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The Rundown: Cattle Galore

Cutting and working cow horse enthusiasts alike will be treated to an action-packed week at Battle in the Saddle, July 5-9 in Oklahoma City.

By Tara Christiansen
The American Quarter Horse Journal
June 17, 2011

Beau Galyean and Sweet Abra win the Mercuria/NCHA World Series of Cutting open division finals at the 2010 Battle in the Saddle.

Above: Beau Galyean shows Sweet Abra in the Mercuria/NCHA World Series of Cutting open finals at 2010 Battle in the Saddle in Oklahoma City. Journal photo. Below: See what made the inuagural Battle in the Saddle a unique show that brought some of the biggest names in the horse industry together for a week long competition.

Cuttin’ It Up

As a cutting competitor, if you’re looking for the chance to earn National Cutting Horse Association money and earn AQHA points in the same run, Battle in the Saddle has got you covered!

Battle in the Saddle, July 5-9 in Oklahoma City, is offering $65,000 in added money for AQHA- and NCHA-sanctioned classes.

All American Quarter Horses who enter NCHA classes will automatically be entered in the AQHA portion of the class. Here are some more particulars of the event:

  • Exhibitors in the non-pro and $50,000 amateur must be a current AQHA amateur member to be cross-entered. All scores for the class will be recorded from the NCHA go-round.
  • Riders/owners may enter only the AQHA portion of the class at the appropriate fee.
  • Riders only in the AQHA portion will be worked at the end of the last set of cattle.
  • Riders can show a maximum of two horses in the open and $10,000 novice horse class.
  • A rider may show only one horse in the non-pro or $50,000 amateur classes.

Battle in the Saddle is also a featured stop along the Mercuria/NCHA World Series of Cutting tour. The Mercuria/NCHA World Series features nine shows, and horses of all ages are able to compete for $25,000 in added money in both the open and non-pro divisions.

At Battle in the Saddle, the Mercuria/NCHA World Series open and non-pro classes will bring back the top 25 percent scoring horses (minimum of six or maximum of 12), plus ties, to the finals on Wednesday, July 6, at 6 p.m.

The Mercuria/NCHA World Finals will be held in conjunction with the NCHA Futurity in Fort Worth, Texas. The finals will feature a four-round competition for the top 15 cutters in year-end standings in both the open and non-pro divisions.

Cow Horsin’ Around

From the most elite cow horse competitors to those in the limited classes, Battle in the Saddle offers something for everyone. The event will feature AQHA-, National Reined Cow Horse Association- and Southwest Reined Cow Horse Association-sanctioned working cow horse classes, with $10,650 in added money.

If you plan to compete in working cow horse classes at Battle in the Saddle, here are a few things to keep in mind:

  • All riders and horse owners must be current members in good standing of NRCHA, and the exhibitor must be a current individual member in good standing of AQHA
  • A current copy of the horse’s registration paper, no matter the breed, will be required at time of entry in order to verify current ownership
  • Pattern 11 will be used for the AQHA junior, open hackamore and limited open hackamore, AQHA senior, open bridle and limited open bridle
  • Pattern 10 will be used for the AQHA amateur, non-pro bridle, novice non-pro bridle and non-pro hackamore
  • All working cow horse classes will be one go-round

AQHA points earned in open and amateur, or non-pro, events at the Battle in the Saddle will count toward qualification in open and amateur classes at the 2011 AQHA World Championship Show. For Select amateurs, AQHA points earned in amateur, or non-pro, events at the Battle in the Saddle will count toward qualification for the 2012 AQHA Select World Championship Show.

Best of luck out of the herd and down the fence!