For those of you who show in the NRCHA boxing class and/or the Box Drive class, the scorecard in 2026 is going to look a bit different. The Judge’s committee improved the scorecard to make it easier for the judges to separate works more effectively while accurately documenting what happened in the run. All of the definitions below are for both classes but there are now 7 run content boxes for the boxing scorecard. I will use Bill Enk’s (the NRCHA Director of Judges) explanations, as no one could say it any better.
Approach. Is the exhibitor in the proper position to have immediate influence on the cow when it enters the arena? Does the rider read the cow properly when stepping up to the animal? Is it a smooth, calculated approach?
Position. Does the exhibitor find and stay in a position to control the animal throughout the work? If the exhibitor is in and out of position throughout the work, what’s the fair mark for the position box? If it is not all poor, nor, all good, the score should reflect this and be somewhere in the middle.
From and Correctness. Boxing the animal correctly should show rate, stop and turn, in that order. Exhibiting correctness and good form is the most effective way to work and control a cow. Doing a fence-type turn in the boxing class is not a positive due to the usual rolling up on the cow during the turn. This type of turn makes the exhibitor progressively late during the exit.
Control. Control is the ultimate objective when attempting to work a cow. Being able to control an animal that exhibits some degree of difficulty in the middle half of the arena demonstrates control and should be viewed positively.
Degree of Difficulty. The degree of difficulty must come from the animal itself, not from the exhibitor who’s out of or losing position causing the animal to run. It’s important to recognize the difference and score accordingly. Positive scores come from exhibitors who can control a cow that exhibits a degree of difficulty.
Eye Appeal. This is the one strictly opinion box on the scorecard. Judges can use this box to advantage when attempting to place and separate horses. Excessively pinned ears or tail switching could be negatives, whereas a horse that’s enthusiastic and acts like he likes his job could be a positive. It’s all in the eyes of the beholder.
Time Worked. This is basically an exhibitor time-management box. How much of the 50 seconds does the exhibitor actually work the cow? It starts from the time the animal enters the arena. How long does it take to assume working position? Is the time spent working the cow quality time, or is it just spent standing or chasing the animal back and forth? The “Courage” box was replaced with “Time Worked.” This change was based on some exhibitors’ incorrect interpretation of courage. Continuous activity without setting up the cow and working it with form and correctness doesn’t demonstrate courage in the boxing class.
Buster Welch, a cutting horse legend, summed it up this way: “Don’t mistake activity for achievement.” Form and correctness, along with control and time worked, are all keys to credit-earning runs. Even with a lesser degree, these three ingredients beat speed with little or no form and correctness.
For more info visit NRCHA.com to familiarize yourself with the 2026 scorecards. The definitions go for the box-drive class as well.
Here’ a wonderful video of Tule Dowers showing us what a great boxing run looks like:
Our horse is a self-reflecting feedback system. It responds to what we are feeling and who we are being, more than just what we are thinking or doing. Our horse is always a reflection of our present state: not always instantly, but always reliably.
A month or so ago, I wrote an article on why softening your horse is important, then I did one on which side is stiff and which is hollow. Continuing on with that thread, today my article is a few general rules on how horses learn to get soft and why and of course how to keep them that way!
It’s a well-known fact that horses learn from the release of pressure not the application of it. But what does that really mean? Let’s take stopping. If we pull on the reins, eventually the horse stops. It may be the pulling that gets them stopped, but it’s the release of that pressure that teaches them to stop. More important, the release is what makes them want to stop. If we don’t release when they do stop and allow them to relax and recover, we don’t create the desire in them to want to it. A horse that wants to stop can then easily be taught the next lesson… how we want them to stop.
If on the other hand there is no release, then a horse gets resistant and defensive. It hurts and they don’t see a way to please us. When that horse hears you say “whoa” he braces for the immediate and continuous discomfort instead of knowing that as soon as he stops, the pressure will immediately cease, and he can relax and even get a pat and a rest.
With no release, they either give up, get hard mouthed, try to anticipate maneuvers, brace or get hollow and stiff. But when the release is immediate, they learn to crave and offer it. This principle goes across everything we do with our horse. They don’t learn to move away from your leg because you’re kicking them with it, but rather when they do move away, you release your leg.
As your timing gets better, you’ll find yourself releasing when you first feel them think to stop. That’s why some people can get results from a horse more quickly than others. And with consistency, feel and the release principle, you will feel your horse getting softer. All “softer” means is that your horse is more responsive (not to be confused with reactive) to very subtle cues and stays relaxed through his body, yielding willingly to the riders almost imperceptible movements.
We keep them soft by always staying present and in tune with what we’re asking, how we’re asking for it, and how it’s being responded to. Always starting with the softest request and incrementally increasing it until we feel the response, followed by an immediate release. If we go past their correct response with increasing force, things go the other way and our horses start getting dull, heavy and unresponsive. Soon, it takes a mighty pull to cease motion instead of a small deepening shift in our seat with a soft feel of the reins.
