How to Compete in a Cutting Event

Competing in a cutting requires you to work in an arena and separate one cow from the herd. The rider is judged by the agility and athleticism of the horse and his ability to walk the horse through the herd quietly without disturbing the rest of the cattle.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Spurs
• Cutting Horse
• Western Saddles
• Bridles
• Saddle Pads

1. Get a cutting horse. Cutting horses are generally quarter horses, but they can also be paints, Morgans, Appaloosas and even Arabians. Cutting horses are generally smaller horses, with the top height of a good cutter being 15.1 hands.

2. Know that there will be holders on horseback who will be on each side of the arena next to the fence to help keep the cow from getting back into the herd. Rely on two more riders on horseback who will help turn back a cow if it tries to run away from you.

3. Cut the cow out of the herd by quietly walking your horse into the herd, moving one cow away from all the others, and controlling the cow as it tries to run from side to side to get back to the herd. You'll be facing the cow you're working and have your back to the herd.

4. Work as many as three cows, one at a time, during your 2 1/2 minutes.

5. Demonstrate your ability to control the cow and keep it from getting back to the herd.

6. Keep one hand on the saddle horn and hold the reins in your other hand.

7. Know that once you've separated a cow from the herd, you may not guide the horse with the reins; the reins have to remain down on the horse's neck.

8. Guide the horse with leg pressure.

9. Hold on. Cutting horses are quick and agile and if you're not careful, they could be going in one direction while you're going in another.

10. Win with the highest score. Judges score a rider and horse on their ability to maintain proper position with the cow.

Tips & Warnings

• Guiding your horse with the reins after you've separated a cow from the herd will lower your score.
• Horses move from side to side, swinging both their front feet from the left side to the right side, never moving their hind legs at times.
• Cutting can be dangerous. Sometimes the horse moves in one direction and the rider moves in the other and falls off.
• Cattle are unpredictable. Normally they'll just run from side to side but occasionally a cow will try to charge you and your horse.

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on 11/22/2005 Actually the two riders that are positioned on each side of the herd are called herd holders and their role is to help get the rider out of the herd with the number of cattle the rider wants. They must not work your cow - you get points off if they do.