1,5 0 0 *Customer instant rebates are available on promo finance rate, cash or standard rate finance purchases of select new Kubota construction equipment, agricultural tractors, balers and disc mower conditioners from participating dealers’ stock. The rebate amount may be lower when combined with promo rate financing. Customer instant rebates are available for select compact tractors, utility tractors, RTVs and mowers (ZD, ZG, Z Series) only when combined with promo rate financing. These rebates can be combined with other qualifying cash rebates and Orange Plus offers. KTC reserves the right to cancel this program entirely, modify or amend any aspect at any time without prior notice. Please see your participating dealer for details or NCHAKubotaDiscount.com, including rebate and model selection limitations. This program applies only to members in good standing with NCHA. Must show this credential at time of purchase. Offer expires 12/31/25.
High Brow Cat x Laney Doc
Retired Stallion Fee - $3,150 (includes farm fee)
Good I Will Be x Luke Whoo
Stallion Fee - $2,850 (includes farm fee)
MERADA
High Brow Cat x Merada Lena Stallion Fee - $3,150 (includes farm fee)
Bob Acre Doc x Laney Doc Stallion Fee - $3,150 (includes farm fee) frozen semen only
Once In A Blue Boon x CC Cat Stallion Fee - $2,650 (includes farm fee)
National Cutting Horse Association 260 Bailey Avenue, Fort Worth, Texas 76107-1862 (817) 244-6188; FAX (817) 244-2015 • nchacutting.com
Cutting Horse Chatter (ISSN 1081-0951) is published 4 times a year by the National Cutting Horse Association, 260 Bailey Avenue, Fort Worth, Texas 76107. Telephone (817) 244-6188. Periodicals postage paid at Fort Worth, Texas, and additional mailing offices. The subscription rate of $6.00 is included in the National Cutting Horse Association’s annual membership dues. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Cutting Horse Chatter, 260 Bailey Avenue, Fort Worth, Texas 76107-1862. Publications Agreement No. 40791503.
Sustaining Affiliate Member: American Humane Association
Member: American Horse Council, American Horse Publications, Livestock Publications Council
photo by shannon stewart
Jacob Herber rides Willy.
LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR
Over the past few months, the NCHA has witnessed fierce competition in the arena. Congratulations to all the champions crowned at the 2025 NCHA Great American Insurance Group Summer Cutting Spectacular! In addition to these memorable runs, I also want to applaud the champions of the NYCHA Youth World Finals and NCHA Foundation Scholarship Cutting.
The NCHA has also seen tremendous performances at weekend shows across the United States, along with a growing international interest. Recently, the NCHA Foundation funded the firstever NCHA clinic in Germany, which included a judging clinic and hands-on instruction from NCHA trainers. Our association continues to thrive thanks to you, our members. Without your tireless dedication to NCHA governance, hosting cuttings, and welcoming new members to our beloved sport, we wouldn't be experiencing this growth and enthusiasm within the cutting horse community. Keep up the great work! From our weekend haulers preparing for the 2025 World Finals, to the two-year-old trainers eagerly awaiting the Western Bloodstock and Futurity sales, to our LAE riders, fine-tuning their Futurity horses for November and December, each of you plays a vital role in making this association what it is today.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who participated in and supported the NCHA Special Operations Cutting Challenge. This event was more than just a display of talent; it was a powerful tribute to courage, discipline, and camaraderie. Each rider was partnered with an exceptionally talented
horse and trainer to prepare them for the spotlight. Every run demonstrated the precision and resilience shaped by their military service. To the servicemen and women, their families, and supporters who filled the stands: your pride and presence elevated this event to another level! This wasn’t just a competition; it was a celebration of the values we all cherish: honor, commitment, and unity. Together, we honored the men and women who serve our country and made memories that will endure long after the final buzzer.
Thank you for being part of this unforgettable summer and for standing with us in recognizing those who serve.
Jay Winborn NCHA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
photo by justin clemons
Wilson Ranch
Clay County, Texas
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$6,000,000
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Carl Roland 817-475-3951
Stoker Ranch
Throckmorton County, Texas
$1,499,000
293± acres of ranch and recreation land. Stoker Ranch offers a 5BR, 3BA home, massive barn/workshop with apartment, and rolling pastures dotted with live oaks. Stocked tanks, abundant wildlife, and top-notch infrastructure make this the ultimate property for ranching, hunting, fishing, or a weekend escape.
Steve Sikes (817) 366-3757
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Youth Connection
Makena Newton
NYCHA
SENIOR YOUTH PRESIDENT
As the National Youth Cutting Horse Association (NYCHA) wrapped up another incredible year of youth leadership, competition, and camaraderie, we celebrated not just the champions in the arena—but our youth as a whole.
During the NYCHA Awards Banquet, we honored the incredible service of our outgoing President, Riley Hope Farris, whose dedication set a strong example for all of us. Riley’s leadership created space for connection and growth in our organization, and we thank her for her hard work, dedication, and guidance.
Now, I’m honored to step into the role of President of the NYCHA Senior Youth. To say this opportunity means a lot to me would be an understatement. I’ve grown up with this association—not just riding, but learning how to lead, to serve, and to be a part of something bigger than myself.
As your incoming president, I plan to carry on the legacy of those who came before me while bringing new energy and fresh ideas to help strengthen the bond between members, promote inclusivity, and make sure every youth cutter—no matter their background or level—feels seen, supported, and empowered.
This year, I look forward to connecting with members across the country, organizing impactful projects for our youth, and listening to your ideas on how we can continue growing both in and out of the pen. Whether you’re chasing a world title or just getting started, I want you to know there is a place for you in this association.
Thank you to the board, our youth, and every NCHA member who has entrusted me with this role. I’m so excited for what lies ahead—and I can’t wait to get to work.
McKenzie Corvin SENIOR REPORTER
Hi! I’m McKenzie Corvin, your NYCHA Senior Youth Reporter, and trust me, I plan to do my job to the best of my ability!
Relaying all that is to come, things that have happened, and even more! I am so thrilled and pumped to serve this term with: Makena-Grace Newton, 25-26 Senior Youth President, Annie Kate White, Senior Youth Vice President, Sara Hollar, Senior Youth Promotions Director, Kate Roberson, Senior Youth Secretary, Trystan Crow, Junior Youth President, Tucker Harrison, Junior Youth Reporter, Reese Roberson, Junior Youth Secretary.
A HUGE Thank You to Jay Winborn, Shianne Megel and the whole NCHA staff and organization for allowing us to put a halt on the Great American Insurance Group Summer Cutting Spectacular to put on the NCHA Foundation Scholarship Cutting and Holy Cow Performance Horses Youth World Finals. You saw us at our best—and our most tuckered-out—
Makena Newton, President
and still welcomed us!
A massive thank you to all the riders, owners, parents, volunteers, and sponsors who made it all happen.
And last but definitely not least, thank you to the NCHA Foundation and the NCHA for hosting this cutting. This opportunity means the world to us.
That’s a wrap, folks! The cows are catching their breath, our jeans are finally washed, and we are already counting down to the next show! Until next time!
Tucker Harrison
JUNIOR REPORTER
Hi, I’m Tucker Harrison, and I'd like to discuss the fun activities of Youth Week. Youth Week was full of so much fun, activities, and scholarships both in and out of the arena. From essays, photography, public speaking, and artwork, NYCHA has recognized and awarded many talents among our youth. It was great seeing people recognized for excellence, not only for cutting but also for other activities. These scholarships highlight the intelligence, talent, and drive of our youth. There were $140,000 in scholarships awarded to the Youth this week because of the generosity of so many in our industry. I want to say congratulations to all the scholarship and world finalist winners on their impressive work.
This Youth Week has been a fantastic experience for everyone involved, and the youth are incredibly grateful for those who make it possible. And a big shout out to Holy Cow Performance Horses and NCHA Foundation. We also want to thank all the sponsors who generously donated to support the youth this year. The youth are grateful for the administrative leaders of the NYCHA, who organize and plan all our events. We want to say a special thank you to Mrs. Rianna Storey, Ms. Julia Buswold, and Ms. Avery Cole, who do so much work for the youth and allow us to hang out in their office. Most importantly, we want to shout out to WR This Fish is Smart, also known as Ronald, who supports our organization as our mascot.
With Youth Week behind us, we look forward to showing in the fall and the NCHA Metallic Cat World Championship Futurity in November. Most importantly, we will begin preparing for the NYCHA Stallion Service Auction, which is the NYCHA’s biggest fundraiser of the year.
above :
Tucker Harrsion, Junior Reporter
above :
McKenzie Corvin, Senior Reporter
photo by seth petit
In His Footsteps: Jacob Herber
BY MICHAELA JAYCOX
Jacob Herber’s connection to cutting didn’t start in the saddle—it started on the fence. Summers at his grandfather Bruce Heber’s ranch in Santa Ynez, California, were spent helping with chores, but Jacob would wander down to watch Bruce ride. “I wasn’t riding horses for most of my life due to sports and other things,” Jacob said. “But then I told him I was interested in riding—not necessarily cutting yet—and he slowly started teaching me.”
Bruce, who had thrown himself into the sport in the early 2000s, introduced Jacob to trainer Morgan Cromer. “Just watching what they did, I was like, ‘OK, this is really cool.’ I almost fell in love with the sport right there.”
In February 2024, Bruce competed on his horse Willy the weekend before he passed away unexpectedly. He and Jacob had been talking about getting a horse to Montana for Jacob to show. “Morgan suggested I take Willy,” Jacob recalled. “She said he was the best one for me.”
By November, Willy was in Montana, and Jacob was training with Roy Oliver. “Roy’s taught me everything I know with endless patience,” Jacob said. “And Gus Hoffman, Roy’s assistant, has been invaluable, especially at shows. His steady support has eased my nerves and helped me feel prepared.”
From his very first show on Willy, Jacob was placing. Kristen, Jacob’s mom, remembers the pride in seeing him carry forward something Bruce loved. “It’s cool that he’s taken this horse—the one Bruce rode just days before he passed—and is continuing what his grandpa couldn’t finish,” she said. “He reminds me so much of his grandpa.”
Jacob’s “why” is simple, but layered. “Number one, it’s the adrenaline high, and it’s also an escape. For two and a half minutes, it’s just you and your horse doing a job. There’s nothing else like it,” he said. “And it’s something my grandpa and I share. I want to keep it going.”
Bruce Herber built a successful aerospace business before discovering a passion for cutting horses. He poured his competitive drive into the sport— competing, breeding, and training—while also pursuing hobbies like drag racing and boating. His love for cutting inspired his grandson, Jacob, to take up the sport as well. Bruce continued to show until his passing in 2024, making his final run just days before.
ABOUT BRUCE HERBER
Photo courtesy of Sunny Acres Photography
NCHA Achievement Buckles
These featured NHCA members have officially earned their first $1,000
BY MELINDA GREEN
JOJO DI SCALA
It was a sudden decision that led 17-year-old Giovanna “JoJo” Di Scala to the cutting pen and her Achievement Buckle.
Giovanna had ridden in the ranch horse and cow horse pens in Central Florida for years. Then, last fall, “just one day, I was kind of like, ‘I don't want to do this anymore, I want to cut,’” she recalled. She had little to no experience with cutters, but she liked how they were “jiggy jiggy,” in her own words, darting back and forth in pursuit of the cow.
Her mother, Devin, spoke with their neighbor and cutting trainer Walt Erwin, telling him “Listen, we don't know much about the cutting horses, but [Giovanna] really wants to get into cutting.”
And then, a few weeks before Christmas, the phone call came. Erwin called Devin from the NCHA Futurity in Fort Worth and said, “I need JoJo, like, tomorrow.” Her family scrambled and flew Giovanna and her former cow horse trainer out to Texas, where Erwin had a string of cutters lined up for her.
She tried three or four horses that day in Texas. Poppin My Collar (Spud) was the first—and Giovanna knew he was the one. She called her mother and said, “I felt it. We clicked.” The vet check was done that evening, and Spud came home to Florida soon after.
Switching disciplines always has its challenges. “It was a little bit difficult coming from cow horse, 'cause everything's different.” Giovanna admitted. “Leg wise, I always use my legs on everything, so it's a little bit difficult figuring that out— to just let your horse do what he's supposed to do, not mess with him.
“But once I figured Spud out, it was pretty easy to get going. When you're in the center of the ring and lined up with a cow, I like that.”
She’s been gaining confidence, riding at Erwin’s ranch every day that she can, and that’s paid off with earning her Achievement Buckle in the show pen this year.
“Honestly, I don't know much about cutting,” she said. “I still don't know what classes I'm in, what levels I'm in. I'm still trying to figure that out. I just get on and go.”
And, for her, that’s a decision that’s working out well so far.
KANDACE BUSSELL
Kandace Bussell of Mineral Wells, Texas grew up in the rodeo world, running barrels and, eventually, roping. Now, she’s added cutting into the mix, and she’s the first to say she’s hooked.
Bussell, who recently married cutting horse trainer Marcus Spencer, purchased Moonstruck Believer (Boo) as a 4-yearold in March 2024 and began her own journey into cutting. In August, though, the mare bruised her hock and was off the show circuit for the rest of the year. The duo returned to the pen in January, winning the Limited Amateur at the Abilene Spectacular and earning their Achievement Buckle in Whitesboro.
Then, the next week, Bussell underwent a double mastectomy with four months of recovery, keeping her out of the show pen.
“If you add all the time together, it’s like two or three shows, because I mean, it's either been me out or her out. [But] she's just been really honest for me and taking care of me—which I was pretty pumped about, 'cause I don't know what I'm doing,” Bussell said jokingly.
Bussell owns a side business in multi-modal sports therapy for animals as well as humans, and her clients were her entry into the sport. “One of my clients was a cutting horse client. And from there, I was referred to more cutting horses. And then before I knew it, pretty much my whole string of horses that I worked on consistently were cutting horses. And so, I guess, when you're just around it so much, you get into it.”
JoJo Di Scala
Kandace Bussell
She recalled, “Then, when I rode my first cutter, I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, this is the coolest thing I've ever done.’ And I told [Marcus], ‘You can't let me ever go down the fence on a horse, because I may get obsessed!’”
But the inevitable happened, and even though she continues roping, she definitely developed that obsession with cutting. “It's been a fun journey,” she said. “My husband tells me all the time, slow down, quit running at the cow. And he'll repeat himself over and over again. And I’m like, ‘Am I not going slow? I feel like I'm going really slow.’ And he's like, ‘No, you're not.’
“But now, all I want to do is chase cows,” she admitted, laughing.
LANCE MILLER
Lance Miller bought his first cutting horse a month after his first cutting lesson and hasn’t looked back. In fact, a year later, he has two, and showing them has become a bit of an obsession.
For most of his life, Miller’s been a trail rider. His first horse, a “Heinz 57 good little horse,” was a surprise Christmas gift when he was 13. “I started believing in Santa Claus again,” he joked. Today, he owns four trail horses and rides them in the mountains south of Salt Lake City.
But the cutting pen kept calling to him.
“For some reason, I've always wanted to do cutting, which is interesting 'cause it turns out I didn't understand what it was,” he said, laughing. But there was a cutting ranch five minutes from his house, so he texted the owner, Andy Christensen, and asked about lessons.
“I stopped by, and he threw me on a horse with some cows, and I almost fell off,” Miller recalled. “But I was kind of hooked.”
So what did he think cutting was?
“I knew it involved really well trained horses and I knew it involved cows, but I didn't understand the complicated nature of it and how much it requires of both the horse and the rider. I didn't understand the culture and how big of a community it was. I didn't understand any of that. I thought it was more like team penning, which I'd seen in rodeos, but it's not.
Now, he says, “[I’m] absolutely obsessed with it and love it. It's just so it feels so lucky to be able to ride these amazing horses.”
He shows both his horses, One Rey or Another (Rey) and Metallic Liberty (Liberty) on the Pioneer circuit, often doing three or four runs a day. “I'll show a lot of days. I'll show each of them twice. I love any opportunity that I can get to show.”
He earned his Achievement Buckle on Rey, but loves Liberty’s flashier movement. And as for the future, Liberty is now in foal, and, as Miller says, “Lots of people try to buy [Rey] and I don't think I'll ever sell him. It feels so lucky to be able to ride these amazing horses.”
REUBEN COURCHENE
For Reuben Courchene of Alberta, the thrill of cutting is in his growth as a rider and the opportunities along the way.
Courchene started riding at Bill Speight’s ranch four years ago, at first focusing on establishing basic skills but then moving on to his goal, the cutting pen. And in the meantime, he was able to start working at the barn as well. This is the first year he’s had the chance to show.
“I actually got the opportunity to show a really, really amazing horse this yearn” he said. “Her name's Taz, Cats Little Taz. It's my boss's horse, and it's a big honor 'cause she's an amazing horse that they've owned for many years. She's been a great show horse for them.”
At the Aurora Circuit NCHA Days in Lloydminster this past May, Courchene won the $2K Limit Rider class and earned his Achievement Buckle.
“Our cuttings aren't nearly as big as some of the ones [in the USA],” he said. “So I've been showing probably once every two weeks. Right now we're doing fairly good in the Canadian [shows], so we're trying to push forward a little bit more. Over her career, [Taz] has had lots of people show her and do great on her, and I haven't even shown her to her potential yet. But I'm hoping within this year that I'll get to her potential of what she can do.”
His biggest hurdle is the show-pen nerves. “I find I can go in there and get pretty nervous. So I need to try and try and keep those [nerves] under control and do the best I can with my job of riding [Taz] and cutting those cows and trying to not get penalties,” she explained.
“When I first started, I’d seen videos and it just drew me in. I guess it was seeing the people that made it look so easy and so cool. And you don't really realize all the fine tunings to it. It gives you the highs and the lows—you never seem to know what's going to happen. There's so many mistakes to be made and improvements to happen. I'm striving to get better and go to those different classes and push harder.”
Courchene now has a young horse of his own and, while he doesn’t know if it’ll become a cutter, he’s looking forward to all the opportunities the future will hold, with Taz in the show pen as well as with his skill as a rider.
