burial will be in the Mt. Olive Cemetery, Zanesville, Ohio. To sign the online registry book or send personal condolences, visit www.HillisHardwickFH.com.

HARRY LEE TENNISON DIES AT 89

FATHER OF KIT MONCRIEF AND LEE TENNISON WAS A WILDLIFE CONSERVATIONIST

March 8, 2009 – Fort Worth, Texas
Harry Lee Tennison, the father of cutters Kit Moncrief and Lee Tennison, died Wednesday, March 4. He was 89.

Tennison, who originated 30 different conservation programs worldwide dealing with the importance of wildlife and education of non-hunters to the value of hunting and anti-poaching campaigns, also became famous with “Operation Rhino,” one of the most successful programs in the conservation world.

Born on Aug. 1, 1919 to Thomas Lee and Lotti Maury Stewart Tennison, he grew up on a farm in Sherman, Texas, and learned to hunt and fish from his grandfather. He was educated at Baylor University and the University of Colorado and then served in the Air Force, and was based in Fort Worth as a flight instructor. In 1947, he married Gloria Lupton, whose family controlled Fort Worth’s Coca-Cola franchise. Gloria died in 1991.

Earning many honors and awards, Mr. Tennison was also an avid writer of poetry and published a journal of his adventures in Africa. According to an article in the Fort Worth Star Telegram, his favorite song was “The Impossible Dream.” “My dad lived that song,” said Kit. ‘He told us we could do anything we wanted if we work and try hard enough.”

Survivors include Kit and her husband, Charlie Moncrief, and their children, Gloria, Adelaide and Celia Moncrief; son, Lee Lupton Tennison and his children, Margo, Courtney and Callie Tennison, and stepchildren, Clark and Tatum Nowlin; and daughter Jill and her husband, Brad Barnes and their children Ben and his wife, Amy and Maury.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday in the sanctuary of Broadway Baptist Church with Dr. Jorene Swift officiating. A private burial will be held at Greenwood Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Thompson’s Harveson & Cole Funeral Home. Donations in Mr. Tennison’s memory can be made to the Fort Worth Zoo Education Center in care of the Development Department, 1989 Colonial Parkway Fort Worth, Texas 76110.

Send your condolences to Kit Moncrief at 16 Valley Ridge Rd., Fort Worth, TX 76107-4098 and Lee Tennison at 1221 Broad Ave,., Fort Worth, TX 76107-1530.

ALLEN CROUCH TO RECEIVE ZANE SCHULTE AWARD DURING NCHA FUTURITY

Article and photo by Glory Ann Kurtz
Nov. 29, 2008
Allen Crouch will receive the Zane Schulte Award during the NCHA Futurity.

Allen Crouch, 43, Noxapater, Miss., will be receiving the 2008 Zane Schulte Award during the NCHA Futurity, which is presently being held in Fort Worth, Texas. The award is given by Tom and Barbra Schulte, Brenham, Texas, in memory of their son Zane, who died at age 16 in 2000, following a battle with bone cancer. Recipients of the award must exemplify character by which Zane is remembered, integrity, service, values, respect of his peers and contributions to the cutting industry, as well as excellence in the arena. The selection is made by a committee which is approved by the NCHA.

Allen, who was born in Paducah, Ky., has been married to his wife Lauryn for 20 years. They have one son, Sean Austin, who was born in 1989. He has trained cutting horses for 20 years and is a member of the NCHA Riders Hall of Fame.
Allen, who has one sister, Teresa, was raised next to a livestock sale barn owned by Ronnie Titsworth, who introduced him to cutting horses when Allen was only 9 years old. After competing in the Youth, he turned in his Youth and Non-Pro card at the age of 18 and became a professional cutting horse trainer.

When he was 21, he moved to Louisiana, where he met Lauryn. His first big win was the 2000 NCHA Eastern National’s Open Championship on his and Lauryn’s horse, Freckles Poco Dot. In 2001, he rode the mare to the World Champion Mare title and won the Open World Finals in 2002. At the 2002 Finals held at Houston in 2003, he took Harriott Playgirl , owned by Lee Garner, Batesville, Miss., to the World Champion Mare title and won the Open Finals.

In 2005, he was the NCHA Reserve World Champion riding Show Biz Pep for Garner. And he was a finalist at the NCHA Futurity riding Spankys Foxy. In 2006, he rode The Silver Spoon to fourth place in the NCHA Futurity.

In the spring 2006, Lauryn told Allen that she felt that The Silver Spoon, sired by Hes A Peptospoonful, would be the horse that would put him over the $1 million mark for the Riders’ Hall of Fame ... and it was. The Silver Spoon was purchased from Allen and Lauryn prior to the finals of the NCHA Futurity by David and Stacie McDavid, Fort Worth, Texas, who own the horse’s sire. Allen’s most recent accomplishments include being the Reserve Champion of the 2008 Augusta Futurity riding CDs Starlight Ms., owned by George Moore, Jr., Saint George, S.C.

Also, displaying his contribution to the industry, for the past six years, Allen has been one of the trainers who put on a clinic sponsored by Horsemen For Christ.
“Allen is a wonderful husband and I thank the Lord every morning for him,” says Lauryn. “We have been very blessed in our years together in so many, many ways.” Lauryn says that Allen also likes to fish and he dug a lake on their place and stocked it with bass – even though he seldom has time to enjoy that sport due to his training business.

FLYNN STEWART TO HAVE QUADRUPLE BY-PASS SURGERY ON TUESDAY, NOV. 18

By Glory Ann Kurtz
Nov. 16, 2008
Flynn Stewart, Bowie, Texas, will be admitted to the hospital late Monday night and will have quadruple by-pass heart surgery on Tuesday, Nov. 18. Flynn suffered a heart attack the end of October after he went to the doctor for what he thought were flu-like symptoms. But someone was looking out for him, as the doctor on duty happened to be a heart doctor, who sent him to a specialist immediately – where he was told he was having a heart attack.

According to Norma, “There won’t be any short cuts and the doctor feels good about the outcome. Boy do we need those prayers now. The Good Lord willing, we’ll be back home in four or five days. Thanks to everybody – we love the calls, cards and e-mails.”

Flynn has several horses scheduled to sell in the NCHA Futurity Sales, so Norma is working overtime. Also, the couple has no insurance. Send your get-well cards to Flynn at PO Box 1793, Bowie, TX 76230-1793.

SERIOUS HORSEPLAY FOR AMATEUR CUTTERS

A 2 DISC DVD SET PUBLISHED BY LEON HARREL

By Glory Ann Kurtz
Oct. 31, 2008
“The cutting horse is a vehicle to fulfill our dreams,” short-shank spurs are for short riders – long shanks are for taller riders,” “pick a trainer who is going to treat both you and your horse with respect,” “horses naturally move away from pressure” and “how to look professional in front of the judge.”

Those are just a few of the tips and suggestions included in a top-notch, professionally produced, two-disc DVD set called “Serious Horseplay For Amateur Cutters,” which has been produced by Leon Harrel, a two-time NCHA Futurity Champion , two-time Futurity Reserve Champion, five-time World Champion, former NCHA President and NCHA Hall of Fame member, and his wife Alexandria.

The Harrels have recently moved to a beautiful ranch on Highway 51 between Springtown and Boyd, Texas, which includes a pristine facility, including a new covered arena, barns, lovely grass turnouts, and RV hook-ups. The Harrels even has guest rooms for visiting Amateurs in their exquisite six bedroom home. They are located only minutes away from cutting events held in Weatherford, Graham and Boyd, Texas. For relaxation there’s also a fishing hole, swimming pool and a hot tub. Their specialty is working with Amateurs, the largest group of NCHA members but sometimes the most ignored.

The two DVDs give first-hand information on selecting and purchasing a cutting horse, proper equipment to use, insights on selecting a trainer and a training program, horsemanship basics, fun and games to help you practice at home and the purpose and proper utilization of working your horse on a flag. Leon lets the listener know his preferences in equipment and the DVD includes an actual clinic given by Harrel, moving his students from the basics of horsemanship to showing in an actual cutting horse event in Graham, Texas.

This is a set that every beginning cutter should have and those who have been in the industry for a long time could learn something too. I strong recommend this DVD set, which is available just in time for the Christmas season. The cost is $70 which includes shipping in the USA. For more information, visit the Harrels’ web site at www.LeonHarrel.com or call (877) 288-9484.
Click here to go to Harrel web site>>

IT’S OVER

SMART LITTLE LENA SETTLEMENT DOCUMENTS SIGNED

By Glory Ann Kurtz
Oct. 19, 2008 – Amarillo, Texas
“The court in Amarillo, Texas, approved the class settlement part of the overall settlement for the Smart Little Lena Syndicate lawsuits. The case will be dismissed Monday (Oct. 20) assuming the settlement funds are distributed as planned.” Those were the words of Jay Vogelson, the Dallas attorney who represents the estate of the Late Bill Freeman and his widow, Jill. The settlement agreement was signed on Thursday, Oct. 16.

On Oct. 13, I posted an article on this site regarding the upcoming settlement agreement and included a link to the actual settlement documents – as well as the two forensic audits performed during the suit – one by the Syndicate members, the other by the Freeman parties. The class lawsuit included a dozen of the 80 Smart Little Lena Syndicate members, plus Antoinette Chatham, which were sued by the Freemans for libel and slander. If you are interested in reading those documents, click on the links at the end of this article.

According to Tommy Manion, who along with Hanes Chatham, headed up the SLL Syndicate, there were three members of the Syndicate (previously referred to as the interveners) who refused to sign the settlement. “One of them refused to sign up until 11 p.m. the night before the judge was to approve the settlement,” said Manion. “The deal was that we all sign or no one signs and it would advance to the court house.”

However, at 7 a.m. the next morning, Vogelson e-mailed Tom Thomas, a Dallas attorney who represented Manion and the Smart Little Lena Syndicate members, telling him that the three hold-outs had signed the settlement agreement.

Although a trial was scheduled for Monday, Oct. 20, Manion said that if all parties did not sign the settlement, the trial would have probably been continued to a later date.

According to Vogelson, the proceeds of the settlement, paid by several insurance companies, are to be paid within three days of the signing of the settlement – or today! The Settlement Agreement, filed on Oct. 8 included $350,000 of Bill Freeman’s personal claims for libel and slander by his estate from Manion’s Karen Freeman’s and Ron Ward’s insurance companies. The money will go to Jill Freeman as the executrix of the Bill Freeman estate. Bill Freeman, the NCHA’s first Triple Crown winner riding Smart Little Lena, passed away on July 29, 2008 at the age of 58.

The Smart Little Lena syndicate members will receive $447,500, with $310,000 of the settlement amount going to the members of the class to pay all of its attorney’s fees, equaling $3,750 to each of the 64 shares. The remaining amount of $137,500 will be distributed to Manion for the release of his libel and slander claim against the Freeman parties. The agreement also included a “global release” for all parties from any future suits, including the possibility of a wrongful death claim that some members felt could be filed.

Manion said that their response to that is that the Freeman parties instigated the final class lawsuit, so it was their fault, not ours.

In response, Vogelson said he felt the litigation probably contributed to Freeman’s death. “There are a lot of guilty consciences and rightfully so as far as I am concerned,” said Vogelson. “There never was a need to be so vicious.” He also added, “By some means of affinity we do not understand, Smart Little Lena, in an act of solidarity with Bill Freeman, stopped breeding forever after Bill passed away.”

Manion has expressed the fact that the end of the controversy will allow the shareholders to get back to the business of promoting the legendary, 29-year-old stallion. During an Oct. 2 meeting of the shareholders, much was revealed about the stallion’s health, breeding prospects and the future of his five 2-year-old clones. Last year one testicle was removed and semen collections ended by the middle of the breeding season due to the fact the stallion could no longer ejaculate.

Dr. Whitt Byers of Select Breeders, gave a report on the stallion’s 2008 breeding record and the prospects for the future, including the frozen semen inventory, which includes 163 conventional doses and 3,473 ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection) doses, which are single ½ ml. straws, with mares having to be bred at Texas A&M or Colorado State University at an average cost of $8,000 per mare.

On Oct. 5, I published the minutes from this meeting, which also included the status of the clones and discussion on their future, in an E-Newsletter to those who have signed up for the them. If you did not receive this information, you can e-mail me at glory@glorykurtz.com and request a copy of the minutes and if I can add you to my E-Newsletter list, I will e-mail you a copy of the Oct. 5 E-Newsletter.
Click here for complete Settlement Agreement>>
Click here for SLLS forensic audit>>
Click here for Freeman forensic audit>>

TODAY’S NEWS

By Glory Ann Kurtz
Oct. 11, 2008
CLARENCE TYE HOSPITALIZED
Clarence Tye, Gill, Colo., is in an Aurora, Colo., hospital, getting three weeks of chemotherapy and radiation for a tumor located in the lining of his bile duct. The treatments have made him very sick and he has been in ICU for nine days. Clarence’s wife, Judy, said that he recently got his first liquid food and they are going to be keeping him in the hospital for a few more days. Then he will have to build up his strength for a few weeks before he is again checked to see if the treatments did what they were supposed to do on the tumor. At that time a decision will be made on how to proceed.

Clarence, a retired California school teacher, is a familiar face in the industry and years ago hauled Phil Rapp to cuttings when he was young. He is in University Hospital, 4200 12605 E. 16th Ave., Aurora, CO 80045, Room 1121. You can send cards there or to his home at 27124 CR 70, Gill, CO. 80624.

