4 Reasons Why Mandy McCutcheon is Your New Role Model

In a discipline dominated by men, Mandy McCutcheon has not only held her ground but risen to the very top of the world of reining.

Top photo: Used with permission from Tom McCutcheon.

Here are the top four reasons she needs to stay on your radar.

1. She’s the first woman and non-pro to become a $2 Million Dollar rider in NRHA history.
The daughter of Tim McQuay, the NRHA’s first-ever $2 Million Dollar rider, Mandy continues a family tradition. Already honored as the industry’s first female Million Dollar Rider, Mandy took the next step in April of 2014 at the National Reining Breeders Classic Non Pro Derby with a win riding Ms Whiz Dunit and pushing her lifetime earnings as a rider over the two million mark.

Ms Whiz Dunit ridden by Mandy McCutcheon – NRBC(Non Pro Finals) from EquinePromotion.Com on Vimeo.

2. She’s the first woman and non-pro to represent the USA in a world reining championship, heading to the 2014 World Equestrian Games.
In a discipline dominated by men, Mandy made history at the Kentucky Reining Cup by earning a slot on the reining team headed to the 2014 World Equestrian Games. Her second-place finish in the selection trials on family-owned Yellow Jersey marked a combined score of 449 in two go-rounds, second only to the legendary Shawn Flarida. Mandy joins her husband Tom McCutcheon as the team prepares for Normandy.

Mandy’s ride on “Yellow Jersey” in Kentucky.

3. She knows her way around the jumper arena as well as the reining pen.
Horses are in Mandy’s genes–not only is her father a household name among reining trainers, but her mother Colleen is an influential hunter-jumper trainer and active in the USHJA, a founding member of the International Hunter Derby and critical in the launch of the Pre-Green Incentive Program. As well as riding the reiners, Mandy was a top junior rider, finally stepping away from the jumpers when she started a family.

Mandy competing on “Biko”
Photo from the McQuay Stables Archives

4. She’s not only a superstar horsewoman, but she’s also a wife and mother.

Simultaneously to winning every reining non-pro title the NRHA has to offer, she’s also raising two kids with husband and fellow NRHA Hall of Fame inductee Tom McCutcheon. Her son Cade has already started his own NRHA career. In 2012 Cade became the youngest rider at age 12 to ever make the Non Pro Level 4 division finals, beating Mandy’s record at age 14. Her daughter Carlee is beginning her riding career in the hunter ring.

Son Cade competing at the NRHA Derby on “A Shining Sidekick”

Daughter Carlee competing at her first horse show.
Photo from the McQuay Stables Facebook page.

Go Mandy!