The ultimate test of horse and rider
Reined
Cow Horse
SPCC runs four ERCHA affiliated Reined Cow Horse shows each year.
The ultimate test of horse and rider, this competition consists of three events:
01.
Herd Work
Competitors must enter a group of cattle and separate one animal, of their choice, bring it up to the judge and prevent it from returning to the herd. Horses should demonstrate good cow sense and willingness while working.
02.
Rein Work
Without a cow in the arena, riders must follow a pattern of manoeuvres including spins, lead changes, fast and slow circles and sliding stops.
03.
Fence Work
One cow is released into the arena and depending on the class horse and rider must execute a series of manoeuvres to demonstrate the horse’s ability to control the cow.
Ranch Horse Challenge
We also run two unaffiliated shows a year for the working ranch horse. Based on challenges you would expect to encounter during a day’s cowboying, this year’s Ranch Horse Challenge is made up of six events, judged rather than timed to reward stockmanship over speed, with Open, Non Pro and Green divisions, rosettes down to third place in every class, and an SPCC buckle for each division’s hi-point winner. Entries are made through the booking form for each show on our What’s On page.
01.
Ranch Cutting
Cut one cow from the herd with as little disturbance as possible, bring it forward and stop it from returning to the group. You need to cut out two cows within the two-minute time frame, and horses are judged on their cow sense, responsiveness and willingness to work.
02.
Ranch Trail
Negotiate a ranch trail course in the field next to the arena, with obstacles such as gates, logs, hills and bridges. The trail pattern is issued before the show.
03.
Ranch Sorting
In teams of two, competitors sort 10 numbered cattle from a pen in numerical order. Sorting is judged, not timed, with a three-minute cap, and each rider is scored on cow control, horsemanship, degree of difficulty, cow sense and eye appeal. Green teams sort six of the ten.
04.
Dummy Roping
Ride alongside the “cow”, a roping dummy pulled behind a quad bike, catch the head with your rope and stop your horse so the breakaway opens. Green riders rope at a walk and Non Pro riders at a trot, while Open riders can enter breakaway roping on a live cow.
05.
Reining
Guide your horse through one of the set reining patterns of stops, spins, rollbacks, lead changes and circles at a lope. Horses are judged on their movements, their mastery of each manoeuvre and their attitude, and should be willing to be guided with little or no resistance.
06.
Box Drive Box
A cow work pattern that bridges the gap between simple boxing and full fence runs: box a cow at one end of the arena, drive it down the fence, then box it again at the other end. It tests cow sense and control without high-speed fence turns.
