Our first cow clinic!

bit · Our first cow clinic!

It sure puts purpose into practice! If I had to move the front end over to block a cow, there was no rear end coming too. I just did it, and Eclipse understood that's what we were doing, and she was right there with me. After Eclipse got locked onto the cow, she took over and did it all! Remember Close Encounter's of the Third Kind? When the guy was playing the computer piano, Bo, Bo, Boo, Bum, BOOOO? After a little bit, the aliens or computer just took over and it all happened so fast the guy took his hands off the keys and just started laughing. That's what it's like! You just hold on, and try not to pee your pants! Eclipse's ears were pinned and she went after the damn cow like her tail was on fire. This, from a horse who finds going fast a worrysome thang. I LOVE IT! It's the most fun I've ever had on a horse!

PasoBaby_CarolU

Looks like the "cow" came out in Eclipse just fine. Look at those ears! Awesome.

Now you know why I say that there isn't anything funner then cutting cows.

barnelda

WOO HOO that looks like so much fun!!! Glad you and Eclipse had a great time

bit

Have an invite to go help move cows (they really need moving, so real ranch work) down towards Wichita next week. I'd have to ride Bit, and haven't ridden her in two or three years? Chiro said her back was good to go, but have been enjoying my gaited girl, with no desire to go back to a trotting horse. Bit has the most lovely little jig trot, so it's real comfortable. The man we are helping rode with Ray Hunt, and is willing to help me with any "issues" Bit may have. I'd have to bring Shaun because he has no horse to hang with at home, and he'd have to hang out in a corral while we move horses.

Looks like I'm going! Shaun is going to hang out with some other horses, and Bit and I will be tracking and moving cows!

ElaineW

How Fun!
Deb Thanks for sharing the photo's! They are great,
That does look like alot of fun!

Chablis

Great photos! Do you have any more?

I went to a cow camp last January and had a blast. The horses sure can be 'electric' when you give them a job to do. I don't mean 'electric' in a bad way, I just had to think what I wanted and Minx was right there. Was very, very glad I had a western saddle on her as she was backing, turning and leaping forward with the best of them.

I didn't like being near the bull though - he was bigger than Minx and I combined!

CoolsLadyInRed

What a description of riding!

It looks like ya had a fantastic time! The pix are great. Hanging on tight and goin' for the ride

Just cool!!!!!!!

jackspark

FUN...... looks like you had a blast!

bit

We were mirroring each other, one was the cow (me) and the other was trying to keep the "cow" from rejoining the herd in the middle. Eclipse was REALLY trying to get back to the horses in the middle. It really brought out the herd sour equine in her! Part of it I had just tied Eclipse's lead rope to make reins and she worked even better off that. I think cows should be in every clinic. Nothing like a cow to get a horse WITH the rider and get some serious work done.

stella

Enjoyed your pictures. Your horse has great hocks! I love it when they love whatever we're doing, too.

thelmanelle

Deb,
Y'all looked great. Loved the pics and information.

PasoBaby_CarolU

becdubie

Deb...looks like a blast. You just have a way of "going for it" whatever it is you want to try next. Good for you!

And for what it's worth....I bet you and Bit were the most comfortable pair there in your nice cushy saddle.

Copious_Amour

Love those ears on her!

bit

Eclipse is in S. Missouri with Tony and Jenny Vought for a brake job and complete overhaul. She's never had formal training and although I discovered her "impulsion button", she had no brakes. None. Nada. I don't mind working with the horse, but when I'm trying to learn, it's harder with a horse that isn't really trained. Hawk came back from his colt start very angry, and I wanted him to have another chance to embrace riding as something good. He used to love it.
Tony and Jenny's horses LOVE them. Their horses get the softest look in their eyes when they are with them, and they love what they do. Tony and Jenny are ex Parelli pro's, and put a lot of time and effort in helping the horse. Hoping Hawk comes home in two mos with a little more "finish" to him, and Eclipse is a more finished lil mft. Both will be working with cows and learning with some purpose to all that play.
So yes, that leaves Ms. Bit and Shaun at home, and wondering where the hell the other horses are. Bit never really liked Shaun that much, so it's giving them a good opportunity to bond up and make peace. Which, they have! If I'm going to get back on Bit, two full days of following cows with good riders and good horses seems to be a good way to do it. Lots of saddle time with purpose. I have gloves that fit her, so she is good to go if footing is rocky. I'll try to take lots of pictures!

PasoBaby_CarolU

Cool. I've heard of Tony and Jenny. I hope it works out for both horses. And I hope Bit is thoroughly healed and ready to go back to work. I know what a pain that can be, spending most of the summer with Rosie recovering from her neck/shoulder injury.

I think working cows is one of the best things you can do with a horse. We used to bring cows in off the winter range and then separate the cow/calf pairs and brand, vaccinate, and dehorn (ouch), 3-4 10-14 hour days. But it certainly took the 'winter' off the horses and got them ready for the summer riding. I think two things happen, both the horse and the human focus on moving the cows. Makes better horses/riders out each.

We have found playing soccer does a lot the same thing with new riders. If they focus on playing and moving the ball and less on their riding, they become better at riding in the process.

bit

Just got in from riding Bit, and she was amazing. Soft, collected, WITH me and nary a spook. I think she's been waiting for me this whole time. "When you know better, you do better". Mya Angelou
edited to add: Just bought Bit some easy boots. They fit really well, and her gait doesn't change when she wears them. Now her tootsies will be nice and comfy on the trail.

HopeMissouri

If Deb can do it...I can do it! I rode in Jenny and Tony Vaught's cow clinic yesterday, on my friend Susan's foxtrotter mare Sage. What fun!

Only scary moment was moving the pregnant cows through the back pasture ... then, they turned on us, and came back at us. Holy smoke! We lived! Had a great time!

bit

lol, those cows we sorted couldn't wait to get away from the udder suckng vampiric mini me's! I sat there and wondered what bulls would do. I didn't want to know. David had an arabian stallion that would take a bull down, climb on top of him and procede to take chunks out. Very smart horse, and the bull ran screaming for his life. I like moving the girls when they are in a good mooooood.

PasoBaby_CarolU

I had a bull turn on my heeler once. He got her down and I thought it was the end of her. NOPE. He came up with her attached to his nose, bellering and hollering, tossing his head. She finally let go. He never turned on her again.

Most bulls will move from horses fine. Every once in a while you get one that doesn't, and charges you. They earn a quick trip to the slaughter house. That's where bologne comes from.

About mid-summer we put the bulls in with the cows. We'd move them down the lane and then take one at a time out to a cow/calf range. The other bulls were left in the lane. A man left his truck in the lane while we moved a bull out. Bad choice. We came back and his front bumper was off, both mirrors were down, and he had dents all over the truck.

Once our bull and our neighbor's bulls were both in their respective winter pastures. There was a dirt road between the fences, but it didn't stop the two from challenging each other. They each dug about 3' deep 30' long trenches trying to bully the other away. Since they never could go head to head, neither could stop the other, so they both made huge messes.

Bulls are their own characters...

bit

A good bull makes a great prime rib.

Chablis

Need more piccies, Bit and some piccies from your clinic, HopeMissouri.

Pretty please.

HopeMissouri

My view of the cow clinic, Sunday 10/23.