NCHA News

October 30, 2020

To all NCHA members and interested parties,

It is with both excitement and concern that I write this letter. Please take a moment, read through this letter carefully and contemplate how this communication pertains to you.

I’d like to share with you our Mission Statement…

The National Cutting Horse Association promotes and celebrates the cutting horse, whose origin on Western ranches allows us to support ranching and its Western heritage.

By establishing rules for the conduct of cutting horse shows, NCHA strives to give cutters a level playing field and a progressive class structure which accommodates everyone from the beginner to the advanced competitor.

NCHA draws on the diverse talents and background of its members and encourages their participation in helping it achieve these goals. 

This year has brought many challenges that we all have never faced before. However, I feel that the NCHA is at a turning point. Despite the year’s challenges, the 2020 Futurity will boast one of the highest payouts in NCHA history. Our shows are experiencing record numbers as the year comes to a close, and there are new and exciting programs in development for the 2021 year.

These past few months I have seen and heard both in public and private, derogatory and unprofessional communication and comments relating to the NCHA, its management and its members. We should each stop and ask ourselves, as a member or representative of the NCHA, are you representing both yourself AND the NCHA well? 

From what I’ve seen and heard lately, and over this past year-and-a-half, I have doubts some individuals could honestly say “yes” to that question . . . and that is very disappointing. I would like to remind everyone that, as members of the NCHA, we all have a responsibility to be respectful towards one another and not disparage the NCHA name nor interfere with the NCHA’s ability to operate. In fact, our Constitution & Bylaws stipulates our responsibility and the importance of taking personal ownership of our conduct:

Article II:  MEMBERSHIP; RULES AND REGULATIONS

Membership in the Association is a privilege, not a right… Membership, or application therefore, may be terminated or rejected by the Executive Committee or Board of Directors for cause detrimental to the interest of the Association, or to its programs, policies, objectives or the harmonious relationship of its members, as determined by the Executive Committee or the Board of Directors.

This bylaw does not simply apply to general members. The NCHA Executive Director, Officers, Board of Directors members, Committee members, Directors and past Presidents are all accountable for their behavior, especially any time you might be viewed as representing the NCHA, regardless of media, venue, circumstance or time of day/night. ANY member may have their membership suspended or revoked for acts deemed detrimental to the interest of the Association or harmonious member relations. Employees are also expected to be held to this standard. 

We must not self-sabotage our progress nor forget our Western heritage, spirit of community and preservation of a foundational culture of our country. Our forefathers settled these great lands, looked out for one another, worked hard and humbly struggled to meet the challenges of lawlessness, disease and natural disasters. If our forefathers were able to persevere and build community, we, here in the twenty-first century, should be able to do the same given we have far fewer challenges and considerably more resources. Let’s all remember where we come from, who we are and where we want to go, then work together to get there.

There are many decisions being made by our Executive Director and staff, in consultation with the Executive Committee and Board of Directors. We all share the common vision of longevity, prosperity and health of the NCHA in mind. Some decisions may not be popular or even understood, but I might remind everyone that the leadership of the NCHA will represent ALL members: every age group, every skill level, every geographic region, every socioeconomic status and every affiliation. There are many exciting, important and beneficial changes ahead for the NCHA and its members, but we can only get there with cooperation and support… of leadership… and each other.

Let’s each strive to represent the NCHA, and ourselves, in better light; be more considerate and supportive of decisions made for the betterment of all of us; and each invest more effort into being a contributing, uplifting member of our community. 

Stay safe and God bless,

Steve Norris

NCHA President