The talented group of Legends that have left their mark on the sport.
Milestones are meant to be celebrated! NCHA Australia recently celebrated 50 years of cutting at the 2022 NCHA 4Cyte Futurity! On June 10th the Association held a fantastic evening showcasing memorabilia, launching a book called A Good Hand by Gail Ritchie and 11 of Australia’s cutting legends walked to the herd in an event that was more packed than the Futurity finals. Keep On Reading!
Total Earnings: $91,532
From NFR Bareback rider to top two-year-old cutting horse trainer, JD Garrett has made a name for himself across multiple industries.
Growing up in South Dakota, he has always been involved with horses and ranching. While competing in the rodeo world, Garrett would start colts for Tom Lyons in his down time.
Garrett said many people have helped him along the way but cutting horse trainers Shannon Hall, John Mitchell, Greg Wright, Tom Lyons, and Bob Pecora, a performance horse trainer, have all been instrumental in his career.
Total Earnings: $4,468,839
After a childhood spent in the saddle showing in western pleasure, English and cutting, John Mitchell decided early on that dropping the reins was the sport for him.
Originally from Australia, Mitchell began riding horses for Winderadeen, a large quarter horse breeder in New South Wales.
Afterwards, Mitchell went to work for well known trainer Graham Amos to learn how to train cutting horses. Along the way, many others have had a hand in helping develop him into the trainer he is today.
Mitchell came to the States for the first time at 14 years old and celebrated his 15th birthday there.
This is a unique opportunity to be personally coached by one of cutting’s top trainers for two days in a very intimate environment. The maximum number of participants will be limited to just 7, giving riders all the personal attention they need to learn directly from John Mitchell. The clinic will be held at Steve Dees Ranch, Schulenburg, TX on Oct 14-15th. Unlimited fresh cattle will be supplied. All participants will come away with a personal plan from John outlining what they need to keep working on and specific exercises to help them achieve that. Spectators are welcome, click to register.
It was an ecstatic Kenny Platt who brought the house down when he took out the Open Derby Championship at the 2016 NCHA Summer Spectacular.
Kenny stole the show on Moms Stylish Player by marking a 228, some 5 points ahead of the field.
However, he had a nerve wracking wait before results became official after scoring a 226 with a review.
Moms Stylish Player is by Lizzys Gotta Player out of Moms Stylish Babe and owned by Robert Tregemba of Castle Rock, Co.
Kenny, who also won the Open Super Stakes Derby on the same horse, told Simone Cobb it was the greatest ride of his life!
Kenny won a massive $61,000 check for the win, taking his earnings to $1.12 million. Meanwhile Moms Stylish Player has won upwards of $200,000.
John Mitchell won his second Reserve Championship of the event scoring a 223 on MK Catts Kitty and Tag Rice took out third aboard Cutting Commander.
