Judges page
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:
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
RULEBOOK
The NZCHA Rulebook outlines all the criteria judges use to evaluate a run and it is updated once a year. This is a must read for all new and renewing members. Not only does it have all of the standing rules, it also contains the Judge's Case Book that uses real show examples of situations and how rules would be applied. This is available below.
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
(-) 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

Judges Casebook | |
File Size: | 970 kb |
File Type: |
Judges list
SOUTH ISLAND
GEMMA WILLIAMS AA
JANINE TAYLOR A
NORTH ISLAND
BRYAN LOWCAY AA
CRAIG LAIRD AAA
GRANT MACKIE AAA
GRAEME MCINNES AA
HELEN HOLMES A
MELISSA POINGDESTRE AA
MINDY MATCHITT A
STEVE GREGORY AAA
GEMMA WILLIAMS AA
JANINE TAYLOR A
NORTH ISLAND
BRYAN LOWCAY AA
CRAIG LAIRD AAA
GRANT MACKIE AAA
GRAEME MCINNES AA
HELEN HOLMES A
MELISSA POINGDESTRE AA
MINDY MATCHITT A
STEVE GREGORY AAA
Any queries around Judging & Rules please contact Gemma Williams or Steve Gregory