Keith Kitchen Cutting Horses

11/15/2024

11/10/2024

The WCHA wants to congratulate the 2024 Open Champion and Reserve Champion!

Champion Metallic Starshine
Rider Keith Kitchen
Owner Kenneth Flippin

Reserve Champion Freeekish
Rider David George
Owner Browne Enterprises

Hart Trailers
Paul Taylor Saddle Company
Cuttinup Show Blankets
Myristol
Performance Horse Central
Daisy If You Do Co.
Lone Star Equine Insurance
Formula 707
Beto Orsi Photography

11/04/2024

There are horse trainers, horse traders and horse whisperers. There are show men, show boaters and show offs. There are fast talkers and would be magicians.
But then there are true Horsemen and Horsewomen, and these are harder to find and sometimes even harder to recognize because they are often tucked away in quiet hidden places, working slowly and silently without national recognition or appreciation.
Often times, the true horseman or woman does not have the most horses in training or those horses that are exceptionally bred or high priced. Often times, the true Horsemen and Women do not have access to big money owners or run through dozens and dozens of prospects in order to find the few that can take the pressure of aged event prize money or high profile exhibition. Many times, the true horsemen and women are slow and steady, methodical and patient, training on an individual horse's timeline and not to a rigid show schedule set by the seasons or show management.
These people recognize a horse's physical and mental capabilities and showcase their assets without sacrificing their bodies or minds. Horsemen and women take their time developing their horses' skills and confidence through a traditional steps, one before the next, placing just as much credence in their teaching relationship and equine partnership as they do in show pen results. Horsemen and women are humble because their reward comes from within; from knowing that they have taught through kindness, patience, fortitude, and logic. Their rewards coming from creating a confident horse that works with them and not for them, horses that are not scared or intimidated, horses with solid foundations that last season after season and that carry a gamut of riders from the experienced Pros to the Non Pros to the Amateur Cutters. Always Dedicated. Always Patient. Always Consistent. Whether it be riding young horses, resurrecting older horses, or maintaining the Steady Eddy, a True Horseman is one of a kind

10/19/2024

New to Cutting Horses

Here are all the things that I wish someone would have told me when I started.

A professionally run cutting horse training operation has more in common with a dairy than it does a ranch. Show horses kept in barns require constant care. “If it ain’t fighting flies in the heat of summer, it’s blankets and frozen water buckets in winter.”

Spend your money on a good practice horse and the best show horse you can afford.

Work your practice horse and stay off your show horse until a day or two before a show. Amateurs typically destroy the training they pay their trainer to put in their horse. It’s absolutely counter productive to push your trainer to let you work your show horse. This is especially true if you plan to show in aged events.

Most trainers are professionals and their reputation rides on your success. Listen to them and trust them and if you can’t do that…move elsewhere.

If you need to talk to your trainer, text him. He’s busy. He will call you back when he can.

Do not take your horse home periodically. When most amateurs ride their horses at home, they come untrained.

I wish I’d never bought a trailer, a truck, saddles, or tack. That money should have gone to buying better horses.

I know lots of people want to have input on supplements and feed. Just go with what your trainer does with his own animals. Save your money and make it easier for your trainer to manage your horses.

A horse trainer’s kids, barn help, show help and wife DO NOT WORK FOR YOU. My experience with this comes from watching others. These people will be nice, accommodating and helpful, but they do not answer to you. The trainer assigns responsibilities. For these specific people, answering to you isn’t one of them. The trainer answers to you.

Do not show up at your trainer’s facility unannounced. They already have a 24/7/365 job. They need the courtesy of being given your plans in advance.

There are a few fortunate amateurs that will generate some positive cash flow from cutting horses, but be prepared to spend thousands to generate hundreds.

06/27/2024

06/27/2024

TRUTH !!!!

06/08/2024

Metallic Starshine was on point yesterday winning second in the open.