Tips for beginning Cow work

Written By Miranda Jones

 Beginning Cow work with your horse is a fun and exciting. These are very exhilarating events to compete in. There are a few foundational practices that will ensure you get started on the right foot and avoid building bad habits.

Tip #1: Go Straight, Stop Straight, Back Straight.

      Before you work a cow you and your horse need to be able to go in a straight line forward, stop square (without swinging hips out or dropping shoulders), back up in a straight line, make a 180 turn.

This sounds pretty this sounds pretty basic. But your horse should do this on his own…. without you holding him there. Getting your horse really good at these three things will help him be able to get into the most athletic and powerful position for a turn with the cow.

Make sure there is a pause, and your hand goes down between each maneuver. Otherwise you are going to end up being waaaaayyyy to handsy when you get on a cow. Which will take his attention off the cow and put it on to you.

If you are struggling to improve your straight go, stop and back, then make sure that there is a separation in your queues. In between each maneuver, put your hand down. Ask your horse to go, hand down. Ask your horse to stop, then put your hand down. Ask your horse to back up, then put your hand down.

Tip #2: Stay In Time With The Cow.

You and your horse should be moving as fast as the cow moves, when he moves. When the cow is slow, go slow. When the cow is fast, go fast. When the cows feet are stopped, your horse’s should not be moving. Watch your cows feet. That will tell you the speed of the cow.

In the cow work your horse will need to be able to control the cow and stay in a good position to control the cow. This has everything to do with good timing. If you are 1/2 a second late, that could be the difference between losing your cow and controlling it.

You want to think about anticipating each of the cows turns and speeds, but not moving before the cow Actually moves.

Tip #3: Look, Lift, Turn.

This has everything to do with keeping yourself in the right position and balanced in the saddle so that your horse can do his job. You want to make sure that you are not leaning into the turn. Move your shoulders and hips in a way that's going to signal to your horse where the cow is going so that you don't have to use your hands. Always have your eyes glued to the cow. Then slightly, lift the cow side shoulder when you make a turn. This will keep you from dipping and leaning into the turn.

Tip #4: Hands Down.

     Like I mentioned in the first tip, you want to handle your horse the least amount possible. The best way to remind yourself and get into a habit of doing this it's too constantly tell yourself it's “hand down”. I even have some of my clients who have a hard time building this habit grab a piece of the mane with their pinky. It reminds them not to let their hand rise.

Every time you give a cue, make it happen in a step or two then hand down. Practice, without a cow, being able to ride your horse anywhere and everywhere without your hands and still being able to control him.

Tip #5: Eyes. Body. Legs. Hands.

        This is the order of the cues you should be using to communicate with your horse. You want to have your eyes glued onto your cow, signaling to your horse what you are focused on. Then you want to use your body (shoulders and seat) to give direction and let your know horse what speed he should be going with the cow. Use your legs to reinforce direction and speed If needed. Finally, use your hands to guide and correct. Only if necessary.

When you do guide or correct, the correction or guidance should be given within a stride. Then put your hand right back down (as if I haven’t said that enough in this post) so your horse can focus on the cow.

Bonus Tip #6: Keep learning and growing.

Cow work is always a work in progress. It helps when you have a horse that already knows what to do. Then your horse will work to put its self in the right position even if you are a bit out of time with the cow. Cow’s also haven’t read this blog post, or any rule book, so they will throw you curve balls and break the rules. To help you learn a bit more about reading your cow, what good position is, and more take a look at my beginner cow work guidebook. It covers all the principles that I go over in my “Cow work Basics” clinic. Click the button below to learn more.