CUTTING HORSE EVENT

CUTTING HORSE EVENT
CUTTING HORSE EVENT will use NCHA rules when not in conflict
with NHSRA rules. Contestant may not change horses in the cutting
horse event, at any one rodeo. If contestant changes horses in the cutting
event at any one rodeo, the contestant will be disqualified from
the cutting event.
Optional Cutting Event on State/Province & District Qualifying Level:
1. Cuttings may be optional at state/province qualifying and district
qualifying rodeos.
a. States/Provinces may hold their Cutting Finals earlier than
their State/Province Finals Rodeo. If they choose to, the Cutting Finals
must be held within 30 days of the State/Province Finals Rodeo.
b. Optional cuttings must be approved by state/province board of

director’s prior to start of rodeo season.
c. If optional cuttings are approved by state/province, all member
clubs will be notified by state/province secretary by mail prior to start
of rodeo season (NO EXCEPTIONS).
d. If optional cuttings are approved, no cutting points will be used
toward all- around at qualifying rodeos.
e. All- around points in cutting will only be awarded at
state/province and district finals.
2. Boys and girls cutting must be offered at all state/province and
district finals.
a. All cuttings at state/province and district finals and qualifying
rodeos will be run in accordance with NHSRA rulebook.
b. All cuttings will be approved on activity sheet by National
Director and the National Executive Director.
3. All states/provinces will hold a minimum of three (3) cuttings at
qualifying level.
a. Group cuttings are encouraged to increase number of cuttings
and reduce cost to rodeo committee.
b. States/Provinces are encouraged to hold as many cuttings as
possible.
Event Rules:
1. Horse’s name will not be announced, only the contestant’s name
and number may be announced.
2. In the Cutting Event, first go- round will be drawn. Working order
positions within the pre-drawn performance of the second go- round
will be randomly drawn. Positions will be drawn for final go- round.
3. National Cutting Horse Association open rules will be followed
when not in conflict with NHSRA Rules.
4. Standing rules and rules for judging.
a. No two (2) boys or two (2) girls can ride the same horse.
b. A contestant may drop out of cutting contest, due to injury to
himself or horse. A Dr. or DVM excuse must be presented to the Arena
Director to release contestant.
c. All contestants will work at the appointed time so designated by
the arena director or be disqualified. Horses are to be judged on performance
only, regardless of conformation, sex, age, color, appearance,
previous performance or breed.
d. Each judge must sign his score card and the rodeo secretary
shall post same in a conspicuous place immediately following each
performance. There must not be any consultation between judges
until after score cards are turned in and after cards are turned in there
will be no changes. When two or more individuals are judging a cutting
contest and one or two judges cannot complete judging of a goround,
the score or scores of the remaining judge or judges who com81
plete the go- round will be the sole basis of computing the go- round.
Each judge must score each horse individually, and if any one of his
scores is counted in a go- round, all of his scores must be counted.
Judges must be mounted or seated on stands high enough to see clearly.
e. A contestant may be awarded a complete rework if, in the judge
or judges’ opinion, 2 1/2 minutes time was not allotted for the work,
or if excessive disturbance has been created by factors other than these
caused by the contestants or their help and the judge or judges have
stopped the time. Such unavoidable factors would include gates coming
open, or spectators or workmen disturbing the cattle, but would
not apply to cattle scattering through wildness or normal arena activities.
In the case of wild cattle, plenty of time should be given to settle
the herd before the first horse works. Any rework must take place
within the group of cattle drawn by the contestant, and must occur
before a change of cattle is executed. Each horse must have the same
rider throughout the contest.
f. When a contestant is thrown from a horse, or falls off a horse, or
horse falls to ground, a penalty should be imposed. But if rider can
remount and resume work, both horse and rider are entitled to complete
the balance of their allotted time and the amount of penalty
imposed should be in accordance with the circumstances causing
such a fall. The time allotted each horse to work is 2 1/2 minutes; time
to start when horse crosses start line. This gives the rider ample time
to ride the herd and work as many cattle as the rider sees fit in the
allotted time. Any rider who allows his horse to quit working or leaves
the area before his allotted time is up will be disqualified for that goround
with no score. If elimination is held, the same rider must ride
in the elimination and contest.
g. A mark of 60 is considered a zero and will receive no points.
Example: With a two judge system, a score of 60 and 61 would give the
contestant a total score of 61.
5. The following rules were adopted as a judging standard of Cutting
Horse Contest after due consideration and careful study by the
National Cutting Horse Association. Attention was given to the fact
that no two cattle when cut from a herd will act alike. These rules
constitute a fair basis for judging all Cutting Horses in contest and
determining both their good work and occasional bad habits.
a. A horse will be given credit for his ability to enter a herd of cattle
and bring one out with very little disturbance to the herd or to the
one brought-out. If he (or his rider) creates unnecessary disturbance
at any time throughout his working period, he will be penalized.
b. When an animal is cut from the herd, it is more desirable that
it be taken toward the center of the arena and credit should be given

