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Written by Mark Thompson
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 The 2011 NCHA Western Nationals will take place during early May and possibly the last few days of April, 2012, at the Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center in Reno, Nev., after taking place in Ogden, Utah, the past several years.
The National Cutting Horse Association Executive Committee decided to relocate the event, which showcases qualifying any-age horses and riders from the Western United States and Canada, in response to requests from area directors and contestants, NCHA President Keith Deaville said.
Western Nationals entries reached an all-time high 925 during an April 28-May, 2010, run at the Golden Spike Arena in Ogden, Utah, but they dipped to 708 last spring.
“A lot of the directors and a lot of contestants just thought it was time for a change,” Deaville said. “It had been there a few years and they’d had some good years. This year, it had not done quite as well. They [Western states contestants] were just ready for a change. We did some surveys and they said we needed to move, so we made a change.”
The Reno-Sparks Livestock Event Center has hosted the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity, the National Reined Cow Horse Association’s signature event, for about 20 years. It also hosted the Pacific Coast Cutting Horse Association’s spring limited-age PCCHA Derby from 1999-2006. The PCCHA relocated its fall and spring limited-age shows to Paso Robles, Calif., the following year.
After deciding to relocate the Western Nationals, and negotiating an early and mutually agreed early termination of its contract with Odgen officials, Deaville said the NCHA received proposals from several different sites. It liked Reno’s offer best.
Last spring’s Western Nationals took place April 29-May 8 in Odgen. This year’s event in Reno will take place at approximately the same time. It will probably cover 11-to-13 days, depending on the amount of entries, Deaville said.
“We are very excited about going to Reno,” Deaville said. “We found the absolute best deal we could for the dollars, and Reno had an outstanding proposal. We have a one-year contract with them, with an option to go two more years, if it’s successful, and if they want us back. We are hoping for nothing but good things out of this, and we’ll probably stay there if it works.”
The Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center features multiple covered arenas, 644 permanents stalls, safe and efficient cattle handling facilities, covered and outdoor loping arenas, plentiful RV hookups, food services and ample space for commercial vendors.
Entry forms for the NCHA Western Nations will be available at the NCHA, 260 Bailey Ave., Fort Worth, Texas, or via its website, nchacutting.com, in mid-January.
To allow as many NCHA members as possible to compete in the Western and Eastern Nationals, which will take place in Jackson, Miss., March 5-17, the NCHA has approved special entry standards that will apply for both 2012 shows.
Any NCHA member will be allowed to enter the shows in 2012, provided they paid at least one entry fee and rode to the herd at least once during 2011 in the NCHA-approved class that they enter.
For more information on the NCHA Western National Championships, contact the NCHA office at 817-244-6188.
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