CHTO News

Gary Bellenfant Wins 2019 Futurity!

December 16th, 2019 by Simone Cobb

Watch legendary trainer Gary Bellenfant bring the house down with his emotional win in the 2019 Futurity Open.

Gary rode Metallic Rey Mink to score a 226, some three points ahead of Reserve Champion Adan Banuelos and Twice In Santiago.

The horse is owned by Los Jaboncillos Ranch Inc.

It’s Gary’s second Futurity title, he won in 1995 aboard Peptoboonsmal. We included that ride further down as well for you to watch.

To honor Gary, who is one of our featured trainers on CHTO, we are continuing our show special for 24 hours only! Scroll down for details.

Watch Gary’s amazing videos on CHTO where he reveals his secret for creating such cowy horses. Login and watch or become a menmber now. Get your first month for just $1, on any subscription! New members only. Offer only lasts until Dec 15.

Use code: 30DAYS$1

Click here to grab 30 days of CHTO for $1!

You can watch Gary’s 1995 Futurity run below.

High Brow Cat – The Legacy Lives On

December 11th, 2019 by Simone Cobb

Successful, good looking and with a spunky attitude to match, High Brow Cat was a rock star in the cutting horse industry. For more than two decades, the stud has had a massive influence over the sport by dominating bloodlines with his successful progeny.

High Brow Cat’s (HBC) offspring have earned a staggering $82 million in the show pen and that number continues to climb. As a paternal grandsire, his record is even higher, his sons have fathered the winners of $126 million and his daughters have produced more than $35.9 million.

Some of his greatest offspring include 2011 Horse Of The Year and highest money earner of more than $850,628, Dont Look Twice, and the incredible stallion, Metallic Cat, who won $637,711 and like his father, is also a proven producer.

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Trainer’s Corner – Tatum Rice

December 11th, 2019 by Simone Cobb

TOTAL EARNINGS: $2,327,291

How did you get into cutting? “I’ve been in cutting forever. My entire life my dad [Boyd Rice] trained cutting horses and his dad [Sonny Rice] did also. My dad’s mom’s dad was the first one that got into cutting.”

Who did you work for? “I was with my dad until I was 17 and then I worked with [cousin] Tag Rice and Ronnie Rice for a long time after that. I was with Tag from 2004- 2009. I left Tag’s in 2009 and went to work at Carl Smith’s place in 2010 and 2011. When I married Kylie, we built our place and started here in May of 2012”

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Member Spotlight – Cody Patterson – Blanco, Texas

December 11th, 2019 by Simone Cobb

Cody Patterson Photo By: Emily Sgarrella

Cody Patterson started off with humble beginnings in the horse business cleaning stalls for Phil Hanson Sr, from California (Futurity Champion Phil Hanson in Texas is his son). At the time, Hanson trained cutters but he also trained cow horses and made the Snaffle Bit Futurity finals a few times. Patterson always gravitated to the cow horse side of the performance horse world, appreciating the versatility of the sport.

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Member Spotlight – Ty Cole – North Fork, Idaho

November 8th, 2019 by Simone Cobb

Ty Cole Ty Cole got his start riding range colts in Montana. After attending a cutting, Ty’s fascination with horsemanship was sparked. Ten years later, he specializes in yearlings, trains them for a year or two and then sells them mostly to cutting and cow horse competitors.

To learn his craft, he spent 6 months riding with Zane Davis. He said everything changed for him when he worked for Tom Campbell, based in Texas. Tom had a good string of horses and soon Tom said, “Alright, you’re up.” Ty got on his A string horses for the next few days. He said that helped him develop feel and how to cow up a horse. He said he felt those horses think independently about the cow.

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Trainer’s Corner – Kenny Platt – Ft. Lupton, Co.

November 8th, 2019 by Simone Cobb

Kenny Platt

TOTAL EARNINGS: $1,691,493

TOP HORSES TRAINED
• Rubys Cd
• Metalic Man
• Fancy Hughes
• Moms Stylish Player

TITLES & FINALS
• 2019 Waco Texas Cutting Horse Open Futurity Champion
• 2018 Open Western Nationals Champion
• 2017 Breeders Invitational Open Classic Champion
• 2017 Bonanza Open Classic Champion
• 2016 NCHA Summer Spectacular Derby Champions on Moms Stylish Player
• 2016 NCHA Super Stakes Champion on Moms Stylish Player
• NCHA Futurity Finalist x 3
• NCHA Futurity Semi Finalist x 6
• 2015 Super Stakes Classic Finalist
• 2015 Idaho Classic Champion
• 2014 Brazos Bash Futurity Champion

Keep On Reading!

Cutting On A Budget

November 8th, 2019 by Simone Cobb

Gavin Clarke and Rubys Cd Legacy Photo By: John O’Hara

One of the biggest complaints about cutting is that it’s a rich man’s sport. Sure, if you buy the best horse, get the fanciest truck and trailer, have a full time trainer and compete in the triple crown events (not to mention vet fees), it will cost you a pretty penny, even if you do win. But it’s a myth to suggest cutting is only a rich man’s sport.

There are countless cutters around the world who don’t have unlimited means and still get to indulge in their love of the sport. All it takes is some realistic expectations, a bit of planning and the discipline to stick to it.

Yes, it sounds simple, but it’s not always easy to do, mainly because we can be our own worst enemy and our wants often speak louder than our needs. But a bit of common sense, and some extra effort and patience, particularly when looking for the right horse for example, can pay off big.

We spoke to a variety of cutters who have all managed to make cutting affordable for themselves and they have shared their thrifty habits and handy tips here.
Keep On Reading!

