Like Mother, Like Son: Andrew Sherrerd and Gar Steel Win AQHA Junior Cutting World Title

Andrew Sherrerd of Wayne, Oklahoma, had a full circle moment at the 2026 AQHA World Championship Show in Oklahoma City. On Oct. 31, the NCHA $1 million rider marked a 223 aboard Gar Steel (Metallic Cat x C Spot Betty) to win the AQHA Level 3 Junior Cutting world title. Five years earlier, he won the Level 3 Senior Cutting on the gelding’s dam, making this a full circle moment.

The Gardiner family owns the 2022 gelding, who earned $8,690.40 with the win. Sherrerd also had two other horses in the finals. He finished seventh on Von Step Closer (Stevie Rey Von x Scoot A Lil Closer) and 15th on Gar Tuff Love (Woody Be Tuff x C Spot Betty), a 2021 mare and half sibling to Gar Steel.

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2026 AQHA World Championship Show

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Overcoming a Deep Draw

Sherrerd and Gar Steel were the last pair to work in the finals.

“The cattle were pretty tough,” Sherrerd said. “I’ve had a run of bad luck drawing real deep in the lineup, but he always kind of seems to come through. I just tried not to let the draw bother me, and we ended up getting three good cows cut.”

Gar Steel has been consistent through his young career. In 2025, he was a semifinalist in the NCHA Futurity Open and a finalist in the Intermediate Open. This year, he was a finalist in the Breeders Invitational 4-Year-Old Open and the NCHA Summer Spectacular 4-Year-Old Intermediate Open.

“He’s not a very big horse, but he tries every time he’s showing,” Sherrerd said. “If you set him up in a situation to succeed, he’ll do just fine.”

Sherrerd spent the time between his rides helping turn back for other riders. Gar Steel closed out the finals, but Sherrerd still held off on celebrating until the results were official.

“Everybody’s telling you, ‘Oh, congratulations,’” Sherrerd said. “I’m like, ‘Well, let’s wait to see.’ They’re like, ‘Oh no, for sure.’ It’s always nice when you hear it from the announcer.”

Like Mother, Like Son

For Sherrerd, this win had extra meaning. He won the Level 3 Senior Cutting aboard C Spot Betty at the 2021 AQHA World Show, and the mare earned more than $100,000 in her career, according to QData.

“His mama was a great horse,” Sherrerd said. “She just tried very, very hard and was always giving her all. She’s always been one of my favorites.”

This year, both of C Spot Betty’s foals made the Level 3 Junior Cutting finals. Gar Tuff Love, the older of the two, had a shot at the title before her younger half brother.

“The oldest one’s 5, and I made the finals on her, but cut a bad cow and lost it,” Sherrerd explained.

Gar Steel made the most of Sherrerd’s second chance. His win gave Sherrerd a goal he’d been chasing since 2021.

“I wanted to win the world on one of her colts,” Sherrerd said. “This is just her second one. … So that was pretty special.”

L3 Junior Cutting

2026 AQHA World Championship Show