for the same. No penalty should be assessed if the animal is cut and
driven down the arena fence. The horse should never get ahead of the
animal and duck it back toward the herd to get more play, but should
let the turn back man turn it back to him. Credit should be given the
horse which drives its stock sufficient distance from the herd to assure
that the herd will not be disturbed by his work; thereby showing his
ability to drive a cow.
c. A horse will be penalized 3 points each time the back fence is
used for turn back purposes; the back fence to be agreed on and designated
by the judge or judges before the contest starts; meaning the
actual fence only, no imaginary line from point to point is to be considered.
If any of the contestants voice an objection, before the contest
starts, the judge or judges shall take a vote of the contestants, and a
“back fence” acceptable to the majority shall be designated and used.
d. If a horse runs into the herd, scatters the herd, lanes or circles
the herd against the arena fence while cutting, he will be penalized
heavily.
e. If a horse turns the wrong way with tail toward animal being
worked, he will be disqualified for that go- round with no score.
f. A horse will be penalized one (1) point each time he is reined or
visibly cued in any manner. If he is reined or cued several times during
a performance, he will be penalized each time. When a horse is
picked up hard with the reins and set over, one reined, or spurred in
the shoulder, a heavier penalty will be marked against him.
g. Credit shall be given for riding with loose rein throughout a performance.
For riding with a tight rein throughout a performance, a
penalty will be given; for part of the time during a performance, or for
bumping the bits, less penalty.
h. If a horse lets an animal that he is working get back in the herd,
he will be penalized 5 points.
i. Credit should be given for setting up a cow and holding it in a
working position as near the center of the arena as possible. When a
horse goes past an animal to the degree he loses his working advantage,
he will be penalized each time he does so. If a horse goes past as
much as a length, he will be assessed a heavier penalty. Unnecessary
roughness, such as a horse actually pawing or biting cattle, will incur
a penalty.
j. A contestant may quit an animal when it is obviously stopped,
obviously turned away, or is obviously behind the turn back horse. A
penalty of three (3) points must be charged if the animal is quit under
any other circumstances.
k. A judge marks from 60 to 80 points. An average performance
should be marked around 70 points. A judge should be careful not to
mark an average performance too high because the next horse that

shows may put on a top performance that deserves 5 or 6 points above
average, and if the average performance was marked 75, that would
leave no room to give the top horse the credit he deserves above the
other. Winning points will be based on a horse’s ability to work cattle
and the amount of play he gets from the animal during the performance.
In other words, if a horse gets good play and shows plenty of
abilities to cut cattle and the judge thinks he deserves a 78 marking
for what he did, but he assessed a 3-point penalty against him for
reining, he would mark him 75. One-half (1/2) points are permissible.
l. If at no fault of the horse, additional cattle leave the herd, no
penalty will be assessed. If at fault of the horse additional cattle are
picked up from the herd, he shall be assessed a penalty of 3 points.
m. If a horse quits a cow or must be restarted by his rider a penalty
of 5 points will be assessed.
n. If a horse clears the herd with 2 or more cattle and fails to separate
a single animal before quitting, a 5 point penalty will be
charged.
o. The score from each go- round will be added together to get the
top horses for Finals.
p. The score a horse had made in go- round performance will be
added to the score he makes in Finals to determine the winner of contest.
q. In a contest where there are no Finals, the score of each goround
added together will determine the winner of that contest.
r. The committee must determine how many horses will be
worked in each group of cattle. After the draw, absent horses shall be
counted toward cattle changes and horses will work as drawn in each
group of cattle.
s. A judge (or judges) shall present in writing any grievance that he
may have against contestants or show to an officer, director, secretary,
or duly elected or appointed representative of the National High
School Rodeo Association at the time of the grievance, and his case
will be reviewed by the appropriate committee.
t. A judge shall conduct himself in a manner fitting and proper to
one afforded the honor of officiating at any NHSRA approved contest.
Any misconduct on the part of the judge at any NHSRA approved
rodeo, such as drinking immediately prior the contest, the use of abusive
language, showing obvious favoritism to, or discrimination
against, either an individual or a horse performing in the contest, or
any misconduct unbecoming to one in his position will make him
subject to a complete and impartial hearing of the cause of the complaint
before the appropriate committee.
Self Adjusted Monitor System (SAMS)
Self Adjusted Monitor System may be used at the National High

