Matt Gaines Cutting Horses

02/01/2024

Our 2024 show season is off to a good start!

The 2024 Unofficial PHC Open Horse of the Year (HOTY) Points have been updated to include the results from The IKE Derby Classic! There have been some shifts in the top 10, so be sure to follow along and see the full list at https://performancehorsecentral.com/stats/

01/06/2024

Watch the NCHA Futurity Finals this Monday! It was a GREAT Finals with several exciting runs! If you are a cutting horse fan…. You won’t want to miss it!

12/26/2023

12/18/2023

Happy Monday my friends!
I want to congratulate the 2023 NCHA Open Futurity Champions Wesley Galyean, Billy Wolf and everyone who helped Lone Woolf achieve this special achievement!

Wesley used to come work with me a lot when he was still competing in the Non Pro and I sat in his corner and helped him in the show arena up until the last few years when I quit going to many aged events. So the outcome Saturday night was not shocking to me.

Wesley works hard at our sport and I think few dissect it the way he does. Wesley used to call me so we could talk about “it”. You know training horses, working horses, showing horses…. You know… “IT”! I always made sure I was sitting down somewhere without the TV on…. Not driving or playing golf when we talked. I always knew he was going to give everything he had to this conversation and he deserved and expected the same from me.

When I showed in the Futurity Finals last week, I was 7th in the 1st set. My run was clean, pretty and the momentum was building. I remember looking at the clock while working my 2nd cow and I had 15 seconds left on the clock. I thought I could hold that cow until the buzzer…. It was away from me. But I thought if I got a 3rd cow cut clean I should go to the lead. If I stayed on my 2nd cow, one of two things would happen. Either it stays good and I mark a big score or it plays/dies out and I end up not marking a very big score. So I tagged off, chipped a 3rd cow, finished my run and went to the lead by 3.5 points. On the way to the finals Tara and I talked about it. We agreed that we wanted a clean run and get the best check we could get. I executed my plan perfectly. At that moment I figured I would end up about 3rd when the night was over. Which I’ve been 3rd four times at the Futurity on Sheza Stylish Babe, Nu I Wood, Little Pepto Gal and I’m Countin Checks. There is no shame in being 3rd at the NCHA Futurity.

Tara and I took Sugarr Daddy to get his drug test and then took him back to his stall. We started loading up our tack stall and getting ready to go home. I checked the scores a few times and to my surprise we were still in the lead!

Finally there was just one horse left…. Wesley and Lone Woolf. Wesley trusted himself, he trusted his training, he trusted his horse. He showed just like the Champion he IS and at the end of the night he got to add another title to his already impressive resume!

Again, congratulations to Lone Woolf, Wesley, Billy and all the people who helped this great team win the 2023 NCHA Open Futurity Championship!

Winning takes a team and I have a great one too including…

12/16/2023

I know I may be a few days late to post this but I truly wanted to savor the moment……

Saturday night was a night many dream about and few get to live. I have been blessed enough to win many titles on several great horses but winning the Reserve Championship at the NCHA Futurity on a stallion that Tara and I raised and own was one of the greatest feelings I’ve experienced in my professional career.

This will be the first post of a few because I feel like it will take a few to get everyone properly acknowledged and thanked.

First and foremost I want to thank Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior. I was in a serious car accident when I was 15 years old. My best friend was killed in the accident and I should have died in it too. God chose to save my life that day and I’ve struggled with the “WHY” every day since. People say “It wasn’t your time”…. But why? God gave me a gift…. The talent to train, show and compete for a living and I try every day to use it to glorify Him and make Him proud always. If you don’t have a personal relationship with your Heavenly Father; I encourage you to create one. Explore the special gifts and talents He gave specifically to you and use them to glorify His name.

