Cutting Horse Show

Name: Cutting Horse Show
Start: 2026-09-18T00:00:00-05:00
End: 2026-09-21T23:59:59-05:00

Home | Calendar | Cutting Horse Show

One of the world’s fastest growing equine sports, Cutting offers tremendous excitement for horse, rider, and spectators alike! The competition consists of horse and rider separating a particular cow from a herd. Spectators will see a dance like performance between cow and horse. The National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) provides the means by which contestants are judged by maintaining a point system which gives definite credits and penalties while providing a fair basis for judging cutting horses and their riders. The American Royal Cutting Horse Show in memory of Hilary Watson, features the Open and Non-Pro Showcase and Saddle Shootout, where the top rider will walk away with a branded saddle.

Stay tuned for more information regarding the 2026 show!

Equine Education Programs

Ticket Information

When

September 18 - 21, 2026

Where

American Royal – Kansas City, Kansas

Contact Info

816-569-4041

[email protected]

To register, please contact: Dava Scribner or call 612-508-7240

Plan Your Visit

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the dates for each equine show this year?

Royal Showcase – A Youth and Open Horse Show
- Move-in: September 10-11
- Show: September 12-13
Cutting Horse Show
- Move-in: September 16-17
- Show: September 18-20
UPHA/American Royal National Championship Horse Show (held in the West Bottoms)
- Move-in: November 13-15
- Show: November 16-21

Where is the new facility located?

The new American Royal facility is located at State Avenue and 118th Street in Kansas City, Kansas, just northwest of Kansas Speedway.
The campus sits on about 80 acres east of 118th Street. The permanent address will be 1899 American Royal Way. The temporary construction address is 11602 State Avenue.

Why is UPHA/American Royal National Championship Horse Show not moving to the new facility?

One of the barns will be used as an arena this year. The barn space isn’t wide enough to safely accommodate the speed and style of Saddlebred classes. Because of that, the UPHA/American Royal National Championship Horse Show will remain in the West Bottoms for now and move to the new facility once an accommodating arena is completed.

Will there be any schedule changes this year?

The overall class schedule will look very similar to what exhibitors are used to, and dates are staying in their usual timeframe.

When will entries open for each show?

Entries for the Royal Showcase – A Youth and Open Horse Show and the Cutting Horse Show are expected to open in mid-May. We’ll share exact dates on the website as they’re finalized.

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