NCHA Futurity

The National Cutting Horse Association’s NCHA Futurity is one of Australia’s biggest indoor sporting horse events, attracting over 700 competitors.

It features the country’s best cutting horse, competing for over $700,000 in prizes.

Coming from humble beginnings at the Moonbi Showgrounds and offering a prize purse of $10,000, 1974 marked the beginning of the first official cutting Futurity, run over three days and exhibiting 25 keen competitors.

51 years later, the prestigious event is hosted in the Country Music Capital of Tamworth, NSW, and is one of the biggest draw cards in the region, bringing in an estimated $4.5 million to the local economy each year.

The Futurity attracts, on average, 20,000 spectators throughout the 15-day program, not only from all parts of Australia but also worldwide. The event is housed at the spectacular Australian Equine and Livestock Events Centre (AELEC), which offers 59 premium indoor trade sites, 478 stables, 191 powered campsites, and plenty of room for non-powered camping.

The festivities include a cutting program, evening entertainment from the NCHA Stockman’s Challenge, bull riding, horseman demonstrations, rodeos, country music, and more. The event also showcases a western/rural trade display outside the metropolitan area. It also coincides with the NCHA Select Sale, where some of Australia’s finest-bred horses will be up for auction.

For those unaware, ‘cutting’ is a Western-style equestrian competition. In effect, a horse and a rider have two and a half minutes to work two to three cows and prevent them from returning to their herd. It’s a fast-paced contest demonstrating the impressive athleticism of riders and their horses.

At the NCHA Futurity event, you’ll meet fellow equestrian lovers from across Australia and worldwide. A free demonstration arena that allows visitors to meet and learn from Australia’s elite horse trainers and cutting horse sales. If you’re a horse lover, you won’t want to miss it!

Getting There

Hillvue is a suburb of Tamworth in northern New South Wales. It’s a 5-hour drive from the Sydney CBD via the M1 and New England Highway/A15. Tamworth also has its own regional airport.

Drive
The regional city of Tamworth is:

• About three-and-a-half hours north-west of Newcastle along the Hunter Expressway and New England Highway.
• An easy five hour drive from Sydney via the Pacific Motorway, Hunter Expressway and New England Highway.
• A scenic seven-hour drive from Brisbane on the Cunningham and New England Highways.

Remember to stop, revive, and survive. Why not make a road trip out of it? It’ll ensure you arrive safely, and there are tonnes of great spots to stop off and unique towns and villages to discover on your way.

Fly
Tamworth Regional Airport is located just 10 minutes from the Tamworth CBD. It is equipped with a café, airline lounge access, WIFI, an ATM, and short—and long-term parking adjacent to the terminal.

Flights are operated between Tamworth, Sydney and Brisbane by both Qantas and Link Airways throughout the week.

To start your adventure upon arrival:

• Hire a car through one of several providers located at the airport.
• Jump in a taxi at the Airport Taxi Rank outside the terminal, or book one in advance.
• Grab a door-to-door shuttle with ShuttleLink.
• Order yourself a UBER.

Trains and Buses
Daily train and coach services operate between Tamworth and many cities, coastal destinations and regional centres including (but not limited to) Sydney, Brisbane, Newcastle, Port Macquarie, Gosford, Coffs Harbour, Grafton, Armidale, Tenterfield, Inverell, Scone, Muswellbrook, Singleton, Quirindi, Gunnedah, Moree, Narrabri, Dubbo, Orange and Bathurst.

Daily services also operate within the Tamworth region, including Tamworth to Attunga, Bendemeer, Kootingal, Manilla, Moonbi, and Somerton.