What does it take to make a world champion ‘cutter’? Experience, dedication and a well-trained horse 

By Pam LeBlanc

In a covered arena in Washington County, Constantine Caloudas and his horse Karlos kick up a cloud of dust as they separate a fidgety, rust-colored calf from a milling herd.

As the calf makes a break, the horse instinctively bows low and blocks its way. The calf tries to scramble back to the safety of the herd, but Karlos mirrors every move, keeping it on the run.

Caloudas, 53, a two-time world champion “cutter” owns the 75-acre Nueces Canyon Ranch west of Brenham. The ranch gets its electricity from Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative. Caloudas has been training and showing these finely tuned equine athletes for about 30 years. He compares riding a cutting horse to sitting atop a load of explosives.

“I’ve never felt anything like it,” he says after a 30-minute demonstration. “When you get on a 1,200-pound animal that’s doing its job and you’re just there for the ride, you can’t believe it. Think about straddling a 1,000-pound stick of dynamite with an extremely short fuse and you have no idea what’s fixing to happen next. Bottle that up in a two-and-a-half-minute ride. It’s amazing.”

The demo by Caloudas is mesmerizing. He hardly moves as the horse lurches side to side, doing one of those “break-down” moves that dogs execute when you wave a stick or a tennis ball at them. 

Cutting traces its roots to the days of the open range, when cowboys periodically had to pull an animal from a herd to brand, castrate or treat it. Some horses were better at keeping a calf separated from the group than others, using what’s called “cow sense” to predict which direction the calf would try to run and countering its every move. The skill evolved into competition, and the first recorded cutting horse contest took place in 1898 in Haskell, Texas.

More than two decades later, the first cutting exhibition for a rodeo crowd was at the Fort Worth exposition and stock show in 1919.

Today, cutting horse competitors get a two-and-a-half minute “run” to show a judge how well their horse can cut a calf from a herd and keep it out. While subtle direction from the rider’s legs can make the critical difference between winning and losing in the sport, Caloudas gives most credit to the hoofed member of the team.

“It’s 90 percent the horse,” he says.

It’s a point he illustrates on a chilly November day by reaching forward and removing Karlos’ bridle. Caloudas sits quietly while the horse matches wits with another calf, staring it down, hopping when it hops, and refusing to let it rejoin its cow comrades.

What looks like amazing talent is typical cutting horse behavior, Caloudas says. “It’s not magic. It’s just two years of training.”

Caloudas was born in Dallas and raised in Houston. His father left his job as a commercial pilot to start a barbecue business in the Houston area. He sold the restaurant in the early 1980s and wanted to become a cowboy. The family moved to Brenham, where he opened a horse training facility in 1984.

While his dad learned the ropes, Caloudas played football and swam competitively in high school. He didn’t care much about equestrian sports. Then, during his final year studying business at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, he realized he needed a long-term plan.

“Dad had this facility, and I said, ‘I’ll just train horses,’ ” Caloudas says.

His father chuckled at the idea. It was a stretch for his son, whose equestrian experience was a single summer visit to a dude ranch in eighth grade. But Caloudas, a natural athlete, started riding, and something clicked when he tried cutting. After three weeks, he entered his first competition and won it.

“Aspects of cutting are so mental,” he says. “If you’ve never ridden a cutting horse, it’s just an incredible feeling. You can’t believe the explosiveness, the power and strength, how the horse can move.”

Caloudas told his father that horse cutting seemed easy, and he’d like to pursue it. But a good cutting horse doesn’t come cheap. Caloudas borrowed $10,000 from the bank to buy his first horse and started competing in 1988. At 22, he was traveling the country competing. Within a few years, he won two world championships and has made it to the finals in numerous National Cutting Horse Association championships.

“It was a hell of a lot of fun,” he says. “It was just a great change. The cowboy life, it’s a blast.” 

Caloudas later became a show promoter, hosting events at Nueces Canyon Ranch. Today he focuses mainly on training and showing horses. He’s learned that cutting requires lots of practice. A sign burned into the wood above his office desk at one end of the covered arena says, “Victory belongs to those who believe in it the most.”

“It takes two years to train an animal,” he says. “Some make it, some don’t. I can ride a horse and in six weeks know if it will make a good cutter.”

