How Do You Train A Cow Horse?
While many horses are used strictly as pleasure and trail riding mounts, others are called upon to do the same kind of work their ancestors did more than a century ago. There is still a need for horses on many working cattle ranches and feedlot operations, and those horses need to be able to work cows just like their forebears did. Cow horses are also in demand for rodeos, horse shows and exhibitions, where their riders demonstrate the skills of a bygone era. Whether your ultimate goal is to round up the cattle on your ranch or have fun at the weekend rodeo, you need to know how to train your cow horse properly. Make sure your would-be cow horse has all of the fundamentals in place before you start specific cattle training. A good cow horse needs to neck rein easily and consistently, and it needs to be able to walk, jog, lope and gallop on a loose rein. The horse also needs to stop with a voice cue alone — a firm “whoa” from the rider should stop this horse in its tracks. If your hors
