Matt Gaines

Matt recently crossed the $10 Million dollar mark in NCHA Lifetime earnings and is ranked as NCHA's #3 All Time leading Open Rider.

Matt & his wife Tara who herself is an NCHA Non Pro World Champion base their their operation in Weatherford, Texas. His biggest influence was his dad, Dick Gaines who is also a cutting horse trainer.  Dick, former NCHA President, is the only person to be inducted into the NCHA Members, Riders, and Non Pro Halls of Fame.
      Before becoming a trainer, Matt enjoyed a very successful non pro career which included a win in the 1990 NCHA Non Pro Futurity on Playboys Lynnea.  Matt later decided to make the sport of cutting his profession.  He went to work for the late Charles Spence where he trained and rode horses such as Olena Dually, Chex Rio Hickory, and Knew She Wood.  In 2001 Matt claimed his first Open win in the Will Rogers Coliseum aboard Sunettes Dually marking a 231 in the Super Stakes Derby.  Also in 2001, Matt won the NCHA Summer Spectacular Derby on Nu I Wood.  In 2003, he won the Super Stakes Classic on Nu I Wood and in 2005 he was the Champion of the Super Stakes Derby on the great stallion One Time Pepto.  Matt also rode Im Countin Checks and Smooth As A Cat, both exceptional athetes along with One Time Pepto.  All three of these horses have gone on to achieve greatness as breeding stallions as well. 
         Matt is one of three riders to have shown two horses to capture the title of NCHA Horse Of The Year, Little Pepto Gal and Smooth As A Cat.  Matt's outstanding career continues to impress us at every turn!  He most recently was the 2016 NCHA Open Futurity Champion riding Second Spot who happens to be out of the mare Reycy Moon, a mare that was also trained by Matt.  Matt Gaines Cutting Horses is currently accepting outside horses and ready to train your next champion!

"You can't win if you are afraid to lose".... Matt Gaines

 Most Recent Accomplishments:

2026 Cattlemens Derby & Classic 2X 5/6 Yo Open Finalist riding Very Special Rollz & Positano

2025 NCHA Futurity Open Semi-Finalist riding Too Bad So Sad

2025 Brazos Bash 4YO Open Finalist riding Salerno

2025 Cascades Futurity 4 Yo Open Champion riding Stefie Rey Vaughn

2025 Cascades Futurity 5/6 Yo Open Reserve Champion riding Sugarr Daddy & Finalist riding Itz Getn Hott N Here and Lilly Rey

2025 Idaho Futurity 2X 4 Yo Open Finalist riding Positano & Stefie Rey Vaughn

2025 Idaho Futurity 5/6 Yo Open Finalist riding Itz Getn Hott N Here

2025 Breeders Invitational 4 Yo Open Finalist riding Salerno

2025 NCHA Super Stakes 4 Yo Open Finalist riding Salerno

2025 NCHA Super Stakes 2X 5/6 Yo Open Finalist riding Sugarr Daddy & Lilly Rey

2025 Cattlemens Derby & Classic 4 Yo Open Finalist riding Positano

2025 Ike Derby and Classic 5/6 Yo Open Reserve Champion riding Sugarr Daddy & Finalist riding Itz Getn Hott N Here

2025 Augusta Futurity 2X 4 Yo Open Finalist riding Sorrenta & Positano

2025 Augusta Futurity 2X 5/6 Yo Open Finalist riding Sugarr Daddy & Very Special Rollz

2024 NCHA Futurity 2X Open Finalist riding Salerno & Positano

2024 PCCHA Derby & Classic Challenge 4 Yo Open Reserve Champion riding Sugarr Daddy

2024 PCCHA Derby & Classic Challenge 2X 5/6 Yo Open Finalist riding Itz Getn Hott N Here & Lilly Rey

2024 Breeders Invitational 4 Yo Open Finalist riding Sugarr Daddy

2024 Breeders Invitational 4 Yo Open $10K Finalist riding Very Special Rollz

2024 Cattlemens Derby and Classic 4 Yo Open Finalist riding Fistful Of Dollers

2024 Cattlemens Derby and Classic 5/6 Yo Open Finalist riding Extinguish

2024 Arbuckle Mountain Futurity 4 Yo Open Finalist riding Sugarr Daddy

2024 Arbuckle Mountain Futurity 5/6 Yo Open Finalist riding Itz Getn Hott N Here

2024 Augusta Futurity 4 Yo Open Co-Champion riding Sugarr Daddy & Finalist riding Fistful Of Dollers

2024 Augusta Futurity 5/6 Yo Open Reserve Champion riding Extinguish & Finalist riding Itz Getn Hott N Here and Lilly Rey

