Tom McCutcheon's THE SHOW

Andi Paul is an NRHA Judge and has been a friend of this show since long before there was a show. She’s in town scribing the NRCHA Futurity, so Tom, Gunny, Joe and Cade got to talk to her while she’s here.Our conversation touches on what the job actually looks like from the judge’s seat. How you separate a class when thirty horses are all good. Why the the rollback has become such a seperating point. What it’s like to sit on a crew of five people who see things differently — and why the system still lands in the right place. Then the eligibility and leveling debate: whether a rider should only be able to move up one level at a time, what happens to the young trainer who has the night of his life and gets bumped out of the divisions he can actually compete in, and Cade’s idea.She also tells the story of Darlins Not Painted — a mare she bought for $25,000, rehabbed for a year, and won the INT NRBC. Tom purchased the mare who has become a very successful producer, and took to her Sweden to compete for the US team. She now sits just shy of a million dollars in offspring earnings, and Andi says she was the most fun she’s ever had showing a horse.Plus: growing up showing in Illinois, landing in Arizona in 1980, how the Congress has changed, what a 216 used to be worth at the Futurity, Joe’s jiu jitsu career, and a Mavericks conversation that gets personal.

Dun Deja — a yearling colt by Gunner out of Dun Its Deja Vu, consigned by Toyon Ranch — was the high seller of the 1st Annual Designer Sale at $270,000. The man holding the card was Pepe Briseño.Pepe joins Tom, Gunny, Joe and Cade to talk about how that deal came together. He came to the sale looking for prospects to compete in Mexico; this colt wasn't the plan. He walks through what changed his mind, where Dun Deja is headed and who's training him, why his client overruled the recommendation to leave the colt in the States, and why people were calling about breedings before the horse ever left Texas.From there, the sale itself. Friday night's Designer Sale averaged nearly $87,000 on 30 head and reset what a yearling sale is supposed to feel like — Pepe's read is that the quality brought buyers who came to buy, not to watch, and that Friday night pulled Saturday's average up roughly $7,000 over past years right along with it.Then a look at the reining business south of the border: the Cala and what it takes to win one, why more than 400 three-year-olds enter every year, how Mexican-bred horses went from a handful in the finals to the majority of them, what it actually costs to raise and train a horse in Mexico, and why Pepe is hunting an outcross now that half the country is breeding to Gunner sons.Plus: The Gladstone days and the old World Equestrian Games qualifiers, and a nod to Jose Vasquez — a self-made million-dollar rider and Hall of Fame member who did it on horses he bred and raised himself.And yes, there's a plan forming to put Tom in a charro suit and enter him in the Cala.

John Tague was a part of the team who turned United Airlines around after one of the largest bankruptcy filings in the industry's history, helped run Hertz Rental Car, and sat in rooms with a hundred creditors — but many only know him as a successful breeder, owner, and board member in the reining world. Today, you get to hear his whole story...John and his wife Nancy own Toyon Ranch, where they stand a group of very successful reining stallions, and keep roughly 160 head on the property to produce a foal crop each year. John came up in the hunter/jumper world as a working student at 13, left school early, took an entry-level analyst job in aviation at 21, and was an officer of a public company by 25. He and Nancy moved into western performance around 2011.In this one, John walks Tom and the boys through how he got involved with United, the hardest decision he ever had to make there, and why he now spends his time on the NRHA Executive Committee instead of corporate boards. The group gets into the association's financial turnaround, why sponsorship dollars follow purse money, the push to invest in affiliates and regional futurities, whether the sport is getting too hard to compete in, the amateur division question, and what rising horse prices mean for the person breeding at home.Plus: the Tulsa recap, Nancy's $600 Calcutta steal, and Tom's ongoing problem with the paper towel trap door on airplanes.BE SURE TO LIKE AND SUBSCRIBE!#reining #podcast #horses #equine #talkshow #tommccutcheon

