Get ready for a night of elite horsepower and high-stakes arena action at the greatest show on dirt.
The Scoop
Fans of Western equine sports will witness an exciting display of equestrian talent on July 19 when The American Performance Horseman comes to Dickies Arena in Fort Worth. The top eight professional, or “open,” riders from each of the sport’s leading associations—the National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA), the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA), and the National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA)—will compete both individually and as teams. Traditionally, cutters, reiners, and reined cow horse competitors compete at their own stand-alone events. Rarely are they seen in the same venue—and they’re never seen competing in the same arena on the same night. The American Performance Horseman’s unique team format pairs one rider from each discipline (a cutter, a reiner, and a cow horse rider) to form eight cross-discipline teams. The team matchups were determined earlier this year through a random draw: The much-anticipated “Draw Day,” held in late April, determines the working order for the competition, giving fans a first look at how the action will unfold. It’s also when riders officially nominate two potential mounts, adding to the suspense as they finalize their competition horse just two weeks before the show. In addition to individual titles, teams compete for an additional prize pool, with the champion team taking home $100,000.
The Events
Each discipline showcases its own style of horsemanship, and all reflect the time-honored traditions of working ranch horses. These disciplines were born out of necessity on the ranch but have evolved into refined sports that require extraordinary precision, talent, and training. Reining features intricate maneuvers such as spins, sliding stops, lead changes, and precise circles, all executed with speed and control. Reined Cow Horse combines reining with cattle work; horses must perform a reining pattern, then control a cow down the fence—demonstrating athleticism, grit, and cow sense. Cutting highlights a horse’s ability to separate a single cow from the herd and hold it with subtle cues and instinctive movement.
Adan Banuelos, 2023 and 2024 The American Performance Horseman— Cutting Champion, riding “Storyteler” (owned Double Dove Ranch).
The Competitors
The best of the best gather at The American Performance Horseman with only the most elite riders in each sport qualifying based on their earnings and performance from the prior year. These horsemen and women ride some of the finest equine athletes in the world.
• NCHA Riders: Cutting competitors qualify through their success at limited-age events (LAE). Kenneth Platt, Austin Shepard, Adan Banuelos, James Payne, Michael Cooper, Morgan Cromer, Wesley Galyean, and Tosten Peterson.
• NRCHA Riders: Cow Horse athletes qualify based on overall Open money earnings. Chris Dawson, Sarah Dawson, Justin Wright, Clayton Edsall, Boyd Rice, Nick Dowers, Matt Koch, and Veronica Swales.
• NRHA Riders: Reining Horse riders are selected based on Open Level 4 standings. Cade McCutcheon, Casey Deary, Trevor Dare, Andrea Fappani, Kaci O’Rourke, Manuel Cortesi, Fernando Salgado, and Jason Vanlandingham.
The Venue
Fort Worth’s state-of-the-art Dickies Arena will be hosting The American Performance Horseman for the first time. Adjacent to the legendary Will Rogers Memorial Center, Dickie’s Arena seats 9,000 and is known for its intimate sightlines and modern amenities. “There’s not a bad seat in the house,” says Joshua Valdez, director of The American Performance Horseman for Teton Ridge. “Dickies Arena and historic Cowtown offer an elegant setting for the sport, and we’re excited for fans to experience world-class action from every seat.”
The Firsts
Previously held in conjunction with The American Rodeo at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, The American Performance Horseman will stand alone this July as its own marquee event. It’s also the first time the competition will feature 24 riders (up from 15), all competing for a $1 million prize pool, making it the highest-attended one-day Western performance-horse event in the world. “The last two years, we had the best of the best in the three disciplines,” Valdez says. “But we heard from fans—they wanted to see more horses. The crowd’s connection is the love of the horse. Having three additional competitors per discipline competing in a venue like Dickies Arena is an exciting evolution of the event.”
Casey Deary, 2024 The American Performance Horseman—Reining Champion, riding “Down Right Amazing” (owned by Debbie Good).
The Sound Bite
“This event is essentially the All-Star Game of Western performance sports,” says Teton Ridge CEO Deirdre Lester. “It’s the best of the best, in one arena, on one night—and the only place you’ll ever see this. It’s transformative for the industry.”
The Entertainment
Capping off the night after the last ride, Grammy Award-winning country duo Brothers Osborne will take the stage. VIP packages offer fans the opportunity to meet both the band and the competitors.
The Tickets
Tickets are available through Ticketmaster at theamericanperformancehorseman.com/tickets/. For VIP package information, email [email protected].
The 411
The American Performance Horseman, July 19, Dickies Arena, Fort Worth, Texas. For more information, visit theamericanperformancehorseman.com.
From our July 2025 issue.
PHOTOGRAPHY: Anna Krause Photography
COVER IMAGE: Sarah Dawson, 2023 The American Performance Horseman—Reined Cow Horse Champion, riding “Smart Chic An Tari” (owned by Aaron Ranch).