2024 Abilene Spectacular 4 Yo Open Top 3 Finalist riding Sugarr Daddy

2023 NCHA Futurity Open Reserve Champion riding Sugarr Daddy

2023 PCCHA Futurity 4 Yo Open Finalist riding Itz Getn Hott N Here

2023 NCHA Summer Spectacular 4 Yo Open Finalist riding Itz Getn Hott N Here

2023 NCHA Summer Spectacular 4 Yo Open Semi-Finalist riding Boon Dual Suen

2023 NCHA Summer Spectacular 5/6 Yo Open Semi-Finalist riding Stars Copper Cat

2022 Brazos Bash 2X 7 Yo Open Finalist riding Metallic Legacy & Driven Miss Sallie

2022 NCHA Super Stakes 5/6 Yo Open Finalist riding Smooth As Mercedes

2022 Cutters In Cowtown NCHA Open Reserve Champion riding Smooth As Mercedes

2021 NCHA World Finals Open Champion riding Sugrspiznevrthingniz & Finalist riding Hot Melody

2021 NCHA World Finals 25K Novice Finalist riding Soul Sista & Smooth As Mercedes

2021 PCCHA Derby 5/6 YO Open Finalist riding Smooth As Mercedes, Stunning Trick and Soul Sista

2020 PCCHA FUTURITY Open Classic Champion riding Sugrspizneyrthingniz

2020 EL RANCHO FUTURITM Open Derby Champion riding Smooth As Mercedes 

2020 EL RANCHO FUTURITY Open Classic Finalist riding Soul Sista 

2020 CASCADES FUTURITY Open Derby Champion riding Smooth As Mercedes 

2020 CASCADES FUTURITY Open Classic Champion riding Sugrspizneyrthingniz

2020 IDAHO FUTURITY Open Derby Champion riding Smooth As Mercedes 

2020 IDAHO FUTURITY Open Derby Finalist riding Shiny Aristocrat 

2020 IDAHO FUTURITY Open Classic Finalist riding Sugrspizneyrhingniz and Soul Sista 

2020 THE CATTLEMEN'S Open Derby Finalist riding Smooth As Mercedes and Shiny Aristocrat (+Novice)

2020 THE CATTLEMEN'S Open Classic Finalist riding CDs Kual Gun (+Gelding)

2020 ARBUCKLE MOUNTAIN FUTURITY Open Derby Finalist riding Smooth As Mercedes

2020 BONANZA CUTTING Open Classic Champion riding Metallic Drifter

2020 BONANZA CUTTING Open Classic Gelding/Novice Champion riding Metallic Drifter

2019 NCHA Open Futurity Finalist riding Smooth As Mercedes

2019 PCCHA Futurity Open Derby Finalist riding Lexus Smooth Soul Sista 

2019 Brazos Bash Futurity Open Derby Finalist riding Lexus Smooth

2019 Brazos Bash Futurity Open Classic Finalist riding Addisyns Bella Cat 

2019 Brazos Bash Futurity Open Futurity Gelding Finalist riding Woody Be Smooth

2019 Cotton Stakes Open Classic Reserve Champion riding Metallic Drifter (+Gelding Champion)

2019 Cotton Stakes Open Futurity Finalist riding Play Like A Girl and Metallic Catarism RG (+Gelding Res. Champion)

2019 NCHA Metallic Cat Summer Spectacular Open Derby Finalist riding Lexus Smooth and Sugrspizneyrthingniz

2019 NCHA Metallic Cat Summer Spectacular Open Classic Finalist riding Metallic Drifter (+gelding)

2019 PCCHA Core Balance Derby Open Derby Finalist riding Justa Lil Brownsuger and Lexus Smooth (+Novice)

2019 PCCHA Core Balance Derby Open Classic / Challenge Finalist riding Take It Eaze (+Gelding) and Mr Luckys (+Gelding)

2019 PCCHA Core Balance Derby Open Classic / Challenge Novice Co-Champion ridng Addisyns Bella Cat 

2019 Breeder's Invitational Open Derby Finalist riding Sugrspizneyrthingniz and Soul Sista (+Novice)

2019 Breeder's Invitational Open Derby Gelding Finalist riding CDs Kual Gun

2019 NCHA Kit Kat Sugar Super Stakes Open Derby Reserve Champion riding Sugrspiznevrthingniz

2019 Cattlemens Open Classic finalist riding metallic drifter and addisyns bella cat 

2019 ARBUCKLE 4-YEAR-OLD FUTURITY OPEN RESERVE CHAMPION & NOVICE CHAMPIONON SUGRSPIZNEVRTHINGNIZ 

2019 ARBUCKLE 4-YEAR-OLD FUTURITY OPEN finalist on justa lil brownsugar (3rd + Novice Reserve Champion)

