Welcome to the NZcha
On behalf of the New Zealand Cutting Horse Association and the thousands of Cutting Horse enthusiasts from around the globe, thank you for your interest in one of the most exciting equine sports in the world.
It is the NZCHA’s mission to promote and encourage the breeding and exhibition of Cutting Horses.
We intend to promote and grow the sport of "Cutting" in New Zealand.
If you:
- Love horses,
-Enjoy watching or riding a highly trained intelligent equine,
- Enjoy team sports, where the whole family can be involved,
Then "Cutting" could be for you.
This site can provide you with information regarding shows and special events, where your local club is, who to contact and much more.
The NZCHA is the governing body of this equine sport in New Zealand. We are affiliated to the NCHA (Australia) who publish the Rule Book that we follow (with amendments to suit our local conditions).
Please let us know if we can be of service to you.
The NZCHA welcomes all of your comments and suggestions.
Enjoy the cut!
It is the NZCHA’s mission to promote and encourage the breeding and exhibition of Cutting Horses.
We intend to promote and grow the sport of "Cutting" in New Zealand.
If you:
- Love horses,
-Enjoy watching or riding a highly trained intelligent equine,
- Enjoy team sports, where the whole family can be involved,
Then "Cutting" could be for you.
This site can provide you with information regarding shows and special events, where your local club is, who to contact and much more.
The NZCHA is the governing body of this equine sport in New Zealand. We are affiliated to the NCHA (Australia) who publish the Rule Book that we follow (with amendments to suit our local conditions).
Please let us know if we can be of service to you.
The NZCHA welcomes all of your comments and suggestions.
Enjoy the cut!
what is cutting?
Cutting is a western-style equestrian competition in which a horse and rider work together before a judge or panel of judges to demonstrate the horse's athleticism and ability to handle cattle. Modern competition utilizes a 2 1⁄2 minute performance, called a "run." Each contestant is assisted by four helpers: two are designated as turnback riders, who help to keep cattle from running off to the back of the arena, the other two are designated as herd holders to keep the cattle bunched together and prevent potential strays from escaping into the work area. Cutting cattle are typically young steers and heifers that customarily range in size from 180 to 290 kg. They usually are of Angus or Hereford lineage though may be a mix of Crossbred beef cattle, including Charolais or Brahman lineage.
A contestant is required to make at least two cuts from the herd, one of which must be a cut from deep inside the herd while the other(s) can be peeled from the edges. Once the selected cow has been driven clear of the herd, the contestant commits the horse by dropping the rein hand to feed slack and give the horse its head. At that point, it is almost entirely up to the horse except for allowable leg cues from the rider to prevent the cow from returning to the herd; a job the best horses do with relish, savvy, and style.
Cutting dates back to a time when ranchers in the American West hired cowboys to work herds of cattle out on the open range. Certain horses specialized in sorting and separating individual cattle from the herd when needed. Cutting moved from the open range to modern arena competition, often held indoors. Some sanctioned events at the international level offer added million dollar purses.
Cutting horse competition is primarily governed by the rules and regulations established by the New Zealand Cutting Horse Association which is an affiliate of the NCHA - Australia.
Judging and Rules
Cutting events consist of individual runs in each class within a respective division. Each contestant is allowed 2½ minutes to show their horse to a panel of judges. A contestant is assisted by four helpers of their choice: two are designated as turnback riders who keep cattle from running off to the back of the arena, and the other two are designated as herd holders to keep the remaining cattle bunched together and prevent potential strays from escaping into the work area. A contestant is required to make at least two cuts from the herd, one of which must be a cut from deep inside the herd; others can be peeled from the edges. Once the cut has been made and the selected animal has been driven clear of the herd, the contestant commits the horse to that cow by dropping the rein hand to the horse's neck which gives the horse its head. At that point it is almost entirely up to the horse to prevent the calf from returning to the herd. Judges will score a run on a scale from 60 to 80, with 70 being an average score.
A performance is judged on a number of factors, including the overall attitude of the horse (called "courage") as well as its eye appeal, herd work, control of the cow, degree of difficulty, time worked, and working without visible control by the rider. A rider can be disqualified for using illegal equipment, leaving the working area before the time limit is reached, and for inhumane treatment of the horse. A horse and rider team is penalized if forced off a cow, if the horse charges a cow, excessive herd holder help, and judges either add or take away points based on the horse and rider's performance throughout their run.
