Our Blog
Set Yourself Up for Success in the Show Pen
There is a big shift happening in the world of horse competition today. The old model of "I'm an uninformed amateur who's messing up my horse, and I'll never get it" is fading in the background. The days of 'there's only winning and losing' are becoming a thing of the...
Making Bad Cows Good Down the Fence Part Two
Position and control are the most important elements in a cow horse event. You want to be the mirror image while working. If you draw a wild one you are in the right place at the right time trying to control it, and the cow doesn’t honor you, you should be awarded a...
A Common Cow Turn Mistake
I have a short video that explains a common error when riders make cow turns. They tend to release a horse from remaining on its hindquarters before the turn is complete. This often happens towards the end of the turn. It's caused by using your feet too soon, or...
Making Bad Cows Good Down the Fence Part 1
In a reined Cowhorse contest or a cutting, the cattle are the most important single factor. In the cutting at least you get to choose, so you only have yourself to blame if you pick poorly. In the reined Cowhorse contest, you don’t know what you’ve got until it walks...
Seven Cow Behavior Facts Every Rider Should Know
Those pesky cattle! When you think you understand them, they surprise you! Here are seven facts about cattle behavior to help you de-mystify understanding their behavior and to help you predict how they will act when separated from the herd (in cutting and herdwork)...
Keep Expectations High – No Excuses!
Hey, it’s Barb, What I always find amazing is the fact there are always more layers to understand and learn in anything we do. Of course, that’s true about communicating with our beloved horses and developing our riding skills. The depth and breadth of what seems to...
Backing A Circle
I wanted to share one of my most favorite exercises for suppling a horse. I also use it to help them make the right choices by offering it as a more difficult alternative to their current “choice”, if that choice is not what I want them to be doing. Let’s say for...
Your Job as a Rider
When it comes to working a cow, there's a lot going on - you - the horse - your mentors - the cattle! In the Cow Smart Series, Lesson One is about your job as a rider when you work cattle. This clip also has a fun visualization. I hope you enjoy it. Cow Smart Online...
How to Hold and Adjust Romal Reins
Riders who are not accustomed to using a romal are sometimes not aware of the penalties awaiting them if they don’t hold it properly. The romal should go across the palm and around the thumb or with the thumb on top The hand should be closed into a fist over both...
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These are the same powerful ideas that we’ve used to train, ride and show our own horses… and they can work for you, too.
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