Cara Brewer on Tagging collected the Reserve Champion title with a 227.5. She was followed by Austin Shepard aboard Wood She B Magic tying for third place with Adan Banuelos and Hottish Metal who marked 224.
CHTO News
Member Spotlight – Jaylene Eppel – Enumclaw, WA
December 9th, 2021 by Simone Cobb
Jaylene Eppel was introduced to cutting horses in college. After a few lessons she was hooked. While still in school, Eppel bought a weanling that she eventually put in training to become her first show horse. Eppel currently has that horse’s foal.
Eppel’s most memorable moments in the sport was when she won her first buckles. One was for the 2K limited and then the other was for the high point rider of the day in 2012. Those are the buckles she wears to this day.
She is fortunate to own the 3 Bar C Ranch that raises Wagyu and Angus beef. She has plenty of cows to work and learn on and if she ever needs more she can borrow some from her brother down the road.
No Cows? No Problem! Cutters and Their Menagerie of Solutions
December 9th, 2021 by Simone Cobb
Dustin Gay Working a Donkey
Think a bull-headed brahman is intimidating to cut? Then imagine going eye-to-eye with an elephant! Yes, an actual elephant. That is what one enterprising cutter did to solve his cattle crisis.
In fact, cutters around the world are finding creative solutions to their lack of cows that includes an eclectic mix of animals from donkeys, water buffalo and llamas to yes, even elephants.
Judge’s Corner – Jonathan Rogers
December 9th, 2021 by Simone Cobb
At 27 years old, Jonathan Rogers was trading horses. A cutting horse trainer stopped by and offered him a job to start colts. While at that job, Rogers was able to take a spin on a finished cutter. He thought that was the most fun he had ever had on horse. A few years later, he met trainer Dave Stewart who showed him the business including the ups and the downs.
“It’s a good place for your family. Twenty years later, here we are,” Rogers said.
Besides being a trainer, Rogers has been a AAAA judge for 15 years.
Trainer’s Corner: Austin Shepard – Summerdale, AL
November 2nd, 2021 by Simone Cobb
Total Earnings: $8,720,908
Austin Shepard grew up around cutting horses and learned the tricks of the trade from his late father, trainer Sam Shepard. He knew very early that cutting was what he wanted to pursue. His parents split up when Shepard was young so he and his mother moved into the city. He was very involved in sports and in the summer he would go ride horses with his dad. He wasn’t around the horses all the time so, he said, that only increased his interest in riding.
Member Spotlight – Brett Shayler – Lipan, TX
November 2nd, 2021 by Simone Cobb
Brett and Chance To Cat
Photo by Diamond Double S Photography
Brett Shayler attended cuttings as a spectator for years when his mom showed. This past year he decided he would give it a try and found he really enjoyed doing the sport with his mother, Billie Aylesworth. They cheer each other on while showing and she uses her experience to coach him and help make a plan for his run.
Fort Worth & Granbury Return To “1883” Filming The Yellowstone Prequel
November 2nd, 2021 by Simone Cobb
Sam Elliot blowing kisses to his fans in Granbury, TX. Photo by Austin Miller Imagery
“I don’t care if you live or die. But should you live, you tell them about me…” booms the trailer for the Paramount TV show, 1883. The show began filming in Fort Worth, Texas on August 24th and will make its much anticipated debut on December, 19th 2021.
“1883 follows the Dutton family as they embark on a journey west through the Great Plains toward the last bastion of untamed America. It is a stark retelling of Western expansion, and an intense study of one family fleeing poverty to seek a better future in America’s promised land — Montana,” according to Paramount Network.
1883 is a prequel to the successful TV show, Yellowstone which stars Kevin Costner. Both shows were created by Taylor Sheridan, who also produces, directs and writes the pilots and many of the episodes.
Trainer’s Corner: Tim Smith – Payson, AZ
October 7th, 2021 by Simone Cobb
Total Earnings: $6,000,000
Tim Smith has amassed over six million dollars in lifetime earnings. Smith attended college for a year on a basketball scholarship in Minnesota. After getting injured, he joined his brother Mike, who was a cutting horse trainer in California. Smith quickly developed a passion for cutting.
Other than his brother, the only other person Smith worked for was Bill Martin, a cutting horse trainer in Southern California.
