Silence Is Golden For The Saskatchewan Cutting Horse Association

“We are the border collies of the horse world…we are the original low stress cattle handling management system,” Elaine Good secretary/treasurer of the Saskatchewan Cutting Horse Association (SCHA).

It was a largely silent equine event at the Golden Mile Arena as the SCHA held their Moose Jaw Cutting Horse Show Limited Age Event.

And despite the quiet in the arena an intense horse show was going on as horse and rider demonstrated skills and abilities which date back to the original introduction of cattle into the western North America.

The silence though for the sport - which is a main stay at the Calgary Stampede’s world famous rodeo - is golden and just the way they like it. The less noise, means less stress for the cattle which in turn eases the task at hand.

Tyler Daroch from Yorkton (far right) aboard CD Metallic Lights, owned by Lloyd and Jan Turner of Mortlach competing - MJ Independent photo

The sport of cutting in the horse world is with the least stress and commotion removing an animal from the herd.

The origins of the sport is based upon the open ranges which once existed. It was when area farmers and ranchers would graze their herds together and then when the herds were taken home the cattle that lived as a herd had to be divided up into smaller groups based upon ownership, Good explained.

“It had its origins on the open ranges of the early West. when the settlers first arrived with cattle. The cattle would then graze in communal areas and when it was time to take them home like in the fall for the winter the cattle were then sorted by ownership. Over time what they discovered is that certain individual horses were genetically better at it,” she said.

Cutting horses had great value and were treated specially.

“When they discovered which were the best horses they became very, very valuable horses. It was only the boss or the ranch manager who got to ride these horses…the main herd was contained by riders on regular horses while the boss rode the cutting horse into the main herd and silently cut the cow from the herd.”

Good said that is the secret of cutting horses.

“They have to enter the herd quietly without disturbing the herd. Doing it quietly without stressing out the herd and easily removing or cutting out the selected animal is key and these horses were good at it.”

Recognizing the horses with the special ability lead to breeding and despite the closing of many open ranges the sport continued becoming an organized association - the SCHA in 1955.

She said that despite the closure of many open ranges that the original sorting of herds by the use of cutting horses is still practiced in some places - including here in Saskatchewan - to this day. The area it is still utilized is the West Block of the Cypress Hills with its large community pastures.

Cutting horses vary in price depending on the age, ability and breeding.

Cutting action on Saturday evening - MJ Independent photo

Horses which are past their most competitive years, but still skilled and good for beginner riders sell for about $25,000 while the some of the horses featured at Saturday evening’s premier Open Class are worth $60,000.

“People put a lot of hard work, effort and money into their horses,” Good said.

Asked about how Cutting fits into the rodeo world such as the Calgary Stampede Good replied “it’s very big there…they just did not have it there this year due to the Pandemic.”

One of the sport’s main events is the prestigious national cutting horse show in Fort Worth, Texas.

In Saskatchewan the SCHA boasts 130 members scattered throughout the province with 15 youth members in that total.

She said if you combined the number of people involved with Cutting Horses in the three western provinces - BC, Alberta and Saskatchewan - the participation in the sport is in the top five in the world.

Cutting is a sport where many people compete as families with husband and wives often competing in a sport where men and women compete together - it is not a male only event.

The SCHA holds events throughout the province on a regular basis although the COVID - 19 pandemic has prevented them for the past 18 months from having the major events. And the Moose Jaw event almost happened under some very stringent rules.

“We actually didn’t know if we could hold the show in this format until the Province announced the regulations on July 11th.”

Despite the Province relaxing the restrictions the show still is not as large as it has been in the past with the show using about 400 head of cattle. In the past up to a 1,000 head is brought in for the competition.

For the cattle producers - who rent their cattle for the show - Good said there are definitely benefits for doing so especially this year.

The benefits are their cattle get use to being properly handled and it helps them when they are later moved by their owners and this year the cattle owners have their stock well fed and watered during a drought for free while also being paid for the use of their stock.

Competitors from North Dakota, who regularly bring their horses to the Moose Jaw show, are not competing in Moose Jaw this year due to the US-Canada border still closed to non-urgent travel.

Finding judges is tough with the border restrictions is tough as many of the best and most sought out judges are from the US and the restrictions prevent them from travelling to Canada and adjudicating events.

However the Moose Jaw show “is fortunate to have an excellent and very qualified judge (Terri Paradis from Vernon BC) attend,” Good said.

After the 18 months of not being able to hold major events - due to the government restrictions - Good said it is great to be able to come out and see what others in the sport have been up to in the event hiatus.

“It is really wonderful to get together and visit, see what horses they (other members) are riding right now and aren’t riding right now. We get to see what everyone has been up to since we have been able to hold events.”

The three day event has brought competitors from the four Western provinces to Moose Jaw.

The SCHA show wraps up tomorrow at the Moose Jaw Exhibition Company’s Golden Mile Arena (located at 250 Thatcher Drive East). The event starts at 8 am and will be wrapping up about 2:30 pm. It is free to attend and the general public is welcome to attend.