WHAT IS
CUTTING?
THE START OF IT ALL
Cutting began in the United States of America, when the first cutting horse event was held in 1898 in Haskell, Texas. Today, some $42 million is paid out annually across more than 20 national events across the globe – the majority of which is in Australia and the USA, with a growing presence in South America and Europe.
Clothes, riding style and the amount of prize money up for grabs has certainly changed over the years, but a cowboy from the 19th century would still have the same goal as competitors in the 21st century: show off the instinct and natural ability of their horse while holding true to Cutting’s tradition and lifestyle.
Stallions are valued in the millions, while the breeding and selling of cutting horses is a multi-million-dollar industry itself. In Australia, nearly $2,000,000 worth of prize money is paid-out across some 170 NCHA affiliated shows annually, while more than $900,000 is paid-out at the NCHA Futurity, with the Futurity Champion earning $100,000. This June event is the richest indoor performance horse event in the Southern Hemisphere and the largest cutting performance in Australia.
A NEW ERA FOR AUSTRALIAN CUTTING
Australians were first introduced to Cutting in 1967 when Gregory Lougher gave an exhibition at the Warwick Gold Cup, riding the recently imported quarter horse mare, Clover Cherry. The pair were invited to give a cutting and western horsemanship demonstration at the Sydney Royal Easter Show the following year, thrusting cutting onto Australia’s equine centre stage.
In 1972 the National Cutting Horse Association of Australia Inc was formed, while the New England Quarter Horse Association held the first cutting horse futurity in 1973, held under the same rules and format as the American NCHA Futurity.
In 1983 the NCHA set up shop in Tamworth, NSW, while the NCHA Futurity moved to a permanent location at the Tamworth Showground. After a combined effort campaigning alongside other equine groups, the world class Australian Equine and Livestock Events Centre (AELEC) was finally finished in 2008, with the NCHA Futurity held that same year in September.
The NCHA now has 53 Affiliates that conduct shows, practice days and clinics throughout Australia. All levels are catered for, with more than 200 shows taking place each year.
