Texas Cutting Futurity 2009

2009 Texas Futurity Open Champions

See the 2009 Texas Cutting Futurity Photos at americascutter.com

Texas Cutting Futurity - Cattle Loading

The following images are of a pair of Border Collies raised and trained by Sweet Iron Ranch Border Collies who are getting on the job training working cattle at the Texas Cutting Futurity. Although one of these dogs is well trained, the other is a two-year-old apprentice learning from the older dog. In this sequence they are loading cattle that are ready to be sent back to the ranch after cattle works.

Update:

I have added this Web Gallery including additional images of these Border Collies working the cows.

Texas Cutting Futurity 2009

This week I am photographing the Texas Cutting Futurity. The first 3 days the open limited age classes are being held. The finals for the Open Classic and Derby are starting tomorrow.

Freckled Leo Lena ridden by James Davison and owned by Tripp Duprier is the top money Open Classic Money earner going into the finals.



Gypsy by Sunlight, ridden by Tim McCloud and owned by Ken and Marcia Hanson was the top Open Derby money earner going into the finals

Texas Cutting Futurity: Big Jewels Shine

This photo of Callie Oatman showing Big Jewels Shine shows another printing option I offer. I can do this zoom blur (starburst) effect to most any image. Once you purchase this image effect you can order any number of printing options, from large Gallery wraps down to greeting cards.

Texas Cutting Futurity: Custom editing and Gallery Wrap

Through the miracle of photoshop, I am able to remove undesirable background elements, such as wall shadows, turnback riders, etc.. This requires considerable work and time, but the end result is worth the effort. The top image is the orginal photo including a turnback rider in the field of view an the shadow cast by my strobe.



The image below shows the image after editing and image enhancement. The Box outlines the cropping either for a final 11x20 print, OR a Gallery Wrap Canvas Print. The image area outside of the lines is on the top, bottom, and edges of the gallery wrap. The final product of this particular project is an 11x20 print on canvas that is 1 1/2" deep. There is black backing and hardward to make the final print ready to hang on your wall.




If you are interested in artwork such as this from any of the images taken during one of the shows I have photographed, please send me an email with your project idea.

Texas Cutting Futurity - All Done

Curly Tully shows Stylish Curly for Katherine Turner
Steve Oehlhof shows Peppy Plays for Cash for Center Ranch

The Texas Cutting Futurity is now over and all of the images are posted at
AmericasCutter.com. A new part of the show this year were NCHA Classes on Thursday - Saturday evening. I posted quite a few exciting shots in the Open, Non-Pro, and 3000NH classes, including some horses not shown in the limited age events.

Texas Cutting Futurity - Fantastic Cat

This was one of my favorite images for Friday. Clay Johnson is riding Jim and Gay Karhan's Fantastic Cat in the evening NCHA $10,000 Novice Horse class. This image show a tremendous power in movement as the stallion moves over to catch up with a cow just out of the field of our view.

Texas Cutting Futurity: Open Futurity Champion

Friday, Oct 31, was the last day of the open portion of the Texas Cutting Futurity with the Open Futurity Finals.
The champion was Play Red Lil Sangria, ridden by J.B. McLamb to a score of 220.5.
Play Red Sangria is owned by John and Ann Huddle of Mt Vernon, Ohio.

Texas Cutting Futurity - Open Classic and Derby

Casey Dailey won the Texas Cutting Futurity Open Classic riding Scootin Boon with a score of 221. He also returned in the NCHA Open Class the same evening to win again, this time with a score of 151 (2 Judges). Scootin Boon is owned by S&S Farms.

Matt Budge was both the Champion and Reserve in the Open Derby. He won the Derby on Chulas Merada owend by Jackpot Ranch with a score of 224 and the reserve on Stylish Lizzy owned by Paul and Jackie Fehrenbach, with a score of 219. The photo on the right is of Matt riding Chulas Merada in the 2nd Go.

Texas Cutting Futurity: Stopping the Cow

Today at the Texas Cutting Futurity the final go's of the Open Classic and Derby Classes were held. I took photos of this go from the same point of view as I do the sales, from the side. The photo on the left is of Red Like That with
Rodie Whitman riding, preventing a cow from returning to the herd.
The photo on the right shows Casey Green and Here to Reymember also blocking a cow from the herd.