Life is a journey and the way these horses come into our lives or cross our paths is all a special part of it. Tara moved from California to Texas in 2000 to go to work for Lindy Burch. The first horse she rode at Lindy’s and her favorite besides Bet Yer Blue Boons was a mare named Play A Masterpiece. Fast forward a few years, Tara had gone to work for leading NCHA Non Pro Dean Sanders. They had stopped at the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity in Reno between shows. In the 2 yr old sale was a filly sired by CD Olena and out of Play A Masterpiece. Tara begged Dean to buy her and that is the day CDs Masterpiece came into Tara’s life. Macy as Tara called her was shown the following year at the small Futuritys winning the Open Championship at the Northwest Futurity in Fort Klamath Oregon with Chris Bates and the Non Pro Championship at the Rocking K Arena in Las Vegas with Dean. Macy was so special to Tara. But life happens and they went separate directions. Fast forward to 2009. Tara and I were looking to purchase a broodmare. Our veterinarian Charlie Buchanan mentioned that he knew where Macy was and that she could be bought. In the summer of 2009 Macy changed owners for the last time and her and Tara were finally reunited. In 2010 we bred and flushed her to One Time Pepto and I’m Countin Checks. It was still early in the year and our reproduction veterinarian Lisa Stephens suggested we try one more. My favorite show horse in the barn at the time was Special Nu Baby and so I decided to try to breed Macy to Dual Rey and that is when Sugarr Daddy’s mom Andreya was created. Fast forward again to the 2014 NCHA Futurity…. I show Andreya and qualify for the Open Finals on her. She goes on to make several Open Finals in the beginning of 2015 until a back injury in May ends her show career. We start breeding her and in 2019 my favorite show horse in the barn is Sugrspiznevrthingniz and so we breed Andreya to Kit Kat Sugar and that is how Sugarr Daddy was created.

It may come down to 2 minutes and 30 seconds in the show arena but the truth is, it is a lifetime of faith, prayer, work, dedication, decisions, hope and dreams that all finally come together at the perfect time to create a Champion. We may have come up a few points short on Saturday night. But I assure you my heart is full!

Thank you to everyone who has reached out to us in support and wish us congratulations. We really appreciate it. And please stay tuned for the next posts of gratitude.

As always thank you to my wonderful sponsors!

11/22/2023

NCHA Futurity Update!
We have completed both rounds of the Open competition and I’m proud to say that I have qualified Sugarr Daddy for the semifinals. As you can see from this photo, I put him in some tough situations and he was right there for me every step of the way. It’s always fun to advance to the semifinals at the NCHA Futurity but extra special on one that you showed the mother there too. We still own his grandmother and Tara even prepared his great grandmother to show for Lindy Burch when she worked for her in 2000 and 2001.

The 76 horses that qualified for the semifinals are all very talented and all have a chance to be there Finals night. The semifinals should be great to watch!

We will switch gears now and concentrate on the Non Pro competition. Good luck to Constance Jaeggi on her homegrown gelding Busy Earning and mare Teles Somethin Good.

Thank you to all my incredible sponsors who keep me and my horses at our best!

11/13/2023

Today is the day we have been waiting for! Today is the first day of the NCHA Futurity in Fort Worth! Many people will say two years of hard work go into these horses to get them to this stage but in actuality it is many more than that. It takes a mare owner with a dream who puts in hours of time and research picking the perfect stallion to breed their mare to. It takes the veterinarian’s and all the technicians to actually get the mare bred and in foal. And if it’s a recipient mare it’s even more work than that. It’s whoever is there when that mare foals and makes sure the baby is brought into this world healthy and safely. From here the list of people who have impact on this foal’s life is almost endless. From caretakers who feed and water to the c**t starter who saddles them for the first time to the veterinarians, farrier, dentist, therapists who have all had one last look this week to make sure they are on track; I thank you all! Your dedication and love for the horse is greatly appreciated! I wish everyone showing or who owns a horse showing the best of luck!

I have added a photo of Sugarr Daddy the day he was born that Tara sent me this morning. I will be showing him on the 18th. Thank you to my great team at the ranch and on the road who have helped me prepare for this year’s Futurity! I feel very fortunate to be surrounded by great people and some of the best professionals in their field. I couldn’t do it without you!

10/06/2023

Looks like Tara got all caught up on washing her show boots…. Anyone who knows Tara knows that she is “specific” about how she does things and wants them done. Washing show boots is no exception! I’m just glad we have enough appliances in the kitchen to hang them all properly to dry!🤣

Thanks to Classic Equine for making boots that not only protect my horses but also come out sparkling clean after all the use we give them!

If you are in the market for any products to help you or your horses compete at their best; please check out my amazing sponsors!

09/25/2023

It’s always fun to make the finals in Vegas!

