About Us

NCHA Hall of Fame Riders & Trainers

Tim Mike Monty

Monty Buntin and brothers, Mike Smith and Tim Smith (left to right), at The Cutting Experience, Temecula, CA 2023

Over 65 Combined Years of Experience Training & Competing with Cutting Horses

With a combined legacy spanning decades in the world of cutting horse riding, Tim Smith and Monty Buntin have left an indelible mark on the sport. Tim Smith, a Hall of Fame rider and trainer, hails from the farmlands of Minnesota and took his first steps into the cutting arena in 1972 under the guidance of his older brother, Mike Smith. Tim’s expertise and mentorship have been instrumental in shaping the career of Monty Buntin. Monty, having honed his skills under the wing of Tim, has since soared to prominence, clinching numerous PCCHA weekend year-end titles, World Show and Novice Championships, and securing spots in the finals of all major NCHA aged events. Monty’s remarkable journey culminated in his induction into the NCHA Hall of Fame in 2020, a testament to his crossing of the million-dollar earnings mark in March 2019. Together, their combined years of experience in training and competing with cutting horses form a formidable legacy that continues to thrive in the world of cutting horse riding.

Your Coaches

Monty Buntin and Tim Smith share their hard earned practical, effective, best practices to help you up your cutting game!

Monty Buntin

Monty Buntin

Monty was born in Prescott, AZ, where he continues to have family in the surrounding area. Funny enough, his wife Tessa was born in the same hospital in Prescott, but the two didn’t meet until 2007 at the Prescott Frontier Days Rodeo, which is held every July in their hometown... Read More

Tim Smith

Tim Smith

The renowned Hall of Fame rider and cutting horse trainer, Tim Smith, grew up on a farm in Minnesota. He showed his first cutter during the summer of 1972 in California. Tim’s older brother Mike was largely responsible for getting Tim into the sport of cutting... Read More