Dawn Chapman NCHA Hall of Fame 2022

Q - How does it feel to be in the NCHA Hall of Fame?

A - Unreal!! It’s kind of like getting a college degree, something you earn that no one can take from you. It is truly something I never thought about until a fellow competitor whom I had been showing with made it into the Hall of Fame two years ago got me curious, so I looked up the requirements and thought, “Wow! This could actually happen to me!“. For a girl from Buckeye, Arizona, who started riding Shetland ponies around barrels at little gymkhanas, this is an incredible feat!

Q - How does it feel to have a horse Clays Little Kit Cat, that you own and have shown a lot, make the HOF?

A - I have been blessed to have owned and shown some outstanding cutting horses over the years but there’s no other horse I’d rather see make it into the NCHA Horse Hall of Fame as much as Clays Little Kit Cat. From the moment MIke and Roper took me to Paul Hansma‘s training facility in TX to try Kit Cat in December 2014, I knew I was sitting on the most perfect example of a cutting horse. Every year we hauled him, he gave his all, resulting in championship titles, as well as increasing his lifetime earnings. Kit Cat was nearly injury free in the past nine years so his consistency in the pen definitely catapulted me into the NonPro HOF as well as help Mike to reach his current lifetime earnings of over $3million! But the coolest part of all of it is that Kit Cat and I made it into our respective Hall of Fame status together, the same year!!

Q - When did you realize to be a Champion is a team effort?

A - I started riding with MIke Wood Performance horses in 2013. MIke Wood and Roper Curtiss are the team captains in a sense. It was then that I learned how to be a part of a successful winning team. These horses are conditioned daily to reach the extreme physicality it takes to be an outstanding cutting horse. The young men and women who are employed by MWPH put in many hours at home and on the road. They are an incredible part of the team. There is also the veterinarians, therapy providers, and arriers that make up the team. As competitors, we not only go up against people from out of state, and those from Arizona, but many times our own barn mates. We encourage each other when battling our heads or trying to get through the slumps. It’s truly a family atmosphere at MWPH and teamwork is KEY!!

Q - How often do you get to ride?

A - I definitely don’t ride as often as most of my fellow competitors. I am definitely not the epitome of the competitor who rides 3 to 4 times a week. In fact, I get teased a little bit about it because sometimes, when I show up to a horse show, I haven’t been on my horse since the last Horseshow! There is reason for my madness so to speak. When I first started cutting, I had four little kids and a husband and had to choose between going to shows or practicing so I chose going to shows. I guess I just learned how to show and practice riding while showing. Believe me, it doesn’t always work, and I have to end up putting in time at the ranch to get over a slump, but overall it has worked out well.

Q - Horseshoe Park is the center of the cutting horse world in Arizona. How do you feel about the Park?

A - Horseshoe Park Equestrian Centre has been a game changer for cutting in Arizona. It is a well laid out facility that is able to accommodate a lot of haulers from out of state, lots of cattle, plenty of barns, and of course, the town of Queen Creek so close by which has all of the amenities of a big town. The staff is second to none and feel more like family.

Q - What are three tips you can offer aspiring equestrians be it in the cutting discipline or other discipline?

A - My three tips: a) First do some research and find a trainer who is accomplished, has a good work ethic, honest, kind, and has a true love for the horse in whatever discipline you choose. b) Second, trust your trainer to find a horse for you to start out on. It’s important to allow him or her to fit you with the right horse for success. c) Thirdly, find balance in your life with work, kids, spouse, school, and your new hobby. It’s not always easy and sometimes if you are pursuing a goal in your horse sport, you have to let other things slide for a short time. You will figure it out!!

NCHA ANNOUNCES $1,000,000 ADDED TO THE 2023 NCHA FUTURITY

FORT WORTH – The National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) is thrilled to announce the addition of $1,000,000 in added money to the upcoming 2023 NCHA Metallic Cat World Championship Futurity to be held in Fort Worth, Texas, this November and December.

The $1,000,000 added will be allocated between each of the 2023 NCHA Metallic Cat World Championship Futurity divisions, including the Open, Non-Pro, and Amateur classes. The association continues to make supporting our events across weekend and aged event levels a top priority.

“When the Executive Committee elected to reinvest in the Futurity in 2021, there were immediate results,” said Skip Jones, representative of the NCHA executive committee. “The price of horses increased at an exceptional rate and spurred increased activity across the country at all levels, causing the horse market to reach new heights. This coverage brought new people to the sport. We believe that the historic addition of $1,000,000 to our premier event will only continue to drive entries in all levels of the association to new heights.”

Since 2020, NCHA has adopted and adhered to a strict budgeting process that has proven successful and allowed NCHA to reinvest in the association for the past three years. In 2022 alone, NCHA invested over $950,000 in total payout money across weekend and Triple Crown events and over $500,000 in awards at the weekend level.

NCHA Convention at South Point Hotel and Casino

June 23 - 25, 2023

• Las Vegas, NV

NEW for 2023

- Convention Registration is FREE!!!

There is no charge to attend convention, but we do ask that you pre-register by May 31, 2023.

Your registration information will be used to create name badges and help plan meeting room size requirements.

Registrations after the deadline are not guaranteed access to pre-printed convention materials.

Join us on Saturday night in South Point’s Grand Ballroom for the 2023 NCHA Hall of Fame Gala. Festivities include a cocktail reception, dinner and awards ceremony followed by The Highwayman Show featuring live music performed by Tony Suraci.

A limited number of tickets are now available for purchase at $250 per ticket or $2,000 for a table of ten.

Don’t wait - Buy your tickets now, sales close May 31!

NCHA room rates $75/night on Weekdays, $165/night on Weekends

Room block expires Wednesday, May 31, 2023

South Point Hotel and Casino

9777 Las Vegas Blvd South Las Vegas, NV 89183

866-791-7626

** if calling for reservations, you must identify yourself as being with the NCHA 2023 Convention - Code NCHA621.

“Having been a member of the Finance Committee for six years, I am proud to be a part of the team that approved the $1,000,000 to be added to the Futurity, knowing the impact that reinvesting in the NCHA will have across all levels,” said Barnwell Ramsey, representative of the NCHA finance committee. “We think of this as a significant step in a plan to continue investing in the weekend shows, nationals, and limited age events.”

Both weekend and aged event competitions have shown substantial entry numbers throughout the recent and current years as a direct result of these investments. Programs such as the NCHA National Circuit Program, NCHA Weekend, NCHA Eastern National Championship and NCHA World Finals have offered weekend-level competitors the ability to compete for more titles and added money as these programs continue to thrive.

“For a long time, NCHA was not in the position to reinvest in ourselves,” said Jay Winborn, NCHA executive director. “We are thrilled to be able to continue investing in our events by adding back to the purse at not only the Futurity but several of our other events across all levels of the sport. We are committed to the success of the association at all levels and will continue to make decisions that reflect that.”

The 2023 NCHA World Championship Futurity is tentatively scheduled for November 14 through December 9, 2023, in Fort Worth, Texas. To learn more about this event, including the tentative schedule and entry information, visit nchacutting.com/futurity.