Working Cow Horse

Stephanie knows somebody who owns a big piece of land just west of Cocoa. Even more importantly, that guy has a herd of cattle and agreed to let us work with them. After yesterday's long ride this was just the right recovery activity for little Brownie and me, so I gladly jumped into the truck and hurried out to the barn when Stephanie called me today and asked if I wanted to come along.
Baleigh went with us, too.
It was a very short drive to the place, and we first took a little trail ride on the property to get the horses used to the place. They were pretty excited about the whole thing. After a while we found the first little group of calves - after introducing the horses to some goats, also running around there.
Stephanie giving instructions we drove the cattle into a corner of the tall fence, trying to keep them there while separating a single one. They were very lively and ran off quick, but I already felt like a cowboy.

We followed the calves to the main herd who were gathered in a fenced pen. Two of us controlled the opening - I don't think we were supposed to shut the gate - while the remaining candidate separated a cow from the herd and tried to keep her away.

Brownie and I participated in a Working Cow Horse Show last year and I had even taken a few lessons with Stephanie's trainer Jack to get ready for the show. Because Brownie is a very smart horse and he likes the cow work, he soon remembered everything he learned last year when Stephanie was playing cow for us and the real cow in the show. My cow was pretty easy to handle, calm and with not much desire to move. It was a lot of fun to work the cow in reality, not just a show (which was really nice, too).


Baleigh and Stephanie had fun with the cows, too. Especially considering that it was probably Baleighs as well as Ruby's first cow experience.


What a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon!
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