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Russell Dilday has won the World’s Greatest Horseman three times — all three on the same horse, Topsails Rein Maker. He joins Tom, Gunny, Joe and Cade to talk about how that happened and what’s changed during his time as a showman. He gets into the thing we all wonder: why horses fall down in the fence work, and why he thinks most of it is avoidable. His take is blunt — if the cow isn’t falling down, your horse shouldn’t be either — and he walks through what he’s doing with the shoulders and hip of his horse to keep that from happening. He also says teaching a horse that the cow is its job, instead of managing it there yourself, cuts your odds of a wreck by about 85%. Then the part that may be the most useful thing on this show in a while. A couple of years ago Russell decided to stop riding as hard as he could and start thinking instead, even if it meant riding less. He explains what changed, why he’d been attacking problems four steps downstream of where they actually started, and how horses he was failing on became horses he could win on. He tells the story of Razor Scooter — bought for $50,000 out of a sale off one round pen look, nearly lost to a year of sickness that killed the horse’s full brother, and now the horse Russell says gave him his career back. From there: how good the reining has gotten in cow horse and why it’s no longer where anybody gains an edge, what the Will Rogers round wall did to the fence work, how high school rodeo became the sport’s best recruiting tool, the Taylor Sheridan effect, what the rope horse boom has done to breeding, and a pair of wrong-pattern stories that still sting — Russell’s at the World’s Greatest, and Tom’s at the Futurity. Plus Russell on being, in his own words, the worst lead changer in NRCHA history, and the strange drill he invented to fix it.

Andi Paul is an NRHA Judge and has been a friend of this show since long before there was a show. She’s in town scribing the NRCHA Futurity, so Tom, Gunny, Joe and Cade got to talk to her while she’s here.Our conversation touches on what the job actually looks like from the judge’s seat. How you separate a class when thirty horses are all good. Why the the rollback has become such a seperating point. What it’s like to sit on a crew of five people who see things differently — and why the system still lands in the right place. Then the eligibility and leveling debate: whether a rider should only be able to move up one level at a time, what happens to the young trainer who has the night of his life and gets bumped out of the divisions he can actually compete in, and Cade’s idea.She also tells the story of Darlins Not Painted — a mare she bought for $25,000, rehabbed for a year, and won the INT NRBC. Tom purchased the mare who has become a very successful producer, and took to her Sweden to compete for the US team. She now sits just shy of a million dollars in offspring earnings, and Andi says she was the most fun she’s ever had showing a horse.Plus: growing up showing in Illinois, landing in Arizona in 1980, how the Congress has changed, what a 216 used to be worth at the Futurity, Joe’s jiu jitsu career, and a Mavericks conversation that gets personal.

Oswood Stallion Station laid out $603,000 of incentive money at the All American Quarter Horse Congress this year — paid out to horses by Oswood stallions across every division. Brock Malson, owner of OSS, gives credit to the people behind the paychecks. He joins Tom, Gunny, Joe and Cade fresh off the Congress to explain how it came together: the stallion owners who asked for it years ago, the $500 per contract that funded it, why he sat on the idea for a couple of years before he had the nerve to ask, and why the Congress turned out to be the right place to do it instead of the Futurity. Next year the plan is to pay five holes deep instead of three. Brock also walks through how he got there. He showed up at Oswood in 2015, two weeks after graduating from the University of Findlay. He started as a mare shagger. By the end of 2020 he’d bought the business. From there the conversation gets into the Congress itself — what’s gotten better, what hasn’t, and Tom’s take on why a horse show with that much history should be further along than it is. Plus the Friends Of Reining group that made the Congress relevant again after a decade of nothing, what the All Star money added on top, where all this added money across the industry is actually coming from, and the Designer Sale. And a fair amount of time on Congress bathrooms, a forgotten show shirt, and an Airbnb hot tub nobody should think too hard about. Hosted by Tom McCutcheon. New episodes weekly.