Training a horse to cut requires a supply of “fresh” calves never cut from a herd. (Once they’ve been through the ordeal, they wise up.) Because Nueces Canyon Ranch also preps calves for market, Caloudas can pick from a constantly rotating group. When a batch of calves arrives, Caloudas lets his horses match wits with them.

Only the best of the best become cutting horses. Horses that don’t measure up often are used for other rodeo events, like barrel racing or calf roping.

Caloudas also works with other riders, like veterinarian Bill Collier of Waller. Collier, who started competing in 2009, likens the sport to golf. “You can never master it, and when things go wrong it’s generally you,” he says.

Caloudas offers to let me ride Karlos to experience what it’s like to ride dynamite. It feels like I’m in the cockpit of a Ferrari. I barely twitch a muscle and Karlos moves. 

I don’t have the skill to cut a calf from the herd, but I amble near the calves in one corner of the arena. One trots away, and I can feel Karlos ready to jump into action. I’m not a seasoned rider and only took riding lessons as a girl. I’m more comfortable on a bicycle than a rocketship of a horse.

My heels sink in the stirrups as I sit up. But for cutting, that’s not the right thing to do, Caloudas tells me. A slouch posture — “kind of like you’re hung over,” Caloudas says — is more appropriate. His son Dylan, who also works at the ranch, demonstrates perfectly, hunching in his saddle, prepared for any move the horse might make.

Cutters also brace one hand on the big horn of the large western saddle to keep from pitching forward if the horse slams on the brakes suddenly. 

I may not know what I’m doing, but the horse does. When facing off against a pen of mooing cattle, it’s good to know who’s in charge.

I pat Karlos on the neck. We’ll let that calf relax for another day.

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Champion Cutting Horse 101 

Constantine Caloudas, a world-champion cutting horse competitor, and Honey, his 6-year-old quarterhorse mare (official name W.R. This Cats Smooth) have won some $30,000 in prize money. (Over his career, Caloudas has won more than $600,000.) What does it take to create a winner? Here are some of his insights.

AGE: Cutting horses, typically quarter horses, usually begin to compete after age 3 and can remain competitive for some 12 to 14 years.

BRIDLE: Honey has a ‘shank correction’ bit, rather than the more common solid bit, to give Caloudas more lateral control. ‘She gets a little stiff in her front end,’ Caloudas said.

CHAPS: Lightweight leather made by Dave Hack from Idaho, these cost $2,500-$3,000, depending upon touches like fancy conchos.

BOOTS: For competition, Caloudas prefers ostrich-skin with a low ‘roper’ style heel.

BONES: A good cutting horse should generally be built low to the ground, a.k.a. ‘low hock,’ with a short back and good, strong bones so it is not injury-prone. 

EXPRESSION: In competition, a horse should be ‘low-headed’ with good ‘expression’ or ‘eye appeal,’ meaning it is hyper-focused on the cow, as if reading its mind.

SHOES: Honey is shod in PLR-Wedge aluminum shoes because ‘she’s kind of flat-footed.’ Shoes are tailored to the horse. The mare is shod every six weeks by a farrier, a specialist in equine foot care. Shoes can be made from a variety of materials, including steel, rubber, plastic or titanium. 

SADDLE: Vintage R.D. Monk saddles, which are no longer made, are Caloudas’ preference because they sit ‘closer to the horse.’ He owns 10 of them, which are 20-30 years old. They cost about $2,000-3,000; high-end name-brand saddles can cost up to $8,000.

SADDLE PAD: This is a wool ‘working pad,’ which absorbs sweat, but when competing, Caloudas says, he uses an Ecogold saddle pad made of a lightweight synthetic material. They cost about $300.

GASKINS: The large muscles immediately to the right and left of the tail are analogous to human calves. A good cutting horse has thick, powerful gaskins.

STIRRUPS: Caloudas prefers all-wood, 2-inch flat-bottomed stirrups. Other riders sometimes prefer aluminum or steel. Some riders prefer half-circle shaped stirrups, which can feel more secure. Caloudas considers them more dangerous because they’re harder to free your foot if you fall.

