training a cutting horse or cutting horse rider." Amateur: A rider with lifetime earnings less than $50,000 in cutting competition. They also cannot work for money at a horse training facility, nor can they be married to a professional trainer. Youth: Riders must be 18 years old or younger to compete as a youth. Competition circuit Among the events drawing the most entrants are limited aged events, known as futurities, which offer large purses and added money in classes that offer competitors a chance to win hundreds of thousands of dollars, possibly millions. Cutting's "Triple Crown" begins with the NCHA Futurity, an event limited to three-year-old horses. Following the Futurity is the NCHA Super Stakes, and the NCHA Derby for four-year-olds, usually held in conjunction with the Summer Spectacular. Five- and six-year-olds compete in the NCHA classic/challenge. There are also NCHA affiliates that host limited aged events that immediately follow the NCHA Futurity, such as the Pacific Coast Cutting Horse Association Futurity (PCCHA Futurity) held in Paso Robles, California, and the Augusta Futurity held in Augusta, Georgia. Events open to older, experienced horses offer classes with lifetime earning limits on the rider, including limited amateur and limited nonpro classes. The NCHA also promotes weekend and circuit cutting events that are hosted by an NCHA affiliate or other entity. In order to be NCHA Open Championship Cutting classes, they must obtain approval from the NCHA, meet all NCHA standing rule requirements, and have an added purse of at least $200.00 per day. Terminology Area Work-Offs: The original name for the NCHA National Championships. Back fence: An area of the fence behind the cattle. A horse is penalized 3 points each time the cow being worked stops or turns within 3 feet of the back fence. Baldy: a cow with a large white marking or "bonnet" covering the face. Blow up: When a horse or cow panics. Brindle: A cow with a mottled coat color. Cheat: A horse that looks for an easy way out of working correctly. Collected: A horse that is balanced under the rider so that it can quickly respond to the moves of a cow. Commit: Show intention to work a specific cow by looking at it and stepping towards it. Cut for shape: When a rider selects a cow on the edge of the herd rather than riding through the herd and driving a cow out. Deep