Here are the results from the 2nd Go of the Holy Cow Performance Horses, LLC. Futurity 4YO Open Cutting Stakes. Matt Gaines Cutting Horses held on to the leaderboard's top spot in the combined scores column with a 443.5 total after two rounds aboard Its Get Hott N Here (Hottish x Andrea) bred and owned by Matt & Tara. They topped the 1st Go with a 225 and followed that up with a 218.5 today.
Four teams tied for high score in the round today all scoring 222’s, including: Clay Johnson on Desires Rebel, Wes Galyean on Insignia, Lloyd Cox riding Sho Boat & Adan Banuelos aboard Steem. It took a 437.5 to advance to the finals.
Salvador Cabral led the way in the Intermediate division with a 220 riding My Abra Choice (Metallic Cat x My Little Abra) bred by the Fults Ranch and owned by Jeremy Barwick. A 216 was needed to advance to the finals in this one.
Photo by Scootem-N-Shootem Photography Pacific Coast Cutting Horse Association

09/24/2023

We are off to a good start in Vegas!

Catching up on some of the other results from yesterday at the Holy Cow Performance Horses, LLC. Futurity where Matt Gaines Cutting Horses led the field in a high scoring 1st Go of the 4YO Open Cutting Stakes. Gaines rode Its Get Hott N Here (Hottish x Andrea) owned & Bred by Matt & Tara to a 225 to top the leaderboard at the South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa
It took a 214, including 6 extras, returning to the 2nd Go today.
Thank you to for the updates and to Scootem-N-Shootem Photography for the photo

09/19/2023

I have a confession to make…. I’ve been a “Chevy guy” for as long as I can remember…. But after being stranded on the side of the road with a load of horses 4 times in the last two years…. I decided to make a change. We are loaded up and headed to Las Vegas for the PCCHA Futurity and I’m driving a Ford! I want to give a BIG thank you to Larry Roberts and everyone else at Western Hauler Trucks in Fort Worth. Larry encouraged me to try this F450 and has helped me learn how to operate all the new bells and whistles and has answered my call each time I called with a new question. I just can’t say enough good things about Western Hauler trucks and their staff and service! If you are in the market for a new truck I strongly encourage you to contact them!

I have a great group of sponsors who all produce a product at the top of their industry. If you are in the market for anything to help you or your horse; please contact them!

09/18/2023

This has been a fun project I’ve been working on…. Some really great things to come!

Great Mind Power advice from a great athlete! 🏆🔥 @ Matt Gaines Cutting Horses

➡️ Check out the full episode to hear what professional athletes are saying about the importance of Mind Power in competition and life.

🌟 Link in bio to watch and listen

09/18/2023

Happy Monday friends!

08/25/2023

We had a great time in Vegas! It was awesome to showcase our sport on that huge stage! Can’t wait for next year!
The Run For A Million

08/20/2023

If I had $20 for every person who thought I was Taylor Sheridan, it would add up to more than I’ve won showing horses this year! One lady I tried to explain 3 times that I was NOT Taylor and I finally just went with it because she wouldn’t listen. Another lady was trying to win a bet with her friends because they bet her she wouldn’t walk up to “Taylor” and introduce herself. Unfortunately for her, she finally got the courage to introduce herself to me but I wasn’t Taylor. It gives all of us a chuckle!

08/20/2023

We are loading up and heading home! Competing at The Run For A Million this week was bigger and better than I ever imagined! My two and a half minutes in the show arena was spectacular but my favorite part was spending the week with other top professionals in the reining and cowhorse events and getting to know them better. I also enjoyed meeting so many fans who travelled from all over the world to be there. And the bottom line is that we were all there to truly just celebrate and honor the western performance horse that we all love. Safe travels to everyone going home! Safe travels and good luck to all my reiner friends heading to Tulsa. Good luck to my cowhorse friends staying at the South Point and showing there next week. I’m going to head home and start preparing for the 2024 Run For A Million qualifier!

08/19/2023

Thursday update at The Run For A Million in Las Vegas…. Tara and I got up early to go get the mares ready to work. They had the practice pen available for us from 4am-6am. I worked Azul first and I felt like I had a really good work on her and so I ended up not even working Mercedes and just decided to show Azul. She was the one I really wanted to show the whole time anyway. After we finished taking care of the mares I did a few more interviews and then it was time for the autograph signing party. That was a lot of fun! After that we grabbed an early dinner and then it was time to get saddled and prepare for the evening performance…. Which deserves it own post!