Golden Coins, indeed. In this episode of The Show, Tom McCutcheon sits down with Gunny Mathison, Joe Schmidt, and Cade McCutcheon to talk with 2026 Run For A Million Champion Kole Price — fresh off one of the wildest nights in reining history, a record-breaking 237.5 on Golden Coins.We go inside a stacked 16-horse field where six-plus horses had already marked over 230 before Kole even entered the pen, and break down how a night that could've gone either way turned into a record-setter. Kole walks through the mental prep that changed everything from the NRBC run to this one — earplugs, paid warm-ups, and treating a six-year-old like he still needs to be shown, not just patted on the neck. He gets into the specific fix he worked on for days before the show (starting his right turnaround off his outside leg instead of his neck rein) and the exact moment mid-run when he knew something special was happening.We also dig into the judging of one of the deepest classes ever, the scribe who told Kole he was sitting on a 77.5 before his stops even started, and what's next for Golden Coins — a run at the Derby, a shot at the Million, or knowing when a horse has already proven everything it needs to. Plus: Cooper Smith and Kelsey's surprise on-site barn wedding, Vegas blackjack winners and losers, and why a town of 2,000 people has Kole Price's face on the water tower.Congratulations again to Kole Price and Golden Coins — this is reining at its best.🎙️ Subscribe for new episodes of The Show every week.📲 Follow us: Instagram: @tommccutcheons_theshow🔔 Have a guest or topic you want to hear on the show? Drop it in the comments.#reining #NRHA #RunForAMillion #TheShow #TomMcCutcheon #KolePrice #GoldenCoins #reininghorses #westernperformance #quarterhorse #reiningpodcast #NRHAfuturity

Tom McCutcheon, Cade McCutcheon, Gunny Mathison, and Joe Schmidt welcome longtime friend and legendary horse trader Cooper Smith for a wide-ranging conversation straight off the heels of the 100X Waco Futurity. The crew breaks down recent standout runs from Franco Bertolani, Luca Fappani, and Miriko Midili, debates why 220+ scores barely cash a check anymore, and tackles the real question every reining fan is asking: is the sport still affordable for the average competitor?Gunny opens up about his new gig as a CBS Sports commentator for the Run For A Million in Las Vegas alongside Steve Ross, Taylor Sheridan, and Francesca Sternberg — a big step for the horseman known for calling it like he sees it. Tom also reflects on his recent Hall of Fame induction and the letters that got him there, while Cooper brings decades of trading wisdom to the group’s debate on horse values, from six-figure studs to $5,000 diamonds in the rough.Along the way: previews of the Tulsa 100X show and the new First Annual Legacy Designer Sale, plus plenty of trademark chaos — cannoli cowboys, mariachi bands, and a busker debate that somehow takes over the second half of the show.#reining #podcast #nrha #futurity #tommccutcheon #therunforamillion #halloffame #reiningpodcast #equinepodcast

This week, the guys sit down with Melanie Smith, co-owner and co-founder of Solo Select — a rapidly growing business that spans horse sales, breeding, mare management, stallions, products, outdoor services, and more.Melanie shares how she got into the horse world, the journey that led her to starting Solo Select, and what her partnership with Ty Smith has looked like along the way. The conversation dives into the building of the Solo Select brand, how they've expanded well beyond horses, and what it's taken — financially and personally — to get there. Melanie also opens up about debt, managing finances, and the motivation that's driven everything she's built.Of course, it wouldn't be a full episode without some laughs — and this week even includes a little singing.A big thank you to Melanie for joining us and sharing her story!

This week on The Show, we’re joined by Davon Godchaux for a conversation that covers far more than just football. Davon shares what life in the NFL is really like, talks about making the transition from LSU to the professional level, and gives some behind-the-scenes perspective on teams, locker rooms, and the realities of playing at the highest level.The conversation also dives into Davon’s growing involvement in the horse industry, including how he got started with horses, his place in Weatherford, his thoughts on breeding, and the questions he has as he continues learning more about the industry. Along the way, the guys discuss hard work, relationships, making lasting impressions, and what it takes to create opportunities and build success. And somewhere in between all of that, there are plenty of jokes and moments that send the conversation off track.Thank you to Davon for joining us on this week’s episode!

This week on The Show, the guys sit down with Debbie Brown to talk about her long career in the horse industry, the people who helped shape it, and the lessons she’s learned along the way.Before spending the last 12 years working for Tom McCutcheon, Debbie got her start with the McQuay family and built a career centered around helping non pros succeed in and out of the show pen. That dedication was recognized in 2021 when she was named NRHA Horsewoman of the Year, and again in 2025 as the NRHA Non Pro Coach of the Year.In this episode, Debbie shares stories from throughout her journey, talks about college and getting started in the industry, reflects on the many people she’s worked with over the years, and offers advice for younger generations hoping to make a career in the horse world. Along the way, there are plenty of laughs and memories shared between old friends.A huge thank you to Debbie Brown for joining us!

