Cutting cattle are typically young steers and heifers that customarily range in size from 400 to 650 lb (180 to 290 kg).

Cutting dates back to a time when ranchers in the American West hired cowboys to work herds of cattle out on the open range.

Some sanctioned events at the national and international level offer added million dollar purses.

[2] Competitive cutting horses are well-trained and conditioned athletes with skills honed to constrain the movement of a cow and prevent it from returning to the herd.

[4][1] A variety of cattle breeds are used for cutting horse competition but the preferred types are young steers and heifers ranging in size from 400 to 650 lb (180 to 290 kg).

The ability of a competitor to pick the best cows to show their horse is a highly developed skill that will either make or break a run.

[6] When possible, cutters will watch other competitors show to see how the cattle react, and which cows make the best candidates.

A contestant is assisted by four helpers of their choice: two are designated as turnback riders who keep cattle from running off to the back of the arena, and the other two are designated as herd holders to keep the remaining cattle bunched together and prevent potential strays from escaping into the work area.

A rider can be disqualified for using illegal equipment, leaving the working area before the time limit is reached, and for inhumane treatment of the horse.

[12][13] Competition divisions common in cutting are: Among the events drawing the most entrants are limited aged events, known as futurities, which offer large purses and added money in classes that offer competitors a chance to win hundreds of thousands of dollars, possibly millions.

[16] Cutting's "Triple Crown" begins with the NCHA Futurity, an event limited to three-year-old horses.

In 2015, there were 132 NCHA affiliates worldwide including the US, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Sweden, and Switzerland.

[18] They also sponsor a 3 yr. old cutting futurity in May or June each year at the Australian Equine and Livestock Events Centre (AELEC), Tamworth, New South Wales.

They sponsor an annual aged event championship show in September which includes divisions for 3 yr. old, 4 yr. old, and 5 & 6 yr. old cutting horses.