DETAILED MINUTES OF NCHA SEPT. 8-9 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING PUBLISHED
For the first time that I can remember, the NCHA not only published the full minutes of an Executive Committee meeting, but also named the committee members who made a motion, seconded it and how they voted on a given subject. The Sept. 8-9 meeting was a very important one because it was when the Executive Committee went over the suggestions made by the committees at the Convention. Click Below for a copy of the full minutes:
Click here for Executive Committee minutes>>

WILL ROGERS TO GET MORE PARKING – BUT IT WON’T BE FREE
According to an article in the Fort Worth Star Telegram, parking will someday be easier to find at the Will Rogers complex because of a proposed new parking garage – but at a price. It is estimated that parking will cost $5 or more for events that previously had free parking. The new six-story garage with one basement level, totaling 1,116 spaces is estimated to cost $32.5 million. The city of Fort Worth will issue certificates of obligation which will be paid for with revenue from parking fees. It is scheduled to open in December 2009.

SHAWN FLARIDA/BRYANT PACE SPLIT CONGRESS REINING FUTURITY
Shawn Flarida, Springfield, Ohio, and Bryant Pace, Smithfield, N .C., tied for the championship of the All-American Quarter Horse Congress Reining Futurity during the finals held Friday, Oct. 10. Flarida was riding Whizs Chic A Dee, a 3-year-old son of West Coast Whiz out of Chic A Dee Hickory by Smart Chic Olena, owned by Arcese Quarter Horses USA, while Pace rode All Juiced Up sired by Smart Like Juice out of Come On And Dance by Reminic, owned by Jose Vazquez’s Smart Like Juice, Inc., Chicago, Ill. Both horses scored 224 and took home $22,012.78.

Ginger Schmersal, Overbrook, Okla., won the Non-Pro Stakes, riding Lil N Trouble, an APHA-registered gelding, owned by Ginger and her trainer husband, Craig. The gelding is sired by Lil Ruf Trouble out of Tami Dee (P) by Surprise Enterprise and collected $5,036.93. But the big story out of the prestigious reining was the success of the Smart Like Juice Offspring, with tying for the Open Championship and two others placing second and third in the Non-Pro Stakes.
Click here for Congress Reining Futurity results>>

PEPTO TAZ OFFSPRING EARNINGS LEAP TO $585,615
The year 2008 has turned out to be a great year for Pepto Taz, a 1997 son of Peptoboonsmal out of the great mare, Sweet Lil Lena by Smart Little Lena. With his offspring now earning over $585,615, $326,684 of that has been earned by his offspring since Jan. 1, 2008. And the checks have been earned the hard way – with the largest check this year being $11,351 earned by Hesa Smart Taz, who finished third at Music City, boosting his lifetime earnings to over $68,936. Pepto Taz, with lifetime earnings of $132,224 is owned by Don and Netha Lester, Canby, Ore.

TWO TEXAS HORSES TEST POSITIVE FOR EEE
Texas has joined at least five other states this year in reporting cases of Eastern Equine Encephalitis infection in horses. In Houston County, in the southeast corner of the state, a horse with clinical illness tested positive and in Denton County, in north central Texas, a vaccinated horse also tested positive and exhibited clinical signs of disease. EEE, which can be transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes, also has been reported in horses in Georgia, Florida, Maine, Tennessee and New Hampshire, and in Ontario, Canada.

AUSTRALIAN PURCHASES HALF INTEREST IN YELLOW ROAN OF TEXAS

By Glory Ann Kurtz
Sept. 18, 2008 – Herald, Calif.
The sale of half interest in the stallion Yellow Roan Of Texas was recently completed by the Oasis Ranch Inc., Herald, Calif., and Susan Marchant’s SDM Quarter Horses, Goondiwindi, Queensland, Australia. Although the selling price was not disclosed, Pete Bowling of the Oasis Ranch, Inc., said the price made the stallion one of the top five high sellers in the industry.

Yellow Roan Of Texas, a 1997 son of Peptoboonsmal (ninth leading sire of all time, with offspring earning over $10.6 million) out of Doc’s Steady Date (offspring earning over $350,500) by Doc Bar, has over $73,000 in lifetime earnings – including a tie for fourth in the 2000 NCHA Non-Pro Futurity and ninth in the Amateur, where he and his owner/rider Dustin Adams picked up over $52,000. Wes Adams had originally purchased the yearling stallion in 1998 to be part of the MillionHeir program.

“Last year was the first year that the colts we bred competed,” said Bowling, and he is already on the top 100 leading sires list published by Equi-Stat. The stallion currently has 23 performing foals which have won $141,569. The stallions offspring are showing up in the winner’s circle of cutting, reining and reined cow horse competition.

“Ironically, many of the mares which Yellow Roan Of Texas bred had no performance record,” said Bowling, “but they still produced winners and money earners.”

The stallion will continue to stand at the Oasis Ranch, owned by Pete and his wife, Marilyn Mowry Bowling, for a $3,500 stud fee; however, early bookings still will be taken at the 2008 price of $2,000 until the Oasis Ranch Production Sale, scheduled to be held Oct. 11.

“Because his semen is so good,” we have decided to keep him here and ship semen to the Australian horses,” said Bowling. “The semen will be shipped to the Oakey Veterinarian Hospital, a top surgical and reproduction facility in Oakey, Queensland. Dr. David Pascoe, who completed a PhD in equine reproduction and comparative pathology at the University of California, Davis, and is now an award-winning specialist in equine reproduction will be the veterinarian who will be handling the breeding of the mares.”

For further information, go to www.oasisranchinc.com or call (209) 748-2254 or 5352.

HEARD AROUND THE CAMPFIRE

NEWS ABOUT AND FROM THE CUTTERS
Sept. 9, 2008

RAPP BECOMES $6 MILLION MAN:
According to the NCHA, Phil Rapp became a $6 million man when he won a weekend check at Sweetwater, Texas, on Sept. 5. The title, which made him cutting's all-time earnings leader, came one day before his 39th birthday. What gave him the biggest boost - The 2008 win of the MillionHeir Derby worth $300,000 on Redneck Yachtclub, claimed Rapp.

CHAPPELL MARKETING MANAGER FOR ALLABOUTCUTTING.COM
Drenda Chappell, who in 1987 started “Horses for Pleasure,” a horse brokering service in the Quarter Horse industry and selling over $22 million worth of horses worldwide, has become the Marketing Manager for www.allaboutcutting.com. A former New Mexico State Fair Queen, Drenda has trained many horses, winning on them in national competition. She is currently in the process of writing a book, “You Can Market and Sell Your Horse.” Drenda is the mother of Alan Chappell, 28, who trains, shows and sells horses. Alan holds an AQHA World title and an NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity championship. Contact Drenda at (817) 821-6991.

CALVIN ALLEN TOPS AQHA SELECT CUTTING:
Weatherford, Texas, saddlemaker, Calvin Allen, won the “Select Cutting,” held during the Bayer Select world Show which wrapped up in Amarillo on Labor Day – Sept. 1. With judges Pete Fanning, Andy Adams, Tom Lyons, Eugene “Dell” Bell and Leslie Shaw looking on, Allen rode Frankie Floyd, a 1998 son of Freckles Floyd out of Wilsons Chickadee by Doc Wilson, owned by Calvin and his wife Brenda, scored a total of 218 under the five judges who scored him 72, 73, 73, 72, 73. (highest and lowest scores were dropped).

The Reserve title went to Charles Drummond, Pawhuska, Okla., riding Most Stylish Mom, a 2002 daughter of Docs Stylish Oak out of Playboys Mom by Freckles Playboy, owned by his son Timothy. Drummond scored a total of 217.5. Third, scoring a 214.5, went to Nancy Turner, Bushnell, Fla., riding Strait CD, a 1998 gelded son of CD Olena out of Joan Marie by Doc’s Solano owned by Nancy and her husband Ted. Fourth place was taken by previous champ Lynn Long, Decatur, Texas, riding A Loaded Pistol, a 2002 gelded son of Smart Little Pistol out of Ollies Ronda by Ollie Oop, owned by her husband, Wayne. Lynn scored a 212.

CHATTER HAS NEW SALES REP
Most of you have noticed by now that Shawn McCoy is no longer with the NCHA Chatter. McCoy, who has been replaced as advertising sales rep, by Mark Herron, previously with Western Horseman Magazine, has moved on to the new team roping magazine, “The Score,” published by the brand-new National Team Roping Horse Association. The first issue came out in July. To contact Shawn, dial (817) 598-0110.

Prior to his stint with Cowboy Publishing’s Western Horseman Magazine and Quarter Horse News, Herrin joins several others who at one time were employed by the Texas Thoroughbred Association – including Jeff Hooper, Alan Gold and Sally Harrison – who are all now employed by the NCHA. Julie Mankin, also formerly employed by Cowboy Publishing as editor of the "Barrel Horse News," is the Managing Editor of "The Score.". The new team roping association is headquartered in Weatherford, Texas, with Sonny Miller being the President and CEO and Darlene Miller the Vice President, Marketing.

NATIONAL STOCK HORSE ASS’N FUTURITY:
Cory Cushing, Scottsdale, Ariz., won the Open Championship of the National Stock Horse Association Futurity which ended Aug. 24 in Paso Robles, Calif. Cushing was riding First Marq Me, a gelding by Teninas First out of Marquitas Bunny by Peppy Marquette, owned by Kevin and Sydney Knight, Peoria, Ariz. The pair won a $30,000 paycheck. The Knights also owned Oh Cay N Short, the 2007 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity, ridden by Boyd Rice. The Knights purchased First Marq Me at the 2006 NRCHA Open Futurity sale for $4,000. Laurie Ward, Kingsburg, Calif., was the Non-Pro champion riding Black Pearl, a daughter of Smart Little Pepinic out of Sugar Babe Taffy by Master Remedy. The pair won a $7,000 first-place paycheck.

TOPSAILS RIEN MAKER WORLD’S RICHEST STOCK HORSE:
After winning the Aug. 23, World’s Richest Stock Horse competition in Paso Robles, Calif., with a composite score of 661, Topsails Rien Maker and Russell Dilday took home a $20,000 paycheck. The stallion, with earnings topping $200,000, is sired by Topsail Cody out of Jameen Gay by Toby Gay Bar, and is owned by Delay and Kevin Cantrelle. Second went to PG Dry Fire, a stallion by Playgun out of The Dry Look by Dry Doc, owned by Dave and Loke Allen, Park City, Utah and ridden by Jake Telford to the $15,000 second-place check.

BODEE BOONSMAL TO SELL AT NRCHA SBF SALE:
Bodee Boonsmal, the MillionHeir stallion owned by Wes Adams, will sell during the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Performance Horse Sale, Oct. 5, at the Reno Livestock Events Center in Reno. Sired by Peptoboonsmal out of Docalady by Doc Bar, the beautiful gray stallion was purchased by Adams for $87,000 during the 1998 NCHA Futurity sales. The 11-year-old stallion has sired foals which have won over $3.3 million.

POLO RANCH BECOMES NRCHA SPONSOR:
The Polo Ranch, Marietta, Okla., has become the newest sponsor of the National Reined Cow Horse Association. The versatile Polo Ranch stallions have had a lot of success in the reined cow horse, cutting and reining horse industries – both as performers and sires. Although the ranch is currently downsizing and has scheduled a dispersal sale for Oct. 16-17, the stallions: Boonlight Dancer, Soula Jule Star and Gallo Del Cielo, will not be sold, but will continue to stand to the public, via shipped semen. For more information on the ranch or the sale, go to: www.poloranch.com.

WAYNE HAVENS PASSES AWAY:
A longtime member and supporter of both the NCHA and the NRCHA, Wayne Havens, Jackson, Calif., passed away on July 7. Services were held on July 12. Havens, 78, was 15 and competing in his first calf roping competition when his father died. He was inducted into the Rancho Vistadores in 1977, the same year he officiated at the Cow Palace Grand National. He was also president of the California Reined Cow Horse Association and was Stock Horse Man of the Year. He served as president of the Pacific Coast Cutting Horse Association in 1983-84 and was inducted into their Hall of Fame in 2005. In recent years, he was a real estate developer. He is survived by his sister, Geoff Zimmerman and her husband Paul, his son Mark and his wife Mary, along with their children. He leaves behind his companion Sally Sansom.

THREE SALES TO BE HELD DURING NRHA FUTURITY:
Three major sales, managed by the National Reining Horse Association, will be held during the NRHA Futurity. The sales will be held Dec. 4-6 and will include the Select Sale, Dec. 4, featuring yearlings with proven bloodlines, sires and dams of performers, show horses with performance records and 3-year-olds entered in the NRHA Futurity or shown in other NRHA-approved aged events. The Marketplace Sale, held Dec. 5, will include prospects and producers, while the Futurity Prospect Sale, Dec. 6, will feature 2-year-old reining prospects. For further information, contact Debbie Drinko (405) 946-7400 ext 119 or Vic Clark (419) 565-4646.