Gerald O’Brien, an Aussie liberty trainer, once told me first you have to get a horse to willingly comply with your request (ie crave doing that maneuver). Only then can you show him how you want it done. When they consistently offer that, then you get to increase the speed. That might be some of the wisest words I’ve heard.
Lameness. A dreaded word. Uttering it means that your horse may be out of commission. Determining the cause can be challenging, delaying treatment. Here are four keys to proactive care and communication with your veterinarian can help keep lameness from sidelining your horse and ruining your ride.
1. Commit to regular soundness exams
Prevention is the best treatment. While there’s no foolproof way to stop lameness from happening, there are ways to reduce its effects. Veterinarians agree that regular soundness exams are one of the best ways to catch problems before they’ve negatively impacted your horse. “Bringing the horse in twice a year for a lameness exam is what you can do that will undoubtedly prolong this horse’s athletic life. We can detect arthritis early and come up with a rational plan,” Dr. Allen said.
During a soundness examination, your veterinarian may:
Observe your horse walking, trotting and cantering
Examine your horse’s back, neck and joints
Complete a nerve block by using local anesthetic to temporarily desensitize certain areas of the limb to help identify potential issues
Complete X-rays, possibly sharing hoof images with your farrier to help ensure ongoing proper shoeing
By establishing your horse’s “normal,” you and your veterinarian will be able to identify potential issues earlier. This is especially important because lameness may not always be obvious. In early stages, subtle changes in gait, performance or willingness to work may be the only indication.
2. Keep your veterinarian in the know
Because early signs of lameness can be difficult to spot, it’s smart to consider your veterinarian as your first source of lameness information. Similarly, your veterinarian relies on you for information. So be sure to share observations about how your horse is moving, after all, you know your horse better than anyone else. Take note of any changes in gait as the more time-based information you can give the better.
3. Agree to diagnostics, especially for DJD
Speaking of diagnosis, communication becomes even more important if you suspect your horse is dealing with a lameness issue. When your horse is being evaluated for lameness, your veterinarian will ask you a number of questions ranging from your horse’s routine exercise to diet and supplement use to changes in housing to other therapies your horse is receiving. Your veterinarian will also ask you to describe any past lameness your horse has experienced. All this information is critical to supporting the diagnostic procedures, which may include radiographs, nerve blocks, ultrasound and more, depending on the suspected issue.
Degenerative joint disease (DJD), also called arthritis, is often to blame for lameness. In fact, DJD causes up to 60 percent of lameness in horses. DJD is characterized by progressive deterioration of articular cartilage, along with changes in the bone and soft tissues of the joint. If left untreated, DJD continues to get worse. Diagnosing DJD allows you and your veterinarian to begin treatment early, because once cartilage wears away completely, it cannot be restored.
4. Know product differences
To help overcome lameness and get your horse moving again, veterinarians will recommend a treatment plan tailored to the location, severity and cause of the lameness, plus your horse’s type and level of work. When DJD is diagnosed as the cause, using therapies to both reduce the symptoms (lameness) and slow disease progression is ideal.
Successfully managing DJD may require a combination of therapies, such as FDA-approved drugs, complementary modalities and biologics. The many joint therapies vary widely in effectiveness, safety and cost, so it’s important to talk with your veterinarian about the differences. Working together to choose what’s right for your horse can make a real difference in long-term health.
My wonderful friend Shannon Pigott just wrote an article on Pressure isn’t the Problem, it’s the Amplifier. I liked it so much I asked her for permission to reprint it for all of you. Here it is!
Left to right: Sandy Collier, Barbra Schulte, Kathy Daughn, and Shannon Pigott
“Dear pressure, I’m learning to love you!
There was a time when I thought pressure was the problem.
I’d show up prepared. I had done the work. My horse was ready. But when the stakes got high and the judge was watching or people were lined up at the rail, I would freeze. My body hesitated to respond the way it had in practice. I felt disconnected from my horse, from my plan, and honestly, from myself.
That kind of pressure used to leave me frustrated and discouraged. I thought something was wrong with me. I thought I lacked grit or mental toughness or whatever it was that other riders seemed to have when they walked in with confidence.
But I’ve learned something that changed everything. Pressure isn’t the problem, it’s the amplifier.
It turns up whatever doubt is already inside of you. If you bring fear into the pen, pressure makes it louder. If you bring doubt, pressure turns it into hesitation. But if you walk in with focus and a clear plan, pressure will sharpen your performance. Now I treat pressure like a tool. It is something I am learning how to use, not something to avoid.
Here’s one of the biggest mindset shifts that helped me.
I’ve done harder things than this.
I’ve walked through real challenges. Physical ones. Emotional ones. Life has thrown tougher things at me than a reining pattern or a fence run. Reminding myself of that gives me something to anchor to when the pressure hits. It helps me stay calm. It helps me breathe. And most importantly, it helps me execute.
I’m not perfect at it. Pressure still shows up. But now, instead of fearing it, I’m learning to ride with it. I’m learning to let it sharpen my senses instead of cloud them. I’m learning to trust myself more than I doubt.
