I had a horse trainer friend who was training a horse, I think for the working cow horse class. Anyway, she needed to rent some calves and asked some of us if we wanted to go in with her.
I put a western saddle on my hunter/jumper/dressage horse (an off track Jet Deck grandson). He actually was pretty cowy and it was quite an experience. I can't imagine the kind of balance the rider nneeds to have to ride a "real" cutting horse. Nancy