Dun Deja — a yearling colt by Gunner out of Dun Its Deja Vu, consigned by Toyon Ranch — was the high seller of the 1st Annual Designer Sale at $270,000. The man holding the card was Pepe Briseño. Pepe joins Tom, Gunny, Joe and Cade to talk about how that deal came together. He came to the sale looking for prospects to compete in Mexico; this colt wasn't the plan. He walks through what changed his mind, where Dun Deja is headed and who's training him, why his client overruled the recommendation to leave the colt in the States, and why people were calling about breedings before the horse ever left Texas. From there, the sale itself. Friday night's Designer Sale averaged nearly $87,000 on 30 head and reset what a yearling sale is supposed to feel like — Pepe's read is that the quality brought buyers who came to buy, not to watch, and that Friday night pulled Saturday's average up roughly $7,000 over past years right along with it. Then a look at the reining business south of the border: the Cala and what it takes to win one, why more than 400 three-year-olds enter every year, how Mexican-bred horses went from a handful in the finals to the majority of them, what it actually costs to raise and train a horse in Mexico, and why Pepe is hunting an outcross now that half the country is breeding to Gunner sons. Plus: The Gladstone days and the old World Equestrian Games qualifiers, and a nod to Jose Vasquez — a self-made million-dollar rider and Hall of Fame member who did it on horses he bred and raised himself. And yes, there's a plan forming to put Tom in a charro suit and enter him in the Cala.

The Legacy Sale is this weekend, and this year there's something new: the Designer Sale on Friday night. Mandy McCutcheon joins Tom, Cade, Gunny, and Joe to walk through the whole weekend — what the Designer Sale is, why she limited it to 31 yearlings, and what she's trying to build with it. Instead of an all-day marathon, Friday is a red carpet & cocktails at 5, dinner at 6, and the sale starting at 7, with a band, open bar, champagne and pictures for buyers, and enough time to actually let every horse have its moment. She also gets into how self-regulated the consignors were on this one — good X-rays, bred right, beautiful and well-fit across the board — why she thinks this year's catalog is the best group she's seen, and why Saturday's sale might be the strongest in years in its own right. The schedule: Friday, September 18th — red carpet & cocktails 5:00pm, dinner 6:00, Designer Sale 7:00 Saturday, September 19th — breakfast at 10:00, Legacy Sale starts at 11:00 Held at: Thor Sport Ranch, 4100 Reining Road No dress code — Can't make it? Everything is online with videos posted, and you can bid from anywhere. Questions about a ANYTHING, call Mandy or Jennifer Anderson! Mandy: 940-453-7543 Jennifer: 405-401-4759 Plus: 26 years of this sale at the same facility, the first-year stories, the Tulsa recap, Congress plans, and the Waco championship that Gunny would like everyone to acknowledge. Shop this year's horses & view the catalog: https://legacysale.com/

John Tague was a part of the team who turned United Airlines around after one of the largest bankruptcy filings in the industry's history, helped run Hertz Rental Car, and sat in rooms with a hundred creditors — but many only know him as a successful breeder, owner, and board member in the reining world. Today, you get to hear his whole story... John and his wife Nancy own Toyon Ranch, where they stand a group of very successful reining stallions, and keep roughly 160 head on the property to produce a foal crop each year. John came up in the hunter/jumper world as a working student at 13, left school early, took an entry-level analyst job in aviation at 21, and was an officer of a public company by 25. He and Nancy moved into western performance around 2011. In this one, John walks Tom and the boys through how he got involved with United, the hardest decision he ever had to make there, and why he now spends his time on the NRHA Executive Committee instead of corporate boards. The group gets into the association's financial turnaround, why sponsorship dollars follow purse money, the push to invest in affiliates and regional futurities, whether the sport is getting too hard to compete in, the amateur division question, and what rising horse prices mean for the person breeding at home. Plus: the Tulsa recap, Nancy's $600 Calcutta steal, and Tom's ongoing problem with the paper towel trap door on airplanes. BE SURE TO LIKE AND SUBSCRIBE! #reining #podcast #horses #equine #talkshow #tommccutcheon

