Horse Show

Houston’s NCHA-sanctioned cutting horse competition is always a crowd favorite. In a typical cutting horse contest, a herd of 25 to 30 cattle are held at one end of the arena. Once a horse’s name is called, its rider will guide it into the herd toward the cow which the rider thinks will best challenge the horse’s “cutting” ability.

This event not only highlights donkey and mule competition, but it also features the popular coon mule jump and single hitch obstacle driving contests. Competition also includes the “Ear of the Year” awards for the donkey and mule whose measurable ear spans are the widest.

All horses in the Paint Horse Show must be registered with the American Paint Horse Association. The Paint Horse breed is based on color requirements for registration. Horses are judged on the horses’ ability to display the desired movements through a trail or reining pattern (spinning, going over obstacles and changing gaits) or the riders’ ability to maneuver the horse through a specified jumping over fences, English equitation or Western horsemanship pattern.

In the Quarter Horse Show, competitions include roping (breakaway, tie-down, heading and heeling) and speed events (barrel racing and pole bending).

The Ranch Horse Competition showcases the versatility of the horse as they compete in events inspired from a working ranch. Events include Ranch Trail, Ranch Reining, Ranch Riding, Ranch Pleasure and Ranch Conformation. Horses are judged on their ability to maneuver through various patterns, as well as their physical appearance.

Relive the Old West by watching the Rodeo's Ranch Rodeo events. This fast-paced, rough-and-tough competition features cowboys and cowgirls competing for the fastest times in events that include calf “branding” (using chalk), wild cow milking, bronc riding and pasture doctoring. This forerunner to modern rodeo competitions offers the visitor a look at traditional ranch life close up!

Ranch Sorting calls for competitors (two riders per team) to move 10 head of cattle from one pen to another in numerical order, beginning with a randomly called number between zero and nine, i.e. if “six” is called, the cattle must be penned starting with animal six, then seven, and so on, with animal number five penned last. If a cow passes into the pen out of numerical sequence, the team is disqualified.

The Youth Horse Show is an all breed youth horse show with classes for registered and unregistered horses. Any registered breed may show in the all breed classes, while any unregistered horse is eligible to compete in the grade horse classes. Exhibitors are ages 18 and under. Age divisions include 5-9 Walk/Trot, Novice, 13 and under, and 14-18.