SOUTHERN CROSS CUTTING HORSES

EST. 1988

​

John Garland was born and raised in Northern Territory (Outback) Australia, on his Parent's owned and operated cattle stations and horse training complex. John's Father, Gordon Garland, was a well accomplished horse trainer, PRCA Rodeo Judge, and head of the Cattlemen's Association for 15 years. His Mother, Patricia Garland, was a registered nurse, but worked side by side with Gordon to build their estates. John and his 5 older brothers and 3 older sisters were all in the cattle and horse training business.

​

In his late teen years John spent 5 years competing on the PRCA Rodeo Circuit with his brothers as a saddle bronc rider and bull rider, after this his dedication was to the horse training business.

​

In 1988 he established Southern Cross Cutting Horses and started showing competitively as a non pro in the cutting horse industry. In 1994 John turned professional trainer and in his first year won the Kooralbyn Cutting Futurity. He has had the privilege to train, show, and win at an assortment of disciplines including: western pleasure, trail, reining, halter, working cow horse, rope horses, and cutting with a great amount of success through the years.

​

In 1995 John was offered a position lecturing at the Northern Territory Agriculture University, while he was there he completed his teaching degree and during the next 5 years he had the privilege to teach and place hundreds of students back into the rural industry. While at the University John continued to train and show for the public and was head coach of the University show team.

​

In 2001, John was offered a trainers job at the Ward Training Center in California. His duties there were to help John Ward's program by training and showing cutters, cow horses and ropers. After one year, Ward Training Center offered John the opportunity to move to Muenster, Texas and take over the management and training operation of McGrew Ranch, which consists of a 2,000 acre horse and cattle facility. While at McGrew Ranch John completed his Bachelor's Degree in Agriculture Science Management here in the U.S.

​

At a cutting in Minnesota, John met his wife Kristina and together have three children (Deklan, Kaidyn and Danika). Kristina, already an accomplished horse person, has worked beside John to promote and deliver a successful training program for all their clients.

The Garland family has moved to their own 220 acre ranch in Southern Oklahoma, where they continue to train for the public as Southern Cross Cuttting Horses and precondition cattle for the feed yards in Texas. Thus, having an endless supply of cattle to train cutters and working cowhorses on.

​

Hope this gives you a better understanding of Southern Cross Cutting Horses and the background, knowledge and experience that comes with it.