CENTRAL TEXAS CUTTERS HOLDS LIVE AUCTION/DINNER
A live auction and dinner, benefitting the Michelle Lynn Holsey Foundation, will be held Oct. 17 at the JB Wells Arena in Gonzales, Texas, immediately following the last class of the Central Texas CHA show. The foundation was established in September 2006 in Crockett, Texas, as a 501-c3 non-profit organization and supports men, women and children in their quest to battle cancer and other debilitating diseases while funding innovative research and supporting education. For more information, go to www.michellelynnholsey.com.

AROUND THE CAMPFIRE
NEWS ABOUT THE CUTTERS FROM THE CUTTERS

Aug. 10, 2008
CUTTINGS CANCELLED IN SAN ANGELO
According to Chris Dublin, Chaimran of the San Angelo (Texas) Stock Show and Rodeo Cutting Horse Series, all the cuttings for August, October, and November have been canceled."Our cattle feedlot has been quarantined for TB for some time now and they have no way of shipping any cattle in or out for the rest of this year except for slaughter," said Chris. "Our other sources have become too expensive because of distance and freight charges. At the present time we have no further cuttings scheduled until NCHA Weekend the first weekend in June of 2009. All standings are final as of our last show on June 27, 28 and 29. We regret this situation and any inconvenience this may cause in your cutting schedule, but sadly it is out of our control at this point."

IF IT AINT BROKE DON'T FIX IT!
Following is a letter from Jonathan Foote, Livingston, Mont.:

"I think it is time to put this Amateur/ Restricted Non Pro issue in proper perspective.

The establishment and promotion of the amateur Division has made a significat contribution to the growth of the NCHA membership numbers and the sport of Cutting since the mid 1990s. (11,000 to 21,000 members, mostly amateur)

This growth factor has been responsible for approximately $100.000,000 annually to the equine industry. (Trainers, horses, trucks, trailers, weekend shows, aged events, hotels, restaurants etc).

The majority of the cutting horse trainers make their living from the Amateur riders. Webster's dictionary's first definition of an amateur is: "a person who engages in a study, sport or other activity for pleasure rather than for financial benefit or professional reasons." It is a respected and dignified term in many other sports. (Equine Events, Golf, Baseball, tennis, etc)

If the class money limits need to be tinkered with, then tinker away. The statistics should be the guide.If the definition of who qualifies to compete as an Amateur needs to be tuned up. Then tune away.

To mess with the name, Amateur, is to kill the goose that laid the golden egg.

In short, THE NAME AINT BROKE.

Jonathan Foote

AQHYA WORLD SHOW CUTTING WINDS UP IN FORT WORTH
The American Quarter Horse Youth Association cutting finals are history and the winner is Denver Mead, Aledo, Texas, riding Shes His Wil, a 2002 daughter of Peppys Lil Wil out of Sabrinas Lena by Doc O'Lena, owned by the Divine Rock Ranch Inc., Aledo. Mead scored a 219. The event was held Aug. 1-9 in OKlahoma City, Okla.

The Reserve title went to Whitt Bell, riding Bald Face Lier to a 216. The 1993 daughter of Smart Chic Olena out of Brazos Lynx by Doc's Lynx, is owned by Jerry Bell, Hickory Plains, Ark.

Other winners included 3) Jesse S. Johnson riding Jans Peppy Oak for Lisa Johnson, Broken Bow, Neb.; 4/5 Luke Boydston riding Duallys Dandy for Marvin and Beverly Maples, Kansas City, Mo., and Morgan Holmes, Sarasota, Fla., riding Smart Oak Lad. 6) Ben Johnson riding Busys Dandy Day, owned by his grandmother Brenda Michael, Amarillo, Texas; 7) Luke Barnhart riding Smart And Peppy for Karen or Scott Barnhart, Hesston, Kan.; 8) Maison R Zuber, Cuero, Texas, riding Lil Laker Shorty; 9) Kelsey Conn riding WSR Lano Badger Cat for David & Laura Conn, Conroe, Texas and 10) Whitt Bell, Hickory Plains, Ark., riding One Smart Shorty.

Judges for the event were Bob Freeman, Bruce Richerson, Mitch Farris, Kenny Pugh and Tom Hastings.

THOROUGHBRED YEARLING SALE AVERAGE AND MEDIAN UP; BUY-BACKS INCREASE TO 52.5 PERCENT
During the opening night of the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale of York-bred preferred yearlings held Saturday, Aug. 9, the average of $62,979 was an increase of 19.4 percent overlast year's $52,737 and the median of $52,000 was up 40.5 percent over 2007's $37,000. However, with only 47 of the 99 head offered changing hands, the percent not sold rose to 52.5 - substantially above 2007's 43 percent. A total of 52 horses failed to meet their reserve. The final session is held today.

BUCKI JAMES LOSES BATTLE WITH CANCER

By Glory Ann Kurtz
July 31, 2008
Bucki James, Purcell, Okla., won the 2003 NCHA Non-Pro Derby. However, this year, While the NCHA Derby was going on in Fort Worth, it was the first one that she had missed in a decade. But Bucki had a good reason as she was fighting for her life against the ravages of cancer. This morning at 5:30 a.m.at her home, with friends and family around her, she lost the battle. Bucki was just 47.

On the blog site that was created for Bucki, a beautiful saying was published by someone who obviously had spent a lot of time with Bucki:

“At Five Thirty in the morning, on July 31,2008, Bucki James threw her leg over a horse in heaven. She has always been an early mornin' girl and always at the barn first thing. She is now happy and riding again with her Creator, Jesus Christ. Although we miss her, we are grateful that she is suffering no more, and will never have to "ride into the herd" of any storm like this again! We all have treasured this past time with her and hold her close to our hearts, as God holds Bucki close to His heart.”

Bucki was a non-pro cutter, but a professional at whatever she did. Although she was raised in a racehorse family, she was a successful pleasure horse rider – then started riding cutting horses in 1992. It wasn’t long before she was breeding and training her own winning horses. Several were out of her great mare Merada Missy.

By 2005, she had been inducted into the NCHA Non-Pro Hall of Fame. Some of her accomplishments include winning the 2003 NCHA Non-Pro Derby riding Rambo Merada, a horse she won over $166,434 riding, and the NCHA Non-Pro Classic Challenge riding Sonita Lena Chick. She also won the 2003 Augusta Futurity Classic on Sonita Lena Chick, on which she won close to $137,000. She also rode Starched Wranglers to close to $112,400. According to NCHA records, Bucki’s lifetime earnings topped $684,300. In the lifetime stats recently published by Equi-stat, she was ranked as the 34th leading Non-Pro with lifetime earnings of $660,565.

According to the web site, www.fourbucki.blogspot.com, details regarding the Celebration of Life times will follow. The family is planning on the service to be held Monday Aug. 4 in the Norman/Oklahoma City Area.

HELEN ALEXANDER ELECTED TO BREEDERS' CUP BOARD

July 27, 2008
Helen Alexander, the daughter of King Ranch heir and non-pro cutter and breeder Helen Groves, and Roy Jackson have been elected new members of the Breeders’ Cup Ltd. board of directors. According to an article in Thoroughbred Times, Alexander and Jackson fill the board spots vacated by Robert Clay and J.V. Shields Jr., who were not eligible after failing to receive enough votes for re-election to the Breeders’ Cup board of members and trustees, the 46-member panel that elects the 13 Breeders’ Cup directors.

Alexander, the owner of Middlebrook Farm in Lexington, Ky., is alongtime owner, breeder, and consignor and past president of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. Jackson and his wife, Gretchen, raced 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro.

Helen Alexander’s sister, Dorothy Alexander Matz, is married to Michael Matz, who trained Barbaro for the Jacksons’ Lael Stable. Antony Beck, Bill Farish, Terry Finley, R. D. Hubbard, and Satish Sanan were re-elected to the board of directors, which oversees the company’s general operations. Alexander, Jackson, and the five incumbents will serve two-year terms beginning in September.
Farish retained his position as board chairman.The other Breeders’ Cup directors are Reynolds Bell Jr., Donald Dizney, Tracy Farmer, B. Wayne Hughes, G. Watts Humphrey

CHUBBY TURNER BREAKS ANKLE
AT CALGARY;
PETE BRANCH WINS CUTTING

By Glory Ann Kurtz
July, 14, 2008
The Calgary Stampede was over on Sunday, July 13 and cutting was not left in the dust. The big NCHA event saw Pete Branch riding Ms Peppy Cat, owned by Lonnie Allsup, taking the Open title and around $9,200 paycheck, while Dan Hansen, riding Woody Be Lucky wins the most money in the Non-Pro title riding Woody Be Lucky. Emma Reinhardt riding Smart Poo claimed the Youth title.

One casualty of the event was NCHA’s President Elect Chubby Turner. Chubby was riding a turnback horse and settling cattle for Lindy Burch when the horse lost his footing and fell on his left shoulder, trapping Chubby’s foot and leg underneath him. It was later learned that he broke his fibula bone just above the ankle and dislocated his big toe. But little things like that don’t bother Chubby, as he got on his cutting horse and split 5/6 for a $2,200 paycheck.

According to Chubby,, they took him to the hospital and wanted to set the break and put pins in I his leg; however, he called his good friend Gary Goodfried, a doctor from Tyler who has helped a lot of cutters. He chose to ice his foot and leg down and drive back home to Weatherford, sharing the wheel with his wife, Ginger. He has an appointment on Wednesday with his good friend and doctor Gary Goodfried of Tyler.

Also, while in Calgary, Chubby met with the powers that be and says they are willing to have Calgary be one of the $50,000-added stops on the Tour to the Finals Chubby said he has also talked with Houston, who say they can add $20,000 – Chubby is busy trying to get the remaining $30,000 put together.

“After the Convention, I went to the NCHA and talked for three hours about the Tour – they filmed it and put it on a DVD and are planning to send it out to all the affiliates. (The video is available for you to look at by clicking on the link above)

“I’ve wanted to do this for years,” said Chubby, “but this is the first year that they thought it was a great idea. The Executive Committee even gave me their support.” With Chubby’s contagious enthusiasm, this may work!

“If we can get this put in place, then we have something to sell the sponsors,” said Chubby. “I may have to find sponsors for $1,000 each this first year, but you can bet that next year it will be easier to sell.”

Chubby said he plans to be on the arena floor during the cuttings with a microphone, talking about the event, the association, the contestant and cutting in general as each competitor works.

To see a video of Chubby talking about the Tour to the World Finals, click on the following:
Click here for Chubby's video

HEARD AROUND THE CAMPFIRE

NEWS FROM AND ABOUT THE CUTTERS

By Glory Ann Kurtz
July 8, 2008

BILL FREEMAN IN ICU
Bill Freeman, Rosston, Texas, is hospitalized in ICU following a bout with pneumonia. According to sources, Freeman was in ICU a couple of weeks ago with pneumonia, but went home, only to return last week. They scoped his lungs and drained fluid from all four lobes Saturday, July 5; however, his lungs have again filled with fluid. Also, he is back in ICU after they found a blood clot in his leg. Send your cards to Bill and Jill at PO Box 27, Rosston, TX 76263.

BUCKI JAMES RESTING AT HOME
According to the website www.fourbucki.blogspot.com, Bucki James, Purcell, Okla., is now home from the hospital and is being cared for by her family. Bucki, a Non-Pro NCHA Hall of Fame inductee, is seriously ill with terminal cancer. She has asked that in lieu of flowers, donations are made to the Joe Howard Williamson’s Ministry, www.horsemenforchrist.com. This is a vital ministry to Bucki, and has provided her great encouragement over the years. You can send her an email at fourbucki@gmail.com.

BOB MAYFIELD HAS SURGERY
Although I don’t know all the details, Bob Mayfield has successfully come through some major surgery. It was announced at the NCHA Convention, that he would be having surgery shortly. Send your cards to Bob at 301 VZ CR 3807, Wills Point, TX 75169.

CINDY LYLES HOSPITALIZED FROM GATOR ACCIDENT
Cindy Bartlett Lyles, Haslet, Texas, recently had a Gator accident when it flipped over and trapped her underneath it, injuring her leg. Although Cindy wasn’t driving the Gator, the other two young girls on it (including the driver) were not seriously injured. However, Cindy is in Harris Hospital in Fort Worth, where she will have to remain for several more days, flat on her back, to see if a skin graph on her leg takes. Then she will have to be bedridden at home for awhile. One highlight of her hospital stay was when they allowed her to see her dog. “It’s funny because I got a permit to bring my dog into the hospital but they won’t let it into Will Rogers,” said Cindy with a laugh. You can e-mail Cindy at thunder7@airmail.net or send a card to 10555 FM 156, Haslet, TX 76052.

BREEDERS’ INVITATIONAL MOVES TO TULSA
The Breeders Invitational has made a decision to hold their annual event in Tulsa, Okla., May 13-23, 2009. Their new contract is for three years. Previously the event was held in Reno and Las Vegas, Nev.

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AARON WHEATLEY TO BE TRAINING OUT OF SALT CREEK ARENA IN BOYD, TEXAS

WITH ONLY TWO YEARS UNDER HIS BELT IN UNITED STATES, WHEATLEY HAS EARNED OVER $310,000 IN NCHA EARNINGS

By Glory Ann Kurtz
July 2, 2008
Beginning Aug. 1, top Australian-born trainer Aaron Wheatley will be training out of the Salt Creek Arena in Boyd, Texas, Wheatley, 31, has been working at the Jack and Susan Waggoner Ranch in Bridgeport, Texas, since 2006, when he came to the United States from Australia.

