08/20/2026
Dear NCHA Members,
The NCHA Executive Committee held its quarterly meeting August 18โ20 at the NCHA offices in Fort Worth, Texas. A significant portion of our time together was dedicated to discussing the current status and future of the Non-Pro and Amateur divisions.
This is not a new conversation. The Non-Pro/Amateur discussion has been a challenging topic within our association for many years and came to the forefront again during this yearโs NCHA Convention in Las Vegas. We recognize the strong opinions surrounding this issue and, more importantly, understand how significant these divisions are to our members and to the future of the NCHA.
At this time, the Executive Committee has not seen a proposal that we believe is ready to move forward to the membership for consideration. We do not believe in making change simply for the sake of change. Any proposal must be well thought out, carefully studied, and ultimately demonstrate that it will strengthen our association and provide a fair and sustainable path forward.
To continue that work, a diverse task force has been formed to study the issue and develop potential solutions for consideration. The goal is to bring different perspectives to the table, examine the consequencesโboth intended and unintendedโof potential changes, and determine whether a plan can be developed that truly benefits the membership.
There are no major changes planned for either the Non-Pro or Amateur divisions in the immediate future.
The Executive Committee will continue to pursue potential solutions, and we encourage our members to share their ideas and suggestions as this process moves forward. We want to hear from you, and your input will be an important part of this discussion.
This is a marathon, not a sprint. An issue that has been debated for many years will not be solved in a single meeting. It will take time, hard work, open-minded discussion, and a great deal of thoughtful consideration to arrive at a solution worthy of presenting to the membership.
Most importantly, I want to reassure everyone of one thing: if a plan ultimately comes forward that the Executive Committee believes represents a meaningful solution, the membership will have the final word on its implementation. A change of this significance should not be decided by a small group of people. Our responsibility is to do the work, study the options, and, if we believe we have found a better path forward, present it to you for consideration.
We appreciate your patience, your engagement, and your continued commitment to the NCHA. We will keep you informed as this work progresses and remain committed to finding a path that protects the integrity of our divisions while positioning our association for the future.
Sincerely,
Kathleen Moore
President
National Cutting Horse Association
Jay Winborn
Executive Director
National Cutting Horse Association