08/17/2023

The Run For A Million Cutting Horse Challenge is just 3 hours away!

When Matt Gaines rides to the herd tonight on Itz Getn Hott N Here at The Run For A Million in Las Vegas, he’ll have the experience of $9.4 million in National Cutting Horse Association earnings and the power of Core Balance behind him.
Gaines hauled two show horses to Las Vegas from his home base in Weatherford, Texas, but chose to ride the 4-year-old mare with earnings of about $30,000 instead of his more accomplished 7-year-old mare, Smooth As Mercedes.
Itz Getn Hott N Here (by Hottish and out of Andreya by Dual Rey), he says, has more eye appeal and fits him better. But it will be all about cow selection in tonight’s cutting competition.
“Whoever cuts the best cows will win,” Gaines says. “I may be at a little disadvantage with a younger horse, but if I can cut good enough cows I’ll be fine. If not, it’ll be a good situation for her and help her mature. She’s got a long show career to go.”
A longtime user of Core Balance supplements, Gaines says the products help his horses stay strong and healthy, whether they’re at home or on the road.
“Their condition, their recovery, their stamina—Core Balance helps all of those things,” he says. “And that’s huge here, especially with the 18-hour haul and then just the day-to-day routine, the works, the warm-ups, and not to mention the atmosphere here is pretty intense.”
It’s the first time cutters have been showcased at The Run For A Million, an event Gaines says is an amazing opportunity for competitors, who stand to win big paychecks, and spectators, who learn more about Western horse events. The cutting begins at 7 o’clock tonight in the South Point Arena & Equestrian Center.

By Susan Morrison

Photo credit RFAM

08/17/2023

Run For A Million update…. I will show Itz Getn Hott N Here tonight at The Run For A Million!

08/17/2023

Every draw tonight in The Run For A Million is a good draw! But I’m excited to be #2!

08/17/2023

Wednesday was another full day here at The Run For A Million in Las Vegas. Our day of course started taking care of the horses and getting them worked. We happened to be in the warm up arena with several of the Reiners showing here Saturday night and it was impressive to watch them fine tune their horses. When we were done at the barn it was time to head to the stage for our draw party. I drew #2 which I think is a good spot to be. But let’s face it… ANY draw at The Run For A Million is a good one!! After that, I did several interviews for various people, grabbed some dinner. And finished the night off at the Kick Off Party and Concert. It was a long day but a great one!

08/17/2023

Good morning from the South Point Arena in Las Vegas! Today is the BIG day! Both mares are saddled and we are headed to go work them on some cows. Who will it be??? Smooth As Mercedes or Itz Getn Hott N Here? Stay tuned!

08/17/2023

08/17/2023

Draw party! I’m #2! Sounds good to me!

08/17/2023

Tuesday was another fun day here at The Run For A Million! I worked both mares on the flag in the morning and kind of just hung out at the flag with the other cowhorse trainers. It was fun to visit with Kelby and Abbie Phillips and Ron and Patty Ralls…. We talked about cutting horses, cow horses and barrel horses too. At noon we had a riders meeting. Taylor Sheridan did all the talking and explained his vision for the event. For those of you here or watching online…. It is going to be very different than what you are used to seeing but it’s going to be good! We then took pictures and video to be used throughout the event. After that I met the Purina team at my stalls for more interviews, videos and photos. By then it was time to feed, clean stalls and top off water buckets and call it a day. This has been an amazing experience! I’m so blessed to be here! I’m excited for the next few days!

08/16/2023

Let’s go!

08/14/2023

The Run For A Million update…
We had a safe and easy drive and have arrived at the South Point. Mercedes and Azul made the trip well and are happily in their stalls. I got checked in at the show office and from looking at the schedule it’s going to be a busy week! Let the fun begin!

08/14/2023

Great list of horses! It’s going to come down to whoever cuts the best cows. Thursday will be an exciting night in Las Vegas!

for the first time ever, they are headed to the South Point Hotel and Casino to compete during The Run For A Million (TRFAM) Cutting Challenge.