A CUT ABOVE

By Janette Halliday Photos Provided by NCHA

FOR HORSE OWNERS, THERE IS A PASSION FOR THE EQUINE

INDUSTRY. FOR EVERY DISCIPLINE, THERE IS A FAN– FROM HORSE RACING TO RODEO, FROM RESSAGE TO CUTTING.

In Parker County, that passion is cutting.

For the untrained eye, cutting can be complex and perplexing, exhilarating and calculating at the same time. Cutting evolved from the practicality of ranches where specific horses were used to keep an individual cow separated from the herd on open ranges. This was beneficial for cattle management practices such as branding, vaccinating and deworming.

What started as riders competing to see who had the best “cutting” horse has now evolved into one of the most exciting sports in the equine industry. The first recorded competition for cutting was held in Haskell, Texas in 1898. The North Side Coliseum in Fort Worth was the site of the first indoor competition in March of 1908. As organized competitions grew, a group of horse owners came together and formed the National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) in 1946.

A SPECTACULAR SPECTATOR SPORT

Cutting sets itself apart as one of the most exciting sports in the equine industry. Inside the arena, trust between the rider and horse is paramount. In a two and half minute time frame, riders move into the herd to select and cut a cow from the herd. The rider then places their hands on the horse’s neck while the horse reads the cow’s movement in order to stop the cow from returning to the herd. The rider will then try to work their horse on three different cows during the run.

According to Jay Winborn, NCHA Executive Director, “Keeping the cow away from the herd requires the horse to perform fast-paced, highly athletic maneuvers on its own, with little to no guidance from the rider. The unpredictability of the cattle ensure that no two runs are alike, providing endless entertainment for both riders and spectators.”

“KEEPING THE COW AWAY FROM THE HERD REQUIRES THE HORSE TO PERFORM FASTPACED, HIGHLY ATHLETIC MANEUVERS ON ITS OWN, WITH LITTLE TO NO GUIDANCE FROM THE RIDER.” ~JAY WINBORN, NCHA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

“Cutting stands apart from other equine disciplines because of its appeal to all ages of people in my mind. It’s exciting enough for youth kids to want to get involved in and it’s really an event that you can compete in your entire life,” stated Kylie Rice, Parker County resident and co-owner of T/K Cutting Horses, alongside her husband, Tatum Rice.

Rice explains the reason for the passion for cutting is based on a relationship.

“For me, the most appealing part of cutting is simply the relationship that it creates with my horse that I’m showing. When you have a run that just clicks, it creates this really deep connection with your horse and that’s really why we have all gotten into cutting in the first place is because of the horse. It’s also so appealing to me that it’s basically a team sport with horses. It takes an entire team for big runs and famous horses to happen,” Rice explained.

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

Regarded as the “Cutting Horse Capital of the World,” over 100 active NCHA professionals and over 1,000 members are located in and around Parker County. Over the years, some of the world’s best cutting horses and riders have called, and continue to call, Parker County their home.

“You can’t go anywhere in Parker County without being reminded of its deep-rooted history with cutting horses. The convenience of being so close to our three triple crown events is the best part of living here,” explained Rice.

“You can drop your kids off at school, go show at a cutting and be back in time to take them to sports of whatever activities they might have. It really allows us to still live a semi normal life with the crazy hectic schedules we keep,” stated Rice.

ELITE MAKES THREE…

No different from other sports, there is a championship event. However, in cutting, there is more than just one. The NCHA produces the three most elite shows in the industry to create their own Triple Crown, comprised of the World Championship Futurity, the Super Stakes and the Summer Cutting Spectacular.

In order to win the NCHA Triple Crown, a horse must first win the World Championship Futurity as a three-year-old in November. The following March and July of their four-year-old year, the horse must win the Super Stakes and the Summer Cutting Spectacular, respectively. If a horse is to win each of these shows in the same division, they will be awarded the NCHA Triple Crown Champion title. There has only been a handful of horses to achieve this prestigious award.

The Futurity is the first leg and the highlight of the NCHA Triple Crown with highly sought after bragging rights to the winners. At this year’s Futurity, Parker County was represented by over 200 NCHA members who either rode a horse in competition or owned one. Parker County resident, Traci Shehady, rode her horse Once In Love, to claim the Unlimited Amateur Champion title at the 2019 NCHA World Championship Futurity.

The second leg of the NCHA Triple Crown, is the Super Stakes held annually in March and April. This event is comprised of two shows; the NCHA Super Stakes for 4-year-olds and the NCHA Super Stakes Classic for 5/6-year-olds. This event is designed to showcase the breeders of the cutting industry. Each of the horses that compete at the event are offspring of subscribed stallions and were nominated as weanlings to the NCHA Stallion Foal Program.

Over the years, the NCHA Stallion Foal Program has added over $700,000 annually in prize money to this show. Competitors and horses travel from all over the world to compete for over $3.4 million in prize money.

The NCHA Triple Crown concludes in July and August with its final leg, the Summer Cutting Spectacular. This is event mirrors the competition structure of the Super Stakes with shows for both four-year-old and five and sixyear-old horses.

REGARDED AS THE “CUTTING HORSE CAPITAL OF THE WORLD,” OVER 100 ACTIVE NCHA PROFESSIONALS AND OVER 1,000 MEMBERS ARE LOCATED IN AND AROUND PARKER COUNTY.

A BILLION AND COUNTING

The equine industry as whole is a $122 billion industry that employs 1.74 million people, according to a 2017 Economic Impact Study of the U.S. Horse Industry, conducted by the American Horse Council (AHC) Federation in conjunction with The Innovation Group.

The study found that the care, business and recreation surrounding the 7.2 million horses in the country generates $79 billion in total salaries nationwide. Texas ranks first in the number of horses in the U.S.

The cutting horse industry holds its own with prize money and revenue generated. Since its inception, the NCHA has paid out over $1 billion to its members in prize money at NCHA-sanctioned or NCHA-produced shows. Since 1946, over 81,000 members have taken home a portion of the $1 billion. Cutting is the first western discipline to surpass the billion-dollar milestone. Winborn says cutting stands apart from other disciplines in the horse industry.

“The cutting horse industry is more than just a sport. It is a passion, a lifestyle and a family. Whether you grew up on a riding horse or you simply have an interest in the cowboy way of life, cutting will provide you with a unique experience and the rush of a lifetime,” Winborn stated.

In order to encourage those interested in cutting, the NCHA has a program designed specifically for new members. This program includes a free membership, allowing new members to ride into the herd and try out cutting without the membership fee. Classes are available at NCHA shows for all experience levels, including a few classes where the rider does not have to be a horse owner to compete. Find all the details on joining this innovative program at www.nchacutting.com.

Parker county can safely say its contribution to the cutting industry is alive and well, with opportunities available for every level of interest in cutting. PCLS