NCHA Weekend

The American Quarter Horse Journal — The American Quarter Horse Association is proud to sponsor the National Cutting Horse Association’s biggest event of the year, NCHA Weekend, June 3-5, in 25 cities throughout the United States and Canada.

NCHA Weekend is cutting’s biggest celebration of its grassroots participants, and this year, all of the shows are dual-approved. For the first time, points earned in designated classes will count toward qualification for the youth, amateur, select and open AQHA world championship shows.

“We are excited to partner with NCHA on this full weekend of cutting in June,” said Tom Persechino, AQHA executive director of competition and breed integrity. “A large percentage of the horses that compete in NCHA are American Quarter Horses, and this nationwide weekend of cutting is a great opportunity to spotlight the crossover between NCHA and AQHA.”

As most cutters know, the AQHA world shows offer big prize money, so NCHA Weekend is a great opportunity to earn qualifying points. The amateur cutting finals at the 2011 Bank of America AQHA Amateur World Championship Show averages $60,000, and the open cutting finals during the 2011 Fed Ex Open AQHA World Championship Show offers nearly $70,000, with 100 percent of entry fees paid back.

AQHA classes will be offered at least one day at each of the NCHA Weekend shows and will usually be held as a class-within-a-class of the corresponding NCHA class. NCHA members who also have an individual AQHA membership and show an American Quarter Horse under its AQHA registered name will be eligible to earn AQHA points toward qualification for the 2011 AQHA World Championship Show, and the 2012 Built Ford Tough AQHYA and 2012 Adequan Select AQHA world championship shows.

World Show Qualification

Qualification points for the AQHA world shows will work as follows:
• AQHA points earned in the NCHA Open class will count toward qualification for the 2011 Fed Ex Open AQHA World Championship Show in AQHA’s senior division (horses 6 years and older).
• The AQHA Junior class, for horses 5 years and younger, will be offered within the NCHA $10,000 Novice Horse Class, and those points will count toward junior cutting.
• AQHA points earned in the NCHA Non-Pro class will count toward qualification for the 2011 Bank of America Amateur AQHA World Championship Show or for the 2012 Adequan Select World Championship Show.
• AQHA points earned in the NCHA Youth class will count toward qualification for the 2012 Built Ford Tough AQHYA World Championship Show.

To qualify for the 2011 AQHA World Show’s amateur cutting, exhibitors must have at least three points. To qualify for the 2011 AQHA World Show’s junior or senior cutting, exhibitors must have 4.5 points.

With 25 locations during the June 3 weekend, NCHA Weekend is a great opportunity for cutters of all skill levels to earn AQHA points.

2011 NCHA Weekend

Area – Location — Dates — Affiliate
1. Madras, Oregon, June 3-5, Oregon CHA
2. Watsonville, California, June 3-5, West Coast CHA
3. Hurricane, Utah, June 3-4, Las Vegas CHA
4. Dillon, Montana, June 4-5, Montana CHA
5. Farmington, New Mexico, June 4-5, Four Corners CHA
6. Huron, South Dakota, June 4-5, South Dakota CHA
7. Kingman, Kansas, June 4-5, Beef Empire CHA
8. Ada, Oklahoma, June 3-5, Southern Oklahoma CHA
9. Graham, Texas, June 3-5, Pk Cutters
10. Brenham, Texas, June 3-5, Central Tx CHA
11. Amarillo, Texas, June 3-5, Palo Duro CHA
12. Waterloo, Iowa, June 4-5, Iowa CHA
13. Duquoin, Illinois, June 4-5, Mid-State Illinois CHA
14. Batesville, Mississippi, June 4-5, Arklahoma CHA
15. Swanton, Ohio, June 3-5, Great Lakes CHA
16. Lady Lake, Florida, June 4-5, Florida CHA
17. Lewisburg, West Virginia, June 4-5, East Coast CHA
18. North Augusta, South Carolina, June 4-5, Area 18 CHA
19. Hamburg, Pennsylvania, June 4-5, Pennsylvania CHA
20. Claresholm, Alberta, June 3-5, Alberta CHA
21. Codrington, Ontario, June 4-5, Ontario CHA
22. Franklin, Tennessee, June 3-5, Area 22 CHA
23. Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, June 4-5, Saskatchewan CHA
24. Athens, Texas, June 3-4, Area 24 Affiliates
25. Carthage, Missouri, June 4-5, Ozark Mountain CHA
Stay tuned to NCHA’s website for more information.

AQHA news and information is a service of AQHA publications. For more information on The American Quarter Horse Journal or America’s Horse, visit AQHA Publications.