Faron Hightower

Money Won

Titles/Finals

• Augusta Futurity Classic Champion x4
  
• Augusta Futurity Champion
  
• 2000 NCHA Open Futurity Reserve Champion
  
• 1997 NCHA Super Stakes Derby Champion
  
• NCHA Super Stakes Classic Champion x3
  
• 1991 NCHA Reserve World Champion
  
• 1988 NCHA World Champion

Top Three Horses Trained

• Hyglo Freckles
  
• VR Just Plain Smart
  
• Smart Like Tachita

How I got started: I started out rodeoing and training calf roping horses. My dad trained horses and got me interested in cutting.

Biggest mistake I’ve made in cutting: Not slowing down! But when you have felt it like I have felt it, it’s hard to slow down! And I’m not one to settle! My biggest weakness is not being able to control my speed.

Biggest myth about cutting: That anyone can do it! It’s a game of nothing but contradictions. There’s nothing easy about it.

Favorite quote: “You have to slow down to go fast.” – Jeff Olson That’s the hardest concept, but until you know how to go slow you can’t go fast. And I don’t have any problem going slow but I have a hard time regulating my speed sometimes!

Most memorable moment in cutting: When my dad told me I ended with a better horse than I started with.

Training Philosophy: To me, it’s about creating space and moving those horses feet back to the cow. When I create space, I get out past that cow, hit that stop and move that horse’s feet back to the cow. Always think back to the cow.