Lance Miller
Reuben Courchene
CALGARY STAMPEDE CUTTING FUTURITY
presented by Wrangler SEPT. 23 – 28, 2025
Entries open: August 1
Entries Close: September 9
Over $150,000 in awards and prize money
Achievement Buckle Earners
FROM MARCH 26, 2025 TO JUNE 11, 2025
AARON GOLDADE
ABIGAIL GRACE DARROCH
ALEXANDRIA JILL HANGGE
ALISON ROTH
ALLISON R WIENS
AMELIA DITTMAR
AUSTIN BEVERIDGE
AUSTIN CLARK DENTON
AVERY SHRIVER
BETSIE HOLTZ
BILL CRABTREE
BILL REMPEL
BLEVINS HAYES
BOBBY J CONSTANCE II
BRIAN OMIECINSKI
BRITTANY KASMAREK
BRYNLEE HIRSCHI
BUNNI BISHOP
CARL D VEASLEY
CAROLYN MICHELLE HIGHT
CARRIE NICOL
CATHERINE HAYEK
CATHERINE M PAYNE
CHANDLER L LOMAX
CHEYANNE BURTON
CHLOE ANITA COSTELLO
CHLOE MATTICE
CHRISTIAN KONRAD
CIANNA METZGER
CLAIRE AYN BILEK
CLINTON ROBERT ANDERSON
COLE THOMPSON
CONNOR J JORGENSEN
CREED COGDELL
CRYSTAL CARSWELL
CURTIS H TAYLOR
CYNTHIA TOWNSEND HOWARTH
DREW ELLEN STEWART
EJ DALE WOODS
ELLA MCDONALD
EVERLEE I CONRAD
GIOVANNA DI SCALA
GRANT E BEYER
HALEY MAE FREY
HEATHER DIAZ
JACK ERVIN
JAMES BIRD
JASON N OLD
JASON T LINDSAY
JAY E COVERT
JAYLYN RENFROW
JEANETTE MARKS
JENNA MCCALL
JENNIFER M WEAST
JILIAN PARKER
JIM RHODES
JOEL SMITH
JONATHAN DAVIS
JOSE ANTONIO CHINCHILLA
JOSEPH DANIEL MARTINEZ
KANDACE BUSSELL
KATELYN J PATTERSON
KAYLEE MEEKS
KAYLYN FRIZZELL
KEEGAN SMITH
KENDALL HINTZE
KERRY MCGINLEY
KYLIE RHODEN
LANCE MILLER
LAURA FALCONER
LINDSAY ATKINS
LINDSAY WISENER
LOGAN JAMES BLACKMAN
LYNN MARIE COOL
MADISON PLITT
MARC HEITZ
MARY K WILLIAMS
MCKENNA LAUREN CATLETT
MEGAN ROBERTS
MELINDA ADKINS
NICHOLAS SMITH
PAT HAMMERSMARK
PATRICK HEINRICH SATTLER
PATTY LENDERS
PAUL BRADBURY
RACHEL LEORA MEYERCHICK
RANDY C BROWN
REGAN BERNALL
REUBEN CHARLES COURCHENE
ROY JOSEPH DURBIN
SAMUEL COX
SAWYER SMITH
SHAWN LAIN
SPENCER HURST
STEPHANY MCFADZEAN
SUADE SCOTT AMOS
SUSAN SCHREIBER
SYDNEY B KNOX
TAYLOR BACCHI
TONY OFTEDAHL
TORI HADEN
TREY W HARNESS III
TRISTAN FARNSWORTH
WAYNE A SMITH
WENDY MCLAUGHLIN
WYATT SAZWAN
ABSOLUTE DISPERSAL SALE OF Performance Horses
CROMED OUT CAT – LTE
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NCHA Super Stakes Open – Top 3
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NRCHA Futurity Open Finalist
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NRCHA Futurity Open Finalist
Time to Make all Your Plans!
Consignment Deadline - September 15 th
NCHA Futurity 2-Year-Old Sale
2-Year-Olds on Cattle Nominated to 2026 NCHA Futurity
NCHA Futurity Cutting Horse Sale
Trained Cutting Horses & 3-Year-Olds
Preferred Breeders Sale Weanlings, Yearlings, Broodmares & Breeding Stallions
Rocking P Ranch Production Sale
Sales will be Webcast with Online Bidding Available
2025 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Sales
Join Us the Final Weekend ofthe NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity October 17 th & 18 th
Will Rogers Equestrian Center • Fort Worth, Texas
One Secret Cat
2024 Open Sale
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Tuffer Than Metal 2024 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Open Reserve Co-CHAMPION!
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SHADOW ASSETS 2024 chestnut mare (Rollz Royce x Shadowcat Hickory) Dam LTE $5,833.
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SJR MISTIC WARRIOR 2024 buckskin stallion (SJR Diamond Mist x Shiners Little Oak) Dam LTE $6,692. Dam PE $424,177.
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HOW IT'S MADE
A look behind the scenes of the food that powers NCHA champions with Cargill Animal Nutrition
BY CHRIS ALEXIS | PHOTOS COURTESY OF CARGILL ANIMAL NUTRITION
Ever wondered what goes into making the feed that keeps horses, cows, and other animals healthy and happy?
Cargill Animal Nutrition offered a peek behind its curtain. It begins with Cargill’s Strategic Marketing and Technologies team, where Kristin Stephens, senior associate marketing manager for Cargill’s equine business, supporting their Nutrena and ProElite brands, works with PhD researchers to develop new products.
“We start with research first and foremost,” Stephens said. “We’re constantly innovating,
thinking about new additives, improving products, and bringing new products to market.”
They rely on third-party university research to keep things honest and reliable, testing new ideas to make sure they’re worth pursuing. After all, it’s not just about what sounds good; it has to work for the animals and the people buying the feed. Otherwise, what’s the point?
That means a lot of back-and-forth, learning more about what horse owners want and what horses need.
“For us, it's always about putting the people and their horses first.”
KRISTIN STEPHENS
The first test is the simplest:
“Horses have to eat the product,” she said.
Cargill has tested feeds they thought would be a huge hit with horses, but the equines just weren’t feeling it, turning away, requiring them to go back to the drawing board to improve the formulation until it is appealing to the horse and nutritionally sound.
“If a horse owner buys a bag of feed, and their horse will not eat it, they will likely not buy another bag for their horse,” Stephens said.
But once the recipe is solid, things get fun. The team dives into packaging design and marketing, deciding how to present the feed. For example, is it for high-performance horses or every barn? These questions impact everything because the marketing approach can make or break a brand. Even the most incredible bag of feed ever invented would sit on shelves if the messaging falls flat.
A new feed can take up to 18 to 24 months from the idea sparking to the bag on the shelf.
“The research piece of it is what can take that extra time,” Stephens said.
And Cargill doesn’t just focus on horses. They have teams for poultry, swine, dairy, aquaculture, and more, each zeroing in on what their animals need, from gut health for performance horses to efficiency for dairy cows.
Stephens works in the retail space, where feeds are sold through stores to horse and pet owners, while commercial teams deliver straight to farms.
Stephens and her team stay in constant touch with horse owners, veterinarians, and nutritionists to tackle challenges like gut health, a crucial topic in the equine world for years.
One standout innovation is their Digestive Shield technology in their ProForce and Safe Choice lines, packed with prebiotics, probiotics, postbiotics, and marine-sourced calcite for gut health and immune support.
“We’ve seen a significant increase in immune support from that package that we’ve put together in those feeds,” Stephens said.
Balancing quality and affordability is crucial. Even budget-friendly options get the good stuff, just at lower levels, so everyone can give their animals solid nutrition. After all, the team behind the company legitimately wants these animals to be healthy.
“We’re still hometown,” Stephens said. “These products are being made in your backyard. The people who are making your products are also right there next to you buying them as well.”
“Every single one of us rides horses,” she continued. “We’re cleaning stalls before work, and we’re riding horses after work. We live the lifestyle.”
The more things change, the more they stay the same. Keeping up with ever-evolving regulations and market shifts is just part of the job. As a big player in commodities, Cargill often sees trends early, letting them tweak ingredients or strategies to stay ahead while keeping horse feed consistent for picky eaters.
It’s no easy feat, but it’s worth it.
“For us, it's always about putting the people and their horses first,” she said.
“These products are being made in your backyard. The people who are making your products are also right there next to you buying them as well.”
KRISTIN STEPHENS
2018 NRCHA OPEN FUTURITY CHAMPION #1 NRCHA OPEN ALL AGES/ALL DIVISIONS HORSE OF THE YEAR 2018 LTE: $174,997
SHOWN BY COREY CUSHING BRED & OWNED BY SAN JUAN RANCH POWERED BY ULTRACRUZ®
From the hayfields to the high country, CINCH is classic cowboy. Made for the land, built for the season.
OPEN RIDER HALL OF FAME WINNERS
OPEN RIDER HALL OF FAME CRITERIA
Recipients must meet one of the following criteria:
Win any two:
• NCHA Futurity, Super Stakes, Derby, World Champion Open
Win any three:
• Super Stakes Classic, 5/6-yearold Classic/Challenge, Reserve World Champion Open.
Win one in category 1, plus two in category 2
Ride horses ranking in the NCHA
Top Five Open Cutting horses five times. A rider must win 90% of the qualifying money to receive credit.
Have in excess of $1,000,000 NCHA lifetime earnings.
BY KRISTIN PITZER
MARIETTA, OKLAHOMA
Wayne Czisny
Though he got his start in the reining pen, once Wayne Czisny switched to cutters, he never looked back. Fortyfive years later, Czisny, who has lifetime earnings of $1,044,158, hasn’t grown tired of the sport. He credited horses like Dry Docs Desire, Boonlight Dancer, Zack Be Quick and Smart N Trouble for helping him reach this milestone and thanked his wife, Amber; kids, Matt and Heather; friends and mentors Joe Heim, Shorty Freeman and Bill Freeman; and all his customers for their support.
The National Cutting Horse Association welcomed seven cutters to the NCHA Open Rider Hall of Fame
Photo Courtesy of Seth Petit
DRUMRIGHT, OKLAHOMA
Ashley Baxstrom
Some Hall of Famers earn their place through several standout wins, but Ashley Baxstrom, who has been cutting for 24 years, described his journey as more like a series of stepping stones—built on smaller victories. He values and appreciates every horse and owner that has contributed to his $1,024,707 in lifetime earnings. Baxstrom credited his success to his family: his wife, Dawn; his parents, Harry and Donnalee; and his son, Jagger.
MORRISTOWN, ARIZONA
Todd Adolf
When Todd Adolf first started riding cutting horses, Hall of Fame induction was a distant dream. Twenty-five years later with $1,090,243 LTE, he finally made it happen. He acknowledged the special horses that helped him get there, including 2016 NCHA Futurity Limited Open Champion Pitchforks Bet 013, and Reys Talkin, a horse he and his wife, Kim, have ridden to nearly $290,000. Adolf thanked God first and foremost, followed by Kim and his clients, who made his achievement possible through their support and prayers.
VINE GROVE, KENTUCKY
Gabe Reynolds
Getting into the Hall of Fame felt impossible when Gabe Reynolds first moved to the United States in 2002. Now, with LTE of $1,079,693, it is an accomplishment he’s especially proud of. Reynolds enjoys coaching his non-pro and amateur clients and has enjoyed much success in the Eastern U.S. He was grateful to Reyn Storm, the first horse to put him on the map; his wife, Lauren, who he described as the “CEO” of his business; and to his clients.
Photo Courtesy of Lyndsey Lamell Photography
Photo Courtesy of Lyndsey Lamell Photography
Photo Courtesy of Dawn Baxtrom Photography
FORT WORTH, TEXAS
Christian Miller
Christian Miller grew up showing and working with his granddad, Ronnie Hodges. Now with $1,238,080 in lifetime earnings, his career has been influenced by many, especially Paul Hansma, who was instrumental in paving his way in the industry, and Johnny and Janet Cooper’s mare RJ Sanny Squared, the first horse he guided to Hall of Fame and World Champion status. Miller thanked SDP Buffalo Ranch for the opportunity to be a part of such a great team, and his at-home support team: Makayla Riddle and kids.
OVERBROOK, OKLAHOMA
Cass Tatum
Cass Tatum always hoped to one day enter the Hall of Fame; he just didn’t expect it to happen only five years after going out on his own. He owed part of his success to Speak Easie, who he said launched his career, along with Bobs Smart Rey and Sho Boat, who also heavily contributed to his $1,407,317 LTE. He was grateful to the many mentors and friends that have helped him over the years, along with his wife, Chelsea.
WEATHERFORD, TEXAS
Tosten Peterson
When Tosten Peterson started training in 2010, the Hall of Fame was a distant goal.Thanks to the many talented horses he's ridden since then, including Sly Criminal,Tommy Mo and Baby Talk, and his recent tie for third in the 2024 NCHA Futurity Open onSmart Stevie Chic, it crept up faster than he expected. Now with earnings of $1,776,000, Peterson was grateful to all those who have mentored him over the years, especially his father-in-law, Dave Costello.
Photo Courtesy of Emily Coffeen Photography
Photo Courtesy of NCHA Logan Lynch
Photo Courtesy of Performance Horse Central
HALL OF FAME WINNERS
The National Cutting Horse Association recently name seven cutters to the 2025 NCHA Non-Pro Rider Hall of Fame
BY ABIGAIL BOATWRIGHT
SPRINGTOWN, TX
Deena Adams
Deena Adams started riding with junior rodeo and high school rodeo events thanks to her mom introducing her to horses. After she and her husband Dustin got engaged in 2002, she rode her first cutting horse at a cutting camp at Shannon Hall’s ranch, on Pat Fasano’s horse, being guided by Tommy Marvin. Adams says her recent Super Stakes performances are the highlight of her career, which included winning the 5/6 Intermediate and Non Pro title.
NON-PROFESSIONAL HALL OF FAME CRITERIA
Recipients must meet one of the following criteria:
Win any two:
• NCHA Futurity, Super Stakes or Derby Non-Pro or World Championship Non-Pro
Win any three:
• Super Stakes Classic, 5/6-Year-Old Classic Challenge or Reserve World Champion
Win one in category 1, plus two in category 2
Have Lifetime Earnings of $500K, including all Non-Pro money earned in any Non-Pro class (limited age or weekend combined) and any Open money won to achieve those total Lifetime Earnings. This will exclude all Amateur money
Have in excess of $150K in Non-Pro Championship weekend earnings, excluding Novice/Non-Pro classes
Have combined earnings from category 4 and category 5 in excess of $500K
WEATHERFORD, TX
Sarah Morine
Sarah’s dad, Bruce Morine, was a horse trainer in Northern Illinois, and she began showing horses at age 5. Morine says the competitive element of cutting is her favorite—along with the people she’s met along the way. Winning the Non-Pro Futurity is the highlight of her Non-Pro career so far, and winning $610,172.62 in LTE. She thanks her current trainer/best friend Kelle Earnhardt, Bruce Morine, Clint Allen, Sean Flynn, Lloyd Cox, Earnhardt, and especially her parents and grandmothers.
Photo Courtesy of Seth Petit
WEATHERFORD, TX
Ryder Carpenter
Ryder Carpenter comes from a strong lineage of cutting horse excellence. His grandparents, Billy and Bette Cogdell of the Tule Ranch, have played a prominent role in the sport’s history. The family legacy includes champions like Lynx Melody and Shania Cee, both NCHA Futurity winners. Raised around the sport of cutting, Ryder began showing horses as a youth, progressing through the Amateur and Limited Non-Pro divisions. He now competes in the NonPro ranks. Among the highlights of his career are multiple championships in both Amateur, Limited, Intermediate Non-Pro and Non-Pro with multiple titles won in Fort Worth holding special significance.
With lifetime earnings of $621,708.03, Ryder has spent the last decade training his family’s home-bred horses, finding deep satisfaction in developing a young horse into a seasoned show competitor. He values the tradition, camaraderie, and horsepower that define cutting, and treasures the Western heritage of ranching that surrounds the sport.
Ryder extends his thanks to several horsemen who have influenced his journey, including Jeremy Barwick, Clay Johnson, Matt Miller, and David Stewart. He is especially grateful to his mother, Penny, for her unwavering support, and to his brother, Cash, for his insight, encouragement and help. Ryder also thanks everyone who has helped him along the way in and out of the arena.
WEATHERFORD, TX
Beth Rockey
Beth Rockey grew up in San Diego, California, and began riding at a boarding facility owned by cutting horse enthusiast Dave Phair. Over the years, Phair had horses with Tim Smith, Scott Weis and other respected West Coast trainers. While Rockey didn’t show in cutting as a youth, she would take cutting horses and show them in reining.
After high school and college, Rockey worked for a reining horse trainer. Next, she worked for Russ Westfall, knowing that her inspiration, Morgan Cromer, had once worked for him. The first cutting horse Rockey ever showed, was Muffin, Westfall’s turnback horse.
She met her husband, Justin Rockey, whose family was involved in cutting horses. After they were married she began showing more often as they began building a family and a shared passion for the sport.
Rockey is most proud of the process—being hands-on in every part of preparing a horse to show and compete. She has a special love for aged horses and takes pride in her success with young horses. Her LTE are $695,475.70. Many horses have contributed to Rockey’s journey, but one especially meaningful horse is Cats All The Rey—the first horse she or her husband showed in Fort Worth.
Rockey would like to thank all of the people and horses who have been part of her journey in achieving this incredible milestone. She could not have done it without the many opportunities so generously extended to her by those in the cutting horse family.
Photo Courtesy of Seth Petit
Photo Courtesy of Seth Petit
PARADISE, TX
Shannon Lamb
Shannon Lamb began cutting in the late 90s. She grew up south of San Antonio, Texas, on a large cattle ranch owned by her family since the 1800s. When she moved closer to Fort Worth she began riding with Gaylon Wells in 2014. Making the Non-Pro World Finals created her love for the World Finals and for the weekend events side of the cutting horse world. She’s thankful for all of her great geldings, especially Paradox Cat, “Hayden” who was instrumental in her path to the Non Pro Hall of Fame. Lamb was diagnosed with cancer a few years ago and did not think she’d get back on a horse, which devastated her. She thanks her husband James Figiel and the weekend cutting community for being supportive of her during that journey, encouraging her to get back on a horse.
Lamb thanks Gaylon Wells for being her main trainer, and his wife Sunny; several aged event trainers for their encouragement, and her husband for supporting her. She thanks her daughter Madison Lamb and her fiancé, Collin LAST Scott, for contributing to her success and loving and supporting her through her battle with cancer; as well as the Duvall family who rides with her. Lamb acknowledges that while the weekend cuttings are her passion, she is also starting to ride aged event horses and is loving that. She will continue to work to grow and bring light to the weekend cuttings and its members.
PALMDALE, CA
Katherine Whitby
After graduating from college, Katherine Whitby wanted to become a horse trainer, so she apprenticed in the industry and worked for several horse trainers. In 2013 she exited the business, changing career paths to become a firefighter paramedic for Los Angeles County Fire Department. Nearly seven years later, she returned to cutting, obtained her Non-Pro card and turned the sport into her passion. She bought a yearling named Dual Rider, “Monster” and began his training. She saved up three years of firefighter benefit time, and hauled that horse for a world championship in 2019, winning the 5Nov NP title. She still shows him today, and credits him for putting her into the Non-Pro Hall of Fame.
Riding her self-trained horse Dual Rider to win three legs of the Way Out West Non Pro series, and the Cinch the 2024 NP WOW Circuit Championship are major career achievements, as well as making it to the World Finals on that same horse four times.
Whitby loves the camaraderie of the competition, as well as the excitement and exhilaration and the purity of the horses who love their job, She thanks mentors for their help and feedback over the years, and especially the trainers she worked for, for her career success, along with her help in the show pen giving valuable insights.
Photo Courtesy of Lyndsey Lamell Photography
HORSE HALL OF FAME WINNERS
Nine cutting horses have been named to The National Cutting Horse Association
2025 Horse Hall of Fame BY
KRISTIN PITZER
Horses qualify by earning $150,000 in NCHA Open Championship contests, or by winning a combination of the following select shows:
Method 1: $150,000 total earnings in the Open Championship Class (see above).