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Competitive Cutting Horse FAQs 

A cutting horse must be naturally athletic. Just as not everyone becomes a pro football or baseball player, not every horse is cut out for cutting. In addition to cat-like reflexes, flexibility and the ability to pivot on a dime, a cutting horse needs the right mentality. Good cutting horses are born with what cowboys call “cow sense” or “cow smarts.” Just like a good hunting dog can retrieve a bird and deliver it, a cutting horse understands what a cow or calf is thinking and where it’s going to move next. Then it can mirror those moves to keep the animal separated. About 99 percent of cutting horses are quarter horses.

How valuable is a cutting horse?
A good cutting horse can cost $25,000 to $35,000. Add another $25,000 or so for training. Breeding fees can top $25,000 for a good stud. “It’s not like golf. You can’t go to Walmart and spend a hundred dollars and if you don’t like it then throw the clubs into the pond,” Caloudas says.

What exactly does a cutting horse do?
A cutting horse works with a rider to separate a calf—typically a yearling weighing anywhere from 350 to 500 pounds—from a larger group of cattle. The horse positions itself between a calf and the herd, and mirrors its moves to prevent it from rejoining the group.

How is a cutting horse trained? 
First, trainers have their horse follow a group of calves until the horse focuses on them. Next, they walk the horse parallel to a herd while moving around an arena. The horse gradually is guided closer to the cows, but still moving parallel to them. Eventually, when the rider asks the horse to stop at the front of the pack, the cows turn. A trainer then teaches a horse to follow a calf through its turn, so it’s facing the other direction. As the horse gains skill, the rider guides it to work a calf out of a herd and then practices those maneuvers. Some trainers use mechanical calves to assist in training.

What do cutting horse riders do with their legs and hands?  
Probably not as much as you think. The rider places a hand on the front of the saddle horn to brace so when the horse bows down and mirrors a calf’s moves, the rider won’t be pitched off. Usually riders stay quiet on the horse, using their legs slightly to encourage the horse to move one way or the other if needed.

Where can the public watch cutting horse action? 
Many National Cutting Horse Association events have been cancelled because of COVID-19, but the 2021 schedule includes the 3 Amigos and Senior World Tour events in Gonzales on Jan. 1-3, Jan. 15-17 and Jan 29-31, and the Jared Lesh Cutting event in Whitesboro on Jan. 21-23. Find information at nchacutting.com. The American Cutting Horse Association’s 2021 schedule includes competitions in Belton on Jan. 2-3 and Jan. 15-17, and in Brenham on Feb. 13-14 and March 20-21. Check for updates at: achacutting.org. Nueces Canyon Ranch also offers private group tours and demonstrations by appointment for a fee (barbecue included.) Find information at nuecescanyon.com.

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Eating carrots will greatly improve your eyesight, cracking your knuckles leads to arthritis, and watching too much TV will harm your vision. We’ve all heard those tall tales, but did you know there are also many misconceptions about home energy use? Don’t be fooled by common energy myths.

MYTH: The higher the thermostat setting, the faster the home will heat.

Many people think raising the thermostat to 85 degrees will heat the room more quickly. That’s not true. 

Drastically adjusting the thermostat setting will not make a difference in how quickly you feel warmer. The same is true for cooling. The U.S. Department of Energy recommends setting your thermostat to 78 degrees during summer months and 68 degrees during winter months.


MYTH: Opening the oven door to check on a dish doesn’t really waste energy.

Every time the oven door is opened, the temperature inside is reduced by as much as 25 degrees, delaying the progress of your dish and, more importantly, costing you additional money. If you need to check the progress of a delicious pie, use the oven light.


MYTH: Reducing my energy use is too expensive.

Many consumers believe that reducing energy use requires expensive upfront costs. But the truth is consumers who make small changes to their energy efficiency habits, such as turning off lights when not in use, sealing air leaks and using a programmable thermostat, can see a reduction in energy consumption.


MYTH: I can save money simply by installing a programmable thermostat.

On their own, programmable thermostats do not make your HVAC system more efficient. Their money-saving value lies in their ability to — once properly programmed — regulate the temperature inside your house to coincide with your habits. Look for directions in the manufacturer's website.


MYTH: When I turn off electronics (like my TV, game console or computer), they stop drawing power from the outlet.