This week, the guys sit down with Olympian Laura Kraut for a conversation that steps outside the reining pen and into a completely different side of the horse industry.They talk through what makes showjumping unique—from the team aspect at the highest levels to how young horses are developed, how breeding decisions differ, and what separates top riders when it comes to picking a horse. Laura also shares how the industry operates in the U.S. compared to Europe, what it’s like spending summers in Holland, and how the sport has evolved over the years.The conversation covers everything from Thoroughbreds and the development of Warmbloods to safety equipment like air vests, splitting prize money, and the realities behind the price tag of top-level horses. There’s also a lot of discussion around how differently the showjumping and reining industries operate, from training timelines to competition structure.Along the way, the guys mix in plenty of laughs—covering everything from “list your injuries” to Nutella waffles—and even touch on Laura’s connection to Mandy from years ago.Thank you so much to Laura for joining us on this episode!

The Run For A Million Qualifier at Bosque Ranch brought together some of the best riders, horses, and runs — and this week, we’re breaking it all down with one of the standout competitors.Fresh off securing the final qualifying spot with a 9th place finish, Ben Beckett of Beckett Performance Horses joins the show to recap his experience at the TRFAM Qualifier. From preparing for the event to stepping into the pen alongside some of the industry’s top riders and trainers, Ben shares what it took to get the job done when it mattered most.The guys dive into the runs, the horses, and the overall atmosphere at Bosque Ranch, while also getting into the bigger picture — horsemanship, mindset, and what it really means to take a shot at an opportunity like this.From behind-the-scenes insight to real conversation about the journey, this episode gives an honest look at competing at one of the biggest stages in the sport — and why sometimes, you just have to go for it.A big thank you to Ben for taking the time to join us and share his experience!

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

This week on The Show, we’re joined by team roping standout Joseph Harrison. Over the course of his career, Joseph has competed on some of rodeo’s biggest stages, including six NFR qualifications and a win at The American Rodeo. He has built a reputation for skill, consistency, and a deep respect for the sport. More recently, he’s turned his focus to the futurity world, developing young rope horses and shaping the next generation of competitors.In this episode, Joseph shares how he first got started in roping, what it was like spending a decade working for Bobby Lewis, and the lessons that shaped both his riding and his approach to horses. He also reflects on the evolution of the team roping industry and offers insight into life on the rodeo road versus life training futurity horses—from long miles in the truck to long hours in the arena.The conversation also touches on the similarities and differences between the roping and reining industries, giving listeners a behind-the-scenes perspective on what it takes to succeed in both arenas.With plenty of laughs, honest stories, and practical insight, this episode offers a thoughtful look at what it takes to build a lasting career in the rope horse world.Thanks for joining us, Joseph! We really appreciate you sharing your story.

Sitting down with NRHA Legend Bob Loomis and NRHA $3 Million Rider Tim McQuay is something truly special. These two horsemen have helped shape reining into what it is today — from defining the sport’s patterns to building breeding programs and careers that set the standard for generations.Bob Loomis, a six-time NRHA Open Futurity Champion, former NRHA President, and Hall of Fame inductee, shares insight into how his career began, how influential breeding programs were built, and how selecting the right mares played a key role in long-term success. His impact on the industry spans decades and continues to influence the way reining horses are trained and bred today.Joining him is Tim McQuay, the first rider in NRHA history to surpass $3 million in earnings and a true trailblazer of the sport. Tim has won every major NRHA event, qualified for the Futurity Finals nearly every year since 1978, and earned money on more than 200 horses. From world-level competition to building McQuay Stables, his influence reaches far beyond the show pen.Together, Bob and Tim dive into how today’s patterns were created, how the industry has evolved, and what truly matters when building horses and programs that last. Along the way, they share unforgettable show-pen stories, lessons learned, and perspective that only decades at the top can provide.We are incredibly grateful to Bob Loomis and Tim McQuay for joining us and sharing their knowledge, history, and stories. This episode is a rare opportunity to learn from two men who helped build the industry we all love.