Method 2: $400,000 total lifetime earnings from earnings in Approved NCHA events
Method 3: Win / Place 1st in the Top Tier Open class of any two (or more) of the following six (6) major NCHA events:
Futurity
Super Stakes (4-Year-Old)
Derby
Super Stakes Classics (5/6-Year-Old)
Summer Classic/Challenge (5/6-Year-Old)
NCHA Open World Champion
2013 GELDING
PEDIGREE
Bet Hesa Cat x Louella Again x Dual Pep
OWNED BY Clarke Butte Ranch
SHOWN BY Julie Clarke, Morgan Cromer, Eric Wisehart
BRED BY Oxbow Ranch
LIFETIME EARNINGS
$425,002.04
Photo Courtesy of Kerinne Edgar
2017 GELDING
PEDIGREE
Metallic Cat x Button Down Supercat x Dual Rey
OWNED BY Dawn Chapman
SHOWN BY Wesley Galyean, Steven Feiner, Mike Wood
BRED BY SMF Cutting Horses LLC
LIFETIME EARNINGS
$447,092.71
PEDIGREE
Hashtags x MK Cats Kitty x Spots Hot
OWNED BY Kathleen Moore
SHOWN BY James Payne
BRED BY Slate River Ranch
LIFETIME
2020 MARE
Photo Courtesy of Seth Petit
Photo courtesy of Performance Horse Central
The world’s number one hoof boot
The ultimate competitive edge
2016 GELDING
PEDIGREE
Kit Kat Sugar x NQH Shadow Play x Playgun
OWNED BY Dacole Investment Company
SHOWN BY Monty Buntin, Hayden Upton, Debbie Day, Hal Harvey Keene
BRED BY Cowan Select Horses LLC
$400,145.88
PEDIGREE
Metallic Rebel x A Little Reylena x Dual Rey
OWNED BY Billy Wolf
SHOWN BY Wesley Galyean
BRED BY Billy Wolf
Photo Courtesy of Lyndsey Lamell Photography
Photo Courtesy of EM Photography
PEDIGREE
Sannman x RJ Baby Powder x PG Gunpowder
OWNED BY Johnny & Janet Cooper
SHOWN BY Christian Miller
BRED BY Johnny Cooper
LIFETIME EARNINGS
$275,704.83
PEDIGREE
Kit Kat Sugar x Andreya x Dual Rey
OWNED BY Matt Gaines Cutting Horses LP
SHOWN BY Matt Gaines
BRED BY Matt Gaines Cutting Horses LP
Photo Courtesy of Performance Horse Central
Photo Courtesy of Alexis Stephas
2017 GELDING
PEDIGREE
Metallic Cat x Cherrey x Dual Rey OWNED BY Debra Winard
SHOWN BY Debra Winard, Mike Wood, Reyly Plendl, Regan Plendl, Nick O’Dell, Dirk Blakesley
BRED BY Rodney Wrinkle Cutting HRS LLC LIFETIME EARNINGS $451,402.44
2019 STALLION
N Dangerous
PEDIGREE
Hottish x Lil Maddy Rey x Dual Smart Rey
OWNED BY Misty Greeson
SHOWN BY Wesley Galyean, Lindy Thorn, Misty Greeson
BRED BY Misty Greeson
LIFETIME EARNINGS $563,769.54
Photo Courtesy of Scootemnshootem Photography
Photo Courtesy of Performance Horse Central
YOUTH HORSE HALL OF FAME WINNERS
Widows Freckles x Genuine Sonitalena x Sonitalena
Collier
Photo Courtesy of Dalbor Photography
2012 SORREL GELDING
PEDIGREE
One Time Pepto x Desire Some Freckles x Freckles Playboy
OWNED BY Lippincott Performance Horses LLC.
SHOWN BY Brinley Lippincott, Spencer Lippincott, Tyler and Lucchese Johnson
BRED BY Rockin 5 Ranch LLC
LIFETIME EARNINGS
$197,864.03
LIFETIME YOUTH POINTS 340
1978 SORREL GELDING
PEDIGREE
Fox Easter x Sugie Bar x Sugar Bars
OWNED BY Jim and Jan Gandy
SHOWN BY Lee Gandy
BRED BY Mr and Mrs C Ross Conner
LIFETIME EARNINGS $29,808.52
LIFETIME YOUTH POINTS 318
Photo courtesy of Don Shugart
2007 SORREL GELDING
Spookystimetoshine
PEDIGREE
One Time Pepto x San Starlight x Grays Starlight
OWNED BY Ryleigh Ferrier
SHOWN BY Michael Cooper, Steve Oehlhof, Ed Dufurrena,Jessica Pietrafeso, Ryleigh Ferrier, Ryan Rapp, and Austria Arnold.
BRED BY Jeff Barnes
LIFETIME EARNINGS
$125,428.50
LIFETIME YOUTH POINTS
316
1997 RED DUN GELDING
PEDIGREE
Playboys Slik Lena x Pattys Escapades x High Brow Hickory
OWNED BY Terry and Catherine Pigg
SHOWN BY
The Pigg Family, plus so many other youth kids.
BRED BY Richard H. Borgmann
LIFETIME EARNINGS
$52,789.10
LIFETIME YOUTH POINTS
355
Photo courtesy of Lyndsey Lamell Photography
Cook Children’s Medical Center Forth Worth, Texas teams up with the NCHA to provide true-to-life cutting experiences for sick children
BY MELINDA
GREEN | PHOTOS BY JESS GRYDER
It all began with three buckles—three surplus buckles that grew into a memorable event for patients at Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth.
“Our circuit director presented me with three silversmithed buckles,” said Rianna Storey, NCHA’s Youth Director. The buckles were outdated and could no longer be used for NCHA events. “They sat on this desk behind me, and I thought, ‘Well, you know, if there's something we could do youth oriented, it would be really neat.’”
A small team from NCHA got the ball rolling, so to speak, and soon they approached Cook Children’s with the idea of a patient event.
“I didn't know what the capabilities were. Are we able to go into the hospital and present these buckles in person? Can we truly give them the buckles from afar and let the hospital do it?” Storey recalled.
But Cook Children’s Community Program Director Megan Hodges-Cook and Director of Clinical Performing Arts Sonny Burgess like to dream big. After a morning of discussing possibilities, the NCHA and Cook Children’s teams realized they were on to something more than buckles—and, since that first day, the outdated-buckle count had grown to 29.
NCHA reached out to their sponsors, and, by the time the event rolled around in May, there were several stations of family fun in Cook Children’s greenspace. NCHA brought a saddle and VR goggles so kids could virtually experience riding a cutter. Sombrero brought cowboy hats that could be personalized with patches. Build-a-Bear gave each child a teddy bear, horse, or unicorn with a special shirt that had Cook Children’s and NCHA logos. The NCHA Foundation helped kids create their own brand marks. Horsemen for Christ raffled off three NCHA jean jackets. Cutting horse trainer and artist Travis Stewart helped kids make clay horses. And there was music from Devon Dawson, the singing voice of Jessie the Yodeling Cowgirl in Toy Story.
↑ A happy kid, and a happy horse, at Cutters for Kids ↓
Plus, NCHA staff and other renowned NCHA trainers volunteered at the booths.
Many of the hospital’s patients dropped in. “We invite anyone who's not on any kind of isolation,” Hodges-Cook said. “So an event like this, we will see kids that are here for an appendectomy all the way to a kiddo who is here for inpatient rehab because they've been in a car accident and with us for months in recovery. We will have our oncology patients. I usually expect the majority of our kids to be in the 3 to 12 age range, but the hats really drew the attention of some of our teenagers, so we actually saw a lot more of our older patients too.”
And then there were the buckles.
Each family got a buckle, first come, first served, and recipients could have belts placed on them. Storey noted that the children loved to learn about the buckles. “We went through the story of the buckle and how you wear it. It was neat to see the children perk up about the different shapes, the different designs, the color of the stones. And as they would pick out those certain designs and or color changes or shape changes, we would talk about why that may be. They really liked to read through it and see what that buckle was.”
← Live music at Cutters for Kids
She recalled one girl in particular. “A nurse had brought her down in her wheelchair. The first second she came into the courtyard of the hospital, she picked up on Cody [Porterfield]'s belt buckle, one of our trainers. And she said, ‘Sir, I really like your buckle.’ ”
She continued, “She had gone to the other workshops first and then came to the [belt buckle] table, and she saw that buckle. And she said, ‘Can I hold it?’ And he said, ‘Yes, you can.’ She didn't know that that was her new buckle. And when Cody said, ‘Now, that is yours,’ she looked at him just sheer blank and said, ‘This is mine?’ And she grabbed it and she held it right here [over her heart] for probably 2 or 3 minutes. And she kept looking at him and looking at his buckle and looking at him. And he said, ‘Well, do you want the case with it?’ And she said, ‘Yes, sir, for later purposes, but right now I just want to hold it.’”
Storey recognizes the opportunity in giving back. “It's very important to help teach our youth, which aligns with our mission statement to create a well-rounded individual both inside the cutting arena and outside the arena,” she explained. “We take experiences for granted. I'm a fellow horseman. I enjoy getting buckles. I've been able and privileged to win a few. And I take for granted what that belt buckle meant to that little girl. The biggest thing is allowing the children and the families to teach us.”
Hodges-Cook said that, months later, she still sees patients that have their goodies from the event and carry their little bears around with them.
“Being here in Fort Worth, we see a lot of kids that are interested in rodeo,” she noted. “We see a lot of kids that love to ride. And so to bring something that is culturally just so special in our community and resonates with so many of our patients, I feel like that is really special about this event.”
It was a day that meant so much to so many. And yes, NCHA and Cook Children’s plan to do it annually. It’s headed toward a big legacy, and a world of giving back, that was born of just three surplus buckles.
← A happy kid, and a happy horse, at Cutters for Kids
at the Night at the 5TH ANNUA L 5TH ANNUA L
RANCH RANCHNight
THANK YOU & UPDATE!!!! “THE MANE EVENT XIII”
February 2026
Thank you all for making our February show so big! It was amazing! We are working with our cattle provider to buy the same great Mexican cattle we had this year!
Our last February show was so big, the days ran too long. So in 2026 we will be adding 2 days on the front end. Friday, February 6 & Saturday, February 7 will be the first 2 days of the show. Sunday is the Superbowl!!
No show on Sunday, but the practice pens and flags will be open. And we’re giving you a SUPERBOWL PARTY at the Cinch Saloon and adjoining concourse. Hosted bar and food during the game!
Then on Monday, we’ll start the show again. Great cattle and more money!! Watch for it. Hope to see you then.
2-year-old trainers play a vital role in a horse’s overall education, and future success
BY
ABIGAIL BOATWRIGHT | PHOTO BY NCHA LOGAN LYNCH
When a horse wins in the show pen, the trainer riding in the pen is often credited with the accomplishment. But most cutting horses begin their training journey with a 2-year-old trainer, before heading to a trainer focused on 3-year-olds and older. A lot happens in a horse’s education during that 2-year-old year to prepare him for a future as a competitor. We spoke with trainers specializing in 2-year-olds to share their perspective on the making of a champion.
The Job of a 2-year-old Trainer
Shane Hall of Granbury, Texas, thinks of himself as a horse “teacher” rather than a horse “trainer” because he’s focused on putting a foundation on the horse.
“We have to teach these horses how to think, how to process information, how to grow up mentally, so that they can take their training into their 3-year-old year,” Hall said. “It amazes me what these 3- and 4-year old horses can do. It always blows my mind, but they can’t do that without a strong, strong foundation being put on them first.”
Fons de Barbanson of Weatherford, Texas, says a 2-year-old trainer’s job is to teach a horse to be pliable in further training.
“The horse needs to learn how to work a cow, but also to have brokeness, and accepting of what comes at them, and to be comfortable with different styles of riding,” de Barbanson said.
2-year-old trainers lay down building blocks for the trainers to work with down the line, he says.
“If that foundation is not strong and solid, it’s going to crumble when the horse is put in different pressured situations,” de Barbanson said. “I always tell people we take horses from kindergarten to high school, and the other trainers take them from college to doing their job.”
Travis Stewart of Alvarado, Texas, says his goal is to bring out each horse’s potential. That starts with accepting the saddle and being comfortable with riding, and progresses to working cattle, encouraging the horse’s thought process when interacting with a cow.
“I’m very focused on the amount of effort a horse has given me,” Stewart said. “I want them looking for the cow, engaged, putting effort into what we’re doing.”
Training a horse is a team effort, and Stewart wants his horses to be able to seamlessly step into the next stage.
“I want them to be able to just get on them and go work—the horses just assimilate right into their program,” Stewart said.
Tyson Benson of Weatherford says that while every horse graduating from his program will be broke and started on cattle, not every horse he trains will end up a cutting horse.
“For me, it’s very important that each horse that comes through my program finds its job in life,” Benson said.
Davide Facincani of Weatherford says his goal for
training 2-year olds is to give them a good start for the next chapter in the horse’s journey.
“We want to give the best possible chance for the horse to go ahead in his career and win,” Facincani said. “I don’t start them on a flag or cow super early. I spend a lot of time riding outside, where I feel like they learn how to move and place their feet, going around trees, going in the water, opening and closing gates, getting broke that way.”
His ultimate goal is to train horses to be responsible around the cow, and ready for further training.
“I want every trainer to be able to take the horse and adjust it the way he wants for his program,” Facincani said.
Why Specialize?
Many trainers who work with horses in the 3-yearold and older stages are on the road showing, which makes consistently training a 2-year-old back home a challenge. This gives trainers specializing in 2-yearolds a niche to grow their training clientele.
These 2-year-old trainers interviewed appreciate being able to spend time with their families because they are based at home, over travel to shows.
Hall grew up on a ranch near Palo Duro Canyon in the Texas Panhandle. He says he focused on 2-yearolds for the same reason he pursued horse training as a career.
“I always really admired and enjoyed watching the cowboys that were on really good horses. I fell in love with good horses,” Hall said. “So when I got to be around cutting horses, it was a natural draw for me.”
Hall loves seeing the transformation of 2-year-olds in training, and enjoys the process.
“It’s almost like somebody takes a 2000-piece jigsaw puzzle and dumps it on the table in front of you, and you get to start putting it together,” Hall said. “You get to see a lot of change, quick.”
He finds the work with youngsters fulfilling.
“Doing the groundwork with colts when you first get them is fun—watching them move, seeing how they start to respond and react to you,” Hall said. “That first time you feel the horse take ahold of a cow and flick their ear, or hit that stop with the cow, it’s an indescribable feeling. When you feel that horse start to think and things start to click, it makes you want to get on another one and feel it again.”
de Barbanson enjoys the progression from day one.
“Some of them come to us pretty broke, and some of them are barely halter broke,” de Barbanson said. “Getting to the point where a horse learns how to cut and feels the cow for the first time, it’s a pretty cool deal.”
He also prefers steady hours at his barn over showing on the road.
“I like staying at home and riding horses,” de Barbanson said. “I like the show pen, and I’ve done it, but staying at home and riding colts all day has been pretty rewarding for me.”
Stewart loves getting to see a new crop of 2-year-olds. When a horse is introduced to cattle and has a “light bulb” moment, that’s Stewart’s favorite part of the process.
“It’s like we get a first look at next year’s superstars,” Stewart said. “It’s always exciting. We get a big group of colts with a lot of potential and promise, and we get to dig through them, really dive into their minds and see how much they want to do this sport. That’s what’s so unique about this sport—the really good ones really want to do it.”
Stewart says staying home and working horses there happens in part because the 3-year-old trainers are gone showing.
“They send us these horses, and we have a duty to be good stewards of the quality animals that they send us,” Stewart said. “It’s a real joy to ride them.”
Benson says the process from the beginning to the end of his time with the horses is what he likes about the work.
“I really enjoy the sale, picking our yearlings,” Benson said. “After four or five months, we start getting our hopes up on some of them and seeing how they progress throughout the summer, and how they finish out, and then it doesn’t stop at the sale. I enjoy following along with them as they go throughout their career, taking feedback from trainers and trying to get better.”
Facincani likes seeing how quickly 2-year-olds learn their job.
“They learn and grow drastically in six months, from not even carrying a saddle to working cows and helping with the herd,” Facincani said.
Mythbusting
Not every horse person realizes how challenging it can be to train 2-year-olds.
“The amount of work it takes to get the foundation on the horse to where they’re broke enough to be able to be handled, yet free-thinking enough to think about a cow—
it takes a lot of time and a lot of labor to get them ready to go into their 3-year-old year,” Hall said.
de Barbanson says if done incorrectly, training 2-year-olds can be dangerous early on. It can also be detrimental to the horse’s career.
“I think if the horse learns the wrong way from the beginning, it sets the horse up for successive failure, and it’ll haunt them the rest of their lives,” de Barbanson said. “Those first 30 to 60 days where you really establish their habits and boundaries is critical.”
Advice
Interested in being a 2-year-old trainer? Hall says to be prepared to work—a lot.
“You’re going to be staying home, not going down the road showing, if you’re going to do a good job on 2-year-
olds,” Hall said. “And remember, it starts with the stop, and ends with the cow. You’ll figure out the rest of it.”
de Barbanson suggests going to ride for a trainer you respect, or one who top trainers have sent their 2-yearolds to be trained.
“Go study with that person and spend time learning from them,” de Barbanson said.
Stewart suggests showing finished horses before specializing in 2-year-olds.
“I think it’s important to have a sense of the end result,” Stewart said. “If you never go into that situation and understand what’s really demanded of your horses and your horsemanship, that might leave you a little lost throughout the year. Even if it’s a weekend show, get out there and do it so you have a goal and a plan in mind of where they need to end up.”
The NCHA Clinic Series goes to Germany
BY JENNIFER HORTON
CUTTING ACROSS BORDERS
PHOTO BY LOGAN LYNCH, NCHA
The NCHA Foundation is dedicated to providing continued education opportunities to NCHA members of all skill levels. The NCHAF Development/ Continued Education of the Sport Committee focuses on these types of educational programming.
When NCHA Executive Director Jay Winborn approached the Foundation for help reaching underserved membership, there was no question they would jump at the opportunity to support the NCHA community. The NCHA Clinic Series was born.
Following a successful launch with the first clinic held in Pennsylvania, the educational program went international in April when Foundation Executive Director Julia Buswold took it all the way to Germany.
“There was a request from our European members,” said Buswold. “And we wanted to do everything we could to assist.”
Europe has 371 NCHA members, with 124 in Germany.
The Royal Bavarian Cutters hosted the clinic for NCHA members in their beautiful home arena in Thierhaupten, Germany. NCHA Germany President Monika Fiddrich and her husband, Volker, assisted in coordinating the clinic and welcomed visiting cutters from Holland, Italy, and Poland as well as Germany.
“We send a special thank you to the Royal Bavarian Cutters for use of their beautiful facility,” said Buswold. “Their hospitality was second to none.”
With the generous grant funded by the NCHA Foundation, 34 clinic participants had the opportunity to learn from two NCHA Hall of Fame trainers, Jody Galyean and
Paul Hansma. The clinic offered two full days of one-onone coaching and group sessions. Andy Adams, NCHA Director of Judges, joined them to host an in-depth judges seminar with valuable feedback on runs to expand the education for the clinic participants from both a judging and showing perspective.
The clinic format mixed classroom education with time in the saddle between the judges seminar and the arena time with the trainers. While the riders all had some experience in the cutting pen, the clinic was an outstanding opportunity for the enthusiastic riders to expand their knowledge and work on their cutting skills under the experienced hands-on guidance of Galyean and Hansma.
“We have been overwhelmed by the positive response,” said Buswold of the NCHA Clinic Series. “Members have been so kind and encouraging of the program and that just makes us want to do more.”
To learn more about how you can support the NCHA Foundation and member programs such as the NCHA Clinic Series, visit www.nchafoundation.org.
Alone at the Top
The American Performance Horseman debuts as stand-alone event in Fort Worth
BY SARAH PRATHER
The American Performance Horseman marked a milestone for the Western performance horse industry as it made its stand-alone debut at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas on July 19, uniting the sport’s elite in a $1 million showdown. This one-of-a-kind competition brought together eight of the top professionals from three disciplines — cutting, reining and reined cow horse. Athletes competed individually for the championship title and $100,000 in prize money in their discipline, as well as in teams of three. The winning team took home an additional $100,000.
Each athlete must qualify to compete at the APH. Cutting competitors earn their spot through limited-age events during National Cutting Horse Association competitions, reined cow horse athletes qualify based on overall Open money earnings in the National Reined Cow Horse Association, and reining athletes secure their place through overall Open Level 4 National Reining Horse Association earnings. For its first two years, the APH was staged at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, during The American Rodeo in the spring. This year’s move marked a new chapter for the event, yet the energy in the stands matched the excitement of previous years.
After the final run, Grammy Award-winning duo Brothers Osborne took the stage to blend the thrill of Western sports with the energy of live music to close the night as the APH continues to shine a national spotlight on the Western performance horse industry.
RIDER: JAMES PAYNE SCORE: 229
RIDER: AUSTIN SHEPARD SCORE: 227.5
RIDER: ADAN BANUELOS SCORE: 221
PHOTO
PHOTO
CUTTING EDGE CASH
2025 NCHA SUMMER CUTTING SPECTACULAR PRESENTED BY GREAT AMERICAN INSURANCE GROUP
Billed as “the heart of cutting horse excellence,” the 2025 Great American Insurance Group NCHA Summer Cutting Spectacular ran from July 11 to August 3 at the Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth, Texas. Continuing its tradition of spotlighting the nation’s top limited-age horses and riders, this year’s event featured $500,000 in added money, bringing the total payout to record-breaking levels. Such a significant increase not only raises the stakes for professionals, non-pros and amateurs alike, but also underscores the association’s commitment to growing the sport’s impact nationwide.
BY KRISTIN PITZER
Kenny Platt pilots
Too Hot To Tagg into another victory
PHOTOS BY SETH PETIT
Too Hot to Catch
As last year’s NCHA Futurity Open Champions, the pressure was on for Too Hot To Tagg and Kenny Platt when they rode into the pen during the Open Derby finals. Platt wasn’t worried, though. The gelding had only grown smarter and stronger with each outing this year, and Platt knew he would be able to count on him when it mattered most. His confidence in the gelding paid off in a big way when Too Hot To Tagg carried him to a 224 for the Championship.
“That horse is amazing, and he just wants to win so bad, you can just almost feel it in him,” Platt said. “He just puts himself in a position to win. He's really smart about a cow, and he’s just a warrior. He figures out a way to get in the best spot to hold one. It’s been a pretty fun ride.”
With the winner’s check, the gelding’s lifetime earnings climbed to more than $660,000, a staggering amount for a 4-year-old. Platt praised the gelding for his reliability, which he has displayed multiple times this year: the pair won the 4-Year-Old Open at the Abilene Spectacular, The Mane Event XIII and The Cattlemen’s Derby, and tied to win it at the Pacific Coast Cutting Horse Association Derby, enroute to the Summer Spectacular.
“He just has that kind of iron consistency, and he figures out a better way to do it all the time,” Platt said. “To win the cuttings that I've won on him consistently like I have, and win the kind of money I've won, it’s been amazing.”
Platt thanked his usual help in the show pen, along with Mia Perrotti, who gets his horses prepared perfectly each time.
CLASS: Open Derby
RIDER: Kenny Platt
HORSE: Too Hot To Tagg
PEDIGREE: Hashtags x Too Hot x Hottish OWNED BY: JH Nail Ranch Inc.
SCORE: 224
EARNINGS: $56,297
“He just has that kind of iron consistency, and he figures out a better way to do it all the time.”
KENNY PLATT
One Last Mark In Fort Worth
Kittennish and Austin Shepard are no strangers to the cutting spotlight. The duo landed the NCHA Futurity Reserve Championship in 2022; took NCHA Open Horse of the Year honors in 2023; won the NCHA Summer Spectacular Open Classic/Challenge and The Run For A Million Cutting Challenge in 2024; and prior to the 2025 NCHA Summer Spectacular, they were Reserve in the cutting at The American Performance Horseman.
Coming into the mare’s final Fort Worth show as a limited-age horse, Shepard was determined to send her out on a good note. A 224 gave them exactly what they needed to tie for the Open Classic/Challenge Championship, and their resulting $29,032 paycheck elevated Kittennish’s lifetime earnings higher than Shepard ever dreamed.
“After The American, that put her over $900,000 in earnings, so that was already pretty special to us,” Shepard said. “Just
as much as we love her, the fact that she's making history is really unique.”
Shepard is excited to own his own piece of Kittennish’s history — a 2025 Stevie Rey Von colt and a coming 2026 Reyzin The Cash foal out of the mare, both given to him by her owner, Billy Wolf. In the meantime, he and his wife, Stacy, are looking forward to the upcoming birth of their grandchild in September. The mother-to-be, Kamryn Shepard, normally prepares Kittennish, but has had to sit out the last few shows. Shepard was grateful for her hard work with the mare and also thanked Todd Stringer, who has taken over preparing the mare for now.
“She's gotten that mare ready since she was a 2-year-old,” Shepard said. “That mare won over $700,000 with Kamryn getting her ready. Obviously, she couldn't get her ready at the Derby, which was hard on her, and so Todd stepped up and did a great job.”
CLASS: Open Classic/ Challenge (TIE)
RIDER: Austin Shepard
HORSE: Kittennish
PEDIGREE: Hottish x Show Biz Kitty x High Brow Cat
OWNED BY: Billy Wolf
SCORE: 224
EARNINGS: $29,032
Austin Shepard rides Kittennish to tie for the Open Classic/Challenge Championship →
Locked and Loaded
Earlier in 2025, LBR Hangem and Kenny Platt picked up their biggest check to date after tying for the NCHA Super Stakes Open Classic/Challenge Reserve title. Platt was excited for the stallion’s success, but LBR Hangem was just getting warmed up. Only a few months later, the 5-year-old stallion turned up the heat at the NCHA Summer Spectacular, marking a 224 to tie for the Open Classic/Challenge Championship.
“It's the biggest thing he's won, and it means a lot because he's one of the better horses I've had,” Platt said. “His whole 4-year-old year, I just didn't get anything done on him in Fort Worth, and so to come back in his 5-year-old year and be able to get a championship means a lot. I’m really proud of him.”
LBR Hangem was precise, accurate and smart on his three cows during their finals run, Platt said. He didn’t expect
anything less from the stallion, who he’s had in training since the horse’s 2-year-old year. Throughout their time together, LBR Hangem has always been intense on a cow, and Platt has learned how to help him channel that energy and become a talented cow horse.
“He has a way of slowing cattle down — he can just pull a cow right back into the trap and really put him in a better position to get worked,” Platt said.
Platt looked forward to continuing to show the stallion, whose first foals are due next year. He thanked his help in the pen — Grant Setnicka, Chris Johnsrud, Lloyd Cox and Clay Johnson — along with LBR Hangem’s owner, Solo Select Horses.
“They just give you kind of carte blanche, ‘go do whatever you want to do’ freedom, and it's been very easy,” Platt said. “They’ve been really pleasant to ride for.”
CLASS: Open Classic/Challenge (TIE)
RIDER: Kenny Platt
HORSE: LBR Hangem
PEDIGREE: Dual Reyish x Hangem High Pep x Hickorys Indian Pep
OWNED BY: Solo Select Horses
SCORE: 224
EARNINGS: $29,032
Kenny Platt and LBR Hangem work together to tie for the Open Classic/Challenge
Coming Full Circle
In 2022, Phil N Dangerous won the coveted NCHA Futurity Open Championship. Shortly afterward, he joined Wesley Galyean’s string. In the years since, he and Galyean made finals appearances at many events, but aside from a win at the West Texas Futurity and a Reserve finish at the Brazos Bash in 2024, another major title eluded him. That is, until this year’s Summer Spectacular, where he carried Galyean to a 224 for the Open Classic/ Challenge Co-Championship.
“I think it just shows his greatness — he's proven it twice now against the best of the best horses in the world,” Galyean said. “He has proven that he is a phenomenal horse.”
Galyean credited their first cow with elevating their run and starting it off on the right note. He described her as textbook, saying while she was quick and snappy, she also respected his horse and gave him
a chance to show off his skills. The next two cows were tough, but Phil N Dangerous had no trouble handling them, he added.
The win was fitting for the stallion’s last limited-age show in Fort Worth. Galyean is looking forward to his offspring, the first of which were born this year. He expects him to make a great breeding stallion and pass on his cowiness, athleticism and personality.
“We're just kind of taking it day by, enjoying the moment, and we'll continue to keep making the most of this time that we have with him,” Galyean said. “I'm tremendously blessed that Misty thought of bringing him to me. It's been an amazing journey, and what better way than topping it off with a Fort Worth win that lasts a lifetime. There's no erasing that, no forgetting about that. It’s a pretty special moment that God has blessed me to be part of.”
CLASS: Open Classic/ Challenge (TIE)
RIDER: Wesley Galyean
HORSE: Phil N Dangerous
PEDIGREE: Hottish x Lil Maddy Rey x Dual Smart Rey
OWNED BY: Misty Greeson SCORE: 224
EARNINGS: $29,032
← Phil N Dangerous brings Wesley Galyean victory in this year's Summer Spectacular
Ridin to the Top
After riding Smart Remix to a 217 from the second draw of the Limited Open Derby finals, Thomas Smith saw his name jump to the top of the leaderboard. But he couldn’t celebrate just yet. There were still 10 riders to go, and Smith himself had a second horse to show: Ridin On A Rollz, who had drawn second-to-last.
By the time Smith and Ridin On A Rollz made their way into the pen, his score on Smart Remix was still holding. Smith tried to focus on doing the best he could with the cows that were left, and Ridin On A Rollz stepped up to the challenge, carrying him to a 221 for the Championship. Smith also claimed Reserve with Smart Remix, marking his first two titles from a major NCHA event.
“I kind of had in the back of my mind that my first one was going to hold, but I
was just trying to pay attention to my cattle and think about what I needed to do as far as showing my next horse,” Smith said. “I try to not really worry about the score or what's left to come and just focus on doing my job the best I can.”
Smith has only had Ridin On A Rollz in his program for about six months, and he was happy for the mare to get a big win.
“She tries really hard and has great intentions about working a cow,” Smith said. “She’s an honest horse and has been pretty consistent.”
He thanked her owners, Steve and Karen Olsen, for the opportunity to show the mare; his help in the pen: John Mitchell, Sean Flynn, Cade Shepard and Spud Sheehan; Harlee Packard and Laura Franklin, who got both mares prepared; and his wife, Kelly, for her support.
CLASS: Signature Equine Hospital Limited Open Derby
RIDER: Thomas Smith
HORSE: Ridin On A Rollz
PEDIGREE: Rollz Royce x Peppys Stylish
Lena x Docs Stylish Oak
OWNED BY: Steve & Karen Olsen
SCORE: 221
EARNINGS: $7,460
Thomas Smith wins big with Ridin On A Rollz →
Starting Off Strong
Ella Blazek may be a new face at Clint Allen Cutting Horses, but after riding DMAC Crossfire to the Limited Open Classic/Challenge Championship, she’s already proven her value to the team. Blazek had only been riding DMAC Crossfire for about two months, but between the mare’s cowiness, work ethic and love of her job, it made it easy for Blazek to sync up with her quickly.
“It was my first win at the Will Rogers, and it was really special to show that horse because she’s a really good horse,” Blazek said. “I don't have very much history with her. I showed her at the BI [Breeder’s Invitational] and I showed her [at Outback Cuttings] at Blue Ridge, and she's just a really easy horse to show. I was just lucky to get to show a horse that good and am grateful for the opportunity.”
Blazek and DMAC Crossfire were first
out in the finals, which Blazek appreciated because it meant the cows were fresh. Her goal was to perform three clean cuts and then let DMAC Crossfire do her job. The mare stepped up to the task, and the winning $5,358 check upped her lifetime earnings to almost $80,000.
After the finals, DMAC Crossfire sold to new owners. Blazek was sad to see her go but happy to end their partnership on a good note. She thanked Allen and the mare’s owners, David and Stacie McDavid, for giving her the opportunity to show DMAC Crossfire, along with her other help in the show pen: Geoffrey “Spud” Sheehan, Sean Flynn and Kenny Platt, her former employer.
“And, of course, Clint’s daughter, Kate, got the horse ready and did a perfect job, and his other daughter, Addie, is always a great support system,” Blazek added.
CLASS: Signature Equine Hospital Limited Open Classic/Challenge
RIDER: Ella Blazek
HORSE: DMAC Crossfire
PEDIGREE: Stevie Rey Von x Shesa Dirty Martini x Hes A Peptospoonful
OWNED BY: David & Stacie McDavid SCORE: 221
EARNINGS: $5,358
← Ella Blazek and DMAC Crossfire in their last championship together
The Hunger to Cut
While most of the 4-year-olds competing in the Intermediate Open Derby come from cutting-only backgrounds, Von Katness is unique. In 2024, while many of his peers were competing at the NCHA Futurity, the stallion was carrying his thentrainer, Christian Lybbert, through the National Reined Cow Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity go-rounds, where he eventually tied for third in the Limited Open.
In January, he joined Boyd Rice’s program, and at first, the dual NCHA and NRCHA professional continued to show him in the cow horse. It quickly became clear, though, that the stallion wanted to cut. Rice started taking him to cuttings instead, and Von Katness has excelled ever since. Boyd Rice and Von Katness won the Intermediate Open Derby at Summer Spectacular
“I started showing him in the cutting, and he just came to the party,” Rice said. “He’s
an exceptional horse. He's good-hearted, and he tries every day. He hardly ever gets in trouble; he just gives me everything he's got.”
The duo narrowly missed the Open Derby finals by half a point, so for the Intermediate Open finals, Rice planned to make clean cuts, stay out of the penalty box and “let the horse be what he is.” He was pleased when they drew up early in the first set, giving them their pick of the cows and allowing Von Katness to be spot on.
“He's got a lot of eye appeal. He’s a really big horse and he moves really strong, but he's smart about it,” Rice said. “He's easy to work and show. You just step up there and throw him down, and he's ready to get it on.”
Rice thanked Emma Lane, who works for him; Weatherby Ranch; and his help in the show pen: Lloyd Cox, Tag Rice, Tarin Rice and Grant Setnicka.
CLASS: Cowboy Trailer Sales Intermediate Open Derby
RIDER: Boyd Rice
HORSE: Von Katness
PEDIGREE: Stevie Rey Von x PG Katness x Playgun
OWNED BY: Weatherby Ranch
SCORE: 221
EARNINGS: $14,769
← Boyd Rice rides Von Katness
Starr on the Rise
Cooper Clark has been riding Starr Spangled since the gelding was 2 years old, but he had never showed the horse until the Summer Spectacular. Their lack of experience together in the show pen didn’t slow them down, though — the pair marked a 221 during the Intermediate Open Classic/Challenge finals, winning Clark’s first big Championship and boosting Starr Spangled’s earnings to $123,425.
“It was a very tough set of cows, and I was just happy to go down there, get cut clean and show that he’s a really nice horse,” Clark said. “He has a very pretty style and a lot of expression on a cow. I was very lucky to get to show him.”
Clark’s employer, NCHA professional Adan Banuelos, trained Starr Spangled and has shown him up until this point. Clark said Banuelos will likely take back over his
reins, but Clark hopes to get another chance to hop on the 5-year-old gelding at a future Fort Worth event.
Now in his second year of showing in the Open, Clark aspires to one day make the NCHA Futurity finals and strives to be the best horse trainer he can be in the meantime. He was grateful to Banuelos for the opportunities he’s given him; to his dad, NCHA professional Jason Clark, for the lessons he taught him before he went to work for Banuelos three years ago; and to the Lord for providing him the chance to ride and show. He also thanked Todd and Elizabeth Quirk, owners of Ten/27 Ranch, for letting him ride Starr Spangled.
“Elizabeth, she's like my older sister. She's the best,” Clark said. “And Todd, they take really good care of me, and they're just awesome people.”
CLASS: Cowboy Trailer Sales Intermediate Open Classic/Challenge
RIDER: Cooper Clark
HORSE: Starr Spangled
PEDIGREE: Metallic Cat x Lectrifyn Royalty x One Time Royalty
OWNED BY: Ten/27 Ranch
SCORE: 221
EARNINGS: $14,354
↑ Cooper Clark and Starr Spangled compete in their first show together, winning the Intermediate Open Classic/Challenge
Winning in Style
A
t the NCHA Super Stakes earlier this year, Kelsey Johnson and Twice The Style rode to a 218.5 to take the Non-Pro Derby Reserve title behind Ryan Rapp and Red Lights. Only a few months later, they flipped the script at the Summer Spectacular when they scored a big 223.5, swapping places with Rapp and Red Lights for the 4CYTE Non-Pro Derby Championship.
“She is an awesome mare,” Johnson said. “My brother-in-law, Chase Hermes, had her as a 2-year-old, and we had always loved her and kept up with how she was doing. My parents had the opportunity to buy her in February, and they've always believed in our program, so they wanted to purchase her. They hadn’t even gotten to see her work in person since she was 2, so they drove up in the middle of the night before the finals to be there.”
Johnson said Twice The Style is smart
with a great stop and fast feet. Those qualities paid off during the finals when Johnson cut her second cow with 50 seconds on the clock, and her herd help encouraged her to stay with it through the buzzer.
“That's where you rely on your help,” Johnson said. “I really didn't know how much time I had, and it gave me several opportunities to get off of it. Cullen Chartier thankfully took over and forced me to stay on it, and I think that's what sealed the deal for us.”
Johnson thanked her husband, Clay, for letting her borrow the mare; Hermes, for putting a good foundation on her; Chartier, for training her and helping in the pen; her turnback riders, Michael Cooper and Lloyd Cox; Melissa Drummond, for selling the mare; and her parents, Curtis and Brenda Weeks, and sister, Kadie Hermes, for being there to support her.
