In a “down” economy, some things are still on the way up. Membership in the National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) reached an all-time record high of 20,255, on November 4, 2009, according to NCHA Executive Director Jeff Hooper.

“We are especially pleased to have reached this milestone in 2009, during a stressful year for the national and world economy,” Hooper said. “And with recent reports of economic growth and recovery, we expect to surpass this new record in 2010.”

Cutting horse competition is the world’s richest equine arena sport. In 2009, NCHA purses exceeded $43 million, earned by members across 50 states and from 21 foreign countries. The NCHA oversees over 2,200 cutting horse events each year around the globe.

For an example of the size of scope of NCHA’s major events, the “Triple Crown of Cutting” (The NCHA Futurity, Super Stakes and Summer Spectacular) will distribute over $10 million in prize money in 2009. For comparison, the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred racing (the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes) distributed $4 million in purse money this year.

In additional to overseeing and regulating cutting horse contests, the NCHA counts among it’s many activities the publication of a monthly magazine (the Cutting Horse Chatter), partners with a wide range of corporate sponsors, accredits and oversees over 300 certified cutting horse judges, conducts educational clinics for cutting horse competitors, and develops the “next generation of cutters” through a robust youth program.

NCHA has more members than any other American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) Alliance Partner. AQHA is the world’s largest equine breed registry and over 95% of NCHA equine competitors are registered American Quarter Horses.

Cutting evolved as a rodeo event in the late nineteenth century, when cowboys demonstrated the ability of their mounts to quickly separate individual cows from a herd. In 1946, 13 ranchers met during the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo to develop a standard format for cutting contests. The outcome was the formation of NCHA, headquartered in Fort Worth.

For additional information, or to join the NCHA and experience the excitement for yourself, contact the National Cutting Horse Association at (817) 244-6188 or visit www.nchacutting.com.