Limited-aged event horses - those ages 3 through 6 - get the lion's share of attention in cutting. However, for four days, Feb. 14-17, horses and riders chasing a National Cutting Horse Association world title had their big show during the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.
The HLSR and John Deere sponsored four go-rounds of 15 horses in the Non-Pro and 15 horses in the Open. These horses were hauled to as many as 100 shows in 2001- two every weekend of the year - to reach the top 15, based on money earned. Like rodeo, the horse with the most money at the end of the four go's was crowned the world champion for 2001.
This time around, it was no contest in both categories. The leading Open horse, 10-year-old QH gelding Rosies Lena, ridden by Robert Rust, led by such a wide margin going into Houston that the second-place horse couldn't catch him. Actually, the second place horse, Christys Acre, a QH stallion sired by Bob Acre Doc, got hurt back in November and was withdrawn from competition. His total earnings for the year were $82,079.
In the Non-Pro, it was again Mary Jo Milner (she won the title last year) winning on her 14-year-old red roan QH gelding, Red White And Boon. The horse was sired by Smart Little Lena and out of Royal Blue Boon. Her winnings for 2001 totaled a record $120,182.
Thanks to a healthy contribution from John Deere that went into effect last year, the cutters were working for some serious money. Each go-round paid eight places for a total of $25,000, with the first place horse garnering $6,410 of that amount. If a rider won all four go's and the average, the take was a whopping $32,050. The total purse for both classes was $256,400.
Also going on during the NCHA World Finals was Rodeo Houston, one of the largest and richest on the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association circuit. Included with the cutting slide show are shots from behind the chutes at the rodeo.
See the slide show!