CLASS: 4CYTE Non-Pro Derby
RIDER: Kelsey Johnson
HORSE: Twice The Style
PEDIGREE: Smooth Talkin Style x Twice As Reycy x Dual Rey
OWNED BY: Curtis & Brenda Weeks
SCORE: 223.5
EARNINGS: $24,965
← Kelsey Johnson and Twice the Style won the Non-Pro Derby Championship together at the Summer Spectacular
Full Steem Ahead
F or years, Elizabeth Quirk has been dancing around winning a non-pro championship in Fort Worth. She’s had multiple Top Five finishes, including several third places and even a Reserve in the 2021 NCHA Super Stakes Derby Non-Pro.
After so many close calls, she finally broke through at this year’s Summer Spectacular, riding Steem to a 225 — one of the highest scores of the show — from the last hole of the first set to claim the Non-Pro Classic/ Challenge Championship.
“I've always wanted to win a non-pro in Fort Worth, and it has eluded me,” Quirk said. “I'm still watching the video in complete disbelief that it even happened. I’m just elated and very humbled by the whole experience.”
Drawing last in a bunch can be difficult, but Quirk didn’t let the pressure get to her. Instead, she made the best of the situation by aiming for a clean run. Even though she
hadn’t owned Steem for long at that point —she and her husband, Todd, purchased the horse at the end of May—the gelding stepped up and tried his hardest for her.
“He has a big personality and a huge heart,” Quirk said. “He has been a total joy. Just feeling his exuberance and knowing he loves his job is the best feeling.”
Quirk thanked the team behind her success, including Todd; her parents, Larry and Sally Brumbaugh; Paige Hadlock, who got the horse ready; John and Barbara Gaughan, who sold Steem to her; and her trainer, Adan Banuelos, who made the Open finals with Steem.
“Adan has been our horse trainer for numerous years now, and he just goes above and beyond,” Quirk said. “This wouldn't be possible without him and the dedication and effort he puts into every detail of the situation.”
CLASS: 4CYTE Non-Pro Classic/Challenge
RIDER: Elizabeth Quirk
HORSE: Steem
PEDIGREE: Hottish x Cat Mist x High Brow Cat
OWNED BY: Ten/27 Ranch
SCORE: 225
EARNINGS: $17,867
← Steem helps Elizabeth Quirk claim the Non-Pro Classic/ Challenge Championship
Sweeping the Competition
With three horses to show in the Limited Non-Pro Derby, Chisholm Clark had his work cut out for him. Thanks to his draws — first in the first bunch, and third and last in the second — he knew if he played his cards right, he’d have the opportunity to not only set the pace, but also surpass it.
Clark and his first horse, Kit Kat On The Rocks — the gelding that carried him to the Limited Non-Pro Derby title at this year’s NCHA Super Stakes — kicked things off on a high note by marking a 216. A couple other riders came close, but by the time he rode his last horse, Reyadosa, into the pen, Clark was still leading on the gelding. Rather than celebrate early, Clark focused on Reyadosa. The mare delivered with a 218, securing the Championship, while Clark and Kit Kat On The Rocks took Reserve.
“It is pretty unbelievable. I almost can’t believe I ended up first and second there,” Clark said. “I was happy that both my horses did good and did their job, and that I did my job, too. It was just a good feeling overall to have those two horses do so well.”
Clark credited his trainer, Casey Green, for helping him juggle his three 4-year-olds during the non-pro and amateur go-rounds. Green talks him through each run, Clark said, and between him and the help of Clark’s turnback riders — Cade Shepard, Eddie Flynn and Sean Flynn — Clark has been able to learn how to adjust to each horse’s style.
“Casey has been coaching me about when to ride them and when to just let them do their thing,” Clark said. “Thanks to his team for getting my horses ready for me, and to my parents for letting me show these horses.”
CLASS: Limited Non-Pro Derby
RIDER: Chisholm Clark
HORSE: Reyadosa
PEDIGREE: Badboonarising x Reytaliate x Stylish Rey
OWNED BY: Rodger & Stephanie Clark
SCORE: 218 EARNINGS: $5,159
Reyadosa and Chisholm Clark on their way to a Limited NonPro Derby victory →
Dayz to Remember
Ryder Flynn may have been one of the youngest horsemen competing in the Limited Non-Pro Classic/Challenge finals, but it wasn’t his first time in the Fort Worth spotlight. The 13-year-old previously won the Junior Youth Scholarship Cutting and has competed in the Junior Youth World finals multiple times. This year, he added another accolade to his achievements —Limited Non-Pro Classic/Challenge Champion—after riding Dayzlikethese to a 222.
“It felt great,” Flynn said. “She is a very special mare. I showed her for the first time back in May at the B.I. [Breeder’s Invitational]. She will never give up, and she will just hold any cow. That’s what I like about her.”
Prior to their run, Flynn’s dad, NCHA professional Sean Flynn, told him to cut clean and look professional. He also told
him not to focus on the score or trying to win, but to just do his best.
“We were watching cows, and there were some pretty tough cows—they were fast and didn’t have much feel to them—so we just had to go and cut the best ones we could,” Flynn said. “If you just go one cow at a time, it works out most of the time.”
Flynn plans to keep riding Dayzlikethese in the youth, and eventually the mare will retire to the broodmare band. He and his family were looking forward to raising her first foal, born this year.
In his free time, Flynn enjoys roping, but his biggest goal is to win the NCHA Futurity one day. He thanked his parents, including his mom, Ashley; his help in the show pen—Eddie Flynn, Casey Green and Clay Johnson; and his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for helping him achieve his success.
CLASS:
Limited Non-Pro Classic/Challenge
RIDER: Ryder Flynn
HORSE: Dayzlikethese
PEDIGREE: Smooth As A Cat x Margaret Rey x Dual Rey
OWNED BY: Sean & Ashley Flynn
SCORE: 222
EARNINGS: $6,256
Caption →
Ryder Flynn, one of the youngest horsemen to compete, wins the Limited Non-Pro Classic/Challenge Championship after riding Dayzlikethese to a 222 →
Still Hot in Cowtown
Fresh off a hot streak at the NCHA Super Stakes where she won the Intermediate Non-Pro Classic/Challenge, then followed it up with the Non-Pro Classic/Challenge title as well the next day, Deena Adams hoped to repeat her success with Hot Girl Ish at the Summer Spectacular. When they fell short of the Non-Pro finals, though, Adams didn’t miss a beat. She shifted her focus to the Intermediate, and Hot Girl Ish stepped up too, scoring a 218 for the win.
“I told myself that I would go for it, go show my horse, try to redeem myself a little bit, and I think that’s what I was able to do,” Adams said. “That mare means a lot to us, and we're trying to get every dollar won on her that we can. I was really tickled to get into the finals and have the opportunity to show her another time.”
The Intermediate Non-Pro wasn’t Hot Girl Ish’s only finals during the Summer
Spectacular. The mare also made the Open Classic/Challenge finals with her trainer, Cullen Chartier, where she placed 14th. Adams said the mare’s work ethic and attitude make her easy to show, regardless of which division she’s competing in.
“She’s a super good-minded horse. She tries her heart out, and it doesn’t matter if it’s for me or for Cullen. She just gives it her all,” Adams said.
Adams thanked Chartier and his crew, including his wife, Macall, who gets the mare ready. She also thanked her husband, Dustin, and her turnback help, Lloyd Cox and Clay Johnson.
“Cullen and his team work really hard, and they treat her really well,” Adams said. “Dustin supports me in continuing to ride her and show her, and he watches cows for me and does a great job. I’m thankful for all of them.”
Deena Adams and Hot Girl Ish winning the Intermediate Non-Pro Classic/Challenge →
On a Winning Streak
Earlier this year, Connor Southworth won his first title in Fort Worth when he piloted Flashen Stevee to a 220 for the NCHA Super Stakes Amateur Derby Championship. He enjoyed being in the winner’s circle so much, he turned around and did it again at the Summer Spectacular, this time riding a different horse, No Sugarr Tonight, to a 222 for the title.
“Winning them back-to-back is pretty cool,” Southworth said. “It’s a good feeling to have all the hard work and dedication you put into it pay off. This championship was the seventh time I’ve ever shown the horse, and it is a privilege to go show him.”
Southworth’s parents, Robert and Alisha, purchased No Sugarr Tonight in January, and since then, the gelding has mostly been shown by the Southworths’ trainer, Brandon Dufurrena. The duo made the Open Derby semifinals at the Super Stakes in March, and picked up paychecks at several smaller
shows throughout the spring.
Even though Southworth hadn’t ridden No Sugarr Tonight as much, he and the gelding quickly clicked at the Breeder’s Invitational, their first show together. Their connection only improved with each go at the Summer Spectacular, culminating in their biggest run together yet.
“He’s a really physical horse,” Southworth said. “He can go hit the ground and stop really hard, is extremely cow smart and loves his job.”
Southworth, who works for a welder building custom fences and barns, was grateful for all those that supported him so he could show and be successful. He thanked Dufurrena and his wife, Nikki, Samira Ernst, and the whole crew at Lucky 7 Performance Horses, along with his help in the show pen: Clay Johnson, Casey Green and Cody Hedland.
CLASS: McAlister Assets
Amateur Derby
RIDER: Connor Southworth
HORSE: No Sugarr Tonight
PEDIGREE: Kit Kat Sugar x Couture De Force x Stylish Wood 003
OWNED BY: Robert & Alisha
Southworth
SCORE: 222
EARNINGS: $9,071
No Sugarr Tonight brings Connor Southworth another victory at the Amateur Derby Championship →
Answered Prayers
By the time Bella Anderson walked to the herd on Boomereyious, she had already shown two horses that day and was hoping the third time would be the charm. Anderson started in the Amateur Derby, where a bobble in her third cut left her tied for 15th. She then switched gears for the Amateur Classic/Challenge finals, where she had two horses qualified.
After riding the first, Burin It Down, to a 215, Anderson developed a plan to clean up mistakes from earlier runs. That strategy worked better than expected when she and Boomereyious marked a 225, winning the Amateur Classic/Challenge Championship.
“It meant so much to win on that horse. He is my absolute heart horse,” Anderson said. “I was literally walking down there praying, ‘Please let this work out,’ because I wanted it on that horse so badly.”
Anderson has loved Boomereyious since before she even owned him. When she
started looking for another horse last year and discovered he was for sale, she and her parents drove through the pouring rain to try him out. They purchased him, and, as Anderson says, the rest is history.
“He tries so hard all the time. He is quirky and weird, but he gives it 150% every time, and it’s so easy for him,” Anderson said. “It was a God thing how it worked out because a lot of things fell into place correctly that might not have any other way.”
Anderson planned to finish out “Moose’s” limited-age career, then haul him next year. One thing is for sure—he’s not going anywhere.
She thanked her show pen help—Randy Chartier, Cullen Chartier, Clay Johnson and her trainer, R.L. Chartier—along with Chartier’s team for helping her juggle all her horses. She also thanked her parents, Steve and Michelle, for their support.
CLASS: McAlister Assets Amateur Classic/Challenge
RIDER: Bella Anderson
HORSE: Boomereyious
PEDIGREE: Metallic Boom x Sugareycious x Halreycious
OWNED BY: Anderson Cattle Co.
SCORE: 225
EARNINGS: $13,284
Bella Anderson and Boomereyious marked a 225, winning the Amateur Classic/ Challenge Championship →
Dropping the Mic
Celena Basadre had never made a limitedage finals in Fort Worth, and she wasn’t sure the 206 she marked in the first go of the Limited Amateur Derby would get her there, either. She was pleasantly surprised, therefore, to slip in one point above the bubble on her stallion, Reyl Shady. When the duo marked a 217 during the finals, launching them to the top by 7 points, she was overjoyed to win the title.
“To win was huge—I never imagined I’d be winning against so many great competitors and horses,” Basadre said. “Sometimes my anxiety kicks in and I’m like, ‘I need this cow, and I need it now,’ and next thing I know, I’m chasing a cow around the arena. This time, I still did my fair share of mistakes, but luckily, I didn’t do anything too drastic. I was just so excited to be there, and it didn’t matter if I got first or
last—I had made it, finally.”
Basadre described Reyl Shady as one of the easiest horses she’s ever ridden, making him fun to show. She praised his ability to step up in the open with his trainer, Rodrigo Taboga, then dial back down for the amateur.
“He has such a good mind, especially me being very much an amateur,” Basadre said. “I've been showing for a while, but I work full time, and I don't get to ride as much as I would like to. For him to be forgiving with me shows how great of a horse he can be.”
She thanked her help, including Taboga, Lloyd Cox, Sean Flynn and Clay Johnson, giving a special shout out to the latter for keeping her on task during the finals. She also expressed her gratitude to Sofia Pyles, who got Reyl Shady ready.
CLASS: Love’s Limited Amateur Derby
RIDER: Celena Basadre
HORSE: Reyl Shady
PEDIGREE: Dual Rey x Cancan Kitty x High Brow Cat
OWNED BY: Celena Basadre
SCORE: 217
EARNINGS: $1,773
Celena Basadre and her stallion
Reyl Shady win the Limited Amateur Derby title →
A Sweet Victory
Many find stepping into a finals in Fort Worth to be a nerve-racking experience, but Samantha Olson had already faced bigger battles. Diagnosed with breast cancer four years ago, Olson had fought and survived, then spent several years regaining the balance and strength she lost due to side effects from chemotherapy, steroids and a double mastectomy.
With little show pen experience, Olson walked to the herd for the first go with zero expectations. Upon making the finals, her goal became simply to do her new mare, CR Sweet Lights, justice. But while she hadn’t necessarily set out to win, that’s exactly what happened when the mare carried her to a 212, winning the Limited Amateur Classic/Challenge.
“It’s been a lot of work, and I can’t put into words what it means to me,” Olson said. “It’s something I didn’t think was attainable. When we got home, I was
looking at the trophy, saddle and buckle with my husband, and I was just awestruck because there’s been so many obstacles to overcome. It didn’t seem real.”
Olson had owned CR Sweet Lights for only three months leading up to the Summer Spectacular, but she was looking forward to building a lasting partnership with the mare. She credited the horse’s talent, along with her own support system, for helping turn what once felt impossible into reality.
“I'd like to thank God above for my health and for the people he surrounds me with. All the glory is to him,” Olson said. “Also, my husband, Ty, who is my biggest fan and supporter; my kids; my friends; Ben Roberson and his crew; and Cagny Beale, our loper. He does a phenomenal job getting the horses ready and is an unsung hero in this whole process because without him, we wouldn't be able to shine.”
CLASS: Love’s Limited Amateur Classic/Challenge
RIDER: Samantha Olson
HORSE: CR Sweet Lights
PEDIGREE: CR Highlight x Sweet Metallic x Metallic Cat
OWNED BY: Samantha Olson SCORE: 212
EARNINGS: $2,408
← Samantha Olson and CR Sweet Lights win the Limited Amateur Classic/Challenge
Perfect Partnership
When High Priced Boon’s breeder, GCH Land & Cattle Company, decided to sell her last year, their trainer, Chris Bates, and Randy Chartier, who’d had the mare in training for a few months, knew she’d need the right kind of buyer. The mare was opinionated, quick and could be challenging to ride. As it happened, the perfect person turned out to be Chartier’s daughter-in-law, Alannah Chartier, who fell in love with the mare’s quirks and talent.
It was a match made in heaven — since purchasing the mare, Chartier hasn’t missed many finals. At the Summer Spectacular, they took that to the next level, landing the Intermediate Amateur Classic/Challenge Championship with a big 223.
“I was super excited to win on her, especially since she’s 6, so it’s her last aged event in Fort Worth,” Chartier said. “We get along really well, and she also likes my brother-in-law, R.L., who trains all our
horses. She doesn’t like everybody, but if she likes you, she likes you. And when she’s on, there’s no better feeling.”
High Priced Boon certainly hit her stride during the Intermediate Amateur finals, where she went up against her favorite type of cows: tough, fast and tricky. She then went into the Amateur Classic/Challenge finals only a couple sets later and marked a 221 for the Reserve title in that class as well.
Chartier planned to continue showing the mare through the fall and was looking forward to her first babies next year. She thanked her family and the team behind her.
“Thanks to R.L. and everybody in his barn; Mica, who helps run his barn; my help, including Randy, Cullen Chartier, and Michael Cooper; and my husband, Scott, who supports me and didn’t tell me I was crazy when I told him I wanted to buy this horse,” Chartier said.
CLASS: Rios of Mercedes Intermediate Amateur Classic/Challenge
RIDER: Alannah Chartier
HORSE: High Priced Boon
PEDIGREE: Boon Too Suen x High Priced Jewel x High Brow CD
OWNED BY: Alannah & Scott Chartier
SCORE: 223
EARNINGS: $8,736
In High Priced Boon's last aged event in Forth Worth, Alanna Chartier and the mare land the Intermediate Amateur Classic/Challenge Champtionship with a 223 →
Holy Cow Performance Horses Youth World Finals Champions
BY SUZIE RUPERT
The Grass (and the Chaps) are Greener
At just 11 years old, Benton Allen “BA”
Scheer of Altoona, Alabama, carved out a remarkable season that led him all the way to the NYCHA Holy Cow Performance Horses Youth World Finals.
From the beginning, the plan wasn’t to haul for a world title. The early strategy was to keep BA mounted on fresh horses. He’s very grateful to Charlie Israel, Lenn Morris, Brantley Jackson, Mike and Suzanne Wood for the opportunity to ride and learn from each of their amazing horses. So, with encouragement from Codie and Casey Green, the miles began to add up. Before long, the Scheers found themselves chasing points across the country, with stops at shows like Lady Lake, Florida, and Blue Ridge and Lufkin, Texas.
Throughout the year, BA competed aboard various horses, but one that stood out was Teles Bout Texas (owned by Mr. Bill Smith) affectionately known as “Lola.” Interestingly, some of Lola’s best runs have
come in the youth classes, where her heart and grit matched BA stride for stride. Together, they notched key wins, including a memorable 152 at the Mid-South Scholarship, cutting a breakthrough that hinted at what was ahead.
Fans also know BA by his green chaps. He laughs when asked about them, admitting they came from Teskey’s after trying on nearly every pair in the store. It was his mom who joked, “Try the green ones.” The moment he put them on, they just felt right, and they’ve been a signature ever since even when he day works.
When it came time for the World Finals in Fort Worth, BA kept things simple, sticking with the same routine that had worked all season. By the third round, the title was secure. That gave him the chance to breathe, soak in the moment, and most importantly, have fun in the pen. He thanks his mom and dad for believing in him and making sure he always had good horses to ride.