“I will be riding some horses for the Waggoners at the Derby,” said Wheatley; however, after that I will be on my own at the Salt Creek Arena. I have made arrangements so that I will be the only trainer at that facility and I will be taking outside horses to ride.”

Wheatley, who was born in Victoria spent a lot of time training with Max McTaggart and said from that experience, he “learned just as much about living and being a respectable person as he did about cutting.” He became a professional cutting horse trainer at the age of 18 and rode Duntay Working Class Man, owned by Gary Braid, to the championship of the Australian NCHA Derby and Gold Cup.

He was a finalist in the Australian NCHA Futurity/Derby and Classic/Challenge every year since 1998. He was inducted into Australian Riders Hall of Fame in 2006 with earnings of over $520,000. Also in 2006, he rode Yugilbar Roc N Roy to the Australian NCHA Futurity Championship and Chickasha Hope to the Derby title, winning over $77,000 from the largest cutting event in Australia.

Before coming to the United States to work for the Waggoners, he spent time with Kathy Daughn, who he said is ‘one of the most knowledgeable persons I have spent time with on cutting horses and how to train them.’

At the 2007 NCHA Super Stakes, Wheatley swept the Limited Open Division, taking home first and second place. However, he didn't remain eligible for the Limited Open class very long - since coming to the United States two years ago, Wheatley has racked up over $310,200 in NCHA lifetime earnings.

Wheatley can be reached at (817) 304-4312.

DR. WILLIAM K. BROWNING DIES OF HEART ATTACK AT AGE 63

By Glory Ann Kurtz
June 18, 2008 – Plano, Texas
If you knew Bill Browning, you knew he was passionate – about his family, his work as a dentist, and riding his cutting horses. He also loved to travel internationally and he recently took up a new hobby – painting. But all that came to an end on Saturday, June 14, when Dr. William K. Browning, 63, passed away from a heart attack.

Dr. Browning was born on July 6, 1944 to Kenton and Lillian “Sally” Browning. He was a graduate of The Ohio State University and University of Pittsburgh Dental School with a DMD Degree. On June 13, 1970, he married Susan Leslie and from 1970-1972, he served his internship at the VA Hospital of Dallas.

Maybe it was his love of horses that help Browning decide to stay in North Texas and in 1972, he opened his private practice in Plano, Texas. He later formed a friendship with Dr. James H. Mulkey, Aubrey, Texas, who later became an NCHA member.The friendship soon turned into a partnership.

Browning cut as an amateur for years, and was a student and friend of the now-deceased cutting icon Matlock Rose. At every major NCHA event, you would see Dr. Browning and Susan, his wife of 38 years. They were so proud or their son, Cade, who rode cutting horses as an amateur before going off to college, He is now a lawyer in Abilene, Texas. He and his wife, Katie, have a son Barrett Weston Browning.

The funeral for Dr. Browning was Wednesday, June 18 at the Ted Dickey Funeral Home in Plano, Texas, and burial was at the Plano Mutual Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that memorials be made to NCHA Cutters in Action, 260 Bailey Ave., Fort Worth, TX 76107.

You can send your condolences to Susan Browning, 2 McMillan Road, Allen, TX 75002-8109.

JAMES MCNULTY FOUND DEAD

June 17, 2008 - Weatherford, Texas
James McNulty, Weatherford, Texas, an avid horseman, cutter and talented saddlemaker, was found dead Monday morning June 16 by an employee. He apparently died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Jim's most recent success in the cutting arena was the championship of the Senior Division at the Breeders Invitational, riding Lil Super Sweet. McNulty had close to $243,000 in NCHA lifetime cutting earnings.

McNulty, 60, who had moved to Texas from California, was not married and his long-time friend, Carol Raines, Bakersfield, Calif., flew in and is taking care of arrangements. His only surviving relative is his sister Cheryl McNulty.

"We will sure miss him," said Dee West, who has known Jim for years. "He was such a great man and showman. He was so talented and made the best saddles and could break horses like a horse whisperer. He was a good friend and I will miss him a lot."

Graveside services will be held at the Bethesda cemetery, FM 113, Weatherford, Texas at 10 a.m., Saturday, June 21. The cowboy minister Joe Howard Williamson will be presiding.

NEW EQUINE POLL STARTED

June 14, 2008
There is a new web site called www.equinepoll.com, where you can give your opinion on equine matters. The current poll is designed to determine how many people are interested in changing the age of futurities to 4-year-olds instead of 3-year-olds. It suggests that the National Cutting Horse Association could be a leader in this initiative and the suggestion has been taken up by Matt Gaines, chairman of the Limited Aged Event, and will more than likely be brought up at the upcoming Convention, June 20-22 in Grapevine, Texas.

The poll, which is not anonymous, but is confidential, lists the positives, such as fewer injuries, better foundations, longer breeding time, more attention to animal welfare, fewer disposable horses, fewer drugs having to be used etc.

You can offer your opinion by going to www.equinepoll.com.

HEARD AROUND THE CAMPFIRE

NEWS ABOUT AND FROM THE CUTTERS
May 14, 2008

HIGH BROW CD RECOVERING
According to an article on the web site www.Sallyharrison.com, High Brow CD, the winner of the NCHA Futurity and Co-Champion of the NCHA Super Stakes is on the road to recovery following plural pneumonia and some colic symptoms diagnosed when his trainer, Austin Shepard, was on the way to the Cotton Stakes. It all happened on April 23 and on May 12, he was released from the vet clinic to stand at Don Ham’s Stallion Station in Whitesboro, Texas, where he will spend the remainder of the month breeding mares. The stallion, owned by Chris and Staci Thibodeaux, Jennings, La., is scheduled to return to Shepard’s training facility around June 1 to prepare for the NCHA Derby, the final leg of the NCHA Triple Crown. High Brow CD is the earner of $430,580 and the undefeated champion of his first four events.

BILL HORN LEAVING HOSPITAL
Following Bill Horn’s hospitalization on March 17 for the removal of a benign tumor, Horn, an NRHA Hall of Famer and NRHA’s first Million Dollar rider, suffered several post-operative setbacks. Now it seems like a miracle because Horn, who lives in Valley View, Texas, with his wife, Kim, will soon be released from the hospital – even though he still has some physical therapy to go through.

WHAT ARE RICK MOCK AND SUSANNE FORREST UP TO:
Since the NCHA has hired their own in-house photographer, Suzanne Forrest is available to take photos at more events. Also, Rick is involved with Feed-Smart, an automatic feeder. This safe, reliable pasture feeder is operated on solar power and may be the answer to your feeding problems. Contact Rick at (903) 488-9165 or (281) 723-5817 cell phone – or e-mail him at rick@sforrestphoto.com.

NORTH TEXAS DERBY
Bruce Morine rode Catrina Starlight to a 75,9 and the championship of the Open North Texas Derby held Feb. 22 in Weatherford, Texas, The 2004 daughter of High Brow Cat out of Stella Starlight by Grays Starlight was owned by the breeder Lach Perks. The mare collected a $1,463 paycheck.

The Reserve title was split between Phil Rapp riding Redneck Yachtclub and Jason Clark riding Hick Of A Mate. Both scored a 74.5 and collected $1,061. Redneck Yahtclub, a gelding by San Tule Freckles out of Sheyssmartlittlelena by Smart Little Lena is owned by Phil and Mary Ann Rapp. Phil won the MillionHeir Derby on the gelding in March. Hick Of A Mate, a gelding by Smart Mate out of Hickorys Badgerina by Doc’s Hickory is owned by Darren Blanton.

The Open Classic was also won by the team of Clark and Blanton. Jason scored a 75 and earned $1,322 when he rode Mates Locked In, a 6-year-old stallion by Smart Mate out of Lock The Door by Doc’s Hickory. The Reserve title was split by Paul Hansma riding Raytheon and Matt Budge riding ruby Tuesdays Color (P). Both scored a 74.5 and earned 4992. Reytheon, a 6-year-old gelding by Dual Rey out of Teninos Taco by Tenino San, is owned by Paul and Julie Hansma. Ruby Tuesday Color (P), is a 5-year-old Paint mare by Color Me Smart out of Ruby Tuesday DNA (P) by Peppy San Badger, owned by Terry Green.

In Non-Pro competition, Billy Atwood, rode James Four Fourteen, a gelding by Kit Dual out of Miss Badger Uno by Smart Little Uno to a 74 and $996 first-place paycheck in the Derby. Reserve went to Mary Bradford riding Justa Indian maiden, a daughter of Hickorys Indian Pep out of Justa Siren by Justa Swinging Peppy to a 73.5. The pair earned $797.

Ironically, Billy’s wife, Rosemary, won the Classic Non-Pro when she rode John Fourteen Six, a 5-year-old stallion by Smart Little Jerry out of Malenas Gun by Young Gun to a 75 and the $1,243 paycheck. The Reserve title went to Ray Baldwin riding CD Boonsmal, a 5-year-old CD Olena out of Poosmal by Peptoboonsmal. The pair scored a 74 and $994.

BRAZOS VALLEY CUTTERS DERBY/CLASSIC:
Lindy Burch won the Brazos Valley Cutters Derby held March 28 in Weatherford, Texas. Lindy, riding Genuine Bet, a daughter of Be On Me 498 out of Genuine Desire by Genuine Doc, owned by the Oxbow Ranch, scored a 76 and took home $1,369. Reserve was split between brothers Winston Hansma riding Boons Play and Paul Hansma riding Al Poccino. Both scored a 75 and took home $993. Boons Play is a son of Peptoboonsmal out of Miss Martini Play by Freckles Playboy and Al Poccino is a gelding by Dual Pep out of Capoo by CD Olena.

The Open Classic was won by Randy Chartier, scoring a 76 on Cats Glamour Girl, a 6-year-old daughter of High Brow Cat out of SR glamorous Lady by Doc’s Hickory, owned by Georgia and Dave Husby. Chartier collected $1,456. The Reserve title went to Bubba Matlock riding Catchin Some Rays, a 5-year-old daughter of Dual Rey out of Smart B Back by Ill Be smart, owned by Carroll Baggett’s Carrolls Cutting LLC. Matlock scored a 75 for a $1,196 check.

In the Non-Pro Derby, Lach Perks scored a 73 for the $1,067 first-place check riding Catrina Starlight. Reserve went to Mary Ann Rapp riding Swingin Star Pepto. The pair scored a 72 for an $853 check.
Mica Motes won the Non-Pro Classic riding SL Jaybird to a 78 – the highest score of the entire aged event. The 6-year-old gelding by Smart Little Jerry is out of Peyote Bird by Hickoryote. Rosemary Atwood rode John Fourteen Six to a 76 for the Reserve title and $769 paycheck.

BIG COUNTRY DERBY:
The Flynn family dominated the Big Country Derby held March 21 in Sweetwater, Texas. Sean Flynn took the top two Open spots, while his wife, Ashley, won the Non-Pro. Sean rode Pepto Olenas Dually to a 73 for first place and a $636 check and Primetime Taz to second with a 71 for $477. Pepto Olenas Dually, a daughter of Peptoboonsmal out of Olenas Dually by Dual Pep is owned by Edley and Sue Hixson. Primetime Taz is a son of Pepto Taz out of Miss Echo Wood by Doctor Wood, owned by Lee Holsey.

Ashley rode Financial Sugar, a son of Smart Sugar Badger out of Quite the Cat by High Brow Cat to the non-pro title with a 72, earning $471. The Reserve title went to Debbie Patterson riding Barely A Dos, a daughter of her stallion Dos palomino out of Berry special peppy by Peppy San Badger. Debbie scored a 71 for $314.

BLUEBONNET STAKES:
Mark Mills topped the Open Division of the Bluebonnet Stakes Derby, held May 4 in Brenham, Texas. Mills was riding Pretty Smart peppy, a daughter of Smart Little Lena out of Pretty Lil Pepper by Cols Lil Pepper owned by Denman and Laura Heard. Mills scored a 219 for a $2,904 check. The Reserve title was split between Mark Lavender riding Little Miss Playdox, a daughter of Playdox owned by Sam Monroe, Jr., and Terry Hollis riding SF High On Love, a daughter of High Brow Cat owned by Jan smith. Both scored a 216 and took home $2,420.

The Non-Pro Champion and winning $1,843 was Nancy Martin riding Redwhiteandmecomblue, a daughter of Mecom Blue out of Little Short Stuff by Shorty Lena, after scoring a 222. The Reserve title went to Cindy Love riding Blue Tipped Dove, a gelding by Mecom blue out of November Dove by Haidas Little Pep. Love scored a 216.5 for a $1,613 check.

The Open Classic was won by Kathy Daughn riding CRR Smart Little Cat, a 5-year-old son of Cats Rhett out of Aristo Kate by Smart Aristocrat owned by Howard and Donna Webster. Her 223 score earned $2,758. The Reserve title and $2,574 went to Tony Piggott riding Graceful Lil Cat, a 5-year-old daughter of High Brow Cat out of Graceful Style by Docs Stylish Oak, owned by Steve Dees.

The Non-Pro Classic was won by Clem Sokol riding Cats RX, a 5-year-old son of High Brow Cat out of Docs C Champ by Doc’s Prescription. Sokol scored a 216 and took home $1,858. Reserve when to John David Tolbert riding Simply Harry, a 6-year-old gelding by Dual Reward out of Fletchs First Flite by Jae Bar Fletch. Tolbert scored a 215 and took home $1,703.

