We prefer straightbred English-type cattle, No. 1 Okies when we can get enough of them. An ideal group of cutting calves is one that has been together for a while. It helps if people have been riding horses through them but not using them for roping, penning or other equine practice. The big shows want producers who can provide a thousand or more calves. But smaller shows are willing to deal with producers who own fewer animals.
Most shows require the supplier to load, transfer and unload all cattle used in the event.
Suppliers also may have to move the cattle from the holding pens on the show grounds to the main arena gate and then return them to the pens after the contest. Even if you don't have the numbers to provide cattle for a show, you can probably find cutting-horse people in your area who want 20 to 100 fresh calves a month to train their horses. At least 10 calves are needed per horse in a cutter's training stable. With calf prices at high levels, make sure you have a written agreement on how much the animals are worth and who is responsible for injuries, treatment of sick animals, death losses and stolen animals. Transporting cattle stresses them, and there's always the potential for animals to get sick or hurt.