NCHA News

Not Your Average Joe

There’s many ways anyone can get into the sport of cutting. Some are born into the industry, some pick it up through family, and some are long-time admirers and spectators, until one day at a horse sale when looking for a new stud colt ends up turning in to a completely new adventure. Joe Wood, a three-year amateur from Heber Springs, Arkansas, recently started making waves in the NCHA through his hard work, dedication, and being open to the potential in a young colt.

“I was looking for a new stud to bring home and breed my mares to,” said Wood, looking back on how he got started in the whirlwind of cutting. “I went to the yearling sale they had at the Futurity for the first time at the evening one, but I wasn’t able to get anything.” Said Wood. “I saw a son of High Brow Cat that was set to sell in the morning, so I got up early, got over there, and was able to get him bought.”

Later on, when Wood went back to see his new stud colt, Cat Proof, he ran in to a long-time NCHA member, whom he in fact had bought the yearling from. “She came up to me and we were talking about what I planned on doing with him,” said Wood, “and I said I rode reining horses and breed my own mares, so I was going to ride him and eventually breed my mares to him.”

Then, the ultimate question was asked. “She looked at me and said, ‘well, he’d really be good at that but, have you ever think about giving him the opportunity to be a cutting horse?’” said Wood. “I told her I’ve always been an admirer and a spectator, but where I’m from there just weren’t many trainers to help me get him to the point where I think he should be.”

The woman introduced herself as Lindy Burch, and assured Wood that, should he want to pursue the sport, she would ensure guidance and proper help every step of the way. Wood said he agreed and took the stud colt home where he broke him to ride and got him ready for the next steps.

Many wet blankets and a couple years down the road, Burch introduced Wood to a trainer out of Weatherford, Texas, named Sean Flynn. Flynn took the young horse and rode him through his three-year-old year, and ended up making the finals on the horse at the 2010 NCHA Futurity.

Flynn and Wood’s working relationship was just beginning. After the first Cat Proof colt was born and broke to ride, Wood sought Flynn’s help to pursue a show career for the young horse. “I took him back down to Sean after I broke him, and Sean took him and trained him, and really made a nice show horse out of him,” Wood said.

Later that year, Wood competed for the first time at the 2015 NCHA Futurity. “I was hooked after that first run,” said Wood. “I always knew I would really like it, I was just used to doing the things I had done as a kid showing horses, and I never really thought of changing, but I wish I would’ve done it a lot sooner.”

Newly-addicted to the world of cutting, Wood did everything he could to learn more, and still continues to be a thriving student in the industry. “I feel like watching Sean and being around him has helped me a lot,” said Wood. “I usually stay at Sean’s place and I watch as he’s training and getting ready for the show and usually ride around to get some practice in, but I really try to watch as much as I can and try to learn as much as I can.”

Wood continues his learning at cutting shows, where he watches and continues to help out. “Sean and his guys can get so busy, I just try to help them whenever I can,” Wood said. “Every once in a while they might have me lope a horse or something for them, but I mainly see where I can help by cleaning up or unloading feed or whatever needs done.”

The learning and the practice continued to pay off as Wood and his horse, Dually Olena, finished as the Reserve Champions in the 2018 Cattlemen’s Derby and Classic. Wood said he won’t let the success stop there, as he fully intends to keep showing and keep improving for as long as he can.

“I’ll definitely keep coming to cuttings and try to get better and better,” Wood said. “I also just love coming to cuttings for the people. My wife has always come with me to wherever I show, but it wasn’t until I got involved into cutting that she and I really started meeting people we can sit and visit with, even go to dinner with, and it’s nice to have her there and her feel more involved than she did with any other show.”

We are excited for Wood and cannot wait to see what the future holds for him and his horses. Thank you to our wonderful members who reach out to people like Wood and introduce them to the great sport of cutting!