LOCK-IN YOUR AQHA MEMBERSHIP FEES WITH AUTO-RENEW
At its April meeting, the AQHA Executive Committee approved a membership committee recommendation to raise AQHA membership fees, which will become effective in January 2009. The best way to avoid an increase in membership fees for three years is to use AQHA's offer to auto renew your membership.
If you are a current AQHA member, go to the AQHA website to securely provide them with your credit card number. They will not charge your card until it’s time for your membership to renew. You current membership renewal fee will be locked in for three years. If you decide you want out of the program, just inform them, and they will cancel at any time.

TAKE A TRIP TO THE WINNERS’ CIRCLE
Still looking for a good deal on a sire to breed your mare? Would you like to know which stallions are siring the winners of today? Go to the Winners’ Circle – the bar at the top right of the main page on this site.

Current money-earning or award-winning offspring of stallions advertised on this site, are listed – along with the sire’s name and a list of offspring, including the name of the competing offspring, sex, show, owner, rider and amount of money won if it is available. The information comes weekly from Robin Glenn Pedigrees “foal tracker” service and the wins will even surprise some of the stallion owners.

Once you find a stallion that sounds interesting – click on No. 1 Stallion Place at the top of the main page – the sires are listed in alphabetical order. If the stallion is not there, they may be standing at a major banner advertiser – so click on their banner.
Go to: www.allaboutcutting.com/winners-circle.html

FREE CLASSIFIED ADS:
If you are registered on www.allaboutcutting.com to receive the E-Newsletters, you are eligible for a FREE classified ad - 50 words or less for a full month. Just e-mail me at glory@glorykurtz.com with your name and classified ad. If you have a friend who would like a free classified ad, have them sign up for the E-Newsletter - then e-mail me at glory@glorykurtz.com and tell me they have signed up, along with their free classified ad. CLASSIFIED ADS WORK!

HIGH BROW CAT HAS EXPLORATORY SURGERY

By Glory Ann Kurtz
May 5, 2008 – Weatherford, Texas
Jack and Susan Waggoner, Weatherford, Texas, had a big scare on April 28, when their legendary stallion, High Brow Cat, had to have exploratory surgery.

“He acted a little gassy in his stall,” said Jack Waggoner, “so we had some x-rays taken.” When nothing showed up, the Waggoners had exploratory surgery done on the stallion and the Dr. Jeff Foland of Weatherford Equine Center in Weatherford, removed a small stone, the size of a small muskmelon.

“It’s fine now and there are no after affects,” said Waggoner. “But he had a few stitches, so while they are healing, we are using frozen semen for breeding. He’ll be back at work in about four weeks. He’s feeling better than he was before the surgery.” The stallion stands at Chris Benedict’s DLR Ranch in Weatherford.

High Brow Cat, 20, has been the leading sire of cutting horses for the past five years. He sired High Brow CD, the 2007 NCHA Futurity Champion and that was the third consecutive time in the past five years that one of his get has won the prestigious crown. With the win by High Brow CD, High Brow Cat tied Doc Bar’s record for number of horses winning the NCHA Futurity. At the end of 2007, High Brow Cat was the fourth leading sire of all time, with offspring winning over $19.7 million. Only Smart Little Lena ($32,573,948), Freckles Playboy ($26,650,954) and Peppy San Badger ($24,485,721) topped his record of offspring earnings.

Stones such as these are called "enteroliths," which form around a foreign object in the intestine of horses. They usually form around small bits of metal or wood which the horse ingents and which don't pass through. Research suggests that they are more prolific when the digestive tract is high in phosphorus and high pH.

UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine and other veterinary institutionals seem to agree that to prevent enteroliths, one should cut down on the alfalfa, reduce or eliminate bran from the diet, increase the grain ratio, add a cup of vinegar a day to the horse's diet, let horses graze or increase feedings to three or four times a day, use straw bedding instead of shavings, provide occasional doses of psyllium mucciloid to improve bulk movement and provide consistent and frequent exercise.

LEGENDARY ARTIST ORREN MIXER DIES

By Glory Ann Kurtz
April 30, 2008

Orren Mixer and his painting of Royal Blue Boon, taken just before Orren died.

Photo by Megan Parks

Orren Mixer, Arcadia, Okla., a legendary artist of good horse flesh, apparently died of a heart attack on Tuesday, April 29, 2008 in the living room of Elaine Hall, Weatherford, Texas. Mixer, 87, was delivering a painting of Elaine’s great mare Royal Blue Boon.

According to Elaine, she had commissioned the painting, which also includes several of the great mare's offspring and one of the two clones of her, two years ago when she met Mixer in Purcell, Okla., during a press conference on clones.

Elaine said Mixer was holding the painting and laughing, saying that when he delivers paintings to his customers, he tells them if they don't buy the painting before he dies, it will be more expensive after he dies. Suddenly he collapsed - there was no forewarning. Elaine called 911 and Bill and Megan Parks were there and gave Mixer CPR. He was taken to the Weatherford hospital where he was pronounced dead.

This painting of the typical American Paint horse was only one of many of Orren Mixer's paintings.

"Orren was an awesome man and has a very special family," said Elaine. "His wife of 65 years, Evelyn, even called me to tell me that she was sorry I had to go through this and asked if there was anything she could do for me.

"His son, Robert, flew in and said he was thankful his dad didn't suffer," said Elaine."This is how he would have wanted to go," said Robert. "I was blessed with him for 51 years."

With him at the time was Delmar Smith, Big Cabin, Okla., a close friend of Mixer’s for many years.

Carol Rose, who had Mixer paint her great stallion Shining Spark, said he often talked about kicking the bucket, and the last time he was at her place, he said it several times, so she finally said, “Mixer, let’s go out to the barn and I’m going to get two buckets and see which one of us kicks the bucket first.”

Another close friend of Mixer’s, Nick McNair, also from Big Cabin, said Mixer “caused me to wear out more automobiles. I would see a horse in a magazine and I wanted to go see it. It turned out that Orrin had already painted a picture of the horse.” McNair raised Impressive, the legendaryhalter sire.

Mixer, who was also a great photographer, is a member of seven halls of fame and was commissioned by eight associations to paint horses that were typical of their breed. They including the American Quarter Horse Association, American Paint Horse Association, the Appaloosa Horse Club and the Palomino Horse Breeders Association, For years, his paintings were on the cover of the “Legends” books published by Western Horseman Magazine. He also painted many of the industry’s legendary horses.

According to Elaine, Orren had had heart by-pass surgery in 2000.

Leon Mixer, one of Orren's sons, said that it was Orren and Evelyn's passion to have a boys ranch. The response has been overwhelming right now as they were not prepared for the magnitude of his father's impact on people from around the world. In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to the First Baptist Church of Edmond and in the memo, put Boys Ranch/Orren Mixer.

Funeral services will be held Monday, May 5 at 2 p.m. at the First Baptist Church, 1300 SE 33rd St., Edmond, Okla. Visitation after 12 p.m. will be at Matthews Funeral Home, 601 S Kelly, Edmond, Okla. (405) 341-2787.

COW COUNTRY CUTTING SPRING CHA-CHING ROCKS

CHUBBY TURNER CUTTING CLINIC PLUS THREE-DAY CUTTING

Article by Jann Parker
Photos courtesy Pam Shaefer, Eagle, Colo.

April 29, 2008 - Billings, Mont.
Cutting horse competitors came from nine states and Canada to compete at the Cow Country Cutting Spring Cha-Ching event held April 11-13 at the Horse Palace Arena in Billings, Mont.

Instructor Chubby Turner

The week kicked off with a two-day cutting clinic conducted by NCHA Hall of Fame Rider and Open World Champion Chubby Turner, Weatherford, Texas. With fresh cattle all the way – from the Open to the $2,000 limited rider, 1,104 head of cattle were used at the three-day NCHA approved event.

This year’s event included an expanded format with additional added money – including a $1,000 added open and non-pro – with a finals showcase Saturday night.The finals featured an encore performance of 50% of the day’s best runs in the Open, Non-pro, and $2,000 limited rider.

Fallon Nuttall, Red Lodge, Mont., won the Non-Pro riding Shortys Royal Blue.

Winning the Open was “Ms Peppy Cat”, owned by Lonnie and Barbara Allsup, Clovis, N.M., and ridden by Pete Branch, Farwell, Texas. The High Brow Cat daughter pocketed $1,717 for the weekend. The Non-Pro championship was won by Fallon Nuttall, Red Lodge, Mont., riding “Shortys Royal Blue” by Bet on Me 498 earning $1,441. The $2000 Limit Rider championship honors went to Walt Stewart, Corvallis, Mont., aboard the Peppy San Badger son “San Colonel”.

Walt Stewart won the $2000 Limited Rider honors riding San Colonel. Vicky rode San Colonel to the high money-earner of the weekend in the $10,000 Amateur.

Taking home the NCHA Trophy awarded to the high money earner of the weekend in the $10 Amateur was Vicky Stewart who was also riding “San Colonel." Kelly McDonald, Bozeman, Mont., earned the NCHA trophy in the $20,000 Non-Pro aboard “Headacres Fancy” by Freckles Fancy Twist.

Evan Sutton and Opus X won $1,258 in the $50,000 Amateur.

For more information on cutting in Montana, please visit www.montanacha.com and for more information on Cow Country Cutting events, contact Bill and Jann Parker 406-855-1947.

BUFFALO RANCH BUYS TOP REINING STALLION - RC FANCY STEP

April 22, 2008
The Buffalo Ranch, Farmington, utah, has long been known for their exceptional string of cutting stallions, and now they are adding a reining stallion to the mix.

Buffalo Ranch, owned by S. David Plummer, purchased RC Fancy Step, a 4-year-old Palomino stallion by Wimpys Little Step out of Sonita Wilson by Doc Wilson, from owners Mark Schols and Jimmy Pierce. The sale was made just prior to the exciting finals of the 2008 National Reining Breeders Classic.

Trained by top reining trainer Shawn Flarida, Springfield, Ohio, RC Fancy Step made an excellent showing in the finals, scoring a 231 to earn the Reserve Championship. Flarida won the event riding another Wimpys Little Step offspring, Wimpys Little Chic, which was also the 2007 NRHA Open Futurity Champion.

RC Fancy Step has lifetime earnings of $145,752, which includes the championship of the 2007 Congress Reining Futurity and the Ohio Valley Open Futurity. The pair were also finalists in the 2007 NRHA Open Futurity. So far in 2008, the stallion also won the Wimpys Little Step Open Reining Derby.

“We’re extremely excited about this purchase, and our plans are to keep the horse in training with Shawn for as long as Shawn wants to show him,” Plummer said after the event. “He’ll make an excellent addition to our ranch.”

Schols, who owns Wimpys Little Step, was pleased with the outcome as well. Currently, the plans are to keep RC Fancy Step in the show pen and out of the breeding barn, but eventually, the Buffalo Ranch plans to continue the Wimpys Little Step legacy with offspring from RC.

“I just want to congratulate the Plummers on their purchase and wish them the best,” Schols said. “I know he’ll have a great home.”

If you register on the www.AllAboutCutting.com site (it's free), then send an e-mail to glory@glorykurtz.com saying you have signed up, you are eligible for a 2-for-the-price-of 1 Leon Harrel Clinic. Or you can bring three guests at regular price and yours is free for the Ladies Only clinic or a regular clinic. Due to demand, this offer is good only through the May 10-11 clinic. For more information go to www.leonharrel.com or click on their ad on the main page of this site.

AROUND THE CAMPFIRE
NEWS FROM AND ABOUT THE CUTTERS

By Glory Ann Kurtz
March 6, 2008

CARL GERWIEN TO HAVE DISPERSAL SALE
Carl Gerwien’s Willow Spring Ranch, Nanton, Alberta, Canada, will be having a complete dispersal of his entire breeding program on May 31 at the ranch. Gerwien, an NCHA and CCHA Hall of Fame member, and his wife, Julia, will be selling 85 head of horses, which include two decades of his personal commitment to the industry. Carl’s lifetime earnings of close to $1 million were won on champions bred and raised at Willow Spring Ranch. Some of his best cutting horses that are currently winning, will be offered. In fact, at press time, he made both the 4-year-old and 5/6-year-old Non-Pro finals at South Point. Online bidding will be available across North America. For more information or to request a catalog, go to www.willowspringranch.com or call (403) 850-0617.

JERRY BLACK/CHRIS BENEDICT TO RUN FOR NCHA PRESIDENT
Jerry Black, a veterinarian from Oakdale, Calif., and Chris Benedict, Weatherford, Texas, have been selected to run for the presidency of the NCHA. Members will be mailed ballots and the winner will be announced during the NCHA Convention, scheduled to be held in June in Fort Worth.

MARK PEARSON DOES IT AGAIN
Over a year ago, Mark Pearson, Spearman, Texas, was hurt when he got hung up on a horse and drug. After months of rehab, Mark is back as good as new and riding again. In fact, he showed the same horse that caused his wreck, at the South Point Cutting Classic in Las Vegas. In the first go-round of the South Point Classic/Challenge, The horse’s feet got tangled up and he fell, pinning Mark on the ground with his foot caught in the stirrup. It was a scary few minutes before the herd holders got in and held the horse when he got up so Mark could get his foot out. Mark was fine and he rode the horse again in the second go-round.

