PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 5, 2025

CVB Contact: Scott Bruscato
Phone: 318.387.5691
E-mail: sbruscato@monroe-westmonroe.org

National Cutting Horse Association Closing Out 2025 Eastern National Championship

Competition Ends March 6

WEST MONROE, La. ― The National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) is currently hosting the 2025 NCHA Eastern Nationals presented by 6666 Ranch in West Monroe, LA at the Ike Hamilton Expo Center.

The competition started Feb. 27, 2025, and it closes out its final competition on March 6. The competition begins daily at 8 a.m.

“The NCHA is honored to support our weekend cutters at this year’s Eastern National Championship, presented by 6666 Ranch,” said Jay Winborn, NCHA Executive Director. “We look forward to a thrilling week of competition shared with family and friends. The cutters who attend the Eastern Nationals create a close-knit community that feels like family, and we’re excited to celebrate this year’s champions. Our annual trip to West Monroe is always a highlight, thanks to its warm hospitality, incredible food, and inviting small-town charm.”

Admission is free and open to the public. It’s a family-friendly event, but no dogs are allowed in the expo center.

The championship’s estimated economic impact for Ouachita Parish sits at $1,252,470.99.

The full schedule, including each day's working order, can be found on NCHA’s website: https://www.nchacutting.com/ev...

What is cutting?

The term cutting refers to the act of separating one cow from a herd of cattle. The sport of cutting involves a horse and a rider and a herd of cattle.

Cattle are herd animals. One cow will instinctively try to return to the group. Knowing that, a horse and rider team will quietly ride into the herd, select, and "cut" off, or separate, one cow from the group (letting the unpicked cows return to the herd behind) and then prevent that cow from rejoining the herd - until they decide to let it go. Keeping the cow separated requires incredible intelligence and physical ability on the part of the horse. Once the cow is separated, riders are no longer allowed to use their reins. Trained cutting horses are required to think on their own and anticipate and react to the cow's moves. The competition is judged based on many factors - difficulty and how well the horse anticipates and reacts. This is the only equine competition where the horse is required to think for itself.

More information on the history of the NCHA and cutting can be found on their website: https://www.nchacutting.com/me...

All owners and riders of entered horses must be members in good standing of the National Cutting Horse Association and qualify prior to entry. To see if you qualified, go to: https://www.nchacutting.com/ev....

About Discover Monroe-West Monroe

Discover Monroe-West Monroe promotes Ouachita Parish as a destination for leisure travel, conventions, meetings and sporting events, creating a positive economic impact for our local community through increased visitor spending and sales tax collections. For more information about Discover Monroe-West Monroe, visit https://www.monroe-westmonroe....