Category Archives: NCHA

2013 NCHA Futurity to air on RFD-TV December 21

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Entire Triple Crown & Weekly Series To Air in 2014RFD-TV

RFD-TVThe National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) announced April 6 in a joint press conference with RFD-TV that its World Championship Futurity will take to the airwaves this December on rural America’s most important network. The estimated $4 million competition for three-year-old cutting horses will be made available to more than 61 million households across the United States.

The Futurity is the highlight of the year for the cutting horse industry, drawing an international audience of more than 12,000 to Fort Worth, Texas, and thousands more by web and television. The show will tentatively air on Saturday, December 21, one week following the December 15 Open Finals.

One of the deciding factors in selecting RFD-TV was the network’s focus on western sports and interest in airing more premier equine events from across the country.

“The cutting horse is truly one of the elite athletes in the horse world and as we move forward with the promotion of the sport, NCHA will increasingly position the cutting horse as the premier equine athlete,” said NCHA President Ernie Beutenmiller, Jr.

RFD-TV CEO, Randy Bernard, echoed those thoughts, saying, “Because the cutting horse has undeniably unique abilities, RFD-TV worked to ensure that NCHA was among the first groups we approached with our goal to obtain more event-driven programming. As RFD-TV moves forward, viewers will see an increasing amount of western sports and improved quality of programming throughout the network.

With that in mind, we will also be airing the NCHA Super Stakes and Summer Spectacular to bring fans the complete Triple Crown series.”

Producing the Futurity broadcast will be Carr-Hughes Productions from Syracuse, New York, whose long history in sports television includes such broadcasts as the 2012 Rolex Three Day Event, the 2010 World Equestrian Games, Olympic track and field events and Summer in Saratoga specials on NBC.

“The broadcast of the NCHA Triple Crown will be the start of a long-term goal to bring more cutting horse events to the American public, along with a growing international audience,” said Beutenmiller. “It’s an exciting time for the sport and NCHA wants to build on the momentum that can be generated through this type of exposure.”

In addition to airing its Triple Crown events on RFD-TV, the association is developing a schedule for a weekly television series. More details regarding the 2014 broadcast schedule for NCHA will be announced at a later date.

Fort Worth City Auditors clear NCHA regarding Texas Major Events Fund

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Audit determined NCHA provided correct information on METF applications

(February 21, 2013 -Fort Worth, Texas) Amidst allegations from a previously settled lawsuit, the Fort Worth City Internal Audit Department reviewed Texas Major Events Trust Fund (METF) applications made by the National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA). The auditors subsequently notified the NCHA that following the review of applications and supporting documents, the NCHA used appropriate formulas and procedures to request funding from the METF. The auditors determined that the NCHA had properly supplied all information to the economist for the preparation of the economic impact studies used to determine funding from the METF.

The METF provides economic support to organizations that promote tourism in Texas. That economic support comes through partial rebates of sales taxes generated by events put on by the organizations. All METF funds received by the National Cutting Horse Association came directly from sales taxes actually generated by the NCHA events held in Fort Worth.

“We worked closely with the Fort Worth City Auditors to provide all financial information we used to request funding over the past 6 years,” said Ernie Beutenmiller Jr., President and Interim Executive Director of the NCHA. “The NCHA is an advocate for transparency, and appreciates the efforts of the city auditors in the review of all aspects of our funding process,” Beutenmiller added.

Even before the NCHA began working with the city auditor’s department, the association hired independent, outside auditors to confirm the accuracy of reports and applications submitted to the city. The NCHA also developed new processes through which to report information in the future. Both the independent auditors and the city auditors recognized the new processes as an improvement that would maintain the integrity of the data used from inception through the eventual funding.

The city auditors did note an error involving the 2008 NCHA Summer Spectacular, but the error was a mathematical one committed by the economist and had not resulted from any NCHA action or reporting. The NCHA is currently working with the economist to make necessary corrections to the reports produced by him. Those reports will be provided to the City of Fort Worth and State of Texas Comptroller’s Office when complete.

View the letter from the Fort Worth City Auditor.

NCHA Affiliate Grass Roots Cuttings launched for 2013

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NCHA is launching a new type of show, the NCHA Affiliate Grass Roots Cutting, in 2013 to give members and affiliates a cost-effective way to increase their cutting participation. For affiliates, the new format offers flexibility, a nominal approval fee, and no entry fee percentages submitted to NCHA.

