Hundreds of horse riders brave cold in Tamworth at national futurity event to celebrate 50 years of cutting

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.

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Article written By Lara Webster and Kathleen Ferguson