How to Compete in a Working Cow Horse Event

Working cow horse combines the thrill of cutting with the finesse of reining.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Cowboy Hats
• Jeans
• Long-sleeved Shirts
• Western Saddles
• Back Cinch
• Bridles
• Saddle Pads

1. Get a working cow horse. Riders usually select quarter horses as their mounts, but Morgans, paints, Appaloosas and Arabians can also be used.

2. Select a working cow horse that's between 14.2 and 15.1 hands for optimal performance.

3. Know that there are three events in the reined (working) cow horse events: reining, herd work and fence work.

4. Begin by working a cow in the herd work. Quietly walk into a herd and move one cow out, and work that cow side to side, preventing it from getting back into the herd. During the 2 1/2 minutes you can work as many as three cows, one at a time, showing your ability to control the cow.

5. Run a reining pattern that includes loping big fast circles and small slow circles on each lead, rundowns with sliding stops, spins to each direction, lead changes in each direction and backing.

6. Do fence work. With only one cow, demonstrate your ability to control the cow on the short end of the arena from side to side. Allow the cow to run down the long side of the arena against the fence. Pass the cow, cut it off and turn it around. Make the cow run back down the fence in the opposite direction. Pass and cut off the cow once more. Allow the cow to move into the center of the arena and move it in a small circle in one direction and then the other.

Tips & Warnings

• The work down the fence is done at a gallop.
• Having a very well-trained horse is imperative.
• Find a trainer or instructor to work with you and show you how to do all these things properly
• The fence work is fast and dangerous. Riders and horses have fallen over while chasing cattle.

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[wklopp]

on 9/18/2008 Doug Williamson is the top cutting and working cow horse trainer in California (possibly the country) in my opinion. He trained three horses for us and the horses can do it all. Check out his website at http://www.championcowhorses.com and call them they are awesome.

[catire78]

on 9/10/2007 Who the best horse for tean penning?
1-cutting horse
2-working cow horse

on 3/30/2006 When circling the cow, stay at the shoulder of the cow. You should not be chasing him from behind, or riding at the hip. Keep your horse's hip shifted in toward the cow while circling to help your horse maintain his balance.