Here in Augusta? Who Knew!

Here in Augusta? Who Knew!
By Robin Dawson 

Okay, okay, so Augusta is home to the most prestigious golf tournament in the world.  Everyone knows that.  But did you know Augusta is also a big equestrian city?  If you didn’t, the day after Big Brown ran away with the Preakness, standing poised to be only the 12^th horse in history to win the Triple Crown might be a good day to learn. 

Augusta happens to be located between two elite Thoroughbred producing communities.  Thomson, Georgia and Aiken, South Carolina. 

Also, the National Barrel Horse Association calls Augusta home, as does the East Coast Cutting Horse Association.  In fact, the National Cutting Horse Championships are held here. 

Huh?   

Here’s a little help…Barrel Racing has more of a “Western Style,” and “cutting” is when a rider takes a horse into a pack of cattle.  The horse must “cut” a single virgin (never been cut before) calf away from the herd.  The rider controls the horse on the way into the herd, but the horse selects the calf to cut.  After that it’s all up to the horse to do the rest. 

Thanks to Tammy Stout for all the great information.