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Horse and rider stand poised in the middle of the pen, slightly out of breath from finishing their quick spins and powerful sliding stops in the reining pattern. Two sets of eyes and ears are now locked on the far end of the arena and a gate slowly opens...
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A single black heifer pops out. She stops short when she sees the pair’s attention trained on her. The horse approaches - cautious, ready for a move in any direction. The cow hesitates, looks - then breaks left!
You’re spellbound as the horse blocks the cow's path first left, then right, then left again, driving the heifer back to the end of the arena. Now they’re easing through the corner and headed down the long wall, building into a dead run. You gasp as the horse nudges ahead and folds its body around the front of the cow, forcing it into a dirt-moving stop. The cow leaps back the way it came, the horse drives powerfully up out of the turn - and in an instant is right where it needs to be to drive the cow back down the wall and into another breath-taking turn. Deftly horse and rider then guide the cow to the center of the arena. They tighten the galloping heifer into a left circle, drop back, and surge forward on the opposite side to finish the figure eight.
The crowd is on their feet cheering, the judge’s whistle blows, and the flushed rider’s grin is visible across the arena. You think to yourself, “I’ve got to try this!”
Welcome to the world of reined cow horse.
Few can deny the appeal of the event: the precision of the reining, the pure adrenaline of the fence work. But what’s involved in the sport? Is it really something you want to do? And if so, how can you get started? Multiple NRCHA and AQHA World Champion reined cow horse trainer and coach Benny Guitron, current President of the National Reined Cow Horse Association and a successful competitor in cow horse events for over three decades, has some helpful words of advice for the newcomer.
“The most important thing, as in any sport,” he says, “is to find out what is expected of you, what is required when you enter the pen. You can’t be successful until you know what it is you have to do when you show a cow horse.”
One of the first things to know is that it's a physically active sport; balance and coordination are required to stay with your horse through quick turns and exciting stops. A foundation of good horsemanship will enable you to have a safe and enjoyable experience.
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The rewards of participating? Benny points out the unique camaraderie and unity of the people who thoroughly enjoy the reined cow horse for what he is. There’s amazing satisfaction in watching a great run on a great horse, no matter who’s in the saddle. Harder to describe, he says, is the feeling of knowing you’re involved in something inherently ‘cowboy’, an event that evolved from an authentic job: working cattle with efficiency and style. The fact that it takes time and dedication to produce these great horses also contributes to the deep fulfillment gained from being a part of the vaquero tradition.
What about the costs? Before you jump right in, be aware of how it’s going to affect your pocketbook. The monetary costs - from purchasing a suitable horse to paying for cattle charges to getting the professional help you’ll need - can be significant. The equipment, including rawhide and/or leather romal reins, specialty bits and saddles suitable for working cattle, may be expensive initially. (Fortunately it is also renowned in the horse world for its longevity; with proper care your cow horse gear can last for decades. Learn more here.)
Another factor is the amount of time involved in learning and mastering this unique event. It may be awhile before you can expect to be a regular at the pay window - but you’ll be pleased when you do. As someone who has experienced the trends of the industry as it’s developed to this point, Benny is encouraged about the financial future of the reined cow horse industry and what it offers competitors. “Relatively speaking,” he states with satisfaction, “the cow horse payouts are above average when compared to an event like reining, and not just in the aged event or open divisions. I don’t think we’re too far off from seeing non pro bridle horses win $50,000 to $60,000 for the year, showing 8 to 12 times. I would call that pretty encouraging.”
So how should you get started? How can you minimize the costs, make the best use of your time, and maximize the rewards?
Benny Guitron, speaking candidly, can’t emphasize it enough: “Go get professional help. That’s really the best and only way to do it. If you want to save yourself time and money in the long run, do some research and find a professional in the industry to help you get where you want to go.”
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What about trying it on your own, just learning as you go? Benny compares that to learning tennis by hitting a tennis ball around: you’ll probably never gain an understanding of the rules and requirements of the game, and in the meantime you’ll be developing bad habits that will ultimately cost time and money to undo. He advises the newcomer, first and foremost, to seek out a professional for proper guidance.
Finding the right trainer or coach can be a process in itself. Look within the industry, since the people best qualified to teach an event are the ones that ride in it themselves. After that, make sure you’re not blinded by a stellar show record or a barn full of high profile horses in training. “Watch different trainers; see which ones work with Amateurs and Non Pros with some degree of success. Talk to them. It’s important to find one that’s a good teacher. Some trainers are good at showing, or training horses, but just don’t have good rapport with people… and vice versa. Find someone qualified to do the deal and be successful, but more importantly, someone you can learn from.” Check out the Trainers who have listed on DownTheFence.com. Benny also encourages calling the NRCHA office or visiting the AQHA web site to find reined cow horse professionals in your area.
