Horse rider a cut above competition

Battle Ground — A 39-year-old amateur rider won big at the “Holy Cow Performance Horses Winter Roundup” held mid-March in Paso Robles, Calif. Cody Erwin, from Battle Ground, scored high enough in an amateur cutting horse event on March 15 to win more than $1,500 in prize money. He said he’s been riding cutting horses for 10 years, but only started competing with his gelding named Burt about two months ago. “We are starting to gel,” Erwin said in an email. Cutting horses are known for their quick response and ability to make sharp turns, making them ideal for herding cattle.