Tom McCutcheon's THE SHOW

Tom McCutcheon Reining Horses

NRHA 2 Million Dollar Rider, Tom McCutcheon sits with Million Dollar Rider, Gunny Mathison, Trainer / Judge, Joe Schmidt, and weekly guests to discuss The Reining Industry! In each episode, Tom, Gunny, and Joe dive deep into conversations with top riders, trainers, and industry experts, sharing their stories, insights, and strategies for success. Whether you're a seasoned competitor, a passionate horse enthusiast, or someone just curious about the world of Western performance horses, this podcast offers a front-row seat to the excitement, challenges, and triumphs of the sport.

  1. 13 MAR

    Should Reining Judging Change? AQHA Two-Year Rule & Industry Debate | Episode 121

    This week on The Show, the guys dive into several topics currently being discussed across the reining and performance horse industry, including the proposed AQHA rule on frozen semen, conversations about ¼-point scoring in reining, and what these changes could mean for breeders, competitors, and the future of the sport. Although there wasn’t originally a guest scheduled, Dave Williams ended up jumping in to fill the chair, which quickly became a running joke throughout the episode. Dave talks about his business, Nautilus, an equine therapy spa focused on helping horses recover, perform, and feel their best. He also shares the story of riding Wimpys Little Step as a two-year-old, offering a fun look back at the early days of one of reining’s most influential stallions. From there, the conversation shifts to the proposed AQHA semen rule, which would limit the use of a stallion’s frozen semen to two years after his death, with stallions born before 2015 grandfathered in. The guys discuss what a rule like this could mean for breeding programs, stallion owners, and the long-term impact on genetics within the industry. They also talk about the idea that occasionally gets floated around about adding ¼-point increments to the reining judging scale, and whether a change like that could improve accuracy and consistency in scoring. Along the way, the conversation touches on the Run for a Million qualifier coming up next week, thoughts on the broader direction of AQHA, and a brief mention of the new NRHA schooling show dress code rule. With plenty of laughs and honest opinions, this episode covers a wide range of conversations currently happening across the reining, breeding, and performance horse world. • • • The Show Podcast | Reining Horses | NRHA | AQHA | Performance Horses | Horse Industry Conversations

    1hr 23min
  2. 17 JAN

    Between Spotlights And Cowhorses–Corey Cushing (EP 116)

    This week on The Show, we’re joined by a true legend of the cow horse world — NRCHA $4 Million Rider Corey Cushing. As the first NRCHA professional to ever reach the four-million-dollar mark, Corey has firmly earned his place as one of the very best to do it. With four NRCHA Open Snaffle Bit Futurity wins and three The World’s Greatest Horseman titles, he brings a lifetime of experience, perspective, and success to the table. Corey also brings some big news: Theorem Ranch has just acquired Teton Ridge’s iconic TR9 Ranch & Equestrian Facility, along with the incredible legacy that comes with it. He shares what this exciting new partnership means and what’s ahead for the program — and we can’t wait to see how it all unfolds. From there, the conversation dives into Corey’s journey — how he got started, making his first Snaffle Bit Futurity Finals, and even the time he fell off in front of Tom McCutcheon. We talk about the riders who inspire him, how he structures his training weeks while juggling three disciplines, and how both the reining and cow horse worlds have evolved over the years. Tom, Gunny, Joe, Cade, and Corey also get into training philosophy, including why it’s important to always finish a pattern even when things don’t go perfectly. The conversation then turns to family life and raising kids around horses — and why it’s actually a good thing for them to have a few hobbies that don’t involve horses. Cade laughs about how, looking back, he now really appreciates those high-school years before horses completely took over, and how important those moments end up being. It’s a fun, insightful, and honest conversation with one of the most respected horsemen in the industry — someone who truly loves the horses, the sport, and the people who make it special. Thank you for joining us, Corey.

    1hr 23min
  3. 13/12/2025

    Raising The Next Futurity Champions–Owen Deary (EP 114)

    This week on The Show, we’re joined by Owen Deary, fresh off a massive first NRHA Futurity—and what a debut it was. Owen is coming off a career-defining week in Oklahoma City, taking home over $100,000 at his first NRHA Futurity. His results included the Levels 1–3 Co-Championship, the Levels 1–3 Non Pro Challenge Co-Championship, the Youth Championship, and a Top 10 finish in the Level 4—all aboard a horse trained and sold by Joe Schmidt. After an accomplishment like that, having Owen on the podcast was an absolute no-brainer. In Episode 114, Tom, Joe, Gunny, Cade, and Owen sit down to talk through Owen’s journey in and out of the show pen. Owen shares how he found his love for training horses again, how he once had to make the tough decision between baseball and horses, and how that choice shaped where he is today. They also dive into what it was like growing up as the son of one of the industry’s greats, Casey Deary—who just claimed the 2025 NRHA Open Futurity Championship—and how that upbringing influenced Owen’s mindset, work ethic, and approach to showing and training. The conversation naturally turns toward the Deary family as a whole: who rides, who golfs, who likes makeup, and how the family includes everything from golfers and rodeo clowns to makeup artists and pony bronc riders. It’s a talented, entertaining group—and a wonderful family to learn more about. Of course, the guys also spend time breaking down the NRHA Futurity, which wrapped up just last week. With a much different schedule this year, they discuss both sides of what it was like to compete under that format and share their personal experiences from the show and the horse sale—which still took place, just in a very different way. Mixed in with the stories are plenty of laughs, some great (and highly questionable) relationship advice from Tom, Gunny, Joe, and Cade (do not try this at home), a story about Casey Deary knocking out a couple of Owen’s teeth, and Owen being welcomed by a big gun from a maybe future father-in-law (sorry, Jason). And that’s just the beginning. All in all, this episode is packed with insight, humor, family stories, and industry perspective. Owen, we are incredibly proud of your achievements at the NRHA Futurity and couldn’t be more excited to see another one of our horses succeed in the Deary family. Congratulations on an unforgettable week.

    1hr 9min

About

NRHA 2 Million Dollar Rider, Tom McCutcheon sits with Million Dollar Rider, Gunny Mathison, Trainer / Judge, Joe Schmidt, and weekly guests to discuss The Reining Industry! In each episode, Tom, Gunny, and Joe dive deep into conversations with top riders, trainers, and industry experts, sharing their stories, insights, and strategies for success. Whether you're a seasoned competitor, a passionate horse enthusiast, or someone just curious about the world of Western performance horses, this podcast offers a front-row seat to the excitement, challenges, and triumphs of the sport.

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