Matt Gaines
Cutter

Already a respected cutting horse trainer, Matt Gaines jumped to the industry forefront in 2001 when he won the National Cutting Horse Association Super Stakes and the NCHA Derby. That year, Gaines’ name was also added to the NCHA Hall of Fame Riders. At that point, he’d been a professional cutting horse rider since 1992, and before turning pro, he’d won many non-pro titles, such as the 1990 NCHA Non-Pro Futurity Championship.

Based on earnings, Gaines ranked as the No. 2 Open Division rider of all time in 2005. He has won the Equi-State Open Rider Award three times. His lifetime earnings total $4,292,236.

Gaines lives in Weatherford, Texas. He has two children Lauren and Garrett. Gaines’ father is former NCHA President Dick Gaines.

2008 Show Recap/2009 Schedule

Career highlights

• Ranked 2nd Open Division Rider of all time based on earnings
• Top ranked rider and Equi-State Open Rider Award winner in 2005
• Ranked 2nd overall rider based on earnings in 2004
• Ranked 2nd overall rider based on earnings in 2003
• Top ranked rider and Equi-State Open Rider Award winner in 2002
• Top ranked rider and Equi-State Open Rider Award winner in 2001
• Ranked 3rd overall rider based on earnings in 2000
• Inducted into the NCHA Hall of Fame Riders in 2001
• Won the National Cutting Horse Association Super Stakes in 2001
• Won the NCHA Derby in 2001
• Ranked 3rd overall rider based on earnings in 2000