Breeders Invitational Brings Cutting Horse Competitions To Tulsa

Cutting horse professionals are in town for the second week of the Breeders Invitational in Tulsa.

Hundreds of riders from around the country and around the world are riding to win daily in cutting horse competitions all leading up to the finals this weekend.

Horses fill the arena at Expo Square warming up on one side and competing on the other. The Breeders Invitational started 25 years ago when stallion owners wanted to create another major event featuring a large prize purse. Hundreds of riders and horses are now part of the cutting horse competitions, but only a select group will make it to the finals.

"They start, a typical day is probably these guys getting ready at 4, 5 in the morning. They all go to the practice pen I believe starting at 5, 6 o'clock,” Kern said.

Kenny Kern travels to shows around the country to set up shop for his business, Kern Saddlery.

He's from Illinois and goes to 10 shows a year, including this one in Tulsa.

"It's great, I've been around these people for so long. And they all, your customers are your friends. Everybody knows each other, everybody is closely acquainted. You know all the kids, you've seen them grow up in this business. And that's been the fun part,” Kern said.

The show's been in Tulsa for more than a decade. It's free to watch and goes on until Saturday.