A Rider's Story - The McCutcheon and McQuay Families

Tom McCutcheon owns and operates a training business that is located in Aubrey, Texas and has created a business with an international base. His fluent Italian, plus contacts he made during a stint in Europe early in his career, give him a decided advantage in the worldwide equine market. He was already positioned in a leadership role in that global industry when the recent acceptance of reining by the Federation Equestrian International cleared the way to its becoming an Olympic event.

Tom is the owner of Tom McCutcheon Consulting Services, a worldwide consulting firm for the reining industry. In addition, he's co-founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Reining Breeders Classic, the largest added money reining event and stallion incentive program in history. Additionally, he is a member of the USEF Board of Directors, and a member of the NRHA Professionals Committee.

As a trainer, he's been successful as well. McCutcheon is listed as one of the reining horse world's leading riders, with lifetime earnings exceeding $1 Million. He was part of the gold winning 2010 U.S. WEG Reining team and was the individual gold medal winner at the 2010 WEG.

Tom is a two-time National Reining Horse Association Derby Reserve Champion and a many-time finalist at every major NRHA event. He's a qualifier for the United States Equestrian Team reining, a member of the National Reining Horse Associations Professional Riders Committee and the United States Equestrian Team Reining Riders Committee.

In 2002, Tom won the Tradition Open Futurity, the NRCHA Open Futurity, the Saddlesmith Championship series, and was an NRHA Open Futurity Finalist.

In 2003, Tom had finalists at several major events. In April of 2001 he rode Smartest Chic Olena to win the NRBC Open and collected $50,000 for owner Terry Owens. At the 2001 NRHA Open futurity, Tom rode a Lil Ruf Peppy son, Sailin Ruf, to a 3rd place finish out of 445 entries-earning over $75,000 for owner Giovanni Cioli. Sailin Ruf and McCutcheon took the Southwest Reining Horse Association's Futurity by storm in October, winning the Open there, as well.

In 2002 and 2003, Tom won the USET Reining Championships in Gladstone New Jersey. He also had the prestigious honor of representing the United States Reining Team at the World Equestrian Games in Spain in 2003.

Tom has coached several Non-Pro and youth competitors in recent years. In 2000, student Allison Pickett won the NRBC's Limited Non-Pro class, as well as the $2,500 14-18 Youth Class. Another of Tom's students, Megan Loden, claimed the $2,500 added 13-Under Youth class. Andrew Pickett has been a multiple SWRHA year-end Champion in the Limited Non-Pro, Intermediate Non-Pro and Non-Pro.

In addition to a successful training and showing operation, Tom manages some of the top broodmares in the industry.

Comprised of proven producers as well, the broodmare band contains many top performers and producers. These outstanding mares are being crossed with Smart Starbuck, and Major Vaquero, all top reining stallions with proven show and sire records.

Born into the performance horse business in western Wisconsin, Tom joins his father and three brothers as a professional horse trainer.

An avid sports enthusiast, basketball and hockey feed McCutcheon's need to compete when not in the show pen. Tom, his wife, Mandy, and their son Cade and daughter Carlee, live in Aubrey, Texas.