Every 2 Million Dollar career starts somewhere. For Clayton Edsall, it started with one colt — shown by a green young man who'd never done it before, and good enough to make the Futurity limited finals. That horse set everything in motion. This week Clayton joins us fresh off winning the NSHA NRCHA Futurity in Las Vegas, and the conversation covers a lot of ground. Clayton drops one of the best training analogies we've heard in a long time — something about an elephant, a Coke bottle, and a peanut that you'll have to hear in context. Then there's the time he took a very, very expensive dressage horse for an unauthorized joyride down a dirt road, and a motor-home-and-trailer story so unbelievable we're not going to summarize it here. We also get his honest take on schooling shows, prepping three-year-olds for three disciplines at once, working cattle in 105-degree heat, and the NRHCA Run for a Million qualifier schedule — plus how much the Run for a Million has grown the western performance horse world, and the friendships that come out of being part of it. New episode of The Show — streaming now wherever you get your podcasts. 🎙️ Subscribe for new episodes every week. 📲 Follow us: Instagram: @tommccutcheons_theshow 🔔 Got a guest or topic you want to hear on the show? Drop it in the comments. #NRCHA #cowhorse #reining #TheShow #TomMcCutcheon #ClaytonEdsall #runforamillion #NSHA #ranchhorse #westernperformance #quarterhorse #reiningpodcast

Golden Coins, indeed. In this episode of The Show, Tom McCutcheon sits down with Gunny Mathison, Joe Schmidt, and Cade McCutcheon to talk with 2026 Run For A Million Champion Kole Price — fresh off one of the wildest nights in reining history, a record-breaking 237.5 on Golden Coins.We go inside a stacked 16-horse field where six-plus horses had already marked over 230 before Kole even entered the pen, and break down how a night that could've gone either way turned into a record-setter. Kole walks through the mental prep that changed everything from the NRBC run to this one — earplugs, paid warm-ups, and treating a six-year-old like he still needs to be shown, not just patted on the neck. He gets into the specific fix he worked on for days before the show (starting his right turnaround off his outside leg instead of his neck rein) and the exact moment mid-run when he knew something special was happening.We also dig into the judging of one of the deepest classes ever, the scribe who told Kole he was sitting on a 77.5 before his stops even started, and what's next for Golden Coins — a run at the Derby, a shot at the Million, or knowing when a horse has already proven everything it needs to. Plus: Cooper Smith and Kelsey's surprise on-site barn wedding, Vegas blackjack winners and losers, and why a town of 2,000 people has Kole Price's face on the water tower.Congratulations again to Kole Price and Golden Coins — this is reining at its best.🎙️ Subscribe for new episodes of The Show every week.📲 Follow us: Instagram: @tommccutcheons_theshow🔔 Have a guest or topic you want to hear on the show? Drop it in the comments.#reining #NRHA #RunForAMillion #TheShow #TomMcCutcheon #KolePrice #GoldenCoins #reininghorses #westernperformance #quarterhorse #reiningpodcast #NRHAfuturity

We're back for another episode of The Show! Tom McCutcheon, Cade McCutcheon, Gunny Mathison, and Joe Schmidt sit down with NRHA Million Dollar Rider, Franco Bertolani, fresh off winning the Level 4 Open Futurity at the 100X Brazos Slide. Franco traces his path from barrel racing as a kid in Brazil to learning his reining foundation in Italy, and his move to the US in 2012. Our guest shares his plan moving toward the NRHA Futurity with his special 3 year old by Inferno Sixty Six out of Blueyedgirl, skipping the Congress and showing sparingly along the way. The crew digs into why a 221 barely cashes a check anymore, why Brazil's strict import rules built a tougher domestic market than Europe's, and the never-ending debate over hauling three-year-olds straight through versus laying over. Whether you're looking for industry news or just pure entertainment, this episode has it all! #podcast #brazil #horsetraining #equine #equinepodcast #horsetrainers #reining #reininghorse

Tom McCutcheon, Cade McCutcheon, Gunny Mathison, and Joe Schmidt welcome longtime friend and legendary horse trader Cooper Smith for a wide-ranging conversation straight off the heels of the 100X Waco Futurity. The crew breaks down recent standout runs from Franco Bertolani, Luca Fappani, and Miriko Midili, debates why 220+ scores barely cash a check anymore, and tackles the real question every reining fan is asking: is the sport still affordable for the average competitor?Gunny opens up about his new gig as a CBS Sports commentator for the Run For A Million in Las Vegas alongside Steve Ross, Taylor Sheridan, and Francesca Sternberg — a big step for the horseman known for calling it like he sees it. Tom also reflects on his recent Hall of Fame induction and the letters that got him there, while Cooper brings decades of trading wisdom to the group’s debate on horse values, from six-figure studs to $5,000 diamonds in the rough.Along the way: previews of the Tulsa 100X show and the new First Annual Legacy Designer Sale, plus plenty of trademark chaos — cannoli cowboys, mariachi bands, and a busker debate that somehow takes over the second half of the show.#reining #podcast #nrha #futurity #tommccutcheon #therunforamillion #halloffame #reiningpodcast #equinepodcast