2019 ARBUCKLE CLASSIC OPEN CHAMPION (+NOVICE & GELDING CHAMPIONS) ON METALLIC DRIFTER

2019 ARBUCKLE CLASSIC OPEN FINALIST ON MR LUCKYS (+ NOVICE & GELDING) & ADDISYNS BELLA CAT (+NOVICE)

2019 Bonanza derby open reserve champion & derby Novice champion ON SUGRSPIZNEVRTHINGNIZ

2019 CLASSIC OPEN FINALIST & CLASSIC NOVICE OPEN CHAMPION ON ADDISYNS BELLA CAT

2018 NCHA OPEN FUTURITY SEMI-FINALIST ON SUGRNSPIZNEVRTHINGNIZ

2018 Brazos Bash Derby Open Finalist (+Gelding) on Take It Eazee
2018 Brazos Bash Futurity Open Finalist (+Gelding) on CDs Kual Gun (3rd)
2018 El Rancho Futurity Open Futurity Champion & Gelding Champion on Desires Bo Monkey
2018 El Rancho Futurity Open Futurity Reserve Champion & Reserve Gelding Champion on CDs Kual Gun
2018 Idaho Futurity Open Futurity & Gelding Champion on CDs Kual Gun
2018 Idaho Futurity Derby Open Res Champion Metallic Drifter, 3rd on Take It Eazee and 8/9th on Addisyns Bella Cat
2018 Idaho Futurity Open Derby Gelding Res Champion Metallic Drifter & 3rd on Take It Eazee
2018 Idaho Futurity Open Derby Novice Finalist (4th) on Addisyns Bella Cat
2018 Idaho Futurity Classic Open Finalist (3rd) & Gelding Champion on Mr Luckys
2018 NCHA Super Stakes Open Derby Finalist (+Gelding) riding Take It Eazee
2018 Cattlemen's Futurity Open Derby Finalist (+Novice) riding Metallic Drifter
2018 Cattlemen's Futurity Open Derby Gelding Champion riding Metallic Drifter
2018 Cattlemen's Futurity Open Classic Novice Finalist riding Mr Luckys
2018 Arbuckle Mountain Futurity Open Classic Reserve Champion riding MR LUCKYS
2018 Arbuckle Mountain Futurity Open Classic Novice/Gelding Champion riding MR LUCKYS
2018 Arbuckle Mountain Futurity Open Derby Finalist (+Novice/Gelding) riding Metallic Drifter
2018 Arbuckle Mountain Futurity Open Derby Finalist riding Wicked Little Cat
2018 Bonanza Futurity Open Derby Finalist (+Novice) riding Wicked Little Cat
2018 Augusta Open Derby Co-Reserve Champion riding Metallic Drifter

2017 NCHA Futurity Open Semi Finalist riding Take It Eazee and Metallic Drifter
2017 Brazos Bash Futurity Open Derby Finalist ( + Gelding) riding Smooth Sailing Cat
2017 Brazos Bash Futurity Open Derby Finalist (+ Gelding) riding Mr. Luckys 
2017 Breeder's Invitational Open Classic Finalist Smooth Nu Cat
2017 NCHA Super Stakes Classic Open Finalist riding Peeptos Cat
2017 Ike Derby Open Finalist riding Peepaboo

2016 NCHA Futurity Open Champion!!!!!!!!
- Total of 13 aged event finalists in 2016!
- Cotton Stakes Open Futurity Champion on Nu Metallic Wood
2015 NCHA OPEN WORLD CHAMPION on Special Nu Baby
- set a new NCHA record for amount of Money Won in the Open at Weekend shows including Mercuria Cuttings with $142,346.04 total money won 
2015 NCHA Futurity Open Finalist riding Special Nu Cat
2015 Southern Futurity Open Champion on Smooth Cowstruck
2015 Southern Futurity Open Reserve Champion on Found My Dream
2015 Quarter Horse Congress Open Mercuria Champion on Special Nu Baby
2015 EL RANCHO OPEN MERCURIA CHAMPION WITH RECORD TYING 234 SCORE ON SPECIAL NU BABY!!!
2015 El Rancho Futurity Open Derby Champion on Kit Kat
2015 El Rancho Open Futurity CO-CHAMPION on Smooth Cowstruck
2015 Idaho Futurity Open Mercuria CHAMPION on Special Nu Baby
2015 The Mane Event Mercuria Open CHAMPION on Special Nu Baby
2015 Calgary Stampede Mercuria Open Reserve Champion on Special Nu Baby
2015 Pacific Coast Mercuria Open Reserve Champion on Special Nu Baby
2015 San Antonio Livestock Show Mercuria Open CHAMPION on Special Nu Baby

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