Total Earnings: $4,187,197
Michael Cooper never worked for a cutting horse trainer and literally came from nothing. He is from Missouri originally and learned about cutting when he traveled to Arkansas to visit relatives who happened to work for a cutting horse trainer. They offered to let Cooper work a cutting horse and he couldn’t believe what he was feeling. He learned by watching everything he could about cutting and even wore out training dvds. Keep On Reading!
Total Earnings: $2,133,396
Monty Buntin grew up on a small ranch in Arizona and was always into horses. A neighbor three miles away had a ranch and Buntin soaked up as much barn time there as he could. Buntin was introduced to Yancy James and Lance Harrel, Leon Harrel’s son. They introduced him to cutting.
He spent some time with Salvador Cabral and at 18 he went on to work for Tim Smith. Buntin later got a job working for Smith’s clients in Lockeford, CA.
Shay Martin and Young Ringo
Photo by: Super Starr Equine Photography
Shay Martin grew up on his grandpa’s ranch. Horses and cows have always been his passion. But he didn’t start cutting until 2016, when his mother introduced him to the sport.
“The first time I felt my horse hook onto the cattle, I was hooked ever since then,” he said.
He bought two young horses that he hopes to show and breed with. He competes in the Western Nebraska Cutters club (WNC) in Nebraska and gets help from local trainers as well as Kenny Platt in Colorado when he can make the trip.
