Standardbred Spotlight
Cutting Edge

Foaled : April 4, 1992
Sire: Leading Edge Dam: Marbaya N - Smooth Fella
Trained & Previously Owned By:
James A Campbell
Lifetime Earnings : $115,752.

Photos by : Alan Mattison
Cutting Edge paced his first race at three and a half years old. He won his first race at four years of age.
Lifetime Mark : 1:54 at 5 years old!
Final Race: November 22, 2004

2005 SPHO-ME Ambassador Program

By Denise Metayer

Technology is a wonderful thing. Sometimes we think of it as being just another nuisance in our lives, just another "to do" on our lists. This time it worked for a dear soul's benefit.
I received an e-mail from Jim Campbell in early March. He wanted to know about our Ambassador Program. He had decided it was time for his 13 year-old pacer Cutting Edge, "Cutter" as we call him, to retire. Jim explained, Cutter is a gentle, kind horse, loves attention, and actually craves it. He is easy to work around, trailers well and stands well for the veterinarian and farrier. All these things made me want to find out more about this wonderful horse. Cutter's description seemed to meet the program's requirements.
I made some phone calls and discussed Cutter with other members of SPHO-ME. I would have to meet Cutter to determine if he met all the requirements of our program.
I hooked up the trailer, added hay and brought some extra grain just in case it was needed. The whole time, I was nervous and yet excited to see this wonderful horse I had heard so much about. With directions in hand and cell phone numbers exchanged, Greg Cuffey, my husband Guy and I headed south.
We arrived on a cool March day in Pepperell, MA. The horses were all being turned out for their morning stretch in their paddocks. Bucks and kicks were seen from horses happy to have warm sun on their backs.
Jim met us at the barn. We met Cutter in his stall. With his blanket on I couldn't get a good look at him, so I asked if he could be turned out. Jim obliged us by bringing Cutter out into the paddock to let him stretch. "Wow", I said, as I saw him move. He arched his tail over his back in a way most Arabian horses do when they are excited. He strutted across the paddock then trotted. This trot is one you want to burn into your mind and try to reproduce under saddle some day. He held his head high and arched his neck as he stopped to look at the other horses. Cutting Edge is a beautiful moving Standardbred. Jim called him over to the gate. Jim always teaches his horses to come to him and stop, so he could lead them out. Cutter had learned this lesson well. Greg asked if we could hook Cutter to a cart and drive him. Jim explained that Cutter had been out of training since last Fall, but he saw no reason why he couldn't give it a try. Standing between the crossties and tacked up, Cutter stood like the professional that he is. He stood quietly as the harness and boots were added. Outside, we attached a race bike. Greg put on his helmet and didn't bat an eye as he climbed onto the driver's seat. There were other horses on the track this cool March day starting to get into shape for the upcoming season. Cutter had been watching them from his paddock. He knew it was Spring! You could see in his eye he knew his job and knew it well. Jim said that Cutter still had it in him, and this could be interesting.

Greg took Cutter out onto the track. All the while, Cutter was behaving well. Greg asked him to trot, and Cutter obliged with a quick
but very controllable trot. A little dark bay mare already on the track trotted by him quickly. You could tell Cutter wanted to go. With a tug on the reins Cutter was back to the slower trot that Greg had requested.

Jim wanted Cutter to find that perfect retirement home where
Cutter could live out the rest of his life as a pleasure horse.



Through the Ambassador Program, SPHO-ME will help him do just that.Jim put on his blanket to help him stay warm as he was a bit sweaty from his short trot around the track. It was time to load Cutter in the trailer. One of Jim's friends asked if he wanted to remove his blanket before he left. I remember his next words clearly, "He earned the money that paid for it, so he can keep it!" With that Jim took Cutter off the cross-ties and over to the trailer. He loaded him on and said his goodbyes. As he walked back to the barn, I said my thank-yous and saw a tear in the corner of his eye. This horse had already been well loved, so loved that he was given another chance to share his love with other lucky humans.
Cutter trailered like a pro'. We stopped for gas on the three-hour journey home, and you would have never known there was a horse in the trailer. When we arrived at Cutter's temporary home, Guy off-loaded Cutter without incident. He walked up the hill to his new snow-covered pasture with run-in shed without hesitation. He did need a little instruction on how to walk through snow. You see in Maine we still had a deep snow, and there was too much snow in the pasture for the horse to walk through. Greg had generously snowblowed Cutter's paddock, so Cutter had room to walk around.
Since Cutter's arrival, Jim Campbell has been in touch with us many times, getting updates to be sure that Cutter is doing well.
Each progress report has been positive.
Cutter has proven to have a respectful, loving personality, the one that Jim fell in love with while working with his horse. Cutter has a gentle soul and loves to be around people. He adores children who scratch his coat. He doesn't like it when they stop. He will usually follow anyone who gives him a good massage!

After a few months of down time, Cutter has started some short training sessions. He has been trailered to an indoor arena where he walks, trots and whoas on a line and takes in the surroundings. This too was uneventful. Greg has ground driven Cutter, and he did what was asked of him stopping quietly and walking through water.Cutter is on his way to becoming a very complete pleasure horse for his next human, whomever he may choose to be blessed next with his presence!

Success is such a wonderful thing!
Cutter is another Ambassador Horse success. He has proven the breed's versatility once again. Cutter has also chosen his very own human as you will see in the rest of the story.

Cutter trained throughout the spring and summer. He was such a good sport and easy to handle, so things went quickly. Greg has thoroughly enjoyed having Cutter at his home during this time. You can see how easy it is to fall in love with Cutter's giving spirit.
Cutter and Greg have had many great adventures together. Among them was a trip to Memory Lane Vacations in Andover, ME for a trail ride. Over a three day period Cutter and Greg covered about twenty miles. Cutter passed through water and rough terrain, never refusing to do whatever he was asked. It was a "memory" to be remembered for a very long time.

Another great adventure was a ride to Greg's sisters house. While this doesnt sound that extraordinary , the part to think about was traveling through downtown Gorham to get there. Cutter traveled with cars, pausing at red lights with cars around him, and all this without thinking twice about what he was being told to do. This intersection happens to be one of the busiest in Cumberland County.

Cutter is also very good about bright lights on cars, as Greg discovered when he went for a ride down the road and the sun set sooner than expected. That happens sometimes when you are having such a great relaxing ride on a great horse. Cars passed from each direction Cutter continued not effected in any way.

SPHO-ME participated in the Willowbrook Museum open house. Cutter of course was the perfect example of what a Standardbred can be after the track. Many other members and Standardbreds attended. Cutter's new owner was there and got to finally sit on his very own horse. Cutter seemed to understand this person was his very own. How patient and willing he was with his new owner.