Even when turned off, most modern electronics consume electricity so long as they’re still plugged in. Even cell phone chargers consume electricity when plugged in but not actively charging a device. This wasted energy accounts for as much as 10 percent of a home’s total electric use, according to the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The solution: Unplug.


MYTH: It is not worth my time or money to seal small air leaks around my windows and doors or to make sure my home is adequately insulated.

Air that leaks through cracks and gaps creates as much of an energy drain as leaving a window open all year long, according to Energy Star. The average homeowner can save up to 10 percent on their total annual energy spending by sealing and insulating their home. 


POWER TIP: Keep vents open
Don’t block the supply and return air vents in your home with furniture or by closing them off. Blocking the vents makes your heater or AC work harder.

Most of our New Year’s resolutions are along the lines of spending less, saving more, eating less, exercising more, working less and spending more time with family.

This year consider adding a few things to the list to help keep your family safe.

• Practice “out with the old, in with the new” with appliances. If an appliance snaps, crackles or pops but shouldn’t, replace it with a safer, more energy efficient model.

• If you have light switch plates or outlets that get warm to the touch with use, or your lights dim when certain appliances come on, it’s time to call an electrician. The electrical load of most homes has increased substantially in the past 20 years, but your home’s wiring may not be up to the challenge. To keep your loved ones safe, have the wiring checked out and make the necessary improvements and repairs.

•  If you regularly find yourself headed to the breaker box with a flashlight in hand to restore power, it’s probably time for repairs or an upgrade. Have a professional electrician do an inspection and make repairs.

• Smoke detectors and fire extinguishers only help if they work properly. Regularly test and replace the batteries in smoke detectors. Replace or recharge fire extinguishers so they’ll be ready in the event of a fire.

By Sharon Jayson

Amy Fritsch and her family in Fayette County never planned to be trendsetters. 

But when they added a swimming pool, outdoor kitchen and other improvements to make the most of their backyard three years ago, they had no idea that thousands of other families soon would follow their lead, motivated by months of stuck-at-home time due to COVID-19. 

We learned this year just how important spending time outdoors can be to both physical and mental health. Once we were locked down at home, being outside became the only safe way to entertain friends and family who aren’t part of the household. Just stepping outside into nature boosts mood and mindset, especially when we’ve been cooped up inside working and being with family 24/7.

The Fritsch family — which includes husband Brad and sons Lane, 19; Logan, 16; and Lawson, 13 — had planned to spend much of the 2020 summer traveling around Texas for their younger sons’ baseball and basketball games. The coronavirus outbreak canceled those games and turned the family’s outdoor living space into a haven in Willow Springs, an unincorporated community in Fayette County. They’ve used the amenities a lot – from frequent cookouts to twice weekly water aerobics for a group of friends.

“We’re out there cooking at least three nights a week,” Amy Fritsch said. “We used it more than in a typical summer.” 

When summer gave way to fall’s chill, time in family outdoor spaces didn’t have to end. Portable and installed heaters for patios and screened porches are just what people needed to extend the life of their outdoor areas, said Enrique Amaro, co-owner of Austin-based MCS Outdoor Living Specialists, which serves areas across Central Texas.

“Everybody wants to condition their houses to be able to stay out there,” he said. 

His company, which launched in 2003 with mosquito control systems, has expanded and rebranded to provide outdoor living amenities, including misting systems, outdoor heating and fire pits.

Summer 2020 was unlike any other for professionals who improve a home’s outdoor areas, said Lucas Stroech, a landscape architect, contractor and licensed irrigator with Washington County Landscapes in
Brenham.

“We’re busier than we’ve ever been,” he said in August. “We’re doing double the amount of work we normally do. We expanded and added more crews. We could expand again, but we can’t physically handle any more.”

Stroech’s company and others that provide residential outdoor living services agree that because a family’s house has become a combination workplace, camp and school, homeowners are more inclined to spruce up their surroundings.

“They’re not going on vacations, dining out or going to concerts,” which has freed up money to spend on outdoor projects, said Kermit Baker, director of the Remodeling Futures Program at Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies.

“Outdoor living and outdoor projects — decking, porches, outdoor kitchens, pools — are all very strong,” he said, noting that people also opt for outdoor upgrades in part because workers don’t have to go inside.

