Cutting

Cutters vied for AQHA points and their place in the Mercuria-National Cutting Horse Association World Series finals.

By Tara Christiansen
The American Quarter Horse Journal
July 3, 2012

Taylor Carbo and Cats Starlight in the Mercuria NCHA non-pro prelims at Battle in the Saddle

Taylor Carbo and Cats Starlight compete in the Mercuria-NCHA non-pro prelims July 3 at Battle in the Saddle in Oklahoma City. (Tara Christiansen photo) Scroll to the bottom for more photos.

Seven open horses and eight non-pro cutters made it back to their respective Mercuria-National Cutting Horse Association World Series of Cutting finals, scheduled for July 4.

Battle in the Saddle is just one of the stops in the Mercuria-NCHA World Series of Cutting. And this stop has the potential to make or break the competitors. For instance, last year's open division win at Battle in the Saddle arguably launched Dont Look Twice's run for the 2011 NCHA Horse of Year title.

There are plenty of pluses for cutters at Battle in the Saddle. Riders of American Quarter Horses had the chance July 3 to vie for AQHA points and their berth in the Mercuria-NCHA World Series of Cutting finals, which will stampede into action at 7 p.m. Wednesday .

In Tuesday morning's prelims, it was a tough fight in the open division, with SL Jaybird and R.L. Chartier of Weatherford, Texas, putting up the lead score of 223.5, followed by Playin Witha Cat and Sam Shepard of Verbene, Alabama. It took a score of 219.5 to make it back to the open finals.

On the non-pro side, Wade Rust and Aljerita Annie led the pack with a 221, and Mary Ann Rapp and her 6-year-old gray mare, Toy Engine, put in a 219, good enough for second place in the non-pro prelims. Non-pro cutters needed a 216 to make it back to the Wednesday night finals.

The open division finalists are:

  • Miss Smokin Garfield, shown by Lee Francois for WR Diversified Holdings LP (first round score of 219)
  • Reys Desire, shown by Lee Francois for H.B. (Woody) Bartlett (first round score of 220)
  • Playin Witha Cat, shown by Sam Shephard for Arthur Noble (first round score of 223)
  • Cat Man Blue, shown by Sean Flynn for Lazy M Cattle LLC (first round score of 219.5)
  • Auspicious Cat, shown by AQHA Professional Horseman Ed Dufurrena for Dos Cat Partners (first round score of 220.5)
  • Smartys Lil Curly, shown by Terry Hollis for Anissa Tesky (first round score of 220)
  • SL Jaybird, shown by R.L. Chartier for R.L & Mica Chartier (first round score of 223.5)

View the non-pro division finalists here.

Results from the July 3 cutting classes:

For photos from the July 3 cutting classes, be sure to check out the slide show below, brought to you by The American Quarter Horse Journal.