Cutters receive recognition by having the show results published online, and their earnings count toward Achievement Buckles, and toward a plaque presented when a rider receives $1,000 in earnings in approved classes.

Find out more about the NCHA Affiliate Grass Roots Cuttings here, or apply to hold a show here.

NCHA Secures Prestigious Firm for Executive Director Search

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National Cutting Horse Association, the world governing body for the sport of cutting, has secured Jim Harlan, president and CEO of MJM Global Search, Inc. to assist in efforts to fill the position of Executive Director of the more than 16,000-member organization. A timetable has been established to secure an individual by early summer.

“It is critical as we move forward that NCHA acquire an individual who not only appreciates the culture of our sport and our industry, but has the professional capability to effectively lead the association into the future,” said Lach Perks, chairman of the search committee. “MJM Global Search comes with a long list of credentials that should bring forward the best candidates for the position.”

Harlan is responsible for the strategic leadership necessary to ensure the achievement of MJM Global Search’s performance goals and preservation of the core values established for the company more than 17 years ago. He is also a horse and ranch owner in Colorado with more than 30 years of experience in the horse industry.

The process for the search will include interviews with NCHA leadership and staff, followed by the development of a comprehensive position analysis and description, identification of viable candidates and an interview and screening process that will ultimately provide NCHA with a minimum of two highly qualified candidates.
MJM Global Search, Inc., based in Franktown, Colo., has established a solid reputation in the field of executive searches and most recently completed placements in the horse industry for the American Paint Horse Association and the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association.

The firm is an affiliate of the largest recruiting and placement organization in the world, Management Recruiters International, with more than 1,100 offices worldwide. MGM Global Search’s specialists have decades of hands-on experience as senior managers, ranging from Fortune 500 corporations to small fast-growing start-up companies.

In addition to Perks, a member of the NCHA Finance Committee, also on the search committee is NCHA President Ernie Beutenmiller, Jr., President-Elect Barbara Brooks, Vice President Bruce Richerson, NCHA Finance Committee Chairman Terry Strange, and NCHA Executive Committee member and Past President Dennie Dunn.

Persons interested in the position may contact Harlan at MJM Global Search, Inc., P.O. Box 883, Franktown, CO 80116, by calling 303.660.0766 or by emailing jim@mjmglobalsearch.com.

The National Cutting Horse Association, based in Fort Worth, Texas, is the world governing body for the sport of cutting. With more than 16,000 members worldwide, its mission is to promote and celebrate the cutting horse, whose origin on Western ranches supports ranching and Western heritage. By establishing rules for the conduct of cutting horse shows, NCHA provides a level playing field and a progressive class structure, resulting in the development of more than 1,600 events around the world with a total purse nearing $40 million.

A Letter to NCHA Members

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The National Cutting Horse Association has received some good news as we prepare for the 2012 NCHA Futurity.

The City of Fort Worth’s application to the Texas Major Events Fund for the 2012 / 2013 NCHA Triple Crown events has been approved by the State of Texas. The allocation for the 2012 Futurity, 2013 Super Stakes and 2013 Summer Spectacular will be $3,780,447, an increase of more than $200,000 over the previous Triple Crown cycle.

“The Executive Committee would like to thank everyone who has been involved in the application process for their diligence,” said NCHA President Ernie Beutenmiller Jr.
The Texas Major Events Trust Fund payments are pegged to the economic impact generated by major events in the state. Formal applications detailing the number of visitors and their economic activity are submitted by NCHA through the city to state officials each year. NCHA, in turn, uses the funds to enhance purses and market the events with the goal of attracting more contestants and spectators.

In other Triple Crown news, RideTV, which will launch its new cable network devoted to the horse world in 2013, has signed on to provide a pay-per-view HD webcast of the NCHA Futurity Open finals, live from Will Rogers Coliseum,  on December 15.
RideTV will also produce an NCHA Futurity telecast which will air on HRTV on Sunday, December 23. HRTV is available through Dish Network, and from many of the nation’s largest cable services.

Meanwhile, NCHA’s staff is going all out to make the 2012 NCHA Futurity and Mercuria World Finals the biggest, most exciting events of the year. For the first time in Fort Worth, the Mercuria NCHA World Finals will feature the top competitors in 10 of NCHA’s championship classes.

“It’s amazing to consider all of the moving parts that come together for major shows like the Futurity and the World Finals,” said Beutenmiller. “We’re fortunate to have a team of professionals on the NCHA staff who have the experience and knowledge to stage these shows which put our association in the spotlight.”