Brian Fischer of Fischer Langham Custom Homes in Giddings says this year’s customers have “gotten a bit more extravagant.” 

Whether it’s a new home or additions to existing homes, his clients aren’t just creating backyard barbecue areas. They’re adding fireplaces, swimming pools, sitting areas and TV spaces. Also, more homeowners want screened porches to make the most of outdoor evenings. Those porches often have automated screens and shutters, he said. Some homeowners even have air-conditioned porches.

Such amenities are pricey, though. 

For those installing outdoor kitchens, the key is to “blend with the environment,” Fischer said.

“Most outdoor kitchens are covered to take advantage of the prevailing breezes as well as how the sun travels through the day. The roof will help shade the structure. In the afternoon, when the west sun is setting, you don’t want to have the grill on the west side,” Fischer said.

Ryan Pape, owner of Papescapes, based in Burton, said his customers ask for “open-air entertaining.” 

“They’re wanting more of an outdoor entertaining area — not just fire pits and fire rings but outdoor kitchens and outdoor spaces,” he said. “There is an uptick for pools as well.”

Some customers install sliding glass walls on the house to bring the outdoors in. It’s part of a home improvement trend that began in recent years to integrate homes with their natural surroundings. Glass wall systems welcome in nature and can have automated controls. However, Pape says such features are less efficient in Texas, where summer heat isn’t always a welcome indoor guest. To beat the heat, some buy misting systems to cool the air.

Amaro’s company added mist cooling systems in 2008 and has since added outdoor heating systems and outdoor and accent lighting. It also collaborates with other companies to build outdoor kitchens and pools. 

“You spend all that money on a patio and pool and are ready to enjoy it and then you go outside and cannot be there — either the mosquitos are going to kill you or the heat will,” he said.

Experts say grilling outdoors offers a twofer on energy savings. In warm weather you avoid heating up the house from the oven or stove, meaning less AC to keep the house cool. And cooking on fuel-efficient grills saves more power than using the oven. Creating an outdoor kitchen can be expensive, but outdoor professionals say it can save hundreds of dollars a year in electric and gas bills.

For an eco-friendly outdoor kitchen, infrared gas-powered grills are a good way to go. They use about 25 percent less gas than other grills, and save money and natural resources. Charcoal grills are more fuel efficient, and rounded, ceramic “kamado” grills such as the Big Green Egg can use 100 percent natural lump charcoal made from unused log sections and recycled wood, experts say. Other types of charcoal can be used as well.

If you want a fridge in your outdoor kitchen, Dave Rebtoy, The Home Depot’s regional vice president over the Southwest, has a key efficiency tip. “If you install a refrigerator in an outdoor kitchen, it needs to be an outdoor refrigerator,” he said. “They’re different. People put mini-fridges outside and they won’t stay cool. If you put it in an enclosed space, it needs to vent.”

The Home Depot offers all sorts of advice about outdoor living DIY projects, Rebtoy said. 

When large outdoor projects require lighting, plumbing or other technical skills, many homeowners hire a professional. That’s what Andrew Murrell did. After gutting and renovating a house in Bellville, he and his family moved there from Houston last fall. 

When Murrell cut back his 124-mile round trip commute to his job in Houston to twice weekly because of the pandemic, the family started on a two-part outdoor project that initially included landscaping, a basketball court and sitting area. 

That’s when Murrell’s family realized how lucky they were: the pandemic “heightened the need for the large gathering space to sit around and apart from each other,” Murrell said.

A swimming pool and cabana were completed this fall, Murrell said. The total cost of the outdoor projects was $350,000, including the $100,000 pool cost.

Dede and Brian Kaplan drive every week from Houston to their weekend house in Burton that sits on just over 12 acres. But during the pandemic, they’ve spent more time in Burton, including the period when much of the country was shut down last spring.

“Being out here those three weeks was really wonderful and made us realize we could spend a lot of time here. We were happy we were improving the property so we could enjoy more of it,” Dede Kaplan said.

Although they’ve owned the Burton house for three years, they didn’t start their outdoor project until earlier this year. They added a casita, swimming pool and landscaping.