CLASS: Jr. Youth World Finals
RIDER: Benton Scheer
HORSE: Teles Bout Texas
PEDIGREE: Meteles Cat x Shez Like Texas
OWNED BY: Rip Roar Farms LLC
SCORE: 653 over 3 runs
PHOTOS BY SETH PETIT
Benton Scheer and his horse Teles Bout Texas made it to the NYCHA Holy Cow Performance Horses Youth World Finals →
A Remarkable Season
Seventeen-year-old Preslie Green of Perrin, Texas, capped off a remarkable season in the show pen by capturing the Senior Youth World Champion title aboard Sueper Hot, better known as “Rambo”, at the 2025 NYCHA Holy Cow Performance Horses World Finals in Fort Worth.
The daughter of a professional cutting horse trainer, Preslie has grown up in the sport and developed a distinct pre-show routine: fidgeting with her rings, pulling her hat down, and then glancing toward her mom, who gives a simple but powerful reminder — “Keep your head out of your butt.” Despite admitting she’s “always terrified and nervous” before a run, that routine helps ground her when it matters most.
Her partnership with Rambo was a story in itself. After her personal horse was sidelined with an injury earlier in the year at the Super Stakes, Preslie was given the rare opportunity by Marcelle LeBlanc to borrow Rambo. She’s the only rider ever
trusted to get the gelding ready herself, and she credits his relentless try: “He always tries, no matter the situation.”
Preslie’s 2025 journey wasn’t part of a grand plan — hauling for the World title wasn’t even on the radar at the start of the year. But determination and consistency pushed her to the top of the leaderboard. Along the way, she gained valuable experiences: flying to Arizona to compete on Smoothe Shine from Tosten Peterson and Johnson Cutting Horses, and leaning on mentors like Casey Crouch, Gavin Jordan, and Ben Roberson.
When it came time for her final run in the John Justin Arena, Preslie and Rambo delivered under pressure, closing the book on an unforgettable season. Her title is a reflection not only of her talent and grit, but of the support network, borrowed opportunities, and steadfast routine that carried her all year long.
CLASS: Sr. Youth World Finals
RIDER: Preslie Green
HORSE: Sueper Hot
PEDIGREE: Hottish x Super Kitty
OWNED BY: Marcelle Leblanc
SCORE: 653 over 3 runs
← Preslie Green captured the Senior Youth World Champion title aboard Sueper Hot at the 2025 NYCHA Holy Cow Performance Horses World Finals in Fort Worth
Youth Movement
Young cutters test their skills at the 2025 NCHA Foundation Junior Youth Scholarship Cutting Finals
BY JENNIFER HORTON PHOTOS BY SETH PETIT
Riding With Faith
When 11-year-old Zachary Corvin rode to the herd in the NCHA Foundation Junior Youth Scholarship Cutting Finals, his faith and confidence kept him patient and focused like a seasoned pro.
“When the [222] score popped up I was like, oh wow!” he said. It also marked his personal best since he began cutting at the age of four.
Corvin showed Megician (Metallic Cat x Sweet Abra x Abrakadabracre), owned by Gilbert Siqueiros and trained by his dad, Zeb Corvin.
“He’s really talented,” Corvin described his partner. “He moves smooth and he checks a cow well and he has a good stop. I’d
like to thank Gilbert and my dad for letting me show him and all the people who turn back for me.”
In the sixth grade, Corvin earned a $1,980 scholarship check along with the plethora of prizes.
Already with lifetime NCHA earnings over $14,000, Zachary’s skills in reading both cows and horses make him his dad’s best turnback help. He also takes the reins to show family horses.
“Zeb trusts him because he rides well and seems to handle the pressure,” said his mother, Melissa. “We believe that goes to his faith. Thank you to the NCHA Foundation and the Scholarship Committee for this.”
11 year old Zachary Corvin rides Megician to the herd in the NCHA Foundation Junior Youth Scholarship Cutting Finals →
Going Out In A Blaze Of Glory
Hollywood could not have written a better script for Will Bushaw’s final NCHA Foundation Senior Youth Scholarship Cutting with Velvets Revolver. After surviving a serious bout with Colitis-X and two colic surgeries, the gray gelding (WR This Cats Smart x Velvets Best Shot x Playgun) returned to the arena and the pair put a period on it, marking a 225 for the win.
“We definitely went out the way I had hoped,” said Bushaw. “I have so much confidence in him. I chipped that last cow with 30 seconds left and I knew he would hold it to the end.”
Bushaw is grateful to still have his friend. “I have so many to thank. All the doctors
at Colorado State, Gary and everyone at Rose Valley Ranch who cared for him, Missy Jean Etheridge for suggesting a treatment that worked, our friend and vet Jeff Foland and my family - especially my mom. She cares for him like he’s one of her sons. My help in the pen - Clay Johnson, Casey Green, Sean Flynn and my dad and all the guys at the ranch. We’re pretty lucky.”
In addition to the winning check of $2,970, Bushaw earned a $5,000 bonus incentive from Whitley Ranch.
“It’s amazing of Whitley Ranch to support the youth this way,” he said.
Bushaw plans to put his scholarship earnings to good use when he attends TCU for business.
Will Bushaw rides Velvets Revolver in his final NCHA Foundation Senior Youth Scholarship Cutting event →
Armed Forces, Winning Horses
The third-annual NCHA Special Operations Cutting Challenge returns to Fort Worth
BY TYR SYMANK | PHOTOS BY SETH PETIT AND LOGAN LYNCH, NCHA
“W hy do they do that?” The broad-shouldered, heavily tattooed Green Beret had an almost child-like wonder in the tone of his question.
“It’s a mix of cheering for the cutter and getting the cow to turn back toward the cutter,” I said. This was my second time competing—I was a seasoned vet now.
“Should I do it?”
Before I could answer, a third Green Beret interjected. “No, man, it’s like when they make that ‘lalalalalalalalaa’ noise when we’re downrange. Only the women do it.”
That exchange is a fair snapshot of the 2025 NCHA Special Operations Cutting Challenge. Nineteen special operators from our military’s most elite units descended on Fort Worth the first weekend of August with open minds and humble hearts. It was a mixed bag of experience—some, like Sergeant Major (Ret.) Ignacio Garza, were returning for their third and final chance at a buckle. Others, like Sergeant First Class (Ret.) Charlie Kirksy, hadn’t been on a horse since childhood (though you wouldn’t know it by his handlebar cowhand mustache).
This is the third annual competition in its current format. Its purpose is to provide all the benefits of equine therapy, but with something walking circles in a training pen can’t replicate: the spirit
of competition and a clear objective. The Challenge was originally open to any veteran, in any status. “It was just too heavy of a lift,” said Jay Winborn, Executive Directort of the NCHA. “We’d have vets spending weeks with their volunteer coaches just to get good enough to stay in the saddle, meanwhile the coaches had their own competitions. These Special Ops guys, they’re just driven. They catch on faster, and they have a base level of athleticism that’s necessary to be successful in this sport.”
In 2023, the NCHA partnered with the Special Forces Foundation to recruit riders. That partnership has weighted the competition heavily toward Army Green Berets—but that doesn’t mean they always win.
This year’s champion is Scott Allcorn, a Senior Chief Petty Officer in the SEALs assigned to Naval Special Warfare Command. He was also the only non–Green Beret in this year’s competition. “I heard about the competition through Matt Miller. Matt told me, ‘Hey, we did this thing—this Special Operations Cutting—I’d love to have you come do this.’” Scott had no arena experience. “I’ve never shown, and I wouldn’t say I’ve ever ridden a show horse. I’ve ridden their turnback horses and worked a flag, but it was completely different getting on the horse I ultimately rode—Smart Time Kat—and how that horse performed compared to the ‘rejects,’ the turnback horses.”
I trained with Scott at Tarin Rice’s place in the days leading up to the competition. He’s an athlete and can sit a saddle, but none of that goes to his head. He may be the most humble SEAL I’ve ever met. “I think any time it’s a competition—especially with guys who can ride for sure and have done this specific show before—there’s a lot more nerves and pressure to perform. We harp on our kids about battling through adversity in their little league sports, and then Dad gets put in the spotlight— you’ve got to put your money where your mouth is. Definitely a little bit different from just going and hanging out. There’s for sure that pressure, but pressure is a privilege.”
If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to be elite, read that last sentence again. I know I will.
Scott’s wife and two of his three kids made the drive from Virginia to support him. While that may seem like a given, it’s worth remembering how much time these competitors have spent away from their families doing things action movies are written about. When they come home, it’s their duty to put that persona away and put on one that fits better with family life. They may be elite to the rest of the world, but at home they’re just Honey or Dad. “What I got out of having my family there… it was cool because they never really get to watch what I do in my day job. Getting to watch me perform and succeed at something, like we do in the day job, was really cool.”
Behind one champion are 18 other warriors happy to be competing—but already plotting to win next year. Charlie Kirksy tied for fifth (with me, so let’s just call it sixth). Charlie represents another target demographic for the competition. His Special Forces career was cut a decade short by injuries; he medically retired in 2021 from 5th Special Forces Group. Since then, he’s faced challenges head-on—from aggressively treating and recovering from his injuries, to quitting a years-long opiate prescription cold turkey, to starting a business with his wife, Jodi. (Check out Hammer Creek Suppressors.)
Charlie met Ignacio Garza, President of the Special Forces Foundation, through a nod at each other’s SF-Texas license plates. Fast forward a few months, and Charlie has a service
service dog he didn’t know he needed until he had it—and he’s on the back of a world-class horse in the cutting mecca of the world.
“Of course, I’ve read all the stuff about there being something to horses, right? They have horse therapy and all these different things, but I didn’t grow up around horses,” he explained. “We had cattle at my dad’s place, but we didn’t have any horses. The neighbors would sometimes leave their horse out. I think one of the six times I’ve ridden a horse was when I tricked the horse into walking up to our fence and climbed on it and rode around our pasture with no saddle. Just a crazy 10-year-old thing to do.”
“So, when Ignacio asked me to ride, I think if it had come from anybody else, I would have been like, ‘Sure, whatever.’ But this is another SF guy, and he seems like he really loves it. And I was like, ‘I gotta see what’s going on with this,’” he continued.
I remember watching Charlie work the flag after his coach, James Payne, introduced him
to his horse, Stylish Hailee. His heels would get behind his hips now and then, but his torso never seemed to waver in the saddle. “Did you ever feel like you were going to fall off?”
“No. Never.”
“Wow. That’s amazing. And I hate you.”
Charlie laughs at my mock envy. “It just felt good. I don’t know why. I think part of it is with my back, I can’t let it start bouncing too much or anything, because that starts to hurt. So I have to stay together with the horse for it to feel right. Pain is a good motivator.”
Charlie pauses for a moment. I sense he’s reflecting on something more to do with the past than cutting. “Fear has a relationship to pain. I figured that out on this journey. Eskimos have a hundred words for snow. We have a hundred words for pain. Loneliness, embarrassment, fear of failure—that’s all pain. That’s why some people aren’t afraid to do crazy stuff that could get you injured. You can’t let fear run your life… there’s never gonna be the right time to start.”
I pause to soak in what Charlie is saying. He’s been through quite a lot. He knows what he’s talking about. I make a note to study whatever zen this is—not just because it’s great life advice, but also because I’m not letting him tie me next year.
I ask Charlie, “When you finished your run, and you looked up, did you know that 225 was a good score?” This was a leading question. I’d taken Reserve Champion in last year’s competition with a 221 and was clueless to my own success. “I had no idea. Then we lined up for awards and I noticed there were a lot of people standing behind me, and James didn’t give the dreaded, ‘You’re alright.’”
Even with the competitive nature in all of us, the camaraderie built here could only be forged under circumstances we know all too well in far-off lands. Special Operations units and individuals are insular by design. We can be outgoing, assertive, even commanding when the work calls for it; however, statistically, most special operators are introverts. Don’t ask me how that science works—I’m still in therapy
figuring it out. Put 10 special operators who are strangers to each other in a room, and you might have two who become friends naturally, probably because they figured out they dated the same woman. We eat our own.
Put those same 10 men on a team, and you’ll have a cohesive fighting force that can (and have) topple a regime. It’s like that here. A few of us know each other, but most of us are going out of our way to make friends. The competition between each other is secondary to the invisible foe in the arena: the pressure of the clock while stalking through the herd, the inertia pulling you from the saddle, the juke step of the cow. When men are challenged together, a bond is built. Framed on a strong foundation of shared service, that house ain’t coming down.
I don’t have a horse of my own. I live in the suburbs. I’m pretty sure I’d have to sell an organ to get into this sport with any regularity. But I’ll be chomping at the bit to get back here and compete with my brothers-in-arms next year. And I won’t be in a tie.
Military Cutting Challengers
Ignacio Garza
Flower Mound, TX
Lowell Koppert
Akon, SC
Dean Goble Jr.
Colorado Springs, CO
Tyr Symank
Shoreline, WA
Jeremy Pierce
Missoula, MT
Luke Sciulli
Fort Worth, TX
Joseph Levine
Colorado Springs, CO
Justin Boardman
Auburn, WA
Zachary Gibson
Crestview, FL
Charles Sekelsky
Colorado Springs, CO
Brody Wright
Colorado Springs, CO
Glen Reid
Fountain, CO
Michael Huff
Peyton, CO
Joshua James
Denver, CO
Ricardo Tamez Jr.
Colorado Springs, CO
Robert Birchfield
Coldspring, TX
Adam Cannon
Niceville, FL
Charley Kirksey
Argyle, TX
Scott Allcorn
Virginia Beach, VA
2025 ncha local circuit championship
MAKING A SPLASH
Cutters from around the country–and now even the globe–ride to claim the top spot in each of NCHA’s regional circuits as part of NCHA Days 2025
From Arizona to Manitoba, and America to Europe, NCHA regional circuits and their members stormed their local arenas this summer to participate in NCHA Days 2025. Each circuit detailed their experience and provided a photo or two from the events, so you can keep up with cutters from, well, almost everywhere.
SOUTH TEXAS
ALAMO
The 2025 Alamo Circuit NCHA Days Weekend was held in conjunction with the Polly Hollar Memorial Bluebonnet Stakes at the Washington County Fairgrounds in Brenham, Texas. The event was held over four days, May 1-4. Total entries-433. Total added money-$25,500. Total purse-$99,293.30.
WASHINGTON COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS, BRENHAM, TEXAS
BRITISH COLUMBIA, ALBERTA, SASKATCHEWAN, MANITOBA
AURORA
NCHA Days in Lloydminster, SK was fun for all! Smiles and laughter are always found at Saskatchewan cutting horse shows! We had members from Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia attend! Great weather with great company!
LLOYDMINSTER EXHIBITION GROUNDS, LLOYDMINSTER, SK
MONTANA, WYOMING
BIG SKY
Triangle T Productions hosted NCHA Days Big Sky Circuit cutting at the beautiful, spacious Central Wyoming College Ag-Equine facility in Riverton, Wyoming from May 15-18. We provided 120 portable stalls, and, with NCHA funding, fresh, uniform spayed heifers for jackpot classes. Contestants enjoyed prizes and lunches, and with nice and good attendance, the addition of a non-sanctioned rancher class successfully promoted the sport of cutting.
CENTRAL WYOMING AG AND EQUINE COMPLEX, RIVERTON, WYOMING
ARIZONA, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, SOUTHERN NEVADA, SOUTHERN UTAH, WESTERN COLORADO
CACTUS
Over the two days of NCHA Days, we had a total of 237 competitors. The weather for the show was perfect, mid 80s. We had $750 added in the Open, Non-Pro, 50 Amateur, Unlimited 25 Novice, 25 Novice Non-Pro, 5 Novice and 5 Novice Non-Pro. After both days of showing, our winners in the 35 Non-Pro, 15 Amateur, 200 Limited Rider and Youth were presented their buckles after each class was finished in the arena.
HORSESHOE PARK AND EQUESTRIAN CENTER, QUEEN CREEK, ARIZONA
ALABAMA, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, TENNESSEE
COTTON
We had 361 entries in the two days. We had a crawfish boil on Saturday night and Memphis BBQ for lunch on Sunday. A few things we did was allow the kids to pick their pony when they showed it in the youth. They really enjoyed that!
AGRICENTER SHOWPLACE ARENA, MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE
EUROPEAN
The most anticipated event of the year, and the one NCHA of Italy had long aspired to organize, proved to be exceptional and unforgettable for European cutting. A remarkable 160 horses from across Europe competed in this final of the circuit, which boasted extraordinary participation. A significant added money prize, made possible by the support of sponsors and the unwavering commitment of NCHA, further elevated the event’s prestige.
CREMONA FAIRGROUNDS, CREMONA, ITALY
KENTUCKY, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MICHIGAN, OHIO, LABRADOR ( CA ) , NEW BRUNSWICK ( CA ) , NEWFOUNDLAND ( CA ) , ONTARIO ( CA ) , QUEBEC ( CA )
GREAT LAKES
Ontario Cutting Horse Association and Shaw Farms Productions hosted the 2025 Great Lakes NCHA Days in the beautiful Bullen Arena at the Peebles County Fairgrounds in Eaton, Ohio.
There was a high level of competition and big stakes with 225 weekend class cuts during the three days/2 show event. Over $14,000 in added monies, prizes and NCHA sponsored buckles. The completion was tough and many races came down to a one-point difference. Hearts from HeVen, LLC generously sponsored youth bonuses offered in both Senior and Junior youth each day of competition.
We all celebrated Mother’s Day together with SFP sponsored breakfast provided by Craving Crushers and there were sweet treats available for all through the day one Sunday. The show was affiliated with Ohio Cutting Horse Association and Great Lakes Cutting Horse Association.
EASTERN COLORADO, KANSAS, NEBRASKA
HEARTLAND CIRCUIT
We had a total of 265 runs over the two day show. Special prizes–bonus money given out to circuit winners in the added money classes. $500 to first, $400 to second and $300 to third. Celebrated Nate Miller passing $1 million in NCHA earnings. First time buckle winners–Dakota Johnson and Cheyanne Burton from Colorado.
BULLEN ARENA, EATON, OHIO
WESTERN STATE BANK EXPO CENTER, DODGE CITY, KANSAS
WESTERN
TEXAS, NEW MEXICO, WESTERN OKLAHOMA
OILER CIRCUIT
Approximately 100 entries each day. The size was just right to allow fir a meal provided by Palo Dura CHA & prepared by A-Team Pizza & more. Circuit awards in all classes including NCHA buckles to Champion and Reserve Champion in the 35K AM, 2K LR and junior and senior youth. The youngest contestant was Bryndle James who was an exhibition at the youth class. The weather was perfect, the judging outstanding, and a class for anyone who has never won a buckle rounded out the day. The perfect setting for great, home-grown cutting.
FOOTE & RODGERS ARENA, FAREWELL, TEXAS
ARKANSAS, MISSOURI
Our Ozark NCHA Days event was quite a success, drawing competitors from all over the region. We had over 90 entries on Saturday, and over 80 entries on Sunday.
The event featured a variety of classes, from novice riders to seasoned professionals, all vying for the NCHA Days Championship title.
We had meals catered by Da Vinci Italian Restaurant, Subway and Pizza Hut. Buckles and titles earned and champions were crowned. As the dust settled and the final scores were tallied the NCHA cutting event proved once again why it remains a cornerstone of equestrian sports.
