In a blue sequined top, Lori Mackay rides into the show ring on Jack to mark the anniversary of a sport first seen in Australia 50 years ago. 

It was Ms Mackay's father, Greg Lougher, who introduced cutting horses to the nation from the United States.

"I was just 12 years old when I arrived in Australia … my father introduced western riding, western saddles, and all aspects of western riding," she said.

Now the sport has grown to see hundreds of riders competing for hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and prizes.

The National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) runs its annual futurity event over two weeks in Tamworth, New South Wales.

It involves a horse and rider cutting a cow away from a herd, stopping them from returning.

This year's event was special though, not just because of a two-year hiatus due to COVID but riders also celebrated five decades of the United States sport in Australia. 

That was why Ms Mackay and a handful of retired trainers and riders got back in the saddle — some after two decades out of it — for a special "legends" cutting event.

With more than 90 years of experience between them, Ms Mackay and 24-year-old Jack were the oldest pair.

Ms Mackay was the only woman to compete in that particular event.

A cutting legend in her own right and still riding, she has had plenty of girl power in the sport over the decades.

"I'm so proud of Australia … I think we are just as good as the United States and very, very proud of it."

Significant growth in 50 years

The NCHA futurity is the largest event of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, with more than $700,000 in cash and prizes. 

Association president Troy Randell has seen significant growth during his time in the sport.

"Like any sport, it [cutting] evolves, and these horses are becoming a lot more efficient in how they're handling their stock and the breeding is more and more critiqued.

"It's evolving in a number of aspects; it's great to see."

The growth is seen in the value of performance horses, with three-year-old filly Bad in Black breaking records to fetch $550,000 earlier this year at auction.

The next generation 

Both Troy Randell and Lori Mackay believe the future of their industry is in safe hands with young up-and-comers like 14-year-old Olivia MacCallum.

Her mum trains cutting horses and the youngster is hopeful of a long career in the industry.

"If my mum lets me, I want to drop out of school and be a trainer.

"I want to go to America and train for a bit.

"I want to win 10 futurities here and four in America and I want to have horses in the hall of fame."