Families who invest in outdoor living spaces may be helping their health, according to increasing numbers of studies showing that spending time outside is good both mentally and physically. Enjoying nature appears to boost well-being amid the swirl of stress and anxiety produced by the pandemic.

“This paper adds value to the literature in showing that a dose of as little as 10–20 minutes of sitting or walking in an array of green spaces can have a meaningful impact in reducing stress, anger, anxiety, and in increasing vigor, comfort, positive affect and a sense of feeling refreshed,” said one study published in Frontiers in Psychology in January.

Research conducted by psychologist Marc Berman, director of the Environmental Neuroscience Laboratory at the University of Chicago, finds similar benefits. Those working at home may experience “directed attention fatigue,” making it difficult to focus after hours spent online, he said, but spending time among natural elements such as trees, plants, water or animals is “going to help restore your attention. If you don’t have a lot of trees in the backyard, add some plants. We’re finding anything you have can help,” Berman said. 

CHOOSING A HEATER TO KEEP YOUR SPACE WARM

Today’s heaters for backyard outdoor living aren’t limited to the mushroom shaped styles that tower over restaurant patios. Newer options have different looks and warm up larger areas.

The type of outdoor heater that’s right for you depends on the age of your home and how you can power it. 

Older homes may have limited power availability. A newer house typically comes with more electrical power and may have an outdoor gas connection. 

If it’s available, gas heat is a good option, said Enrique Amaro, co-owner of MCS Outdoor Living Specialists.

Large electric heaters use 220 volts, versus the 110 volts from a home’s standard electric outlet. Using gas heaters outdoors can help prevent your electric bill from spiking. If you don’t have natural gas, or your backyard doesn’t have the proper power, a portable heater is the best option, Amaro said. 

Prices of top-quality outdoor heaters vary by coverage area and power type. Higher-end electric or gas heaters that are installed by professionals can cost $1,500 to $2,000 per heater, Amaro said. Each of those portable heaters can cover about 200 square-feet, he said.

If that is out of your price range, all sizes of gas- and propane-powered portable heaters are sold at large retailers like The Home Depot or Lowe’s. Name-brand outdoor heaters can also be purchased online. Larger heaters start at about $100 but many are $300 or higher.

There are many safety requirements and guidelines for gas and propane powered outdoor heaters. Pay close attention to instructions and warnings, and make sure that the heater you select is intended for outdoor use.

DIY OR GO WITH A PRO? THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND 

Everyone is spending more time at home, so home improvement projects may be on your to-do list. But your do-it-yourself skills may not be up to complex projects like creating outdoor living environments. Here are some key FYIs for DIYs, courtesy of The Home Depot.

TIME: First, do you actually have time to do a project yourself? Smaller tasks, such as building a table, can take a weekend or a few days. But an outdoor deck or larger projects may require several weeks of time.

COST: DIY almost always saves you money. But be sure to assess your budget in relation to the time and eort needed to tackle the project yourself. Consider asking a professional for a cost estimate before you start.

SCOPE OF WORK: How big is your project? It’s best to start small for your first attempt at DIY as you build your skills. It may be worth hiring a contractor for larger projects.

EQUIPMENT: Know which tools are needed to complete a project and whether you have them on hand. The Home Depot, Lowe’s and other stores oer rentals if your tool arsenal is limited. If you’re not familiar with which tools are best for a project or are unsure how to use the tools, it may be safer and more ecient to hire a pro.

SKILL: DIY is always an excellent way to learn, but if a project is complex or requires skilled labor — such as for electrical wiring — it’s important to know whether you have the ability to complete the project safely. It’s best to let a professional handle electrical wiring.

PERMITS: Be sure to check your local building permit laws to ensure you can legally make renovations or undertake a project without involving a professional.

COMPLICATING FACTORS: Consider every aspect necessary to complete a project. Will plumbing be involved? Do you need to supply electricity? If water and power sources will be aected, you most likely will need to hire a contractor to ensure everything is done by the book and that your project can be completed safely.

COST ESTIMATES: The cost of installing a basic outdoor kitchen or adding an outdoor covered area like a pergola varies widely based on size, design, material and location. General construction for an outdoor kitchen may range from $3,000 to over $10,000. Cost of a pergola may range from $2,000 to $10,000.

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