Team Penning for the Clueless Endurance Rider

[ehwaz]

So, as it has been raining nonstop for the past 2 months, I am running out of trails to ride and haven’t been riding nearly as much as I normally do. A local group is putting on a team penning “clinic” with a competition after in a week. I don’t know how much instruction there will be at the clinic- it sounds like it would just been getting to the arena early before the competition part and having a bit of time to get a horse used to the cows without much instruction. I get the sense that this is supposed to be a very relaxed competition/ attempt to build interest in the sport.

I have very little experience with cows on horseback - fair bit of veterinary experience, but basically have ridden through cow pastures occasionally, never have tried to move a cow from horseback. My horse is generally quite sensible and has seen cows and been ridden on trails with them, but again, to my knowledge has never been asked to work them. She does has a fairly solid foundation in low level dressage- moves off my leg well, rateable, etc. Also has a killer (at least to me) rollback that I learned from a reining trainer.

If I end up going, my partner would probably be another endurance rider, with similar to slightly less cow experience.

I am mostly looking to learn a new skill as I figure the more you/the horse have experience with, the better.

So, that said- Am I crazy ? Anything to do/not to do? Likelyhood of being run out the arena if I show up in a dressage saddle?

I have watched a few videos and it looks like fun, but thats about as much as I know.

[beau159]

I’d say go and have fun!

When working a cow, imagine splitting the cow into quarters. When you are on the back half, you are driving them forward. If you want to “cut them off” or turn them, then you move toward the front half. If you want to move them to the right or left, then position yourself accordingly.

Very much like if you were doing ground work with your own horse. Think of driving the hip, or driving the shoulder, where you want it to go.

[RanchRider]

I was taught that you drive from the hip to go forward and at the eye to turn them. When driving them forward try to stay back a little bit so you don’t over run them when they stop or turn. They have a very strong urge to get back to the herd so keep mental track of where the herd is. I would say don’t under estimate their shiftiness or your horses ability to work/track them. When your horse gets the hang of it and starts having fun, if you arent prepared your horse can leave you behind

And my favorite part is the different types of cows. There are some that are lazy, some that are fast and other that are down right ignorant.

And most of all, have fun and laugh.

[Bluey]

The very basics of working cattle, always respect the cattle.
Cattle are not toys for entertainment, they are there to train the cattle, the horse, the humans and/or show the ability to do that, not to be chased around and harassed without merit.

Some will let their horse get up to cattle and bite them and they think the horse shows cow sense, but it doesn’t.
The horse shows being aggressive to the cattle, he may or not have cow sense.

A horse with good cow instinct will kind of stand off where it can have power over where the cow goes by controlling it’s movements.
That is not on top of one and/or biting it, that is a horse full of himself and playing contact sports, or frustrated and taking it out on the cattle.

Working cattle is immensely interesting and with a good horse, it is a thrill, how they can dance with and around each other.
You get to appreciate so much else your horse can do and most horses really look forward to that time.

If cattle are handled right, they will also accept being worked, won’t unduly stress them and won’t sour on you and sull-up and quit working with you.

Most horses and riders find cattle working time a treat, work hard to get the horse trained and in shape so they can go have fun, a bit like all that flat work jumpers go thru to have fun when jumping.

As long as we understand all that, don’t make working cattle a wild chase event, it can be lots of fun.

[sorrelfilly721]

I take all my ponies team penning whether they have cow sense or not. It’s great fun for them (usually) and me. The people in the club where I go are very very kind to beginners and are quick to help. The thing to remember is “slow is fast”. You don’t want to get them running - they are much harder to control and they want to run back to the herd. Better to have a slow clean run than no time at all.