OCALA, FL (352today.com) – The family that rides together, stays together.
Anthony-based 3G Ranch’s Grant, Ginger and Georgia Hoffman made their presence felt last week at the Florida Horse Cutting Association’s Winter Circuit at the Florida Horse Park.
Both Ginger and Georgia competed, with Grant playing an important role on the ground, Ginger in the non-pro and unlimited amateur classes and Georgia in the youth classes.
Cutting horses continue to play a large role in Hoffmans lives, but they’ve recently changed their focus as Georgia is now involved with high school rodeo. Georgia, who has enjoyed great success at Youth Worlds in cutting on the national stage, has been putting in a lot of work and practice as she transitions to her new discipline.
“Her goal is to eventually do all-around high school rodeo,” said Ginger. “We’re doing barrel lessons and pole bending lessons and breakaway roping lessons. She’s still cutting at the high school rodeos. We’re still immersed with the horses, but maybe not as much with the cutting.”
Georgia, who is 14, is homeschooled, balancing her chores at the barn with taking classes through the Florida Virtual School.
“When I was little my mother wanted me to become involved with horses, but she didn’t want to force it on me,” said Georgia, who began by trail riding with her mother. “She wanted it to be something that I would enjoy, and I really did like it.”
A special gift would transform the Hoffmans’ lives forever. A birthday surprise from Grant to Ginger found the family flying out to Texas for The Futurity. The Hoffmans had never been to a cutting, and The Futurity is the biggest event on the National Cutting Horse Association calendar.
“When we went out to The Futurity with my dad for [Ginger’s] birthday,” said Georgia. “My mother wanted to get into the discipline and I joined her.”
Georgia embraced the sport and had a natural aptitude, winning the Junior Youth World Finals in 2024, in Fort Worth, Texas, when she was 12 years old.
The transition to high school rodeo from cutting has had its challenges but has been a lot of fun, said Georgia.
“I love learning new things and becoming involved with rodeo provided me with an opportunity to learn a new discipline,” said Georgia, as she wanted to take on a new challenge after her success in the cutting world.
Smart Bobby Rey, Georgia’s quarter horse, got a break after World Finals, and although he’s now 17, he still competes on occasion. Georgia is actually roping off of the veteran campaigner, who seems right at home, and he still competes in the high school rodeo cutting classes.
Grant accompanied his wife and daughter to the show and was cheering on the other riders competing in Georgia’s class.
“We get up every morning and get chores done, with a barn full of horses to feed and stalls clean, then it’s time for school, and then continuing to go forward with riding and evolving as horsemen.” said Ginger. “I could not be more proud of her (Georgia). It was always my hope that she would enjoy something that I enjoy. Being around horses teaches us so many life lessons.”