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Photo of Ivory Pal by Cheri Prill Tennessee Walking Horse Issue August 2010
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Does age matter? “There really is not a cookie cutter (pardon the pun) form for the ideal age to start a cutting horse, says veteran horsewoman, Lee Allen of San Antonio, Texas. “It’s totally relative to the individual horse. Zip, my veteran cutter (AM Royal Rive+/ AHR 121159) was 12 years old when he was started on a flag (mechanical device). He was practiced only a couple of times on that flag before leaving home in Canada and coming to one of the first Action Shows in Tucson in 1987. Zip was a natural and obviously a real cow horse. Zip is one of the highest money winners in the association. As for tenure of training, you will hear many of the trainers say that it normally takes about two years to finish a cutting horse. Obviously, there are plenty of exceptions.”
Trego agrees. “For the purposes of futurities and other ‘Limited Age Events,’ which are for horses of a specific age, there are age restrictions. Otherwise, we see 20-something purebred Arabians still competing successfully at the national level, as long as their health and joints hold up. Some of the old campaigners are among the best horses showing, especially for non-pro riders.”
Regarding a cutting horse’s gender, for Trego it’s a matter of personal preference and the disposition of the individual horse. “As a breeder, I prefer to show mares and stallions, but there are some truly great geldings out showing as well.”
Khemosabi++++// and Huckleberry Bey++ are immediately recognized as leading sires in the Arabian horse industry. Further testament is that these two giants are also amongst the top 23 leading sires of purebred Arabian Cutting Horse winners at US National Championship shows between 2001 and 2010, according to a TCAHA survey. What is the role of pedigree in breeding an Arabian cutting horse?
Asked about pedigree’s role, Trego reveals “As the person who assembled the leading sire list, I am obviously pedigree obsessed. Broadway Tstar (AHR*522170) is my stallion, whom I bred and who sired my National Champion mare VG Tsatine+ (AHR*605023, out of an Alada Baskin daughter) so of course, I am biased! But I think that list does more to prove that ANY athletic Arabian that shows some ‘cow sense,’ which I believe MOST do, due to their natural curiosity and playfulness, has the potential to become a cutter with the right training. I do not want to fall into the same trap as the Quarter Horse industry that often overlooks great individuals if they don't carry the popular cutting bloodlines.”
Lauded cutting and reining horse breeder Bazy Tankersley of Al-Marah Arabian Horses in Tucson, Arizona has owned 2500 Arabian horses during her 65 years in the business, with a mantra to breed for beauty, disposition and athletic ability. Her Al-Marah breeding program is most often recognized with AM or Al-Marah in the horse’s registered name.
Allen recalls multi-world rodeo champion Larry Mahan interviewing Arabian cutting trainers Bill Simpson, John Ben Cawley, Jimmy Reno and Joe Staheli at a Scottsdale show. “All concurred that all the Arabians in their barns had plenty of cow sense and naturally had a desire to work. They agreed that some are just more naturally athletic than others, but all had ‘plenty of cow.’ Regardless, an athlete is an athlete and perfectly capable of performing in other disciplines also.”
Kharrazi has been transitioning his wife's purebred gelding Trots Captaintsee (AHR*500344) from dressage to cutting. “He’s an AM Sea Captain++ (AHR 93143) son out of a Tsatyr (AHR 12403) daughter. The Xenophonn (AHR*89571) line is a good line too.”
What makes a good cutting pair? “It's all about communication!” says Trego, “Put a too-inexperienced or too-aggressive rider on a too-sensitive horse and you'll have a wreck. Yet, that same horse with a more experienced or sensitive rider may be a world beater. Personalities need to fit and the horse and rider need to learn to communicate with one another to get the right cow cut and then the rider either needs to help the horse or get out of its way so that it can do its job correctly.”
Kharrazi and Allen echo Trego’s sentiments that it’s best when the rider knows his/her horse and they have had a bit of history together.
Youth: the future
Cutting is also a sport where youth do very well, and they’re sought after in the Arabian cutting divisions. To help further support that interest TACHA hosted a cutting clinic at the 2011 Youth National Championship show in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
The Arabian horse with its intelligence, beauty and stamina, uses its legendary speed, agility and gracefulness to compete successfully in the equine sport of cutting. And for Arabian horse enthusiasts, it comes as no surprise that it’s done with aplomb.
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Two YouTube videos of Champion Arabian Cutting Horse VG Tsatine+
Champion Arabian Cutting Horse Khemander Kody+
Lee Allen, San Antonio, Texas
Toni L. Trego, DVM, VanGo Arabians, Amboy, Illinois
Navid Kharrazi, On A Wing and a Prayer Horse Farm, Tucson, Arizona www.wingandaprayerfinehorses.com
The Arabian Cutting Horse Association (TACHA)
TACHA Facebook page:
National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA)
NCHA Facebook page:
