This unique partnership of horse and rider will be tested on Friday night, when the EQUITANA Melbourne Open Cutting Championships will take place in the NutriRice Grand Pavilion. The heart racing competition to keep a young cow from its herd will have both the horse and the audience's nerves on tenterhooks. 30 top Australian cutting horse riders will be competiting for thousands of dollars. This event will provide high adrenaline action which will excite even the most placid horse lover.
The Origin of Cutting
The cutting horse evolved at a time when there were few fences and thousands of cattle grazed vast areas in the south-west of the United States in the early 18OOs. Cattlemen gathered large herds on open plains.
Individual cows had to be separated or “cut” from the herd for branding, sending to market or driving to new sections of grazing. It was soon discovered that the job could be performed easily and efficiently by using specially trained horses called “cutting horses”.
The competitive nature of the cattlemen lead to the initiation of cutting horse competitions in the mid-19th century. In 1898, the first known contest for money was held at the Cowboy Reunion in Haskell, Texas. Since then an entire industry has developed with cutting spreading to 22 countries throughout the world and individual stallions being valued in the millions. The NCHA was formed in Australia in 1972 and is an affiliate of the American National Cutting Horse Association. Events are held around the world totalling more than $20 million annually. Australia now exports cutting horses and trainers to the USA on a regular basis. Cutting has grown from its origin into a highly competitive Australian and worldwide equine sport.
What’s it all about?
In cutting horse competitions, horse and rider have two and a half minutes to demonstrate their ability to cut cattle and prevent them from returning to the herd. Contestants usually separate two or three individual cows before time expires. The clock starts when the horse crosses an imaginary line approximately 20 metres in front of the herd.
The horse and rider quietly walk into the herd; the rider begins the process of selecting one cow to “cut” from the rest of the group. The rider carefully selects a cow and drives it forward from the herd.
When the separation has been made, the rider must loosen or “drop” the reins and allow the horse to work independent of any guidance from the rider. The horse takes control of the contest and with lightening fast starts and turns, preventing the cow from returning to the herd.
When the cow turns away or discontinues its effort to return to the herd, the rider may lift the reins, signalling the horse to “quit the cow”. The cow is allowed to return to the herd and the process of selecting a new cow begins. The event is scored from a range of 60 to 80 points. Every horse enters the herd on 70 points and qualified judges then add or take away from the run to determine the score.
Contact:
The National Cutting Horse Association of Australia Inc.
15 Goonan Street, Tamworth NSW 2340
Ph: (02) 6765 9356
Email:
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Website: www.ncha.com.au
For an EQUITANA Australian Open Cutting Championships Nomination Form please click here