KATHY FOOTE ALMOST FOOT-LESS/CINDY DVORAK IN A FIGHT FOR HER LIFE
Kathy Foote, Livingston, Mont., wife of Jonathan Foote, is back riding following an accident where she got bucked off a turn-back horse and broke her foot several months ago. She hasn’t started showing again but she was seen loping horses at the South Point show in Las Vegas. Also, our thoughts are with Tom and Cindy Dvorak during this tough time when Cindy is fighting breast cancer. You can send your encouraging words to Tom & Cindy Dvorak, 400 Southerland Lane, Weatherford, TX 76088-0448.

BUSTER WELCH TO AUCTION BIT & SPUR COLLECTION
Buster Welch, Rotan, Texas, will be auctioning off his bit and spur collection on June 7 in Waco, Texas. The auction, presented by A&S Auction Co, will start at 10 a.m. and will include more than 400 items, including cowboy antiques. For more information, contact A&S Auctiion Co., Waco, Texas, 900 E. Loop 340, Waco, TX 76716, call (252) 799-6044 or go to www.asantiques@yahoo.com

AROUND THE CAMPFIRE
NEWS ABOUT AND FROM THE CUTTERS

By Glory Ann Kurtz
Feb. 20, 2008

STACY SHEPARD LOSES HER FATHER
Venable Coe Leathers, Jr., 79, passed away on Wednesday, Feb. 13. A native of Social Circle, Ga., he was the son of the late venable Coe Sr. and Divona McIntosh Leathers and the owner and operator of Kings Creek Kennell. A memorial service was held Saturday, Feb. 16. Survivors include his children and spouses: Stacy and Austin Shepard, Summerdale, Ala.; Wayne and Cheryl Leathers, Snellville; sister, Catherine Hartley, Watkinsville; three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Send your condolences to Stacy and Austin at 14215 Brook Hollow Rd., Summerville, AL 36580.

STEVE COHEEN OFFERS MOBILE EMBRYO RETRIEVAL SERVICE TO NORTH TEXAS BREEDERS

Feb. 18, 2008 – Weatherford, Texas
Equine reproductive physiologist Steve Coheen will be offering a mobile or ambulatory embryo retrieval and transport service to North Texas horse breeders. Coheen, who has done embryo transfers for over 30 years, will be working out of Rick and Shelly Mowery’s facilities in Weatherford, but will come to your ranch, with his clinic in his truck, to work with you on retrieving embryos out of your mares.

“I would venture to say there are approximately 5000 to 6000 recipient mares in the North Texas area,” said Coheen, who has made arrangements with the owners of some of these recipient mares. It’s also possible to use a recipient mare that you own.

Coheen, who also does consultation on mare infertility, reproductive events and debugging broken programs, has done embryo transfers from some of the industry’s greatest mares, including Boon San Sally, Laney Doc, Foxy Doc, Meradas Little Sue, Lenaette, Doc’s Starlight, Doc’s Kitty and many others.

According to Coheen, “your mare’s ‘first bred able’ cycle ought to be your mare’s most cost effective for the whole year. Reproductive efficiency declines six to 11 percent thereafter.” He feels it is critical who performs the work and “experience does matter.” His Equine Reproduction Service is the longest, continually in existence equine embryo transfer company in the United States. You can reach Coheen at (817) 946-5132.

DAVE HYBARGER UNDER THE WEATHER
During the 1980s and 1990s, Dave Hybarger, Fallon, Nev., helped produce many great cuttings such as the Nevada Cutting Spectacular, as well as many private cuttings at the Reno Livestock Events Center and events in Elko Nev., and managed events throughout the state of Nevada.

Today, Davis is not doing so well. He is completely housebound due to neuropathy/gout in his legs and feet and is also suffering from severe pulmonary problems. For those of you who wish to send him a note or a card, his address is: Dave Hybarger, 7007 Leter Road, Fallon, NV 89406. Or you can e-mail his daughter Gaylene Hybarger-Lowry at zogbie@aol.com.

HEILIGBRODT STABLE NAMED “OWNER OF THE WEEK”
The Heiligbrodt Racing Stable was recently named the “Owner of the Week,” by Thoroughbred Times. The stables owners are Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt, Houston, Texas, who were previously involved in the cutting horse industry. They owned Meradas Little Sue, the 1995, 1997 and 1999 NCHA Open World Champion and Cash Quixote Rio, the 1990 and 1992 NCHA Open World Champion. Both horses had Kobie Wood in the saddle.

The Heiligbrodt Stable led all North American owners by stakes winners for the week ended Feb. 16 with two stakes victories and finishing second by earnings with $184,000. The stakes victories were under trainer Steve Asmussen. Bill Heiligbrodt, 66, is a retired executive in banking and financial services and he serves on the board of directors and executive committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association as well as the board of the Texas Thoroughbred Association. He is also a trustee of the Breeders’ Cup Ltd., and serves on the board of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association.

LISA JOHNSON STILL IN A COMA BUT RESPONDING
Lisa Johnson, a horse trainer from Angier, N.C., who was in a terrible horse accident on Jan. 27, when she was kicked by a 2-year-old stud colt she had purchased at the Augusta Futurity Sale and was unloading, is still in a coma. She had surgery for a bloodclot in her brain and has since been moved to a rehab facility, where she is visited continually by relatives and friends. You can watch her daily progress on www.carepages.com, registering with your name and password, then putting “lisajohnsoncutting” in the box. Lisa continues to show improvement. She is nodding to respond to the nurse and today opened her mouth when asked to (for her oral care). You can send cards to her at 1427 Young Road, Angier, NC 27501. A friend, Linda Bennett, has started a web page up for a fundraiser at the Circle M Ranch in Pelzer, S.C., on Feb. 23. Go to: http://web.mac.com/bluecash1/lisa_johnson/lisa_johnson.html. You can donate articles or bid on articles. Some cash help has come in, helping to pay her utilities, health insurance, horse feed and upkeep, etc.

CORKY SOKOL WINS SAN ANTONIO DERBY; ROBERT RUST TAKES CLASSIC
Two aged events that ended Feb. 17 were held during the San Antonio Livestock Show. Corky Sokol won the Derby aboard Starlit Cat 004, a son of High Brow Cat out of Starlite Belladonna by Grays Starlight. The stallion, owned by Clem Sokol, scored a 147, winning $2,230. The Reserve title went to Kathy Daughn riding Lil Fletch Cat for Kit and Charlie Moncrief. The daughter of Royal Fletch out of Lil Sally Cat by High Brow Cat, scored a 146, taking home $1,784. Third, scoring a 144.5, was Salvador Cabral riding Magic Will, a gelding by Abrakadabracre out of Candy Jean by SR Intensive, owned by Shannon Bright. He earned $1,338.

In the Non-Pro Derby, Mary Cavanaugh and Bettina Jary-Mathis tied for the championship with each scoring a 141 and winning $908. Cavanaugh was riding Rey Never Mind, a gelding by Dual Rey out of Look Never Mind by Squeak Toy while Jary-Mathis rode Stylin Quixote Lena, a daughter of Playin Stylish out of Quixote Kitty Lena by Doc O’Lena. Third went to Gay Karhan riding Blue Butter Beans, a son of Mecom Blue out of Precious Liza Lena by Smart Little Lenqa. The pair scored a 137 and took home $661.

In the Open Classic, Robert Rust rode Cattins Lil Darling, a 2002 daughter of Cattin out of Peppys Lil Darling by Peppy San Badger, owned by Ron Jones. The pair scored a 150 and took home $2,449. Reserve went to Smart Freckled Girl, ridden by James Davison and owned by David Dewhurst’s Falcon Seaboard Ranch. The daughter of Smart little Lena out of Freckled Leo Girl by Freckles Playboy scored a 149 for $1,917. Third was a split between Cats Royal Jewel, owned by Robert and Connie Rust and ridden by Robert and Jerries Dual Legacy, owned by Bridey Greeson and ridden by Russ Carroll. Both scored a 147 and took home $1,384.

The Non-Pro Classic was a split between Betsy Jones riding La Reina Laredo and Bridey Greeson riding Jerries Dual Legacy. Both scored a 146 and collected $1,247. La Reina Laredo is a 2002 daughter of Laredo Roan out of Little Short Stuff by Shorty Lena. Jerries Dual Legacy, which split third in the open, is a 2002 daughter of Smart Little Jerry out of Dual Legacy by Dual Pep. Third went to Hydie McAlister riding King Little Lena, a 2003 gelding by Pastels Smart Lena out of Buena April Chex by Lenacali, scoring a 142 for $831.

FORT WORTH STOCK SHOW SALES
Two sales were held during the Fort Worth Stock Show, held Jan. 11-Feb. 3 in Fort worth, Texas, included the Invitational Ranch Horse Show and Sale and the AQHA “Best of the Remuda Sale.”

The Invitational Ranch Horse Show & Sale, featuring 17 geldings from carefully selected ranch horse programs and was won by a 1999 sorrel gelding named Jose Sandio consigned by Rounsaville Cattle Company. Shown by Jim Rounsaville, the top gelding fetched $13,000 from the Broken T Ranch. The Reserve Champion, a 2001 grullo called Snippys Joseph was consigned by Espuela Ranch and ridden by Bill Smith. The gelding was purchased by Bar None Ranch for $18,000.

The AQHA “Best of the Remuda Sale” featured horses from Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Nebraska. Comanche Tradition, a 2002 gray gelding from the 6666 Ranch of Guthrie, Okla., captured the highest bid of $22,000 paid by Bill Hudson. Seventy-eight lots sold for an average price of $4,148.

NETTLES COUNTRY MASTERPIECES TO HOLD OPEN HOUSE
Gala and Ronnie Nettles will be holding Open House at their new Western retail store, called Nettles Country Masterpieces, on Friday, Feb. 22 from 4-7 p.m. The store is located three miles west of Madisonville on the north side of Highway 21. A pair of Nettles stirrups will be awarded in a drawing.

RCC SKEET N SCOOTER WINS PCCHA OPEN AND NON PRO YEAR-END
RCC Skeet N Scooter and Scott Maling, Scottsdale, Ariz., had a great 2007, when the 1997 gelding by SR Instant Choice out of Sweeter Than Skeeter by Peppy San Badger, won both the Open and Non-Pro championships of the Pacific Coast Cutting Horse Association. The gelding was ridden in the Open by Mike Wood and in the Non-Pro by Maling. Maling was also Reserve in the Non-Pro riding Smartys Lil Flip, a 2001 gelding by Smart Lil Scoot out of Noche Tiempo by Colonel Flip. Reserve in the Open was Flos Jewel, a 2000 daughter of Mr Peponita Flo out of Fletchs Jewel by Lenas Jewel Bars, owned by Whitneys Wild Oak Ranch and ridden by David Costello.

Third place in the Open was Royally Smart Cat, a 1999 gelding by High Brow Cat out of Royally Smart Fancy by Smart Litle Lena, owned by Todd Bimat, Orland, Calif., ridden by Mike Broeckel. Todd’s wife, Erin, tied herself for third in the Non-Pro riding Hickadual and Call Me Miracle Babe – the horse that was born and named by Erin after she was almost killed in a car accident. That’s a story by itself! Hickadual is a 2000 gelding by Doc’s Hickory out of Pepper Dually by Dual Pep. Call Me Miracle Babe is a 2003 daughter of Miss N Cash out of Call Me Good N Evil by Haidas Little Pep.

Devlyn Drake, the 17-year-old daughter of Glenn and Debbie Drake, Napa, Calif., tied herself for the championship of the $20,000 Non-Pro riding Travalin Ms Sammie, a 2000 daughter of Travalena (a stallion owned by the Drakes) out of Playboys Samantha by Freckles Playboy. The pair went to the NCHA Finals this week and also won the World Championship title in the $20,000 Non-Pro. She also rode Travaleigha, a 2002 daughter of Travalena out of Sanjo Lisa by San Jo Lena.

The $50,000 Amateur was won by Dee Acre Doc, a 1997 gelding by Bob Acre Doc out of Meradas Dee Jay by Freckles Merada, owned and ridden by Paige Kincaid, 18, Peoria, Ariz. The pair also won the NCHA World Championship Finals and took home the buckle with year-end earnings of $52,770. Reserve was split four ways by horses ridden by Liz Booth, Acton, Calif. They included Spectacular Playboy, a 2000 son of Freckles Playboy out of Nita Lil Lena by Smart Little Lena; Headacre, a 1991 gelding by bob Acre Doc out of Zorra Corrida by Otoe; LJJ Twisted Sister (P), a 1997 daughter of LPLS Stinger (P) out of Smart Little Easter by Doc Quixote and Sonitas First Choice, a 1998 stallion by SR Instant Choice out of Sonitas Miss Chick by Sonita’s Last.

Tara Madgwick, 22, Castaic, Calif., won a three-way tie in the $10,000 Amateur, riding Spinnies Star O Lena, a 1994 gelding by Docs Spinifex out of Tuckerstarette by Tommys Tucker, on which she won the $10,000 Amateur at the NCHA World Championship Finals. She also rode Danielboonsmal, a 1997 gelding by Peptoboonsmal out of Smarter Than Most by Smart Little Lena, and To Whit From George, a 1997 gelding by CD Olena out of Hickorys Cash Lady by Doc’s Hickory.

