Industry Rallies For Australian Cutters In Fatal Horse Hauler Crash

Dozens of stallion seasons were donated to raise money for an Australian cutting horse family involved in a crash that killed one person and several horses. The crash happened as they were traveling to the Australian National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) Futurity.

Noted Australian harness racing figure Ken Smith, 64, died Saturday, May 26, when a vehicle hauling 17 horses went off a road north of the city of Dubbo, New South Wales. Two other passengers in the hauler — Ken’s son, cutting horse trainer Trent Smith; and a grandson, Nick Smith, were injured.

New South Wales Police say Nick, 16, was flown by helicopter to a hospital for treatment of a head injury. Trent Smith was taken to a hospital with what police described as minor injuries.

Nine horses were euthanized at the scene. Eight others were injured, including 2016 Australian NCHA Futurity Open Champion Moore Metal.

Click here for our previous story about the crash.

To raise money for the family, Cutters In Action launched the Smith Family Stallion Auction. The online auction — which went live Friday, June 1, in the United States – features breedings to some of the top cutting and reined cow horse stallions in the United States and Australia.

Click here to visit the auction.

“We are deeply saddened,” NCHA Australia said in a statement. “This is a tragedy on so many levels and our thoughts are with the Smith family and the owner and breeders of the horses so tragically lost and injured”

In addition to the online auction, proceeds from four entries in the Australian NCHA Select Sale will be donated to the Smith family. A Go Fund Me page also is accepting donations.

Officials from NCHA Australia declined to release a list of horses involved in the crash. The only equine to be identified publicly is Moore Metal, a son of Metallic Cat Trent Smith rode to victory in the 2016 Australian NCHA Futurity Open. He was due to ride the horse in the Classic Challenge Open at this year’s Australian NCHA Futurity show.

The red roan stallion’s owner, Rob Jones, acknowledged the horse was among those receiving treatment for injuries sustained in the crash. He declined to detail the horse’s injuries or prognosis, saying in an email that now is a time to focus on the Smith family as it mourns the loss of Ken.

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