Augusta Futurity

It's no Houston Rodeo or Washington Co. fair, but last week was my first time to attend a Futurity where they had cutting. As a girl who loves bull riding, mutton busting, and barrel racing, I enjoyed learning about this up and coming sport from one of the attorneys who rides in the event. In cutting, the horse and rider select and separate a cow out of a small group. The cow then tries to return to its herd. The rider loosens the reins and leaves it entirely to the horse to keep the cow separated from the herd. A contestant has 2 ½ minutes to show the horse; typically three cows are cut during a run. A judge awards points to the cutter based on a scale that ranges from 60 to 80, with 70 being considered average. As the cow turns, the horse is to draw back over its hocks and turn with the cow. The contestant and his team of three helpers is judged on how the horse moves in relation to the cow.
Saturday, they also had the Wrangler family fun fest, which was right up Will's alley with pony rides, a band, petting zoo, tractors, and a chance to wear his cowboy boots!