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Cutting is a Western equestrian sport that demonstrates a horse and rider’s ability to work cattle. Skilled cutting horses face off with cattle in this competitive event that celebrates the cowboy heritage of the American West.

What started as a valuable skill in working ranch horses now draws big crowds and prize money to cutting competitions. However, the heart of the sport remains with the cow sense of horses and the horsemanship of riders on full display in the cutting arena.

While top cutting horses and riders may appear to read bovine minds, success in this sport relies on years of training and top-quality care for the equine athletes. Keep reading to learn more about cutting horses and the skills that make this sport unique.

Cutting Horses

Cutting is a judged Western riding competition in which horses and riders separate and hold a steer or cow away from a herd of cattle. Judges evaluate the pair’s performance to determine the winner.

Horses that participate in cutting are best known for their quick reactions when facing off cattle as they try to return to the herd. Horses and riders react in unison as they anticipate the cows’ actions and demonstrate their cattle working skills.

History

Like many Western equestrian disciplines, cutting traces back to working cowboys who managed cattle on the open range. Large ranches in the American West relied on cowboys and their horses to herd, separate, and catch cattle.

Working ranch horses needed to be able to separate, or cut, specific individuals from the herd for husbandry tasks. Cowboys from nearby ranches often held informal competitions to test this skill and determine who had the best cutting horse. [1]

The first organized cutting horse competition was held in 1898 in Texas. After cutting horse contests grew in popularity, a group of cutting horse owners established the first universal rules for the sport in 1946.

While fewer cattle ranches rely on working horses in modern times, cutting remains a popular competitive Western event.

Sport Organizations

The National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) is the official sports organization for cutting in the USA. Founded in 1946, the NCHA promotes cutting horses and establishes rules for cutting horse shows. [2]

The Canadian Cutting Horse Association (CCHA) governs cutting in Canada. The organization is committed to promoting ethical, fair and competitive horsemanship in cutting and advocates for education and financial sustainability in the sport. [3]

Competition

Most North American cutting horse competitions are held under the governance of the NCHA or CCHA. A cutting performance is evaluated by judges based on many different factors that demonstrate mastery of the cutting skill.

Rules

Cutting horses and riders compete in separate divisions based on their experience and classification as either:

  • Professional
  • Non-professional
  • Amateur
  • Youth

Every competitor performs individually in front of a panel of judges during a run that lasts 2 minutes and 30 seconds.

Riders select four helpers to assist during their run. Two turnback riders keep separated cattle from running to the back of the arena, while two herd holders keep the remaining cows bunched together.

During their run, riders must make at least two cuts from the herd, one of which must come from the center. After separating the selected animal, it’s up to the horse to keep the cow from returning to the other cattle.

Ideally, a cutting horse appears to work without visible control by the rider. Competitors typically drop the reins to give the horse his head, indicating it’s time for the horse to react to the cow.

Competitors are eliminated for any of the following: [2]

  • Excessive help from assistants
  • Illegal equipment
  • Departing the working area before the run ends
  • If the horse charges the cow
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Judging

Judges award most runs a score between 60 to 80. Pairs have points subtracted or added from a starting score of 70 based on their performance.

In addition to degree of difficulty, the score is influenced by the horse’s: [2]

  • Attitude
  • Appearance
  • Herd work
  • Cow control

Judges also consider the following factors: [2]

  • Confidence entering the herd and handling difficult cows
  • Making a clean cut from the herd
  • Containing cow close to the center of the working area

Faults that could lead to score deductions include: [2]

  • Causing excessive disturbance to the herd
  • Not making a deep cut
  • Relying on the back fence to turn a cow
  • Quitting a cow while it is still in motion and facing the horse
  • Allowing cows to return to herd
  • Rider cueing while the horse is working the cow

Cattle

Most of the cattle used in cutting competitions are young steers and heifers. Popular breeds include Hereford, Angus, and related crossbreeds.

Picking the best individual animal to showcase the horse’s ability in a cutting competition is a skill. Ideally, the cow challenges the horse without overwhelming him. Riders use markings and other characteristics to single out the cow they cut.

Terminology

Like other equestrian sports, cutting has its own working terminology. Familiarizing themselves with these terms can help spectators and those new to the sport better understand the discipline.

Common terms used in cutting competitions include:

  • Back fence: The fence behind the cattle
  • Blow up: When a cow or horse panics during a run
  • Cheat: A horse that avoids working correctly and takes the easy way out
  • Commit: Looking and stepping towards a specific cow to show intention to work it
  • Cut for shape: Selecting a cow on the edge of the herd
  • Deep cut: Selecting a cow from deep within the herd
  • Draw cattle: An ability of the horse to get cattle to pay attention to them
  • Drop on a cow: The crouching posture of a cutting horse in front of a separated cow
  • Heading a cow: Placing the horse in front of a cow to stop the cow
  • Sweep: When a horse sits on the rear end and moves the front end to work a cow

Training

While horses appear to work cattle independently in the competition arena, developing a champion cutting horse takes years of training and excellent riding skills.

When working a cow, horses run to place themselves between the cow and the herd. A cutting horse will drop low, pivot, and change directions quickly in response to the cow’s movements.

Riders must stay centered in the saddle to follow the horse’s movements when riding a cutting horse. Pushing off the saddle horn and avoiding pulling yourself forward keeps you locked in the saddle. Keeping toes out and legs in front also helps cutting riders stay balanced.

Riders hold the reins in one hand with the reins loose, and horses are trained to react to the seat and leg aids.

Trainers often use flags or mechanical cows to simulate a real cow in training and teach a horse how to react before introducing cow work. Some horses have more innate cow sense and natural reactions than others.

Equipment

Using the correct equipment is essential for cutting horses and riders to perform at their best. Much of the tack used in competition today resembles that used by working ranch horses and cowboys.

Horse Tack

Competitors are required to use a Western saddle. Cutting saddles are designed to help the rider stay balanced during the quick changes of direction the horse makes while working a cow.

Some horses wear breast collars and back cinches to help stabilize the saddle. Hackamores and snaffle bits are permitted, but bridles with curb bits are the most popular options for cutting horses.

Tight turns and rapid direction changes can cause horses to knock their legs accidentally, so cutting horses often wear boots to protect themselves from impact injuries.

Rider Attire

During the competition, riders must wear traditional Western attire, including a hat. Typical cutting rider attire consists of a long-sleeved buttoned shirt, jeans, and boots. Chaps are recommended but not required for riders.

Replacing the hat with a safety helmet is permitted, but helmet use is less prevalent in Western sports than in English disciplines. Research suggests wearing a helmet could lower the risk of severe head injuries in all equestrians, including cutting and other Western event riders. [4]

Horses

While training helps develop the cutting horse’s skills, cow sense often comes from their natural instincts. Breeds developed to work cattle dominate the sport. However, these horses can only fulfill their potential if they receive the correct care and management.

Cutting Horse Breeds

The skills required to work cattle in the cutting arena successfully are the same skills breeders prioritized on working ranches. Stock horse breeds developed specifically for cattle work share several traits that make them suitable for cutting competitions.

Stock horse breeds include:

Horses that excel at the sport’s top level are almost