RAFTER
S ARENA, LEBANON, MISSOURI
WASHINGTON, OREGON, IDAHO, NORTHERN UTAH
PIONEER DAYS
The Washington Cutting Horse Association (WCHA) proudly hosted NCHA Days alongside its Spring Aged Event from April 30 to May 3 at the Grant County Fairgrounds. With nearly $40,000 in added money and prizes awarded to both first and second place circuit winners, the club worked hard to ensure a successful and memorable show.
The event saw full classes each day and averaged over 100 works daily. Held at the top-notch Grant County Fairgrounds, the show featured brand-new sand brought in specifically for the event and a generous supply of fresh cattle, helping create optimal conditions for competitors. The show attracted top trainers and their teams, contributing to a well-run and efficient operation.
NORTHERN NEVADA, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
REDWOOD CIRCUIT
NCHA Days for the Redwood Circuit was Hosted by Nevada Reined Cow & Cutting Horse Association and held at the Reno Sparks Livestock Events Center May 3 and 4. 114 Entries on Saturday and 121 entries on Sunday. NCHA provided buckles to Champion and Reserve Champion in the Junior and Senior Youth, 2K LT, 15K AM and 35K NP classes.
All other classes had circuit awards presented to the winners courtesy of Nevada Reined Cow & Cutting Horse Association. Fresh cattle were provided to the Youth classes both days by Masini Productions.
GRANT COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS, MOSES LAKE, WASHINGTON
RENO SPARKS LIVESTOCK EVENTS CENTER, RENO, NEVADA
FLORIDA, GEORGIA, NORTH CAROLINA, SOUTH CAROLINA
SUNSHINE CIRCUIT
Florida CHA was excited to host the 2025NCHA Days. Every state in our circuit was represented. Florida CHA hosted a dinner Saturday night for all contestants that was very well attended. Big thanks to NCHA for supplying the beautiful buckles. There were many first time buckle winners.
FLORIDA HORSE PARK, OCALA, FLORIDA
IOWA, MINNESOTA, NORTH DAKOTA, SOUTH DAKOTA, WISCONSIN
UPPER MIDWEST CIRCUIT
Despite a chilly, rainy weekend, spirits were high with 110 entries Saturday and 90 Sunday. Kash and Kole, both 6, were our youngest competitors. We drew random prizes in each class, and top finishers earned director chairs, tumblers, and gift cards. Dinner was served Friday and Saturday, and we welcomed three new members: Jana Lehman, Katie Keenan, and Leslie Brightwell. With $500 added to each class, great vendors, and awesome cattle—it was a fantastic weekend!
STEELE COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS, OWATONNA, MINNESOTA
Las Vegas Lights
Bright lights, big city and an even bigger paycheck for NCHA competitors vying for the top spot at The Run For A Million Cutting Horse Challenge in Las Vegas, Nevada
BY ABIGAIL BOATWRIGHT | PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE RUN FOR A MILLION
Electric energy was barely contained in the South Point Casino Arena & Equestrian Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, the evening of August 14 during The Cutting Horse Challenge. The event is part of The Run For A Million: the richest event combining reining, cutting and cow horse competition. During the Cutting Horse Challenge, for the entire 10-rider set, the cattle were quick and the horses faster, and the crowd was deafening in response. Michael Cooper and Bella Louella were first in the herd and set the bar high with a score of 226. None could catch the duo from Weatherford, Texas, so Cooper and the mare he shares with his wife, Jennifer, took home $50,000 of the $200,000 pot.
The Run For a Million (TRFAM) is produced by Pro Management, Inc. It was created by Taylor Sheridan, Academy Award-nominated director of hit shows such as Yellowstone, seven years ago. Sheridan’s documentary-competition show called The Last Cowboy, chronicles the journey of horsemen and -women to compete at TRFAM in the finale.
To qualify for the Cutting Horse Challenge, now in its third year running, riders competed at the Brazos Bash held at Sheridan’s Bosque Ranch in Weatherford.
Kittennish
RIDER: AUSTIN SHEPARD
OWNER: BILLY LEE WOLF
SCORE: 224
WON: $35,000
Bella Louella
RIDER: MICHAEL COOPER
OWNER: MICHAEL & JENNIFER COOPER
SCORE: 226
WON: $50,000
Reyzin The Limit
RIDER: ADAN BANUELOS
OWNER: KATIE GAUGHAN BANUELOS
SCORE: 222
WON: $30,000
INDUSTRY NEWS
NCHA ANNOUNCES DAVID COSTELLO AS 2025-2026 VICE PRESIDENT
David Costello of Anna, Texas became the newest NCHA Vice President on June 22. He won the election with 59.4 percent of votes.
“It is truly an honor to take on this role within such a dedicated and passionate membership,” he said. “I would also like to extend my appreciation to Mr. Jim Gandy, my opponent in this election. Jim’s unwavering commitment to the NCHA has made this race a challenging one, and his dedication has not gone unnoticed. Our mutual goal remains the same; to enhance and promote the integrity of the NCHA.”
NCHA ENCOURAGES MEMBERS TO COMMENT ON THE HORSE PROTECTION ACT
The NCHA is asking its members to reach out to the USDA regarding the postponement and changes to the regulation of soring under the Horse Protection Act. Soring does not affect the cutting industry, the regulations would impact all English and Western industries. You can:
• Go to www.regulations.gov
• Enter Docket No. APHIS-2022-0004 in the search bar; press “search”
• Scroll down and click on “Horse Protection; Postponement of Regulations.”
• Click “Comment”
2026
EASTERN NATIONALS
CHAMPIONSHIP
PRESENTED BY 6666 RANCH UPDATES
The NCHA Eastern National Championship presented by 6666 Ranch is returning to West Monroe, Louisiana in 2026. It will be held inside of the iconic Ike Hamilton Expo Center– known as “The Ike”–Feb. 25-March 6, 2026.
VALLEY EQUINE SUPER
STALLION INCENTIVE TO PAY OUT
OVER $318,000 AT 2025 NCHA SUMMER SPECTACULAR
The Valley Equine Super Stallion Incentive returned this year at the 2025 National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) Great American Insurance Group Summer Cutting Spectacular, with a total of $318,500 in added money paid out across three headline classes: the 4-Year-Old Open Derby, 5/6-Year-Old Open Classic, and 4-Year-Old Non-Pro Derby. Here’s a full breakdown of the payouts.
4 Y/O Open Derby
($150,000 Total Purse)
• 1st: $34,500
• 2nd: $24,000
5/6 Y/O Open Classic
($150,000 Total Purse)
• 1st: $34,500
• 2nd: $24,000
4 Y/O Non-Pro Derby
($18,500 Total Purse)
• 1st: $4,255
• 2nd: $2,960
• 3rd: $21,000
• 4th: $16,500
• 5th: $13,500
• 6th: $12,000
• 3rd: $21,000
• 4th: $16,500
• 5th: $13,500
• 6th: $12,000
• 3rd: $2,590
• 4th: $2,035
• 5th: $1,665
• 6th: $1,480
• 7th: $10,500
• 8th: $7,500
• 9th: $6,000
• 10th: $4,500
• 7th: $10,500
• 8th: $7,500
• 9th: $6,000
• 10th: $4,500
• 7th: $1,295
• 8th: $925
• 9th: $740
• 10th: $555
NCHA AND NYCHA RECOGNIZE 2025 RAFTER P YOUTH AWARD RECIPIENT
Aubrey Gist of Placerville, California has received the 2025 Rafter P Youth Award.
"I’d like to thank Rafter P Construction and the NCHA for this amazing opportunity to compete with the best youth cutters in the world!" said Gist.
"I grew up doing high school rodeo and thought it would be fun to add cutting as an event last year. Little did I know after my first lesson I’d be hooked! I plan to advocate for the importance of the alliance between the NCHA and NHSRA—it’s a great gateway to bring new youth into our sport."
owned by james & lisa strickland » standing at valley equine
FOALS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR: VALLEY EQUINE SUPER STALLION INCENTIVE, NCHA SUPER STAKES, NRCHA COW HORSE INCENTIVE, PCCHA
2020 BLUE ROAN STALLION HIGH BROW CAT X MOMS STYLISH SCOOT
All standing committee members appointed for 2025-2026 will begin their three-year term of service immediately following the 2025 NCHA Convention through the annual convention in 2028. Below is a list of NCHA Standing Committee Members effective June 23, 2025
Affiliate Officers/Secretaries
Cheryl Callis (26) R7 – NVEO
Kathy Cardon (26) R2 **
David Costello (27) R6
Brooke Manion (28) R5
Scott McKinsey (26) R8
Dee McLauchlin (26) R8 *
Beth Shaw (28) R4
Michelle Van Dyke (28) R1
Jessy Vandiver (28) R8
Rebecca Waters (28) R3
Deb Watts (28) R3
Amateur
Dawn Brehm (26) R5
Sherryl Byars (28) R7
William Cole (28) R6 **
Bob Cooley (28) R2
Thad Cox (27) R8
Steve Duff (27) R4
Taylor Flowers (26) R6
Jan Gandy (26) R6
Joey Jingoli (28) R8 - NVEO
Sandra Lines (26) R5
Brooke Manion (27) R5 *
Erin Russell (27) R8
Brett Shayler (28) R8 - NVEO
Andrew Sligh (26) R5
Grant Smith (26) R3
Peri Suenram (26) R1
Kelley Tammen (26) R8
Brett Weiss (28) R8 - NVEO
Finance & Audit
Sharon Beach (28) R8
Denise Bendele (26) R7 **
Frank Diehl (27) R5
James Eakin (26) R7
Ora Diehl (28) R5
Jeff Fehrman (26) R5
Jim Haworth (28) R3 - NVEO
Drew Knowles (28)
Garry Merritt (27) R5 *
David Pilcher (28) R4 - NVEO
Elizabeth Quirk (27) R6
Phil Rapp (26) R8
Dean Rebhuhn (28) R1 - NVEO
Mark Senn (28) R5
Madison Smith (27) R8
Governance
Dan Agnew (28) R4 - NVEO
Tracy Barton (26) R5
Sharon Beach (28) R8 - NVEO
Audra Crouse (28) R1
Ora Diehl (26) R5
Tim Dobyns (28) R4
James Eakin (26) R7
Billy Emerson (28) R6
Eric Field (27) R4
Jim Haworth (27) R3
Anita Janssen (28) R3
Skip Jones (26) R7 *
Corrie Rousey (27) R7
Ronnie Smith (27) R6
Jim Wesson (28) R2
Buddy Westphal (26) R1 **
Growth and Development
Shelby Agnew (27) R4 *
Fiina Ugrin Jolley (26) R2
Ora Diehl (26) R5
Mary Freeborn (28) R1
John Hulsey (28) R5
Jim Johnson (26) R4
Joe Kalt (26) R2
Jade Lackey (28) R5
Jane Mancuso (27) R7
Shelly Mowery (26) R8
Chad Newton (28) R5
Darrell Parsons (26) R3
Dean Rebhuhn (26) R1 **
Matt Robinson (27) R6
Judges Rules
Jaime Beamer (26) R8
Monty Buntin (27) R2
Joe Cameron (27) R5 – NVEO
Tim Castilaw (28) R2 - NVEO
Bradey Davis (26) R6
Tyler Delange (28) R4
Walt Erwin (28) R5
Jody Galyean (27) R8 - NVEO
Rock Hedlund (27) R2 *
Josh King (28) R7
Ken Mock (26) R8
Sarah Morine (26) R8
Rick Mowery (26) R8
Nate Miller (27) R1 **
Toddy Pitard (27) R6 - NVEO
Regan Plendl (28) R3
Kenny Pugh (28) R7 – NVEO
Jonathan Rogers (28) R8
Grant Setnicka (26) R8
Tim Smith (26) R2 – NVEO
Scott Weis (27) R8
Limited Age Events
Monty Buntin (27) R2
Bradey Davis (28) R6
Marcea DeGregorio (28) R1
Zeke Entz (26) R5
Clay Johnson (26) R8
Skip Jones (27) R7
Seth Kirchner (28) R3
Chase Lackey (27) R5
John P. Lavelle (27) R4
Phil Rapp (26) R8 *
Ben Roberson (27) R8
Jaime Snider (26) R8
Wendy Warne (26) R5 **
Jason Whitaker (28) R5
Michael Wood (26) R8
Non-Professional
David Booth (26) R2 *
Ryder Carpenter (26) R8
Michelle Cowan (28) R8
Crystal DeWitt (28) R4
Missy Jean Etheridge (27) R6
Kathy Foote (26) R1
Sherry Graham (26) R7
Alison Howell (26) R5
Regan Plendl (26) R3
Elizabeth Quirk (26) R6
Mary Ann Rapp (28) R8
Kylie Rice (26) R8 - NVEO
Jamie Sokol (27) R5
Cameron Thompson (26) R8 **
Eric Van Boekel (26) R4
Priscilla Wilson (26) R5
Professional Trainers
Tracy Barton (28) R5
Phil Benadum (28) R2 *
David Costello (28) R6
Kathy Daughn (26) R7
Josh Deason (28) R5
Casey Green (27) R8
Mason Griffin (28) R6
Jesse Lennox (28) R8
Matt Lopez (26) R8
Ryan Moore (27) R3
Rick Mowery (28) R8
Nick Pilcher (28) R4
Kenny Platt (26) R1 **
Ben Roberson (28) R8
Stallion Owners
Dana Azevedo (27) R2
Crystal DeWitt (26) R4
Benjie Frost (27) R5
Alvin Fults (26) R7
Rock Hedlund (26) R2 *
Lauren Kimble (26) R4
John C. Kratzer (26) R8
Ty Moore (27) R8
Todd Quirk (27) R6 **
Sarah Sherman (26) R1
Madison Smith (26) R8
Kelley Tammen (28) R7
Michael Wood (26) R8
Weekend Show
Sherryl Byars (28) R7
John “Jack” Enright (26) R1 - NVEO
John Fay (27) R2
Byron Green (26) R4
Sue Henrichs (28) R1
Holly Jones (26) R1
Joe Kalt (26) R2
Nate Miller (26) R1 **
Sharon Overstreet (28) R5
Sandra Patton (28) R4
Jason Reed (27) R3
Corrie Rousey (26) R8
Ted Sokol Jr. (26) R8 *
Bill Stein (26) R4
Heather Todd (26) R6
Wendy Warne (27) R5
Youth
Shannon Collier (26) R7
Michelle Cowan (28) R8
Mary Crow (26) R7 **
Sabrina Mesalam (27) R4
Glen Nelson (27) R2
Shawna Parsons (26) R3
Kory Pounds (26) R8 *
Nikki Roberson (28) R8 - NVEO
Leigh Ann White (27) R6
Kristen York (26) R1
Brent Young (28) R2
* - Chairman
** - Vice Chairman
R - Region
NVEO - Non-Voting Ex-Officio (26) Term Expires in 2026 (27) Term Expires in 2027 (28) Term Expires in 2028
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LTE $11 Million
LTE $10.2 Million
AUSTIN SHEPARD
MATT GAINES
R e a s o n f o r E v a l u a t i o n :
Judge Evaluation Form
C o m m e n d a t i o n : I w i s h t o r e c o g n i z e a n i n d i v i d u a l w h o i s h a r d w o r k i n g a n d c o n s i s t e n t l y d o e s a g o o d j o b
S p o t C h e c k : I d o n o t w i s h t o m a k e a n o f f i c i a l p r o t e s t , b u t I w a n t a c l a ss r e v i e w e d b y t h e W e e k e n d M o n i t o r
O f f i c i a l Pr o t e s t : I a m e n c l o s i n g t h e p r o t e s t f e e ( $ 1 , 0 0 0 * f o r L A E o r $ 5 0 0 * f o r W e e k e n d ) I u n d e rs t a n d t h a t I
m u s t b e a n o w n e r o r e x h i b i t o r i n t h e c l a ss t o f i l e a p r o t e s t
*Fee is refundable if protest is upheld.
J u d g e (s) n a m e (s) a b o u t w h o m y o u a r e s u b m i t t i n g t h i s r e p o r t :
I f y o u a r e s u b m i t t i n g a c o m m e n d a t i o n , p l e a s e d e s c r i b e w h y y o u f e e l t h i s j u d g e d e s e r v e s r e c o g n i t i o n :
I f y o u a r e s u b m i t t i n g a S p o t C h e c k r e q u e s t o r a n O f f i c i a l Pr o t e s t , p l e a s e c o m p l e t e t h e f o l l o w i n g :
S h o w N a m e : S h o w D a t e s :
S h o w C i t y a n d S t a t e : C l a ss N a m e :
1 H a v e y o u r e v i e w e d t h e t a p e ? Y e s N o
2 I n y o u r o p i n i o n , h o w d i d t h e j u d g e d o o n p e n a l t y a p p l i c a t i o n ?
E x c e l l e n t A v e r a g e P o o r
3 I n y o u r o p i n i o n , h o w d i d t h e j u d g e d o o n “ p l a c i n g s ’ b a s e d o n r u n c o n t e n t ? E x c e l l e n t A v e r a g e P o o r
4 I n y o u r o p i n i o n , d i d t h e j u d g e a c t p r o f e ss i o n a l l y ? Y e s N o
I f h e / s h e d i d n o t a c t p r o f e ss i o n a l l y , p l e a s e e x p l a i n :
5 I n y o u r o p i n i o n , h o w w as t h e j u d g e ’ s p e r f o r m a n c e d u r i n g t h e e n t i r e s h o w ?
