Celebrating 50 Years of the NCHA Futurity

2024 is the 50th anniversary of the NCHA Futurity. Cutting, like most horse sports, represents the transition from practical application to sport. In the vast United States cattle country, organising and selecting the stock was made much easier with a horse that could focus on a cow and cut it from the herd and prevent it from returning or manoeuvring it to a yard. Although mechanisation has taken over many tasks performed by horses, it is fair to say that even today, a good cutting horse is an asset to any ranch. It will be a long time before a robot can replace a cutting horse. But, as is the nature of horse people, the statement, my horse is better, faster, can jump higher and can cut a cow better than yours gave rise to a practical demonstration, which led to competition.

In 1919, the first recorded cutting horse exhibition was held in the US, and cutting competition began the following year. Cutting was introduced to Australia by US immigrant Greg Lougher, who gave a demonstration at the Warwick Gold Cup in 1967. Riding the imported mare Clover Cherry, Lougher gave a cutting demonstration at the 1968 Sydney Royal Show. Interest grew, and small organisations joined forces, and in 1974, the NCHA was formed, with Gail Ritchie, Greg Lougher’s daughter, winning the first Futurity conducted at Moonbi NSW that same year.

In 1983, the Futurity (for three-year-olds) Show, which incorporated the Derby for four-year-old horses and the Classic for five-year-olds, along with Non-Pro events, called the Tamworth Showgrounds home. Many still talk of the atmosphere in the small, dark indoor and the legends they witnessed. Members of the NCHA Board, along with others, were instrumental in driving the decision to build AELEC, The Australian Equine and Livestock Events Centre on the outskirts of Tamworth. The 2008 Cutting Horse Futurity was the first show conducted at the impressive new centre and has been conducted there ever since.

In 1974, the Futurity winner claimed $10,000; in 2024, they will take home $100,000. This year, approximately 570 horses will contest the various divisions of competition over 15 days, and 115+ will vie for the much coveted 2024 Open Futurity title. There is over $900,000 up for grabs in total. Over 15,000 spectators are expected to attend and the Futurity Final packs AELEC out, a feat that is almost never repeated throughout the year. In fact, nothing fills AELEC like the NCHA Futurity Show, as they have over 50 trade stands and various eating options. The event runs with full days of cutting from the 26th of May to the 9th of June. But it is the horses that people come to see, and over the last 50 years, the NCHA Futurity has become the biggest and richest indoor sporting horse event in the Southern Hemisphere.

Horse Deals spoke to NCHA General Manager, Wayne Brown about the growth of Cutting and why it has continued to grow when other Western disciplines are not progressing at the same rate and some even sliding backwards.

“What is appealing is that the horse is seemingly doing it all on its own,” says Wayne. “The rider has a completely loose rein and is not noticeably cueing the horse. That intrigues people, and they want to know more. You cannot force a horse to be a good cutter; you can train it and help it with leg cues, but it is ultimately up to the horse, and it is the only equestrian sport where that happens.

“Good and consistent governance is essential for the success of any organisation, and the NCHA Management and Board are all pulling in the same direction and are very clear about the way they are promoting the sport. There are clear outlines and direction, and there has been a conscious investment in the youth aspect of the sport. The trade side of the Futurity has been one of the great success stories, especially over the past couple of years. Post-COVID, it was decided to make entry free and attract more of the general public, which has now become its own destination, just from a shopping perspective.

‘We at the NCHA are proactive about explaining and introducing the sport to people and encouraging them to get involved. NCHA affiliates around the country run multiple competitions, and cutting is more accessible than it has ever been. There are pathways, and people are willing to help them get into the sport. We have a fair levelling system where you compete against your peers and not up against the professionals. We have a ranking system, and as in all equestrian sports, women compete against men. Women have a strong presence in cutting, and they also have a high success rate, especially in the Non-Pro competition. Last year, Todd Graham and Yugilbar Magic Stevie won the Open Futurity and Lindsey Wheatly was Reserve champion, riding Ludacris. Ailee Donaldson won the Non-Pro Futurity aboard Laydown Lotti, and they are just two of the many successful women in the cutting world. There is an event for every competitor, not necessarily at the annual Futurity, as that is our big, aged event, but there are many entry-level competitions.

“The western look has always been popular, but with the recent success of TV programmes like Yellowstone etc, it has increased interest in all things western. Also, we have developed an excellent social media program promoting the uniqueness and highlights of the sport out there, and people are fascinated by what they see. It becomes a love affair with the horses’ performances and the excitement of how that horse works.

“Cutting too is very lifestyle and family-oriented. It is an exciting sport to compete in, yet it is very safe and there is a lot of horsemanship involved. The youth, mum and dad, can all potentially ride the same horse and once people get a chance to ride a cutting horse, it is hard for them to go back to anything else.

“The Futurity has the wow factor, and cutting is now more than just a sport; it has become an industry within itself. The breeding side of cutting is huge. One of the biggest advances, especially over the past twenty years, is the quality of the genetics within the cutting horse breeding programme. The quality of our horses and our trainers is right up there with what is found in the USA and many Australian trainers have successfully transitioned to the USA and competing successfully.

“We are proud of what we produce here in Australia. Our numbers are strong, and so is interest in becoming involved with the sport of cutting. AELEC is a world-class facility. Come and experience cutting and enjoy it first-hand. We embrace Western hospitality, and we are looking forward to the next 50 years, which look really exciting.”

Article: Anna Sharpley.

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