 The
sport of cutting had it's origins on southwestern cattle ranches
in the 1880's. In the days prior to the introduction of barbed
wire, vast cattle ranches used horses and cowboys to round up
their cattle. Individual cattle often had to be separated from
the rest of the herd for branding, sickness or sales. Certain
horses were more instinctive and quick in response to a cow's
attempts to return to the herd. As cowboys recognized this talent,
the cutting horse was born. The horse and rider had to be athletic,
cow savvy and possess a high degree of stamina.
Over the years, with the advent of fencing and other forms of
livestock confinement the need has lessened somewhat for the trained
cutting horse. However, his skills have found a new purpose. Today
cutting is one of the world's fastest-growing equine sports. It
offers tremendous excitement and drama for horse, rider, and spectators
alike.
The challenge is to select a single calf from the herd and gently
guide it into the center of the arena. Then, with no visible cues
from the rider, the horse exhibits athleticism and style as he
controls a cow and prevents its return to the herd. In competition
the horse and rider are allowed two minutes and thirty seconds
to show a professional judge how well he/she can do their job.
In the contest arena the art of cutting comes alive in a classic
test of intelligence, training, breeding, and skill. The cutting
horse and rider work together as a team in demonstrating their
cattle-handling skills.
First time visitors to a cutting horse show are amazed not only
by the athleticism of this animal, but his inbred desire to do
his job without human intervention. A five-judge panel scores
contestants in National events. Smaller events require one or
two judges. Performance is evaluated on the basis of several points:
- degree of difficulty presented by the "cow"
- precision of "herdwork"
- style of the horse's "coverage"
 Although
fun to watch, the best seat in the house is aboard a highly
trained cutting horse. There has never been a better time to
visit a show and witness not only a glimpse of western Americana
but an athletic contest involving two creatures whose collective
histories are so intertwined in our own.
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