Versatility Showcase - Working Western - The Art of Cutting

On the ranch the cutting pen is a pretty good size corral where the whole herd, (or a portion that fits) is brought in and the ranch hands proceed to cut out certain cattle which need to be separated for some reason. Ranchers separate cattle for a variety of reasons. Some cows stay at the home place while others go to summer pasture. During calving, mother cows close to calving get separated from those who will calve later so that the rancher can keep a closer eye on them. Calves get separated from their moms in the fall for shipping. Replacement heifers get separated from the herd for special feeding purposes.

Cutting out cattle on the ranch usually involves two or more horses and riders. At least one pair guard the gate and the cutting horse and rider work the herd. The cutter goes in, eases the cow away from the herd and makes the necessary moves to keep the cow moving toward the gate. The gate tender blocks the gate until the target cow gets close, then rolls out to help the cutter push the cow through the gate.

Cutting competitions are derived from this necessary work on the ranch and have become more of an art form. In cutting competition the judge focuses on many different things; how the horse enters the herd, how difficult the cow is to handle, how well the horse makes the moves to keep the cow in front of the herd. Cutting in the arena is done with a team of five riders. Two herd holders, two turn back riders, and the cutter. The herd holders are posted in opposite corners of the arena next to the herd and the turn back riders are out in front of the cutter at opposite sides of the arena.

The purpose of the herd holders is to keep the herd from moving out toward the cutter once he or she has made the cut. The turn back riders keep the cow centered on the cutter. The team can make or break the score for the cutter. Like on the ranch, if you do not have good help, all is lost, including the cow.

Cutting competition is challenging and exciting for both the horse and rider. Below are some general rules of cutting competition.

Rules of the Competition

The judge may mark from 60 to 80 points. The horse enters the arena with a score of 70 (so it is said) and the judge adds or subtracts points from that score.

The cutting horse must keep the cow out in front of the herd for 2.5 minutes. It is desirable that the cutter work at least two cows, but no more than three during the 2.5 minutes.

Credit is given if the contestant makes a deep cut into the herd, keeps the cow centered, rides on a loose rein

The contestant is penalized 1 point if he directs any noise toward the cattle, uses the reins after the cow is cut from the herd, or for visibly cues the horse in any manner after the cut is made (using the spur behind the shoulder is not considered a visible cue). The contestant is also penalized a point if he loses his working advantage on the cow (the horse does not turn when the cow does).

The contestant is penalized 3 points if he scatters the herd or picks up cattle while working the cow through fault of the horse, uses the back fence to stop or turn the cow being worked, uses two hands on the reins, spurs the horse in the shoulder, or if the cutting horse demonstrates unnecessary roughness by biting or kicking the cattle. The contestant also loses 3 points if he quits a cow that is not obviously stopped or turned away from the cutter.

The contestant is penalized 5 points if his horse quits a cow, or loses a cow while working. He is also penalized 5 points if he does not make a clean cut resulting in a single cow, or if the cutter changes cattle after visibly making a commitment to a specific cow.

An automatic score of 60 is given to any contestant whose horse turns his tail to the cow he is working.

A contestant is disqualified if he trains on or abuses his horse while in the arena..