Austin Shepard Archives - Quarter Horse News

horse-rider — Austin Shepard is now an $8 million rider thanks to performances like the 2017 NCHA Futurity, where he rode Dual Reyish to the Open Championship. • Photo by Kristin Pitzer

Cutting News

Austin Shepard Climbs to $8 Million Rider Status

Thanks especially to his success over the last two years, including the 2017 National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) Summer Spectacular Open Championship, 2017 NCHA Futurity Open Championship, 2017 NCHA Open World Championship and 2018 Breeder’s Invitational Derby Open Championship, Austin Shepard has risen to Equi-Stat Elite $8 Million Rider status merely a year-and-a-half after reaching […]

Current News

Cade Shepard and Chexy Louella Take Eastern Nationals Non-Pro Title

The first go-round of the Eastern Nationals Non-Pro started at 8 a.m., with three sections of competitors dueling it out to return to the arena for the finals held later in the day in Jackson, Mississippi. When the dust settled, a single set of 17 competitors were slated to compete for a chance at the title. […]

Current News

Shepard Sweeps Open Finals at NCHA Eastern Nationals

With his first of three horses slated to compete in the Open finals at the National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) Eastern Nationals in Jackson, Mississippi, Austin Shepard drew second amidst a field of 17 horse-and-rider teams. Riding to the herd aboard the Center Ranch-owned Woody Be Tuff stallion CR Dualin Tuff, Shepard marked a 219, which […]

Current News

Bama Jelly And Austin Shepard take Arbuckle Mountain Futurity 4-Year-Old Open

The Arbuckle Mountain Futurity saw 30 competitors ride through the herd in the 4-Year-Old Open finals in Ardmore, Oklahoma. When the dust settled, Bama Jelly and Austin Shepard were the champions by a half-point over Reserve Champions Sugrspiznevrthingniz and Matt Gaines. With a 222.5, the stallion, out of Wood She Be Neat (by Nitas Wood), […]

Current News

Shepard Family Goes 1-2 At Augusta Futurity

The Augusta Futurity celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2019, so it might be only fitting that some of its longest supporters, the Shepards, headlined the 4-Year-Old finals held Jan. 19 in Augusta, Georgia.

Cutting Events

Dual Reyish Picks up Congress Win

Austin Shepard and Dual Reyish almost didn’t make it into the finals of the National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) Derby Open Cutting held at the All American Quarter Horse Congress on Oct. 17. In the first go, a rough cut on the first cow earned the pair a 144, leaving them sitting right on the bubble. In the […]

Cutting Events

Hottish Sons Duel it Out

On Saturday, May 26, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the draw sheets revealed an incredibly competitive 22-horse field set to compete in the Breeder’s Invitational (BI) Derby Open finals. The 4-year-old open horses had already broken a show record, so cutting fans expected quite a show. They got it!

Cutting Events

Shepard Picks Up Another Title at the NCHA Eastern Nationals

Austin Shepard is always on the lookout for a good horse, and it was that keen eye that led him to buy MK Rey Girl, the mare he marked a 221 on to win the Open and $4,908 at the National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) Eastern Nationals. It was his second title at the 2018 […]

Cutting Events

Christy Hughes and Ettafied Win First Two Titles at the NCHA Eastern Nationals

Austin Shepard hopes that in 20 years time, he and his children will be riding horses that carry the bloodlines of Christy Hughes – the mare he rode to the 2018 National Cutting Horse Association Eastern National Championships $25,000 Novice title. Shepard marked a 224 on Christy Hughes, 6, who he owns with his wife, […]

Current News

Cade Shepard is Shooting Doubles on Half-siblings

It’s tough to win any major limited-age cutting event, given that the field is typically filled with talented combinations. Winning two of those events in less than a month is a feat few can pull off. But Cade Shepard made clinching three major titles in that time frame look easy.