NCHA News

For the first time in more than a decade, New York riders had an opportunity to compete in a sanctioned National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) event. The NCHA Challenger Series was held July 8-9, 2017 in Fulton at Carousel Farms, managed by Upstate Cow Horse Production. This was the first NCHA Challenger Series ever held in New York. The event featured some of the largest classes of any NCHA show produced in the North East and offered a $2,000 Limited Rider Class. A total of 63 entries participated in the competition and paid out over $1100 in NCHA monies.

Ray Dart from Smethport, PA secured the NCHA $2000 Limited Rider Circuit Championship Trophy with a 2^nd place finish on Saturday and then winning the first place check on Sunday which was a very emotional experience for the Dart Family.  Earlier this year Mr. Dart was diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer; the prognosis wasn’t good.   He has a very aggressive cancer that spreads quickly, so armed with a Cutting Horse chatter, his family, Katie and John, helped Ray plan his return to the show pen which provided him with extra-normal motivation.   His return to the pen not only resulted in success for Ray but Katie Dart herself secured the Non-Pro Co-championship with Tammy Schmidt. Ray also watched his granddaughter Lanie (6) win the Walk Trot class and proclaim her eagerness to commit to showing in the Youth Cutting in the near future.  The Dart Family are extremely grateful for all the friends they have made over the past ten years showing cutting horses and feel as though they all have become family are looking forward to many more memories being made. Katie expressed thanks to the NCHA and all the affiliates that are bring cutting events closer to home. Gay Chex Gal, a seasoned Reined Cow Horse Mare owned by Amber Roberts, secured the NCHA Open Horse Circuit Championship.     

Upstate Cow Horse Productions produced the show as part of a larger effort to connect cattle, working cow horse and ranch horse versatility clubs from around the state.  Thanks to our generous sponsors including, Cannon Quarter Horses, Clayton Distillery, Cutter Classic, Reydioactive and many others who supported the event which allowed 12 individuals to try the sport cutting and now are committed to being cutters in the NCHA. A special thank you to our Judge Toddy Pitard (AAA) and Russel McCord for putting together a great “mini” clinic that allowed Mr. Pitard to provide ample tips on how to improve scores and allowed all the brand-new cutters to leaving motivated to work on improving their run content for the next event.

If you’re interested in experiencing the thrill of working cattle with your horse, now is your chance to get involved. Upstate Cow Horse Productions provides a friendly and safe environment to get started. Upstate Cow Horse Productions is holding a Scholarship Challenge for Youth and High School Rodeo participants in Working Cow Horse and Cutting on September 30^th, 2017, followed by NCHA Challenger Series and clean slate finals October 1st. $2000 worth of awards and added money is up for grabs in this fresh, innovative, and fun series.  To participate in these events or to become a partner in promoting cow horse events here in the northeast, contact amber.roberts2006@gmail.com.