School Finals Rodeo and only if three or more judges are used:
Self Adjusted Monitor System may be used at the State/Province High
School Finals Rodeo and only if one or more judges are used:
If SAMS is used, it will be announced to the contestants in the contestant’s
packet prior to the NHSFR.
I. There will be no adjustment to the following:
a. No changes in run content.
b. No change in one (1) point penalties.
c. No review of any run not reported to the announcer at the time
the judge calls in his score.
II. The following criteria will be followed when either a three (3) or a
five (5) point penalty is in question on the judge’s card. The judge
must report the score and indicate that a review will take place on
that particular score. For instance, if a horse has a completed run
with run content score of 74 and has incurred a three (3) point infraction,
he must designate the specific infraction in the appropriate
penalty box. If the judge wishes to review the penalty, he will report
the score as follows to the announcer: “74R”. The announcer must
announce “74R” for the review to be valid, and this announcement
must be made when the run is complete and before the next run takes
place. It is the judge’s responsibility to be sure the call indicating the
“R” is announced. At the same time he records his score with the “R”,
he circles the penalty to indicate where the review will be made. All
reviews should be made during a cattle change, but in no case will the
review be permitted to take place during the following class. A judge
must resolve any and all reviews in that particular class before moving
on to the next class. If the judge, after reviewing the video tape,
decides that his score must be lowered based on the penalty review, he
does the following:
a. He leaves the original mark for the horse and circle in place. He
does not erase the original mark or alter it in any way.
b. Next to the original score and circle he indicates the new score and
initials same. If there is no room on that horse’s score line, a judge
may use the bottom of his judge’s sheet or the back of his score sheet
to record the “adjusted” score and initial the change. Under no circumstances
should the judge use another piece of paper or any other
means to indicate a change of score. The judge then turns his score
sheet in to the Cutting Secretary and the announcer will make the following
statement:
“Contestant #, Contestant Name, has a score of 74 (if no adjustment)
or 71 if adjusted.”
If there are more adjustments in that group of cattle, each announcement
will be the same.
Under this system, it is imperative that the Arena Director and

Cutting Secretary enforce each and every rule pertaining to “judgecontestant”
contact. If a contestant makes any contact with the judge
over the review process before, during or after the process, the contestant
will be disqualified. The system is being implemented not only as
an aid to assist the judge but also to provide the contestant with a
more fair and accurate score.
To aid this system, the NHSRA must provide video equipment by
which the review process can take place. Any system will work as long
as it provides a clear picture and is consistent for all contestants. The
procedure has been designed to add an element of fairness to the
judging system and the better the review process and equipment, the
easier the review becomes.
SUMMARY OF “SAMS” FOR JUDGES
1. Deal with the three (3) and five (5) point penalties only. You are
never to re- judge the run or the run content or adjust any one (1)
point penalties.
2. Make your call after careful thought process and move on to the
next review. Do not dwell on the call. Our current system has taught
us that after three reruns of the same situation the judge should have
a working knowledge and basis in fact for a decision.
3. The review should rule in favor of the contestant if a penalty situation
does not have an absolute conclusion.
4. Do not let the review process affect your concentration or confidence.
All judges will make an error, and the review process will
increase your capacity to make the correct call when the situation
reoccurs. The goal of any judging system is to put the horses in the
proper order.
5. The penalty review will not have any impact on the run content
except to add or subtract the penalty value (3 or 5 points) to the score.
To recap, here are the important points:
a. Record your score as normal. Designate the appropriate penalty for
reviews.
b. Communicate your score to the announcer, i.e. 74R.
c. Review the major penalty only; 3 or 5 points as designated.
d. Complete the reviews and make the class complete before moving
to the next class.
In the event of equipment failure, all scores reviewed or not reviewed
will remain official, and the judge continues to mark his card in the
normal fashion.
III. Two or three judges—one uses the “R” and the other(s) did not:
The judge(s) marking the “R” will review the situation first. If the
judge(s) do not change their score, the other judge(s) will not be
required to look at the run. If the judge(s) change the score, then the
other judge(s) will be required to review the situation. This should be

done totally SEPARATE WITH NO COMMUNICATION BETWEEN
THE JUDGES during the reviews.
IV. Two or three judges—no “R” is called:
If during any run one judge calls a major penalty (3 or 5 points) and
the judges do not call a review, then all judges must look at that particular
situation, SEPARATELY WITH NO COMMUNICATION
among them. It is the Cutting Secretary’s responsibility to review each
judge’s scorecard to determine if there are any major penalties (3 or 5
points). They may agree there is, or is not, a penalty. The purpose is
that all judges reviewed the situation. This is to better help the judges
and also the contestants.