Cutting is a western-style equestrian competition where a horse and rider demonstrate the horse’s ability to handle cattle. In a cutting competition, the horse and rider have two and a half minutes to separate a cow from a herd and keep it from returning to the herd. The horse is scored on its ability to keep the cow away from the herd, cow sense, attentiveness, and courage.
The horse and rider must move quietly into a herd of cattle, cut one cow from the herd, drive it to the center of the arena, and “hold” it away from the herd. The rider is the “corrector” and the cow gives the horse the warnings and indicates the required actions.
The three most elite cutting horse shows are the World Championship Futurity, the Super Stakes, and the Summer Cutting Spectacular. These shows are held in Fort Worth, TX.
Cutting horses are typically American Quarter Horses. O.K. Estes Cutting Horses is a well-known cutting horse trainer located in Franktown, Colorado.
On average, a cutting horse will sell for $8,500 to $45,000. Some of the best cutting horses can sell for $50,000 to $100,000 or more. In 2020, a two-year-old sorrel Quarter horse filly sold for $1,050,000.
Cutting Horse Saddles
first designed in Texas by Buster Welch, and Windy Ryan, a cutting saddle is made to help the Rider stay balanced, and above a horses center of gravity during the various dramatic movements that occurring cutting. The saddle services is a shock, absorber, yet it is very light, and made to sit down close to a horses back, so you can feel every movement underneath you. The seed is larger than that of other western saddles, to allow you to move around a little without being locked into one position. The saddle Horne is higher so that you can comfortably push against it for maximum leveraged to maintain balance. The fenders are fairly low so that you can easily change your leg position when helping a horse or staying out of his way. the size of the seat, depends on your body frame. Most cutters, male, or female, ride with the 16 or 16 1/2 inch seat, but you’ll need a bigger one, if you have a larger frame.
Jimmy Watson, and South, Texas saddle, make the best cutting saddles according to OK. And most stirrups are made out of aluminum or iron, and a one and a half inch oxbow usually does the trick.