One of the first things a good trainer will help you do is find the right horse for your foray into the cow horse show pen. While some people shy away from spending a substantial amount of money to get into an event they’ve never tried, Benny stresses purchasing a well trained, experienced reined cow horse, which will likely cost you $15,000 or more. It will also significantly increase your odds of having great showing experiences and keep you from getting too discouraged. He advises against trying to save money by purchasing a $7,500 “somewhat broke” horse which you’re apt to outgrow in six months and not be able to sell. A quality bridle horse trained the right way will retain its value for all of its using life.
“As this industry grows and more people are looking for bridle horses to start out on, what we’re finding is that we can’t make them fast enough – the demand is exceeding the supply. It takes time to get them to where they’ll take care of an Amateur rider, be able to keep them out of tough spots and really teach them something.” He asserts that by the time you have a “made” bridle horse to go learn and then win on, the $15,000 or so spent to buy him has simply purchased someone’s time (in training). At that point, he says with a chuckle, “The horse itself is free.”
How about just finding a horse with a background in cattle, perhaps in cutting or team penning, or recycling your reiner? Not a good idea, says Benny. He maintains that teaching both horse and rider to do the event at the same time just doesn’t work. The same thing for making cow horses out of animals not bred or built to do the job. “If I wanted to win the Kentucky Derby,” he states wryly, “I wouldn’t go buy a Belgian.”
Beyond purchasing the right horse, take advantage of the resources available both locally and nationally. Get involved in cow horse associations and help out by volunteering your time and talents to help them succeed – it can only result in more and better opportunities to show your new reined cow horse as well as a way to connect with other enthusiasts. Read the rule book… it’s ultimately your responsibility to know what will count as a credit situation or as a penalty. Click here to learn more about Scoring.
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And what about that first horse show? Which class should you enter? While breed associations typically offer only a few cow horse classes as part of their larger show schedule, most cow horse-specific shows include entry-level classes. The NRCHA’s Limited Non Pro Bridle class allows riders to get their feet wet by completing a reining pattern and then boxing a cow without going down the fence or circling up. The judge simply ends the run by whistling when the rider has demonstrated sufficient control in the boxing. This offers newcomers the chance to get a feel for the cow work without the pressure of making a high speed fence run. Competitors can compete in Limited Non Pro Bridle for as long as they’d like, provided they do not ‘go down the fence’ more than three times in another class. Benny observes that while some people prefer to stay in a boxing-only class for perhaps too long, the fence turns are what initially attracted them to the event and most look forward to the challenge of going down the fence. With the advent of the new NRCHA Bridle Horse Spectaculars in 2004, competitors no longer need an aged event (3 to 5 year old) horse to show out of the herd. Cow horse entrants now have more class division options than ever, with the benefit of actually being competitive in each division as they progress. See Class Divisions for more information.
Other good entry level classes offered by many local NRCHA and stock horse associations are the Rancher classes, typically a jackpot situation with modified rules, such as the option of showing in one hand or two. Classes like the $100 Limited Rancher, $1000 Limited Rancher and Open Rancher provide a way to show against others at a similar riding level with similar earnings. Contact your local association to find out if they offer Rancher classes.
You’ve found a great trainer to help guide you, a reliable horse to show you the ropes firsthand, and an understanding of the challenges before you. What’s left? Because you’ve prepared yourself well, riding reined cow horses is likely to become a life-long passion from your very first run. In the words of Benny Guitron, “Get bitten by the bug, and go have a large time!”
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About Benny Guitron
From Guitron Ranch in Merced, California, multiple World Champion Benny Guitron trains both horses and students in the art of traditional vaquero horsemanship. He currently serves as President of the NRCHA, the national governing body of the reined cow horse event, and has been intimately involved in the industry since the early 70's. His recent wins include the 2002 AQHA World Championship in Sr. Working Cow Horse and finalist finishes at major aged events. He also enjoys helping non pros to their successes, including student Gary Lynn Olsen, 2004 World Champion Amateur Working Cow Horse recipient aboard the Guitron-trained mount Justa Nutha Tucker. Benny's commitment to furthering understanding of the classic vaquero methods is also evident to participants of his "Ticket to Ride" Super Clinics - small, focused 5 day clinics at his ranch. See a schedule of upcoming clinics here or at www.BennyGuitron.com.
Photo by Suzanne Drnec
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Bonus: Do you have the skills to compete successfully in the reined cow horse arena? Check out the sport psychology article by competitor Dr. Irene Harris here.
Questions? Suggestions on future topics? Your feedback on DownTheFence.com articles and content is always appreciated.
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