Down The Fence with Richard Winters
Article I

I’m going on a journey.  And you’re invited.  No, I don’t know how far we’re going and I’m not quite sure where we’ll end up.  It’s a horsemanship journey!  I’ve taken this trip many times before (well over 1,000 in my 25-year career.), and each time I see and learn something new.  So, if you love horses and cherish the partnership we can have with them, then I’d be honored to have you come along!

Each month in “Down The Fence,” I’m going to chronicle the progression and training of a two-year old Quarter Horse colt whose destiny (hopefully) is to be a performance horse in the Reined Cow Horse world.  Along the way, we’ll talk about the expectations of a reined cow horse and explain training techniques that will help us on our journey.  Now there are no guarantees.  Anything can happen.  The colt could get injured.  The colt’s owners could run out of finances or lose interest.  Perhaps the colt might be sold and go to another owner and trainer.  Or we may find that this particular colt just doesn’t have the physical or mental skills to perform in this particular discipline.  That’s why it’s so important to enjoy the horsemanship journey and not solely focus on the destination.

Let me introduce our student:  Jaimes Rock Star is a two-year old palomino Quarter Horse stallion by Shine With A Twist and out of Jaimes Commander by Heza Commander.  His breeding suggests that he’ll have aptitude and ability in reining, cutting, or reined cow horse events.  Reining and cutting are both very specialized disciplines.  A world class reining horse may not even know what a cow looks like.  And a top cutting horse might not even have a clue in executing a flying lead change.  Reined cow horses, however, are truly super tri-athletes.  They must learn to perform the reining maneuvers and also cut a cow out of the herd.  Then, we ask them to go “down the fence.”  This phase demonstrates a horse’s ability to control a cow at any rate of speed.  (Most of it being really fast!)  A single cow is let into the arena and the horse must “box” the cow at one end, demonstrating control.  The cow is then allowed to run down the long fence line of the arena and you must turn the cow on the fence at least once each way.  Then, the cow must be taken towards the middle of the arena and circled 360 degrees in each direction.  Trust me. That will get your adrenaline pumping!  (More info? Check out www.NRCHA.com.)

If everything goes according to plan, Jaimes Rock Star will have acquired all these skills and will be shown in the fall of 2008 at the World Championship Snaffle Bit Futurity.  But let’s not get ahead of ourselves; he’s never even had a saddle on!

As I pen these first few words, Rocky (that’s his barn name) is in the trailer on his way here.  I haven’t even seen him yet.  Our owners will call me when they get to the front gate.  I’ve been told, “He’s halter broke and had his feet trimmed a few times, but that’s about it.  He’s just been turned out with the other colts and looks a little rough and hairy.  We’ve just let him grow up and be a horse.”  That’s perfect.  We’ve got plenty of time to make him look like a show horse.  It sounds like they’ve done just fine with him.  School starts tomorrow!

(Three hours later.)  I’m just sitting back down to finish this article.  Our colt has arrived, been unloaded, and is settling into his new home.  There is no way he can possibly understand what the next few days, weeks, and months have in store for him.  The foundation I build will need to last a lifetime.  I’m looking for a partnership with this colt.  Just as with dancing partners, someone has to lead and someone has to follow.  Fortunately horses are natural followers.  It’s amazing what they’ll do for us when we provide good leadership and present things in a way they can understand.  That’s a big responsibility.  Yet that’s what horsemanship is all about.

This is our horsemanship journey.  If you’re interested, tighten your cinch and let’s ride!

Read Article II - First saddling, first ride, first everything!