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NCHA helps APHA create
perfect conditions for cutters
Money and pride on the line at APHA's 2001 World Show cutting competition
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FORT WORTH-If you're a Paint
Horse cutter and up to the challenge of earning big money at this year's
American Paint Horse Association (APHA) World Championship Show, be sure to
enter the Cutting Challenge competition. This year's Challenge event features
$10,000 in added money.
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Competitors at the 2001 World Championship Paint Horse Show will
work cattle under ideal conditions, thanks to a positive working relationship
between the American Paint Horse Association and the National Cutting Horse
Association. |
Cutting competition rounds out
the APHA World Show, scheduled June 24-July 7 at the Will Rogers Equestrian
Center in Fort Worth, Texas. Riders who register before April 15 pay a
discounted entry fee.
A part of the First USA
Challenge Series, the competition will include the 3-Year-Old Cutting Challenge
and 4-Year-Old Cutting Challenge, with $5,000 added to each. Preliminaries for
both events begin July 6 at the Will Rogers Coliseum, with the finals taking
place in the same arena on July 7.
At the 2000 APHA World Show,
39 cutters earned gross paybacks of $29,250 in the 3-Year-Old Cutting
Challenge, with the winner taking home $7,313. In the 4-Year-Old Cutting
Challenge, 28 competitors shared gross paybacks of $21,500, with the
first-place finisher earning $5,375.
This year, the APHA World Show
will continue to offer cutting competition as part of its cattle classes.
Senior cutting classes are scheduled for July 6, while Amateur and Junior
cutting classes are scheduled for July 7, all at the Will Rogers Coliseum.
Entry deadline to avoid late fees is May 15. Contestants in these events will
also be eligible for added-money awards.
By holding cutting competition
during the final two days of its World Show, APHA is able to take advantage of
world-class equipment and facilities provided by the National Cutting Horse
Association (NCHA). In preparation for its Summer Cutting Spectacular, set for
July 12-29, NCHA prepares the arena during the final days of the APHA World
Show.
NCHA goes to great lengths to
provide an ideal foundation for cutting horse competition, trucking in special
base dirt and raking sand into layers on the arena floor. In addition, NCHA
sets up special elevated stands near the center of the arena floor so judges
have the best possible view of the action. An electronic scoreboard is brought
in that displays detailed information on the competition.
"Our relationship with
NCHA over the years has allowed us to set up the best environment possible for
Paint Horse cutting competitors," said Jim Kelley, assistant executive
secretary of the American Paint Horse Association. "The conditions you
find at the cutting horse competition at our World Show are second to
none."
NCHA Show Manager Dave Brian
has also been happy with the relationship between the two associations.
"Because of the tight schedule between our move-in dates and APHA's
move-out dates at the arena, this helps us get our show started on time and
helps APHA with its cutting competition," he said. "It has worked out
well for both of us."
"It's a win-win
situation," Kelley added, "with cutting horse competitors coming out
on top."
For more details about cutting
competition at the APHA World show, call (817) 834-2742, extension 773. For a
complete 2001 APHA World Show schedule and other valuable information, visit
http://www.aphaworldshow.com/.
More about APHA
The APHA was founded in 1962. By that year's end, early association members had
recruited 150 fellow Paint Horse enthusiasts and registered 250 horses. By the
end of 2000, APHA had enrolled more than 100,000 members and registered nearly
593,000 Paint Horses.
The Fort Worth-based non-profit association
employs 165 people and maintains an operating budget of more than $15 million
for activities worldwide.
For more information about APHA or APHA
programs, call
(817) 834-2742, ext. 788, or log on to http://www.apha.com/.
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