Healing With Horses
October 7th, 2021 by Simone Cobb
Brad Langenberg
Horses have a way of touching our hearts in the darkest of times. The bond that can be created with a horse is true and authentic. Who isn’t touched by a nicker from their favorite horse? Or when the horse follows you freely? Many horse lovers use time in the barn as a therapeutic way of coping with whatever life throws their way.
People have been using the powerful bond with equines as therapy for addiction. They are forgiving, honest animals that bring so much joy to people. Whether it’s their incredible athletic ability, their personality, and/or that ability to connect with people, they touch us in ways that are hard to define and their impact can be life changing.
Member Spotlight – Levi Price – Porter, OK
September 3rd, 2021 by Simone Cobb
Levi and Miss Cheekacat
Growing up rodeoing, Levi Price has always loved the western lifestyle. The summer before he started high school he got a job with a cutting horse trainer 10 miles from home. It did not take Price long to fall in love with the sport.
Later, he attended college on a rodeo scholarship at Conners State College where he almost finished his Animal Science degree. After college, he worked for Ed Dufurrena’s as his two year old trainer for more than two years in Gainesville, TX.
His favorite memory is the night Stevie Rey Von won the NCHA Futurity in 2015; he had been at Dufurrena’s for about a year. It was a great experience for Price to see the horse work everyday and watch it pay off claiming the coveted title. He said they were all very inspired to get back to work after that big night!
Trainer’s Corner – Phil Hanson – Weatherford, TX
September 3rd, 2021 by Simone Cobb
Total Earnings: $4,429,007
Phil Hanson’s dad, Phil Sr., was a performance horse trainer so he grew up riding and being involved in the industry. As a kid he had summer jobs building houses and later pursued a degree in Architectural Drafting and Design from Phoenix Institute of Technology. The housing market wasn’t doing well when he graduated so after having no luck finding a job, he turned to training horses.
It was meant to be, with Hanson having gone on to win all of the Triple Crown events and more. In the beginning, when his cutting horse training business was getting off the ground, he would work horses and then draft house designs.
Rediscovering The Will Rogers – The Difference A Door Makes!
September 3rd, 2021 by Simone Cobb
“…this change was out of necessity. The summer show entries were up more than 30 percent, and we were obligated to find new ways to help accelerate the show’s pace…” said McCarthy.
Showing a horse in the famed Will Rogers Memorial Coliseum at Fort Worth, TX, is the holy grail of experiences for most cutting horse competitors. It’s a tradition that goes back some 54 years to 1967. Not only does the coliseum have legendary status, it’s an arena cutters’ love for the way it allows them to work cows.
Built in 1936, its design was ahead of its time. But it has not been without its faults. One of the greatest frustrations for riders has been the use of one gate to let in both the cows and competitors. This meant everyone was locked in the arena until each set had been completed which took approximately 90 minutes. It made a long day even longer and came with the danger of riders missing their run if they missed the gate.
Keep On Reading!
Trainer’s Corner – Allen Crouch – Naxopater, MS
August 9th, 2021 by Simone Cobb
Total Earnings: $1,546,036
When Allen Crouch was seven years old he happened to move across the street from a huge cutting operation in Kentucky owned by non-pro rider, Ronnie Titsworth. He loved hanging out at the barn where Titsworth would give him jobs to do around the ranch. That soon blossomed into a great friendship. Titsworth would take Crouch to cuttings and let Crouch show his horses.
Member Spotlight – Katy Rosane – Reno, NV
August 9th, 2021 by Simone Cobb
Katy and Kitty Hawks Marie Photo by Ann Mulchay Photography
Katy Rosane participated in the Reno Rodeo cattle drive three years ago and thought chasing cows was a blast. The following year she was preparing to retire and decided she wanted a horse.
She attended a clinic given by a cutting horse trainer. The clinic ended up being cancelled but Rosane was already there and got talking with the clinician. Keep On Reading!
Bringing Out Your Best At The Michael Cooper Clinic
August 9th, 2021 by Simone Cobb
Michael starts his clinics with a classroom session to find out participant’s challenges and goals.
There are really good riders, really good showmen, good trainers and good educators and it’s very rare that you find one that is all four. Michael Cooper is all four.
That’s according to Sheila King, who came from Tennessee to watch Cooper give a two day clinic put on by Cutting Horse Training Online at Weatherford, TX on July 3-4 at Stormy Cutting and Cattle Ranch.