National Cutting Horse Association Hall of Fame rider Matt Gaines joins Clinton on the Uncut & Real Raw podcast. Their conversation reveals the journey Matt took to becoming one of the greatest cutting horse trainers in NCHA history. Matt shares the challenges he overcame to build his thriving business and why believes it’s important to seek continual personal development.
Before establishing his professional career, Matt was a standout non-pro, winning the NCHA Non-Pro Futurity. Despite his father being a successful cutting horse trainer, Matt’s parents urged him to go to college instead of becoming a professional trainer. Matt earned an agriculture business degree from Tarleton State University and went on to work for tack manufacturer Dennis Moreland.
However, Matt soon realized that his heart wasn’t in pursuing a business carer and that his passion was in training horses. He moved to Mississippi to take a job as a trainer and focused on building his career. Over the years, Matt has won cutting’s biggest events and has secured over $10 million in lifetime earnings. His journey to success has been nothing short of extraordinary.
Today, Matt and his wife, Tara, live in Weatherford, Texas, where they run Matt Gaines Cutting Horses together. Throughout the episode, Matt shares his love for cutting, what it takes to be a top trainer and advice for up-and-coming horsemen looking to make their mark in the western performance horse industry.
Listen to the episode most anywhere you listen to podcasts, including on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, PlayerFM, the Samsung Podcast app and Podchaser. Watch the full-length episode on the Uncut and Real Raw YouTube channel.
