JUDGES PAGE
JUDGES LIST 2023/2024
South Island
Janine Taylor AA
North Island
Grant Mackie AAA
Craig Laird AAA
Steve Gregory AAA
Bryan Lowcay AA
Melissa Poingdestre AA
Graeme McInnes AA
Helen Holmes A
Mindy Matchitt A
South Island
Janine Taylor AA
North Island
Grant Mackie AAA
Craig Laird AAA
Steve Gregory AAA
Bryan Lowcay AA
Melissa Poingdestre AA
Graeme McInnes AA
Helen Holmes A
Mindy Matchitt A
2024 judges card information
Below is an educational video by Andy Adams, Director of Judges for NCHA, covering the use of the 2024 Judges card.
Any questions on the nee judges cards can be directed to Grant Mackie & Steve Gregory.
Any questions on the nee judges cards can be directed to Grant Mackie & Steve Gregory.
JUDGES CASEBOOK

NZCHA Judges Case Book ver2019 |

Judges Casebook |
For Judges- Information and links
- How To Impress The Judge And Score Higher With Gavin Jordan! - Cutting Horse Training Videos, Clinics, Coaching - CHTOLivechtolive.com/videos/how-to-impress-the-judge-and-score-higher-with-gavin-jordan/
- Judges Card Explained with Morgan Cromer - Cutting Horse Training Videos, Clinics, Coaching - CHTOLive
- Inside The Judges Stand: The Open Class - Listen To Judges Critique These Runs! - Cutting Horse Training Videos, Clinics, Coaching - CHTOLive
- Inside The Judges Stand: The Open Class - Listen To Judges Critique These Runs! - Cutting Horse Training Videos, Clinics, Coaching - CHTOLive
- What Are Judges Looking For? - Cutting Horse Training Videos, Clinics, Coaching - CHTOLive
WHAT IS THE GOAL?
In the contest arena, the art of the cutting horse comes alive in a classic test of intelligence, training, breeding, and skill. In competition, the cutting horse and rider must work together as a team in demonstrating their cattle handling skills.
The contest begins as the pair approaches the herd. The horse and rider have two-and-a-half minutes to complete their work. As the team crosses the timeline, the judge's job begins!
Cutting, like skating or gymnastics, is judged by NZCHA-certified judge(s) who rate the horse's performance by using a point scale. A score starts at 70 and then moves up or down from there based on credits and penalties for events that happen during the run. The judge is the one who determines and applies those factors. Judges use the official NZCHA Judges Score Card to notate and mark their scores. Most scores range from 60 - 80.
Factors that help determine a scoreCredit on a run can be earned by a number of variables, such as:
In the contest arena, the art of the cutting horse comes alive in a classic test of intelligence, training, breeding, and skill. In competition, the cutting horse and rider must work together as a team in demonstrating their cattle handling skills.
The contest begins as the pair approaches the herd. The horse and rider have two-and-a-half minutes to complete their work. As the team crosses the timeline, the judge's job begins!
Cutting, like skating or gymnastics, is judged by NZCHA-certified judge(s) who rate the horse's performance by using a point scale. A score starts at 70 and then moves up or down from there based on credits and penalties for events that happen during the run. The judge is the one who determines and applies those factors. Judges use the official NZCHA Judges Score Card to notate and mark their scores. Most scores range from 60 - 80.
Factors that help determine a scoreCredit on a run can be earned by a number of variables, such as:
- excellence in herd work
- skill in driving and setting up a cow
- deftly handling a difficult situation
- showing courage in confronting a difficult situation
- horse quitting a cow when not prompted by the rider
- losing a cow
- rider not using a legal method to quit working a cow
- rider changing their mind and switching to a different cow after a specific commitment during the cut
- failure to separate a single cow from the herd when performing a cut
- horse turns its tail to a cow
- fall of horse or rider
- rider placing a second hand on the reins
Any queries around Judging please contact Steve Gregory