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.

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 addition 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 “Alliance Partner.” AQHA is the world’s largest equine breed registry and over 95% of NCHA equine competitors are registered American Quarter Horses.

For additional information, or to join the NCHA, contact the National Cutting Horse Association at 817-244-6188 or visit www.nchacutting.com.