Tips & Tricks: Fungus Edition

October 7th, 2019 by Simone Cobb

Here are some tips and tricks from a recent social media post sharing some home remedies to help get rid of various common fungus. Don’t forget, you can always go to your vet for a prescription or advice!

To Get Rid of Girth Itch/ Sweat Itch:

• Dry horse in the sun, lightly spray very diluted bleach
on cinch after a ride and let it dry in the sun, then use
Micro-Tek shampoo on the horse.
• Hose off horse really well, apply athletes foot cream
with Tinactin/ Monostate cream to area. You can also
spray Listerine on the horse before adding one of the
creams.
• Wash horse in vinegar and soap mix every other
day.
• Use a topical solution like diluted Synbiont and leave
it sit on the whole horse, or just the areas you need.
You can also apply one of these products:

-Dry Cow
-MTG

To Get Rid of “scratches”/ Mud Fever:

“scratches”/ Mud Fever

• Apply sauerkraut to the area and wrap it on hoof for
a few days.
• Apply Extra strength Desitin
• Apply MTG to area
• Apply Hay Whats That Blue Stuff and A&D cream
• Put Vaseline on the area and wrap in saran wrap and
vet wrap. Leave for 3 days to suffocate the fungus off.
Warning: it smells awful when you take it off.
• Apply bacon grease to scratches and wrap hoof/
fetlock area.

Trainer’s Corner: Faron Hightower

October 7th, 2019 by Simone Cobb

Faron Hightower

How did you get started in cutting?

“Been involved in cutting since ‘79 or ‘80. My dad [got me involved]. My dad was Olan Hightower. He trained Colonel Freckles. I was fortunate enough to have a teacher that knew more about the cow and horse than anyone I ever encountered…the good Lord blessed me with some ability and feel for a horse. Dad’s way of teaching was about the horse and the cow and not you.”

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The Heart of Cutting

October 7th, 2019 by Simone Cobb

Star Roberts
Photo By: John O’Hara

With all the recent turmoil in cutting with declining membership, staff turn-over and controversies over how to make the sport fairer and more accessible, it can be hard to stay positive. But two cutters who have optimism to share are Star Roberts and Amy Jones.

When they started out in cutting, both knew that they weren’t going to go buy a six-figure cutting horse, if ever. They each began with a horse that was at their level and gradually moved up in horse power as they developed. Their trainers helped them learn and improve, knowing full well that they were not going to spend a lot of money on a horse. As a result, both riders have thoroughly enjoyed their time in the sport, making great friends.

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Trainer’s Corner – Gavin Jordan

September 11th, 2019 by Simone Cobb

Gavin Jordan

How did you get started in cutting? “Well, I worked for a horse trainer in Australia before I came up [over to the USA] a guy named Craig Emerton. We always… had pleasure horses and reining horses and everything, when we were kids and just did every event we could throw a leg over and it just progressed from there.”

What brought you from Australia to the USA? “Well, just the horses. A guy that Craig actually worked for named Stan Fonson who was a great reined cow horse trainer and ventured into the cutting by the time I got over there. So I was just looking for a change out of Australia and something different. So I got a job with him and went from there.”

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Member Spotlight – Chet Martin

September 10th, 2019 by Simone Cobb

Chet Martin

Reined cow horse and reining trainer, Chet Martin grew up in the saddle on the family ranch.

Martin’s dad got him his first pony when he was 5 and they always went to horse sales and bought any Quarter Horse that was in foal. Together, they would retrain the broodmares and start the foals when they were old enough and sell them. Martin said his training was a “kind of baptism by fire”.

At around age 10, Martin went to a colt starting clinic where he improved his technique. Martin always dreamed of showing horses, but didn’t really get the chance to growing up in a conservative Mennonite family.

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Member Spotlight- Alisha Southworth

August 9th, 2019 by Simone Cobb

Alisha Southworth & Metallic Maria Rey

Alisha Southworth grew up in Ohio on a farm where horses have always been a part of her life. She started cutting in the 90’s and fell in love with it.

After her son Conner took an interest in cutting in 2017, she found herself back on a cutting horse. It was then that they decided to move to the Cutting Horse Capital of the World, Weatherford, Texas.

“We moved here because of cutting and our love for Texas,” Southworth said. “My husband had lived here before so we have always loved Texas.”

Southworth currently has a six year old Metallic Cat mare, Metallic Maria Ray that she has been showing under the guidance of Randy Chartier.

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Trainer’s Corner – Chris Johnsrud

August 9th, 2019 by Simone Cobb

Chris Johnsrud

Chris Johnsrud has won in excess of $831,000 and has been training for the public out of Weatherford, Texas for the last nine years. He was born and raised on a ranch in North Dakota.

How did you get started in cutting?

“My aunt and uncle are the first ones who got me started in cutting horses. They owned a couple and and I rode them…”

Keep On Reading!

CHTO News

Gary Bellenfant Wins 2019 Futurity!

Trainer’s Corner – Tatum Rice

Member Spotlight – Cody Patterson – Blanco, Texas

Member Spotlight – Ty Cole – North Fork, Idaho

Trainer’s Corner – Kenny Platt – Ft. Lupton, Co.

Cutting On A Budget

Tips & Tricks: Fungus Edition

To Get Rid of Girth Itch/ Sweat Itch:

To Get Rid of “scratches”/ Mud Fever:

Trainer’s Corner: Faron Hightower

The Heart of Cutting

Trainer’s Corner – Gavin Jordan

Member Spotlight – Chet Martin

Member Spotlight- Alisha Southworth

Trainer’s Corner – Chris Johnsrud

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