In the $10,000 Novice Horse division, High Style Cavio, a 2001 daughter of Docs Stylish Oak out of SR High Style by Doc’s Hickory, owned by Carolyn Reynolds and ridden by Rock Hedlund won the championship title. Reserve went to Hickory T Wood, a 1998 Zack T Wood gelding out of Hickory Chex Rio by Doc’s Hickory, owned by Vikki and Tim Elland and ridden by Phil Benadun.

The $3,000 Novice Horse class was won by Play Stocks, a 2001 gelding by Playdox out of Bobs Preferred Stock by Bob Acre Doc, owned by Bill McCarver, ridden by Gavin Jordan. The pair won the $3,000 Novice show title at the NCHA World Finals and finished the year as Reserve World Champions with $28,185 in earnings. Play Stocks was also named the $3,000 Novice Horse World Champion Gelding. Reserve went to Smart Lena Gees, a 2001 daughter of Ill Be Smart out of Ms Geevius Cal Bar by Dee Gee Vanbar owned by Manny Martinez ridden by Jason Haefner.

The $10,000 Novice Horse/Non-Pro Rider was won by Kim Vaughn, wife of Brad Vaughn riding Smart Little Janie, a 1997 daughter of Smart Little Pistol out of Miss Pretty Quixote by Doc Quixote. Reserve was won by Playin Docs Tune, a 1997 gelding by Playgun out of Doc’s Serendipity by Doc Bar, ridden by Roger Booth.

The $3,000 Novice Non-Pro was won by RD Bud Light, a 2002 son of Tamalight out of Misholena by Smart Litle Calboy, owned by Ron Davis. Davis, 69, a real estate broker from Bend, Ore., also won the NCHA World Championship Finals in that division. Reserve was taken by Barbi Madgwick riding Dante Vacca, a 2001 gelding by Smart Little Lena out of Peppys Cool Cash by Cash Quixote Rio.

The $2,000 Limited Rider class was a tie between two horses ridden by Matthew Booth. They included Magnalight, a 1994 gelding by Grays Starlight out of Pand O Lena by Doc O Lena, and Headacre, a 1991 gelding by Bob Acre Doc out of Zorra Corrida by Otoe. Booth rode Magnalight to the Reserve title at the NCHA Finals in the $2,000 Limited Rider class.

HAYTHORN LAND & CATTLE OFFERING NEW PURCHASE PROGRAM
The Haythorn Land & Cattle Company, that has been around since 1884, has come up with a unique purchase program. Buyers will have an opportunity to purchase from one to five colts or fillies a year with the option of taken them as weanlings or yearlings. As yearlings, the benefit would be no care or feed for the winter. Horses would be current with vaccinations, deworming, feet trimmed and colts castrated. Anyone interested in the program, call (308) 355-4000 or e-mail Haythorn@lakemac.net.

AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER -
WITH LEON HARREL

ROMANCE AND CUTTING

Jan. 16, 2008 - Weatherford, Texas
Yes, romance and cutting can melt into one - especially if you forget to remember your sweetie on Valentines Day this year. You can make up for it a week later on Feb. 22-24.

Treat her (or him) to a romantic weekend just 45 minutes west of downtown Fort Worth, with luxury accommodations in a 10-suite Victorian mansion.

There will be breathtaking roses (and petals), chocolate-covered strawberries,chilled champagne or wine, gourmet meals, hot breakfast served in your room, a welcome gift basket of romantic treats, his and hers robes, in-room massages for each one of you, whirlpool and claw foot tubs, premium bedding, elegant antiques combined with modern luxury and convenience - and that's just for starters!

You will also enjoy a cocktail hour and hors d'oeuvres, a guest speaker, musical entertainment, and to top it off, you both get to ride a CUTTING HORSE! Your rides come with a mini-training session with five-time world champion and two-time NCHA Futurity winner Leon Harrel. You will share this experience with nine other couples. (Space is limited to 10 couples only, no exceptions) From Friday noon - 3 p.m. check in, until Sunday's Brunch Finale, you will be pampered,entertained and given plenty of time to remember why you fell in love in the first place !

But timing is important - contact Alexandria Harrel (352) 361-9172 today or go to www.LeonHarrel.com

SUE RYAN IMPROVING; MOVED TO REGULAR ROOM

Jan. 14, 2008
Sue Ryan, Weatherford, Texas, is improving and plans are to move her out of ICU and into a regular room today. They have taken her off the ventilator and taken the feeding tubes out and she is even taking liquids by mouth and sitting up.

Sue had gone into the Weatherford hospital last week for gall bladder surgery when complications with her blood arose and she was airlifted to Harris HEB in Bedford, located off Highway 121. Her sons, Sandy and Scotty, came from Florida and Georgia to be with her. Her husband, Tom, spent his nights sleeping in the waiting room. She has had lots of friends and lots of prayers – and they seem to be working. Thanks to Nancy Rapp for these updates. You can send cards to Tom at 112 Arapahoe Ridge, Weatherford, Texas 76087. His phone number is 817-613-0890.

SUE RYAN HOSPITALIZED
Jan. 12, 2008
Earlier this week, Sue Ryan, Weatherford, Texas, went into the Weatherford hospital for gall bladder surgery. However, she has undergone complications and is currently in ICU at Harris HEB hospital. Sue is bleeding internally and they weren't able to get the bleeding stopped until last night, when they used a new drug . She is in very serious condition and on a ventilator.

Her husband, Tom, is sleeping in the waiting room at the hospital, as are several of their friends, and her sons, Sandy and Scotty, who have arrived from Florida and Georgia.

Sue and Tom need your support and prayers. You can send Tom a card at 112 Arapahoe Ridge, Weatherford, Texas 76087. His phone number is 817-613-0890.

HEARD AROUND THE CAMPFIRE

Jan. 2, 2008

HERB MONROE LOSES BATTLE WITH CANCER
“We lost Herb to a better place with lots of great horses, fresh cattle, good arenas and green pastures,” said Tammy Deaton, the longtime friend of Herb Monroe, Charlotte, N.C., who lost his valiant battle with cancer on Thursday, Dec. 27.

Herb, 74, Charlotte, N.C., a lifelong horse trainer, is probably best known for the training and showing of the youngest AQHA Champion Doc's Solano. After over 30 years, this record still holds today. But he also made over 40 other AQHA Champions and earned hundreds of Register of Merit and NCHA Certificates of Ability on a large number of other horses. He was a talented and well-respected horseman as well as a mentor, friend and loving father and companion.

Surviving are two daughters Barbara Monroe Prather and Cindy Monroe (Shane) Young, Yadkinville; two grandsons, Brad and Jacob, and several nieces and nephews. The family has requested that memorials be considered for the NCQHA Harriet Lynn Norris Scholarship Fund, 7402 Cunningham Lane, Indian Trail, NC 28079 or the NCHA Area 18 Scholarship Fund, PO Box 681, Estill, SC 29918. You can send cards to Tammy at 3113 Iredell Drive, Charlotte, N.C. 28269 or e-mail her at herbtammy2@bellsouth.net.

JOHN WILKINS PASSES
John Wilkins, Geneva, Neb., a horse breeder and lifetime member of the NCHA, has passed away and funeral services will be Thursday, Jan. 3 at 1:30 p.m. At the Farmer and Sons Funeral Home in Geneva. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the family in honor of John. Send condolences and/or memorials to: Jim and Jacki Wilkins, 1124 R Street, Geneva, Neb., 68361.

ON THE INJURED LIST
Ray Lipsey, who had a horse flip over backwards on him on Dec. 22, broke five ribs and six bones in the back of his ankle. He is home recuperating and cards may be sent to him at 3001 W. Claire Ave., Lincoln, Neb. 68523.

Also, Kyle Krause had a truck accident on Dec. 25 and broke some ribs, his shoulder blade and ended up with many cuts and bruises. While he is home recuperating, he would enjoy hearing from friends and you can mail cards or letters to 34357 Hwy 18, Burke, S.D.

NEW COWBOYS
Leo Michael Merriam was born on Dec. 26, 2007. Leo is the son of Kimberly Freeman Merriam and her husband Leo. Kim is the youngest daughter of Kare Freeman, Clarksville, Tenn., and Bill Freeman, Rosston, Texas. He weighed in a 7 pounds, 3 ounces and was 21 inches long.

HORSE TRAINER NEWS
Chuck Drake, Boyd, Texas, will be taking outside horses, specializing in 2-year-olds and ranch geldings. He is located at the Salt Creek Arena in Boyd, Texas. You can contact him at 940-433-2161 or e-mail him at drakbev@aol.com.

Another new cutting horse trainer is Scott Ferguson, Hempstead, Texas, who has decided to become an apprentice professional for the 2008 cutting horse season. Ferguson is a 2005 inductee into the NCHA Non-Professional Hall of Fame and he has won over $820,000 riding cutting horses in non-pro competition. You can contact Scott at 979-826-4083.

Wylie & Kimberley Gustafson of the Cross Three Ranch in Washington State are currently seeking a cutting horse trainer. Preferably an apprentice or assistant ready to take on the responsibilities of a full-time trainer position. The Cross Three Ranch, with a modern 100 x 200 indoor arena, has developed a client base of club cutters and NCHA members in need of colt starting, cutting horse training, tuning older horses, riding instruction, and lessons on the mechanical cow, buffalo and cattle. The job would also consist of caring for livestock, grounds maintenance and other ranch duties. Housing, utilities and beef are included in the salary. The ranch web site is: www.crossthreequarterhorses.com. Email address:  yodeler@pionnet.com. Phone No. 509-549-3364.

STALLION SERVICE AUCTION
The Pacific Coast Cutting Horse Association is holding their 2008 PCCHA Cutting Stakes Stallion Service Auction. Breedings to many great stallions are available – including some that have already closed their books, such as One Time Pepto, which was the high-selling stallion in the 2007 auction. Bidding closes on Jan. 31, 2008. For a list of stallions and the breeding fees, contact the Pacific Coast cutting Horse Association at (209) 727-5779 or at www.pccha.com.

SUSAN RAY PLEADS GUILTY TO MONEY LAUNDERING

SENTENCING TO BE FEB. 22 IN FORT WORTH

Dec.2, 2007 – Fort Worth, Texas
Susan Ray, owner of Dream Cross Ranch, Ltd., pleaded guilty on Nov. 9 to U.S. District Court Judge John McBryde in Fort Worth, Texas. Ray was accused of stealing more than $6 million from her previous employer, Gasparilla Inn., Inc., Boca Grande, Fla., where she maintained the company’s financial records and handled corporate payroll since 2000. She was arrested June 18 at her ranch in Boonesville, Texas, where she owned well-bred cutting mares and sold eggs out of them after they were bred to the stallion of the buyer’s choice.

According to a Dec. 2 article by Mandy Bourgeois in the Wise County Messenger, as part of Ray’s plea agreement, she has agreed to pay restitution to the Gasparilla Inn., Inc., in the amount of $5,784,892 and faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing has been set for Feb. 22 before Judge McBryde. She is currently out on bond.

Ray, 51, who was indicted in federal court on 15 counts of money laundering, pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering. In addition to the criminal case, a final judgment has been handed down in a civil suit filed against Ray by Gasparilla Inn in the 271st District Court of Wise County.

The judgment from Judge John H. Fostel orders that Gasparilla Inn receive compensatory damages in the amount of $5,950.355 from Ray, consisting of $5,784,892 in actual damages and $165,463 in prejudgment interest accrued from the time of Ray’s arrest and the date of the final judgment. The judgment also orders Ray to pay Gasparilla’s attorney fees amounting to $122,336 and an annual interest rate of 7.25 percent from the date of the judgment until the amount has been paid.

Loren Carl, an investigator was hired by Gasparilla to look into the theft. Carl learned that from October 2002 through Jan. 19, 2007, Ray stole from the company by increasing the amount of the payroll after the company approved it. She would then wire the excess funds from the payroll account into her personal bank accounts in San Antonio and Florida. He believed that Ray used the stolen money to fund several businesses, including the 175-acre Dream Cross Ranch, Ltd., Classic Touch Farms, Inc. and D.C. Properties of southwest Florida, LLC. through a complex scheme of wire transfers through various banks in Florida and Texas. Ray purchased the Boonsville Ranch in November 2005. Ray, who also used the names of Susan Hunt and Susan Thurow, was hired by Gasparilla in 2000 and fired Jan. 26, 2007 for “reasons unrelated to the scheme.”

Gasparilla Inn is owned by Will Farish III, a top Thoroughbred breeder, who also owns Lane’s End Farm, a major breeding farm in Lexington, Ky., with a division near Hempstead, Texas. His grandfather was the founder of Humble Oil in Texas.

HEARD AROUND THE CAMPFIRE

NEWS ABOUT AND FROM THOSE IN THE CUTTING HORSE INDUSTRY

Nov. 17, 2007 – Fort Worth, Texas

NCHA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE GIVES PROBATION TO JODY, BEAU GALYEAN; CHARGES DROPPED ON WESLEY
Probation and fines have been assessed Jody and Beau Galyean by the NCHA Executive Committee during a recent meeting. However, there will be some further determinations made by an upcoming meeting of the Executive Committee. Although Galyean is not allowed to talk about the case, it has been learned Jody was fined $10,000 and Beau, $5,000, and that the charges have been dropped regarding Wesley and his non-pro card has been reinstated. All three will be able to show at the NCHA Futurity.

