Australians Make the Cut

LOCAL riders who represented Australia in the cutting horse competition in California are pleased to be bringing home the trophy after beating the Americans at their own game.

The Australian team won the first round, in which none of them lost a cow, won the second round, lost the third round and won overall.

Matt Caban competing in the cutting horse competition against America in California.

“There were 42 points between us and the Americans at the end and won the challenge,” said Matt Caban.

“They were fantastic horses and we learnt so much, it is something I would do again in a heartbeat,” he said.

Lynda MacCallum has extended her trip to spend time with cutting horse trainer John Mitchell in Texas.

“There are a lot of Australian born cutting horse trainers in the States and they were also helping us, it was quite a patriotic time,” she said.

“It is a huge multi-million dollar industry over here, to put it in perspective it would be like horse racing over here and there is just cutting ranch after cutting ranch,” she said.

“There are air conditioned indoor barns which is just amazing and shows every weekend, so I will be watching and learning all I can,” Lynda MacCallum said.

The three Hunter competitors Lynda MacCallum, Matt Caban and Geoff Saxby are all hoping to qualify next year to host the Americans in Australia.

The Australian cutting horse team.