A Cut Above: NCHA Cutting Horses Set to Captivate the American Performance Horseman
The official stage has been set for the NCHA horses to be shown in the cutting division of the American Performance Horseman. The top five competitors from the 2023 show season in each the National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA), National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA), and the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA). Each of those five had to make their horse choice official on March 1.
Here is a breakdown of the NCHA horses and their riders:
Kittennish Ridden by Austin Shepard
Courtesy of NCHA
Austin Shepard will bring Wolf Livestock's Kittennish back to Globe Life Field for a second chance at the title. Last year, the pair scored a 219 to finish fourth in the field. After having a very successful 2023 season, Shepard has a lot of confidence in the mare's ability to be the champion.
Kittennish is sired by the great Hottish and out of Show Biz Kitty (High Brow Cat). Hottish is the sire of over $13.8 million in NCHA and NRCHA money earners. Kittennish is a 2019 mare who has banked $549,190 in NCHA dollars.
Cool Guitar Ridden by Morgan Cromer
Courtesy of NCHA
Pinwheel Partners is sending Cool Guitar, a 2020 stallion, to the spotlight with Morgan Cromer aboard. The beautiful sorrel stallion has amassed $192,445 in NCHA money.
Cool Guitar is by one of the hottest stallions in the industry, Stevie Rey Von, and out of This Kats Kool (WR This Cats Smart). Stevie Rey Von earned $420,903, was the 2015 NCHA Futurity Champion, set an arena record with a 231 to win the 2018 NCHA Super Stakes Open Classic, and was the 2018 West Texas Futurity Open Classic Champion with a score of 225.
Morgan Cromer has made a name for herself in the NCHA with over $5,000,00 in lifetime earnings. She will be competing for Team Burnt Orange.
Nineteen 42 Ridden by Wes Galyean
Courtesy of NCHA
Wesley Galyean is making his second appearance at the American Performance Horse but this time he is bringing the 2019 gelding known to the cutting world as Nineteen 42, owned by SMF Cutting Horses. The talented gelding has earned $221,680 in NCHA dollars in his lifetime.
Being shown by EquiState Elite $6 Million rider Wes Galyean, Nineteen 42 started off the 2024 season by winning The Ike in West Monroe, La. The gelding marked a 224 to take the win.
Nineteen 42 is by Hottish and out of Lil Rattler (Dual Rey). Coming off some hot wins, both Galyean and Nineteen 42 should walk across the pen into the herd with a lot of confidence.
Storyteler Ridden by Adan Bañuelos
Courtesy of NCHA
Adan Bañuelos returns to Globe Life Field as the returning champion. With over $6.2 million dollars in earnings, the star cutter chose to bring Storyteler, the 2019 flaxen maned stallion owned by Double Dove Ranch.
The stallion by Smooth Talkin Style and out of Show Biz Kitty (High Brow Cat) has earned $181,424 in NCHA dollars. Smooth Talkin Style is the 2015 NCHA Horse of the Year. He has produced $5.7 million in progeny earnings.
In 2023 Bañuelos rode All Spice by Once in a Blu Boon and out of Show Biz Kitty to the win with a stellar 229 point run. The Hall of Fame cutter is putting his faith in mare power, riding another horse out of Show Biz Kitty in 2024.
Summer Time Fun Ridden by James Payne
Courtesy of NCHA
The 2015 daughter of Metallic Cat named Summer Time Fun will be the oldest horse in the field. She has earned $286,716 in lifetime earnings in the NCHA.
The 9-year-old mare owned by Ty Moore is out of Hey George Girl (Wild Thing DNA) has been a favorite of James Payne and a big money winner. The pair teamed up to tie for the win altho eh 2019 NCHA Summer Spectacular Open Derby.
Payne and his veteran partner will be looking to use age and experience to their advantage to earn the win.
