Third Cutting was retired from competition following the 2011 NCHA Summer Spectacular. A dominant influence in the sport, he leaves the arena as one of the greatest cutting horses to ever walk to the herd.
Third Cutting is one of the most electrifying horses ever to cut a cow. Boyd Rice said,"most horses either have the ability to cut but lack the heart, or have plenty of heart and are short on ability. It is really rare for one to combine both those attributes like Third Cutting does."
Through the end of his four-year-old year Third Cutting was only shown four times. He won two legs of the Triple Crown. Winning the NCHA Super Stakes with a score of 230, he was just one point behind the all-time record score of 231. He also won both the first and second go-rounds at the Super Stakes. At the NCHA Derby he won the first go-round, then working 21st in the 24 horse finals, his winning score of 228.5 set a new record.
Throughout his career he has won a record four NCHA major aged events in Will Rogers Coliseum, marking a score of 230 on two different occasions. Another highlight in what was a stellar show career, was the 2010 PCCHA Classic championship where the entire crowd were on their feet as he and Boyd took the win with a score of 231.