During a previous meeting held Sept. 17 by a hearing committee, it was decided to recommend to the Executive Committee that Jody be suspended for one year and fined $10,000 and Wesley and Beau also be suspended for one year, their Non-Pro cards be suspended for two years and they be fined $5,000 each.

STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE ON HERDA:
High Brow Cat now has a HERDA foal guarantee which will be evident on his advertising. If the foal develops HERDA, which means the foal has lesions, a photo of the foal must be received from a veterinarian by Jack and Susan Waggoner. The owner of the foal must return to registration papers to them, along with a signed transfer, which they will send to the AQHA and have the registration of the foal cancelled. They will then give the customer a rebreed – however it will not be for the original mare.

Also, at the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Sale, managed by Dave Hammon Auctions, if owners had proof that their horses selling had been tested for HERDA and were N/N, it was announced from the auction block. The horses from San Juan and Black Rock ranches had all been tested.

TRIPLE CROWN CHAMPION ENGAGED
NCHA Triple Crown winner, Joe Heim, Thackerville, Okla., is engaged to Holly Reed, who was a civil trial paralegal for many years and also a marketing director for a couple of large law firms. She is now helping to promote Heim’s cutting program. She has already developed a beautiful web site for him – you can check out the site at www.joeheimqtrhorses.com. Heim has also won national honors in reining and was a finalist at the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity in Reno, Nev.

STALLIONS ON THE MOVE
With the Wichita Ranch, Brenham, Texas, getting out of the breeding business at their ranch, the stallions have been moved. Mecom Blue will be standing the 2008 season at Oswood Stallion Station in Weatherford, Texas, for a $7,500 fee, while Cattin and Mr Peppys Freckles will be standing at Equine Sports Reproduction in Weatherford.

Cats Moonshine and Casey Green at the October South Point show.

Photo by Midge Ames

Cats Moonshine, a High Brow Cat son, was recently sold to Royal Vista Equine, Fort Collins, Colo., by Gail Holmes, Longmont, Colo.. Ridden by Lloyd Cox, the stallion won close to $146,000. His latest paycheck came from the Utah CHA/Marker Aged event, where he finished third in the Open Classic/Challenge ridden by Todd Adolph. He also won an Open cutting held during the South Point Futurity event in October, ridden by Casey Green.

Also, Garry Foster from Weatherford, Texas, has sold his young Color Me Smart (P) Paint stallion JR Colord Haida Boon (Superman) to John and Debbie Ramey's Painted River Ranch, Greeneville, Tenn. According to John Ramey, the stallion will be shown by Wayne Wall, Nesmith, S.C., located outside of Myrtle Beach, S.C. The 11-year-old stallion will stand the 2008 season at Wall's facility for a $700 stud fee (843) 372-1974. Out of Haidas Boons Becky by Haidas Little Pep whose dam is Boons Becky by Boon Bar, Superman has already sired several NCHA-caliber cutting horses, including Supermans Jewel, with over $15,000 in earnings and there are plans to run her for the NCHA World title next year with Chubby Turner in the saddle.

If you have a stallion that has moved since the 2007 breeding season, let me know and I'll be sure to let the readers of this site in on that information.

ALL-AMERICAN QUARTER HORSE CONGRESS SALE AVERAGES $7,927
The Congress Super Sale held Oct. 20 during the All-American Quarter Horse Congress in Columbus, Ohio, featured 193 consignments, with 155 changing hands for a $7,927 average. The highest-selling horse was Pine Potential, consigned by Jason Ducharme of Michigan, purchased by T. Freilich of Georgia for $24,000. The top five horses averaged $22,200; top 10, $20,520 and the top 20, $10,260.

JOHN HENRY, TWO-TIME
HORSE OF THE YEAR, DIES AT 32

Oct. 11, 2007 - Lexington, Ky.
John Henry, 32, one of the most remarkable horses that ever raced, was euthanized Monday, Oct. 15 due to kidney problems. In eight years of racing, the gelding won 30 stakes, nearly $6.6-million, and two Horse of the Year awards, the last coming at the unprecedented age of 9.

.A memorial service will be held on Oct. 19 at the Kentucky Horse Park Hall of Champions in Lexington. The event, which is open to the public, begins at 2 p.m. EDT.John Henry was buried near his paddock at the Hall of Champions, where he lived since 1985. Discussions are in progress about a special fund to establish a permanent memorial near his paddock

PLAYIN STYLISH LEAVES A LEGACY AT ONLY 12

NCHA SUPER STAKES CHAMPION DIES UNDER ANESTHESIA

By Glory Ann Kurtz
Sept. 13, 2007 – Guthrie, Texas
Playin Stylish, the 1995 son of Docs Stylish Oak out of the great mare Playboys Mom by Freckles Playboy, died under anesthesia at Texas A&M University on Aug. 12. He had been ill with a throat infection. He was bred by Charles R Drummond, Pawhuska, Okla., and owned at the time of his death by R. E. Merritt and the Burnett Ranches of Guthrie, Texas. He stood at the Burnett’s 6666’s Ranch in Guthrie for a $4,500 stud fee.

With over $111,330 in lifetime earnings and offspring with earnings of over $1.5 million, Playin Stylish was the No. 12 leading cutting sire in 2006 and the No. 4 NRCHA sire, according to Equi-Stat. In 1999, he was named the NCHA Horse of the Year after winning the NCHA Open Super Stakes that same year with Kathy Daughn in the saddle.

Even though he was only 12, Playin Stylish had made a big impression on the performance horse industry. He sired 563 foals, with 160 (30 percent) being performers.

His highest money-earning offspring was Playin Attraction, a 2002 stallion out of Ginning Attraction by Tanquery Gin, owned by the Burnett Ranches when he was Reserve Champion of the 2005 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity with Boyd Rice in the saddle. He took home a $103,722 paycheck. He also earned NCHA cutting money for a lifetime total of over $106,000.

However, most of his offspring won their money in the cutting arena and included Playin By Five, a 2001 gelding out of Swingin By Five by Justa Swinging Peppy, which won over $88,721 in the cutting arena, including being in the top 15 at the 2006 NCHA Super Stakes Non-Pro Classic. Sues Stylish Babe, a daughter of Final Sue by Peponita, also earned over $81,959; Playin Playgun, out of Little Playgun by Playgun, won $75,840; Lester Armour, a 2001 stallion out of Dual Kual by Dual Pep won $73,012,including being in the top 10 of the 2006 Breeders Invitational Open Classic; Rockin N Playing, an ’02 daughter of Rockin Playgirl by Freckles Playboy, won $72,003 and Stylin Orphan, an ’02 gelding out of Hickorys Cash Lady by Doc’s Hickory won $60,421, including a top 10 finish in the 2006 Breeders Invitational Open Derby.

His value as a sire showed up most recently in the Australian Goondiwindi Cutting Futurity, where Up Style, bred in Australia, was the Reserve Champion of the Open Futurity and Playin Artist was ridden by Peter Dunn to the Non-Pro title. Todd Graham also finished fourth in the Open Derby riding One Moore Playgirl and Playin Checkers won the Non-Pro with Julie Sheedy.

He also sired rope horses, with Murphy Style, an ’01 gelding out of Foxs Murphy Brown by As Smart As The Fox, qualifying for the 2005-2007 AQHA World Show in tie-down roping and breakaway roping. He received his AQHA Open Performance ROM in 2005 and Amateur in 2007. Playin Stylish also sired Stylish Rey Gay, a stallion out of Tari Rey Gay by Doc Tari, which won money in NCHA, NRHA and NRCHA competition, as well as earning his AQHA Performance ROM in 2007.

WIFE OF PAST NCHA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DIES

Aug. 28, Fort Worth, Texas
Gloria Reid Wood, the wife of Zack Wood, a past NCHA Executive Director, passed away Saturday, Aug. 25, 2007, surrounded by her husband, children and a granddaughter.
Memorial service: 2 p.m. Thursday at the Church of the Holy Apostles, 3900 Longvue Road, Fort Worth.

Gloria was born Sept. 27, 1927, in McGehee, Ark., to Dorothy Andrews Reid and Roy Reid. She became a resident of Fort Worth in 1962. In 1964, she and Zack were charter members of The Church of the Holy Apostles, which has remained at the center of their spiritual lives and friendships. Gloria is best known for her dedication to her children and grandchildren. She loved to read mysteries and cruise to exotic ports, most recently in early August with three generations.

Survivors: Husband of 48 years, Zack T. Wood; children, Candy Harwell, Roy Wood and Tracey Wood of Fort Worth, Frederica Wood of Montrose, W.Va., and Shelley Walker of Rockville, Md.; grandchildren, Kevin Holmes, Brian Shattuck, Taylor Burgett and Reid, Elizabeth and Anna Walker; and great-grandchild, "Will" Holmes.

Memorials: In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Holy Apostles Memorial Fund or foundations of the American Quarter Horse Association or National Cutting Horse Association. Send condolences to Zack T Wood Jr., 3913 Twilight Dr. S., Fort Worth, TX 76116-7649.

Above information from the Fort Worth Star Telegram

PEPTOS STYLISH OAK TO RETURN TO US FOR 2008 BREEDING SEASON

MORNING SUN RANCH TO BUILD PREMIER EQUINE BREEDING CENTER IN TAMWORTH

Aug. 19, 2007
Although Pepto Stylish Oak did not spend the 2007 breeding season in the U.S., plans are for the stallion, owned by Morning Sun Ranch, to return for the 2008 season. According to Just Cuttin, an Australian cutting web site, the highly popular roan stallion did not spend the 2007 season in the U.S. due to an injury.

The stallion will stand in Australia for the upcoming 2007 breeding season and chilled season will be available to a limited number of mares. However, Morning Sun Ranch is planning a big move from Perth to Tamworth, located on the opposite side of the continent, where they have purchased 700 acres, with plans to building one of the premier equine breeding centers in Australia. The ranch will develop a state-of-the-art breeding center consisting of stallion facilities, sale preparation, year-around mare care, an on-site leading equine vet during the breeding season, who will oversee the embryo transfers and breeding of outside mares as well as the ranch-owned mares.

The facility will be opening its doors for the 2008 breeding season and is welcoming inquiries from both mare and stallion owners wishing to be a part of the new center.

Peptos Stylish Oak, sired by Peptoboonsmal out of Moms Stylish Kat by Docs Stylish Oak, sired three semifinalists and two finalists at the 2007 NCHA Summer Spectacular. He also sired Docs Stylish Pepto, the highest-selling horse on the first day of the Western Bloodstock sales. The 2003 bay roan stallion was out of a Doc O'Lena mare and demanded a $27,000 final bid.

Peptos Stylish Oak finished third in the Australian Cutting Derby Open division and is the sire of offspring earning in excess of a quarter of a million dollars.

CAROL WHITMAN AUCTION TO BE HELD JUNE 2

INCLUDES REAL ESTATE AND OTHER POSSESSIONS

May 9, 2007

A total of 22-plus acres, a beautiful 3,250-square-foot home, 10-stall concrete block horse barn and a two-bedroom mobile home, as well as many other possessions will be auctioned off Saturday, June 2 at the Col. Carol Whitman, Jr. ranch located 25 minutes west of Oklahoma City on I-40. Whitman, who owned Whitman Sale Company and annually held a sale during the NRHA Futurity, died unexpectedly last year.

Fronting I-40, the real estate also includes newly painted pipe fence, a 12 x 24 barn apartment, tennis court, in-ground pool, a billboard lease and half the mineral rights. Also selling will be a 2001 GMC pickup, a spotless 2002 Cadillac Deville, 2- or 3-horse aluminum trailer, tractor and bushhog, grasshopper mower, horse walker, 12 4’x8’ metal horse feeders, four 4’ x 4’ metal horse feeders, lots of furniture, a bit collection and other personal items.

Proceeds from the sale will help pay for Whitman’s wife’s care in a home. The sale will be held by Eddie Haynes, Inc. For further information, call (405) 354-7653 or fax (405) 354-7657 or go to the website: whitmansalesco.com.

OSCAR BLACK CATTLE COMPANY TO HAVE COMPLETE LIQUIDATION

AUCTION SCHEDULED FOR MAY 26

May 7, 2007

Burgess Auctioneers of Graham, Texas, will be handling the Oscar Black Cattle Company complete liquidation scheduled for 10 a.m. May 26.  Also, following the farm and ranch equipment liquidation, Black’s real estate will also be offered at approximately 4 p.m. The real estate includes 40 acres in Parker County (2 miles north of Garner) with a 3,281-square-foot home, plus many other buildings.

Buildings include a 138-foot x 54-foot metal shop with six RV stalls, workshop and guest quarters, a 40-foot x 30-foot mare barn with 17 horse motels, a 138 x 68 metal barn with 20 stalls, and a 138-foot x 48-foot climate-controlled mare and foaling barn.

Equipment selling includes a number of tractors with hay spears and buckets, several stock and flatbed trailers, three Kubota RTV utility vehicles, a 2004 Cougar fifth-wheel camper trailer with slide-out, hay balers, cutters, rakes, mowers, disc plows, cultivators, seeders, manure spreader, gator, 65 8,000-pound self feeders, portable livestock corrals, 17 truck loads of 4x4x8 square bales of alfalfa and 100 small square bales, portable building, welder with trailer and much more. For further information contact Burgess Auctioneers 1-800-549-0979 or (940) 549-1934, or go to burgessauctioneers.com.