6. P l e a s e e x p l a i n f u l l y t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s t h a t p r o m p t e d y o u t o c o m p l e t e t h i s r e p o r t :
E x c e l l e n t A v e r a g e P o o r
M e m b e r N a m e : M e m b e r N u m b e r: D a t e :
E m a i l A d d r e ss : P h o n e N u m b e r:
T h i s f o r m i s a v a i l a b l e o n l i n e a t n c h a c u t t i n g c o m T h i s f o r m i s c o n f i d e n t i a l a n d w i l l b e s e e n o n l y b y o f f i c i a l s i n t h e N C H A J u d g i n g D e p a rt m e n t T h i s r e p o r t c a n b e u s e d t o c o m m e n d a h a r d - w o r k i n g , c o n s i s t e n t i n d i v i d u a l w h i c h w i l l h e l p t h e J u d g i n g D e p a r t m e n t r e c o g n i z e t h e b e s t j u d g e s F o r S p o t C h e c k s a n d O f f i c i a l Pr o t e s t s : a I f a p a t t e r n o f c o m p l a i n t s e m e r g e s r e g a r d i n g a n i n d i v i d u a l j u d g e , t h e J u d g i n g D e p a r t m e n t w i l l r e v i e w t a p e s o f t h e s h o w o r s h o w s i n q u e s t i o n a n d t a k e f u r t h e r a c t i o n w h e n a p p r o p r i a t e b E v a l u a t i o n m u s t b e s u b m i t t e d b y a c o n t e s t a n t i n t h e c l a ss o r a n o w n e r w h o h a s a h o rs e i n t h e c l a ss c T h i s E v a l u a t i o n m u s t b e f i l e d w i t h i n s e v e n ( 7 ) d a y s o f t h e i n c i d e n t d A m e m b e r c a n s u b m i t o n l y o n e J u d g e E v a l u a t i o n F o r m i n a c a l e n d a r m o n t h e W h e n s u b m i t t i n g a n o f f i c i a l p r o t e s t , t h e p r o t e s t f e e ( $ 1 , 0 0 0 f o r L A E o r $ 5 0 0 f o r W e e k e n d ) m u s t b e e n c l o s e d
S u b m i t f o r m t o N C H A J u d g e s D e p a r t m e n t , 2 6 0 B a i l e y A v e n u e , F o r t W o r t h , T X 7 6 1 0 7 / j u d g e s@ n c h a c u t t i n g c o m R e v i s e d 5 / 1 6 / 2 0 2 4
Break
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Important Satefy Information
As with all drugs, side effects may occur. For intramuscular use in horses only. Not for use in humans. Pentosan polysulfate sodium is a weak anticoagulant. Caution should be used when administering Zycosan if you are taking an anticoagulant. In case of accidental self-injection, seek immediate medical attention. If product comes into contact with skin, rinse skin thoroughly with water and seek medical attention if needed. Horses with hypersensitivity to pentosan polysulfate sodium should not receive Zycosan. Do not use Zycosan concurrently with other anticoagulant drugs. Do not use in horses with clotting disorders or within 24 hours of surgical procedures. Caution should be used when administering this drug before or after strenuous activities. Caution should be used when NSAIDS are administered concurrently due to the anticoagulant effects of Zycosan. If Zycosan and NSAIDS are used concurrently, horses should be monitored for hemorrhage or other clinical signs of abnormal bleeding. The safe use of Zycosan has not been evaluated in breeding, pregnant, or lactating horses. The safety of long-term repeat use of Zycosan has not been evaluated. The most frequently reported adverse reactions are injection site reactions, prolongation of coagulation parameters (activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and prothrombin time (PT). Refer to the prescribing information for complete details or visit www.dechra-us.com.
Zycosan®
(pentosan polysulfate sodium injection)
250 mg/mL
For intramuscular use in horses only.
Brief Summary (For Full Prescribing Information, see package insert)
CAUTION: Federal law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian.
DESCRIPTION: Zycosan contains pentosan polysulfate sodium, a semi-synthetic polysulfated xylan. It is a pale yellow to brownish yellow, clear, sterile solution.
INDICATION: For the control of clinical signs associated with osteoarthritis in horses.
CONTRAINDICATIONS: Horses with hypersensitivity to pentosan polysulfate sodium or any of the inactive ingredients in Zycosan should not receive Zycosan. Do not use Zycosan concurrently with other anticoagulant drugs. Do not use in horses with clotting disorders or within 24 hours of surgical procedures (see Warnings and Precautions).
WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS:
User Safety Warnings: Not for use in humans. Keep out of reach of children. Pentosan polysulfate sodium is a weak anticoagulant. Caution should be used when administering Zycosan if you are taking an anticoagulant. In case of accidental self-injection, seek immediate medical attention. If product comes into contact with skin, rinse skin thoroughly with water and seek medical attention if needed. To obtain a Safety Data Sheet (SDS), contact Dechra at (866) 933-2472.
Animal Safety Warnings and Precautions: Zycosan has been shown to prolong coagulation parameters up to 24 hours after injection, therefore caution should be used when administering this drug before or after strenuous activities (see Target Animal Safety). Due to the anticoagulant effects, this drug may exacerbate Exercise Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage (EIPH).
The concurrent use of NSAIDs with Zycosan has not been evaluated. Due to the anticoagulant effects of Zycosan and known anticoagulant effects of some NSAIDs, caution should be used if NSAIDs are concurrently administered. Horses concurrently treated with Zycosan and NSAIDs should be monitored for hemorrhage or other clinical signs of abnormal bleeding (e.g., petechiae, ecchymosis, or epistaxis). The safety of long-term repeat use of Zycosan has not been evaluated. Pigmentary changes in the retina (pigmentary maculopathy) have been reported in human patients following long-term oral use of pentosan polysulfate sodium. It is not known if a similar finding occurs in horses. The safe use of Zycosan has not been evaluated in breeding, pregnant, or lactating horses.
Other Warnings:
Do not use in horses intended for human consumption.
ADVERSE REACTIONS:
Injection site reactions were the most frequently reported adverse reactions in the field study. Injection site reactions were associated with clinicopathology changes in some cases. Other adverse reactions reported in more than one horse were prolongation of coagulation parameters (activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and prothrombin time (PT)), lethargy, behavior changes, and colic. To report suspected adverse events, for technical assistance or to obtain a copy of the Safety Data Sheet (SDS), contact Dechra at (866) 933-2472 . For additional information about adverse drug experience reporting for animal drugs, contact FDA at 1-888-FDAVETS or online at http://www.fda.gov/reportanimalae.
STORAGE CONDITIONS: Store at room temperature 68-77°F (20-25°C), with excursions to 59-86°F (15-30°C).
MANUFACTURED FOR:
Dechra Veterinary Products 7015 College Boulevard, Suite 525 Overland Park, KS 66211 USA
Approved by FDA under NADA # 141-559
Zycosan is a trademark of Dechra Limited.
R 01 2023
Pursuant to the NCHA’s Constitution and Bylaws, the director elections for terms of service for the period of June 2025 - June 2028 were concluded on March 11, 2025 All directors elected in this year’s election will begin their three-year term of service at the commencement of the NCHA Convention. Below is a listing of the NCHA Board of Directors effective June 20, 2025
Alabama
Julie Beasley (27)
James Hooper (LD)
Joey Nail (26)
Andrew Sligh (27)
Arizona
David Booth (28)
Ashley Bosack (28)
Dawn Chapman (28)
Glen Nelson (26)
Debra Winard (28)
Mike Wood (26)
Arkansas
Diana Cunningham (28)
Toddy Pitard (LD)
Tommy Williams (28) (EC)
Lewis Wray (LD)
California & Hawaii
Robert Adams (26)
Dana Azevedo (26)
Phil Benadum (27) (EC)
Kathy Cardon (26)
Tim Castilaw (27)
Norm Clark (26)
Katie Fonsen-Young (26)
Rock Hedlund (27)
Fiina Ugrin Jolley (26)
Suzy Rodoni-Silverberg (27)
Stan Williams, Jr. (26)
Brent Young (27)
Colorado
Nicole Bauler (27)
Nate Miller (27)
Craig Morris (28)
Steve Norris (LD)
Ron Pietrafeso (LD)
Kenny Platt (27)
Erin Smith (27)
Florida
Ora Diehl (LD) (EC)
Sandra Lines (28)
Brittany Overstreet (26)
Sharon Overstreet (26)
Pam Scott (28)
Illinois
Rick Jackson (28)
Scott Shaw (26)
Indiana
Byron Green (28)
Nick Pilcher (28)
Iowa & Wisconsin
Seth Kirchner (26)
Kansas
Danny Bryson (28)
Kirby Smith (26) (EC)
Kentucky
Trent Harrison (26)
Louisiana
Robert Charles Brown (26)
Gwen Coie (27)
Keith Deaville (LD)
Elizabeth Quirk (28)
Bruce Richerson (LD)
Trey Rogillio (27)
Michigan
Dan Agnew (27)
Crystal DeWitt (27)
Minnesota
J. P. Bell (26)
Brian Cottrell (28)
Mississippi
William Cole (27)
Taylor Flowers (27)
Ricky Lewis (27)
Missouri
Ernie Beutenmiller, Jr. (LD)
Greg Beutenmiller (27)
Sonny Martin (27)
Ryan Moore (27)
Montana
Peri Suenram (26)
Michelle Van Dyke (28)
New England (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT), NY, NJ & PA
Marty Miller (26)
Bill Stein (26)
Jack Werner (26)
New Mexico
Joel Carson (28)
Richard Hicks (28)
North Carolina
Chase Lackey (26)
Garry Merritt (27)
Bob Meyer (27)
Barnwell Ramsey – President
North & South Dakota
Tom Holmes (28)
Jason Reed (28)
Ohio
Jeff Brown (27)
Tim Dobyns (26)
Steve Duff (27)
John P. Lavelle (27) (EC)
Chuck Smith (LD)
Oklahoma
Cara Brewer (28) (EC)
Michelle Cowan (26)
Brandon Dufurrena (27)
Glenda Ericsson (28)
Jody Galyean (28)
Kathleen Moore – President-Elect
Ty Moore (28)
Bill Riddle (LD)
Brad Wilson (28)
Oregon
Julie Clarke (26)
Marcea DeGregorio (28)
Mary Freeborn (27)
Jack Holt (27)
South Carolina
Tony Smith (28)
Wendy Warne (28)
Tennessee
Billy Emerson (26)
Sylvia Fuentes (27)
Jan Gandy (27)
Cynthia Patty (27)
Ronnie Smith (27)
Texas North
Jeremy Barwick (27)
Jaime Beamer (26)
Chris Benedict (LD)
Mary Bradford (27)
Lindy Burch (LD)
R. L. Chartier (27)
Dennie Dunn (LD)
Kelle Earnheart (27)
Jo Ellard (LD)
Jennifer Foland (26)
Matt Gaines (27)
Casey Green (27) (EC)
Leon Harrel (LD)
Cody Hedlund (27)
Tom Lyons (LD)
Frank Merrill (26)
Matt Miller (27)
Jim Milner (LD)
Ken Mock (27)
Bruce Morine (27)
Sarah Morine (27)
Mike Mowery (LD)
Rick Mowery (27)
Mary Ann Rapp (27)
Phil Rapp (LD)
Tarin Rice (27)
Ben Roberson (27)
Jonathan Rogers (26)
Geoffrey Sheehan (28)
Ted Sokol Jr. (LD)
Cameron Thompson (27)
Chubby Turner (LD)
Bronc Willoughby (LD)
Michael Wood (27)
Texas South
Denise Bendele (26)
Liz Bray (28)
Frank Bowen (27)
Constantine Caloudas (27)
Caroline Collins (28)
James Davison (28)
James Eakin (26)
Utah
Danielle Pace (27)
Steve Williams (27)
Virginia, West Virginia, D.C., Maryland & Delaware
Roy Bauer (26)
Jim Johnson (26)
Ryan Smith (26)
Washington & Alaska
Holly Jones (26)
Nina Lundgren (27)
Dean Rebhuhn (26)
Georgia
Alison Howell (26)
Ryan Howell (27)
John Hulsey (27)
Mark Senn (LD)
Idaho
Mike Giannini (27)
Barbi Madgwick (28)
Nebraska
J.B. Atkins (26)
Nevada
Cookie Banuelos (26)
Patti Lund (27)
Barbara Brooks (LD)
Zeke Entz (28)
Kevin Herzke (26)
Jason Whitaker (26)
Texas East
Punk Carter (LD)
David Costello – Vice President
Bradey Davis (27)
Bobby Hunt (26)
Janice Little (27)
Sam Wilson (LD)
Texas West
Cheryl Callis (28)
Sherry Graham (27)
Skip Jones (26)
Coleta Rosson (26)
Steve Smith (27) (EC)
Wyoming
Audra Crouse (26)
TBD
Eastern Canada
Eric Van Boekel (28)
Amanda Law (26)
Western/Central Canada
Connie Down-Cicoria (28)
Darcy Geherman (28)
Les Jack (26) (EC)
Sandy Reid (28)
Amanda Smith (28)
Doug Wiens (27)
Europe
Gaetan Foulatier (27)
Denis Pini (28)
Jana Pini (28)
Sergio Traverso (28)
Pietro Valeri (26)
(LD) Life Director (EC) Executive Committee
Term Expires: (26) 2026 (27) 2027 (28) 2028
JAN. 17
INVITATIONAL RANCH HORSE
SHOW & SALE
FORT WORTH HERITAGE SALE featuring:
• OPEN
• NON-PRO
• $25K LIMITED NOVICE
• $25K NOVICE HORSE, NON-PRO
• $50K AMATEUR
• UNLIMITED AMATEUR
AQHA Best of the Remuda Sale & 69 th Annual Select Quarter Horse Sale
• YOUTH - featuring: $5K in scholarships courtesy of NCHA Foundation JAN. 21 NCHA CUTT ING CL A SSES: HORSE AUCTIONS
NCHA Suspension and Denial of Privileges List
Probations and suspensions may have been cleared by the time the magazine is published and mailed. The following persons have been suspended from the National Cutting Horse Association and/or denied all privileges of the Association until further notice. Proceedings have been conducted in accordance with National Cutting Horse Association Rules.
*Please note that the provisions of former NCHA Rule 40 have recently been merged into current NCHA Rule 4. An asterisk beside the Rule 40 number in the following list denotes that the suspension was made pursuant to former Rule 40. Please see the provisions of current Rule 4 on the NCHA Website for current guidelines relating to suspension for failure to make payments.
New Suspensions
A PERFECT “10”, Adrienne Patou, Fort Worth, Texas.
AARON, CHRISTOPHER, Walker, Louisiana
ABEAR, KENNETH, Burleson, Texas.
ADJUSTO OF TEXAS, Weatherford, Texas.
ADKINS, RL (ROB), Sweetwater, Texas.
AGVEST INTERNATIONAL QUARTER HORSE CUTTING #1, Houston, Texas.
AIR RIDE HITCH, Beach Island, South Carolina.
ALLEN, CHRISTEN, Creswell, Oregon.
ALL PHASE ARENA, Spring Grove, Minnesota.
AMERICAN MASTERCRAFT, Boca Raton, Florida.
AMIGOS EMPLEO LEGAL, INC., Dallas, Texas.
ANDERSON, MERRILL, Marshall, Texas.
ANDERSON, SUSAN, Canby, Oregon.
AERIAL LIGHTING, Watseka, Illinois
ARNOLD, MIKE, dba CUT A COW, Springfield, Missouri.
ASHLEY, SHELLY, Sayre, Oklahoma.
ATLAS HORSEWALKER, THE , Plano, Texas.
AUBIN, GEORGE, dba WICHITA LAND AND CATTLE CO., WHC, SIGMA CORP, et al, Houston, Texas.
TUBAUGH, JOHN, EAGLE HORSE TRADING CO., Kansas City, Missouri.
TURNER, KELSEY, Eufaula, Oklahoma
TUTTLE, FERRELL, Victoria, Texas.
NUTTALL, WILL, Wickenburg, AZ July 10, 2025 - April 19, 2026 (Standing Rules:35.A.1, 35.B.1, 35.C.3)
TATUM, CASS, Overbrook, OK August 19, 2025- February 19,2026 (Standing Rule:35.B.1.b)
WISEHART, ERIC, Hemet, CA July 10, 2025 - October 10, 2025 (Standing Rule 35. C.1)
Rule 40*
Rule 40*
Rule 40*
40*
40*
40*
TYNAN, RUSSELL, Mesquite, Texas. Rule 40*
UNITED SPRTSMANS ASSOCIATION, Fort Davis, Alabama.
UTAH TAILORING, Baird, Texas.
VAN HAM QUARTER HORSES, Pilot Point, Texas.
VAUGHN, DAN, Waxahachie, Texas.
VAUGHN, LLOYD & SHARON, Beeville, Texas.
VAUGHN, LLOYD (EMMITT), Kenedy, Texas.
WALKER, MILLIE, Opelousas, Louisiana
WALL, TREY, Valley View, Texas.
WALLACE, LOUIS N. & LINDA, Belton, Texas.
WALTON, BOB, Fort Worth, Texas.
WALTON, GERRY, FLY TECHNOLOGIES, Bedford, Texas.
WATKINS, BILL, Denton, Texas.
WEATHERBUSTER, INC., El Cajon, California.
WELLS, JACQUELINE, Austin, Texas.
WELLS, JULIE, Boyd, Texas
WESTERN CAROLINA HORSE SALES, Central, South Carolina.
WESTERN TRUCKWORKS, Edmond, Oklahoma.
WESTON, DONNA, Parma, Idaho.
40*
40*
40*
40*
40*
40*
40*
40*
40*
40*
40*
40*
40*
40*
40*
40*
40*
40* WHITE, JEANNE, Pampa, Texas.
WILLETT, TIMOTHY, Dallas, Texas.
Millhouse’s Miracle
Weeks after colic surgery, Velvets Revolver returned with Will Bushaw to mark a 225 and win the Senior Youth Scholarship Cutting
BY MICHAELA JAYCOX | PHOTO COURTESY OF WILL BUSHAW
Just weeks after undergoing a second colic surgery, Velvets Revolver—better known as “Millhouse”—and rider Will Bushaw marked an unforgettable 225 to win the Senior Youth NCHA Foundation Scholarship Cutting. For most horses, returning to the show pen so soon after surgery would be unthinkable. For Millhouse, it was the latest chapter in a story that has already defied every odd imaginable.
Two years ago, Millhouse’s life nearly ended in Gillette, Wyoming, during the National High School Finals. After a strong first round, he suddenly became ill. He was rushed overnight to Colorado State University’s veterinary hospital, where he was diagnosed with colitis. He spent nearly a month in the ICU, isolated from daylight and other
horses, enduring a tough fight for survival.
The prognosis grew so grim that the Bushaw family prepared to say goodbye. Chad Bushaw, Will’s father, arranged to move Millhouse to a friend’s ranch for his final day—green grass, mountain air, and dignity. But once turned out, Millhouse, who had been too weak to stand, buried his head in the grass and never stopped eating.
Against what most advised, the Bushaws postponed euthanasia. Then came an unconventional suggestion from family friend Missy Jean Etheridge: a fecal transplant from a healthy horse to help restore Millhouse’s gut function. Laramie, Wyoming, veterinarian Dr. Kaylee Johnson carried it out, and slowly, signs of recovery emerged. Over
weeks, Millhouse’s strength returned, and eventually he was able to return home to Texas.
Recovery was far from complete. Severe laminitis caused rotation in all four feet, and in the two years since his illness, he has endured two colic surgeries. Yet through the love, passion, meticulous care, expert farriery, and top veterinarians, Millhouse regained his health.
When Will began riding him again this spring, it wasn’t to go back in the arena to win. “We just kind of puttered around, kind of for old time’s sake,” Chad said. “It was emotional.” The idea of returning to competition didn’t come until later—after Millhouse started feeling sharp again.
By late spring, the pair found their old rhythm, winning multiple classes just before the June colic surgery threatened to sideline them again. But barely six weeks later, they walked into the arena in Fort Worth Will’s last Scholarship Cutting, determined to go out big.
The first go was solid, but Will knew he’d need more in the finals. “I told everyone, ‘I’m going in there to mark the biggest score I can, or I’m walking out,’” he recalled. Millhouse felt great, locking onto cows with the same ease that has made him one of the winningest youth horses of all time.
When Will saw he scored a 225, he knew it was special. “It’s almost like a fairytale ending,” he said. “With everything Millhouse has been through, to have our last youth run together be that good—it’s a dream come true.” For the Bushaws, just having Millhouse still here is the real victory. Everything else was a gift.