Reining took center stage at one of the biggest events in the world — and the Tremblay Boys were right in the middle of it.Dany & Fred Tremblay join Tom McCutcheon, Cade McCutcheon, Gunny Mathison, and Joe Schmidt to break down reining's debut at the Calgary Stampede — catch-riding horses they'd never sat on, in front of 1.4 million people, and what it meant for growing the sport. Plus:Reserve Champion at the NRHA Derby with a 232The new era of reining money — from $130K to $1M+ yearsWhy "work hard, have fun" still wins: taking care of customers, late nights, casinos & Half Moon BayShows running past midnight — and whether it's time for that to change🎧 New episodes drop regularly — subscribe & turn on notifications.📲 Follow along: @tommccutcheons_theshowThis episode is dedicated to the memory of our friend Shane Walters. 🤍#reining #NRHA #TMRH #reininghorses #calgarystampede #horsepodcast #performancehorse

This week, the guys sit down with Melanie Smith, co-owner and co-founder of Solo Select — a rapidly growing business that spans horse sales, breeding, mare management, stallions, products, outdoor services, and more. Melanie shares how she got into the horse world, the journey that led her to starting Solo Select, and what her partnership with Ty Smith has looked like along the way. The conversation dives into the building of the Solo Select brand, how they've expanded well beyond horses, and what it's taken — financially and personally — to get there. Melanie also opens up about debt, managing finances, and the motivation that's driven everything she's built. Of course, it wouldn't be a full episode without some laughs — and this week even includes a little singing. A big thank you to Melanie for joining us and sharing her story!

This week, the guys turn the mic on one of their own — co-host Gunny Mathison takes the guest chair. They dig into how Gunny got his start with horses, his days playing high school baseball, and somehow, how golf entered the picture. From there, the conversation covers the types of horses Gunny gravitates toward, his accomplishments in the industry, and some great stories from the past — including what it was like coming to work for Tom at just 18 years old. The guys also get into Gunny's bit and spur making, which has become a craft and passion all its own — including how a pair of spurs can fetch a serious price tag. Beyond horses and hardware, they talk about the way Gunny approaches life in general, which anyone who knows him won't be surprised by. With plenty of laughs and a format that flips the usual dynamic, this one's a fun change of pace — and a great look at one of the guys who's always been part of the conversation.

This week on The Show, we’re joined by Davon Godchaux for a conversation that covers far more than just football. Davon shares what life in the NFL is really like, talks about making the transition from LSU to the professional level, and gives some behind-the-scenes perspective on teams, locker rooms, and the realities of playing at the highest level. The conversation also dives into Davon’s growing involvement in the horse industry, including how he got started with horses, his place in Weatherford, his thoughts on breeding, and the questions he has as he continues learning more about the industry. Along the way, the guys discuss hard work, relationships, making lasting impressions, and what it takes to create opportunities and build success. And somewhere in between all of that, there are plenty of jokes and moments that send the conversation off track. Thank you to Davon for joining us on this week’s episode!

This week on The Show, we’re joined by legendary NRHA Hall of Famer Shawn Flarida and his son, Sam Flarida, for a conversation full of stories, perspective, and plenty of laughs. Fresh off making his first Level 4 Open Finals at the NRBC, Sam talks about the experience and what it meant to reach that milestone, while Shawn reflects on decades in the industry and the people and horses that helped shape his career. The guys also look back on Tom and Shawn’s WEG days, discuss how the reining industry and horses themselves have changed over the years, and talk about legendary horses like Wimpys Little Step and Wimpys Little Chic. From grit, heart, and what separates good horses from truly great ones, to the dynamic of working together as a father and son in the training business, this episode is packed with insight, memories, and the kind of conversations only lifelong horsemen can have. Thank you to Shawn and Sam for joining us on this week’s episode!