NCHA News

FORT WORTH – Join the National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) in West Monroe, Louisiana, for an amazing eight days of cutting competition. This NCHA-produced show is presented by the esteemed 6666 Ranch, home of proven winners such as Kit Kat Sugar, Metallic Rey Mink, Bamacat, Bet Hes A Cat, and Fiddle and Steel. This exciting competition features cutting horses and riders across the United States, pushing their limits to be crowned champion.

Event Details:

• Date & Time: March 1 – 8, 2024; competition begins at 8 A.M. each day
• Location: Ike Hamilton Expo Center, West Monroe, Louisiana
• Highlight: Our Grand Entry and Youth Team Cutting are always a favorite to see on Saturday, March 2, as well as the Open Finals on Tuesday, March 5.
• Free Admission: The NCHA Eastern Nationals presented by 6666 Ranch is FREE to watch. This is a family-friendly event, and we invite all ages. Please note that dogs are not allowed in the expo center.

Schedule: The full schedule, including each day's working order, is on the NCHA website here.

What is cutting?

The term cutting refers to the act of separating one cow from a herd of cattle. The sport of cutting involves a horse, a rider, and a herd of cattle.

Cattle are herd animals.  One cow will instinctively try to return to the group.  Knowing that a horse and rider team will quietly ride into the herd, select and "cut" off, or separate, one cow from the group (letting the unpicked cows return to the herd behind) and then prevent that cow from rejoining the herd - until they decide to let it go.  Keeping the cow separated requires incredible intelligence and physical ability on the part of the horse.  Once the cow is separated, riders are no longer allowed to use their reins.  Trained cutting horses are required to think on their own and anticipate and react to the cow's moves.  The competition is judged based on difficulty and how well the horse anticipates and reacts. This is the only equine competition where the horse is required to think for itself.

More information on the history of the NCHA and cutting can be found on our website here. 

Qualification: Participants must qualify before entry. There are 13 total classes, including Junior and Senior Youth. The top thirty (30) 2023 circuit leaders and top ten (10) cutters from affiliate organizations qualified to enter this championship event. Please note that Youth entry qualifications are different.

Media, Marketing, and Sponsors:

The 2022 NCHA Photography and Videography Policy applies to this event. All professional photographers and media companies not on assignment from a specific media at NCHA Events are required to apply for a private media pass and provide the accompanying fee OR be a corporate partner of the NCHA. The NCHA Business Development department has the sole discretion to approve sponsor media credentials. Please note that approved sponsors are still required to apply; however, no fee is required. Official letters of assignment are required to be submitted prior to the event. For media inquiries or sponsorship opportunities, please contact Carley Myers at cmyers@nchacutting.com.

Photos and Videos:

Photos and videos from the event can be purchased from the NCHA's official videographer, Video West, and official photographer, Seth Petit Photography.

Learn More:

Visit the official NCHA website or follow NCHA on Facebook (National Cutting Horse Association) or on Instagram (@nchacutting) for the latest updates.

How to Join:

The NCHA offers FREE membership to new members for the first year! Join the NCHA family here. First-year membership includes a FREE online version of our magazine, Cutting Horse Chatter.

For more information on the NCHA or upcoming events and schedules, please check out our website at nchacutting.com.