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desirable traits to offspring, as evidenced by the offspring's
performance at cutting. Extensive training, which begins around
age 2, is required to prepare a horse for cutting horse
competition and costs $500 to $1,500 per month. A cutting horse
may demonstrate proficiency in competition rather quickly, as for
example making the finals in an initial competition held for 3-
year-olds, the "Futurity" sponsored by the National Cutting Horse
Association, or through a more lengthy process of competing in
numerous weekend events, called "campaigning", in which points
are awarded that may qualify the horse for the finals of the
annual National Cutting Horse Association World Championship.
There are classes of competition for both professional and
nonprofessional riders, and if the horse competes with a
professional rider, the rider generally must be compensated.
Although prize money is also awarded at these competitions, the
transportation costs, entry fees, and other expenses associated
with participation generally exceed such prize money by a factor
of 3 to 1. Horses with records of superior performance at
competitions are valuable, especially stallions that also
demonstrate an ability to pass along desirable traits to
offspring. A superior mare or gelding may be worth $30,000 to
$100,000 and a superior stallion, $100,000 to $1 million. Such a
stallion can command a fee of $5,000 per breeding.
Mrs. Sullivan used her knowledge of bloodlines to acquire,
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Last modified: May 25, 2011