Variables considered in judging include:
Competition divisions common in cutting are:
A contestant is required to make at least two cuts from the herd, one of which must be a cut from deep inside the herd while the other(s) can be peeled from the edges. Once the selected cow has been driven clear of the herd, the contestant commits the horse by dropping the rein hand to feed slack and give the horse its head. At that point, it is almost entirely up to the horse except for allowable leg cues from the rider to prevent the cow from returning to the herd; a job the best horses do with relish, savvy, and style.
Cutting dates back to a time when ranchers in the American West hired cowboys to work herds of cattle out on the open range. Certain horses specialized in sorting and separating individual cattle from the herd when needed. Cutting moved from the open range to modern arena competition, often held indoors. Some sanctioned events at the international level offer added million dollar purses.
Cutting horse competition is primarily governed by the rules and regulations established by the New Zealand Cutting Horse Association which is an affiliate of the NCHA - Australia.
Judging and Rules
Cutting events consist of individual runs in each class within a respective division. Each contestant is allowed 2½ minutes to show their horse to a panel of judges. A contestant is assisted by four helpers of their choice: two are designated as turnback riders who keep cattle from running off to the back of the arena, and the other two are designated as herd holders to keep the remaining cattle bunched together and prevent potential strays from escaping into the work area. A contestant is required to make at least two cuts from the herd, one of which must be a cut from deep inside the herd; others can be peeled from the edges. Once the cut has been made and the selected animal has been driven clear of the herd, the contestant commits the horse to that cow by dropping the rein hand to the horse's neck which gives the horse its head. At that point it is almost entirely up to the horse to prevent the calf from returning to the herd. Judges will score a run on a scale from 60 to 80, with 70 being an average score.
A performance is judged on a number of factors, including the overall attitude of the horse (called "courage") as well as its eye appeal, herd work, control of the cow, degree of difficulty, time worked, and working without visible control by the rider. A rider can be disqualified for using illegal equipment, leaving the working area before the time limit is reached, and for inhumane treatment of the horse. A horse and rider team is penalized if forced off a cow, if the horse charges a cow, excessive herd holder help, and judges either add or take away points based on the horse and rider's performance throughout their run.
Variables considered in judging include:
- confidence when entering the herd with minimal disturbance;
- making a clean cut by setting up a cow in the middle of the working area;
- level of skill and the degree of difficulty involved in containing a cow as close to the center of the working area as possible, all on a loose rein without disturbing the herd;
- the horse's show of courage when handling difficult situations, such as holding a cow that pushes exceptionally hard to return to the herd;
- overall eye appeal of the work;
- causing noticeable disturbance to the herd upon entering or during the work;
- failure to make a deep cut;
- using the back fence to turn a cow;
- rider quitting a cow while it is facing the horse and still in motion (illegal quit or hot quit);
- horse independently quitting a cow;
- allowing a cow to get back to the herd;
- rider reining, cueing or positioning the horse during a work;
Competition divisions common in cutting are:
- Professional
- Non-pro
- Youth: Riders must be 18 years old or younger to compete as a youth.
- Back fence: An area of the fence behind the cattle. A horse is penalized 3 points each time the cow being worked stops or turns within 3 feet of the back fence.
- Baldy: a cow with a large white marking or "bonnet" covering the face.
- Blow up: When a horse or cow panics.
- Brindle: A cow with a mottled coat color.
- Cheat: A horse that looks for an easy way out of working correctly.
- Collected: A horse that is balanced under the rider so that it can quickly respond to the moves of a cow.
- Commit: Show intention to work a specific cow by looking at it and stepping towards it.
- Cut for shape: When a rider selects a cow on the edge of the herd rather than riding through the herd and driving a cow out.
- Deep cut: To select a cow from well within the herd, not from the edge of the herd. Under NCHA rules, the cutter must make at least one deep cut per run.
- Draw cattle: A horse's ability to make cows look at them and come towards them.
- Drop on a cow: Crouching posture of the horse when a cow has been cut and separated and the rider drops his rein hand on the horse's neck.
- Dry work: Basic cutting horse training done without the use of cattle also known as flatwork.
- Frosted: a cow with white markings on the tips of the ears.
- Heading a cow: Occurs when a rider places a horse in front of a cow in order to stop the cow or to force it to change directions.
- Herd holder: One of two riders positioned on each side of the herd to help the cutter make his cut and to keep the herd grouped while the cutter works. They help to control the majority of the cattle so the rider can focus on the single cow they are trying to separate from the herd.
- Mott: A cow with multiple colors on the face.
- Sweep: The horse sits back on its rear end and moves its front end, front legs extended, with a cow.
