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Team Penning
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Coming up this weekend is the first team cattle penning competition of 2000 for the Lakes District Cattle Penning Association.
As many of you know (especially if you read last week's column!), team cattle penning is a fast-paced sport in which teams of three mounted riders go to the far end of the arena into a herd of numbered cattle. They cut out the three cows wearing the correct number, then put them in a pen at the near end of the arena.
The challenge here is to get this job done in 90 seconds or less. Ninety seconds isn't a very long time if you are chasing a recalcitrant heifer around and around by yourself! As the name of the event suggests, the riders must function as a team.
Depending on how the riders have read the attitudes and tendencies of the herd of cows, they will decide their strategy. A standard method is to send one rider in as *first cutter*, to pick out the first of the correct number cows, and this rider will also spot the next cows, if possible, for the following rider.
The *second cutter* goes in as the first cutter brings his cow out, while the turnback rider prevents the herd from joining the correct cows at the bottom end of the arena. Having more than four cows across the *cow line*, or having more than one wrong-numbered cow, is instant disqualification.
Once the three correctly numbered cows are at the bottom of the arena, the riders take on new positions. One rider becomes the *sweeper* and chases the cows around in a serpentine until they arrive at the entrance to the pen.
Another rider takes the *wing*, staying at the end of the line of panels that help funnel the cows into the pen. The third rider goes to the *hole*, which is the space between the pen and the arena fence, where cows will escape back to the herd given the chance!
So, with all of that, you can see why team penning is a fast-paced but fun event. Lots can go wrong on any single run, with teams taking their time on one cow instead of three, or running out of time, or being disqualified for any major infraction. On the other hand, if everything goes right and the cows and horses cooperate, and the team members work together, a set of cows can be penned in less than 30 seconds!
Spectators are always welcome at team penning events, and there will be a concession, so bring the kids and make an day of it! Ride times are usually around 9 am and 1 pm on Saturday and Sunday (there is usually one go in the morning and another in the afternoon, so the cows are given a break between sets).
This competition will be held at the Grassy Plains arena here on the sunny southside. Head south out of Burns Lake on Highway 35, drive 23 km and catch the free Francois Lake ferry, the 'Omineca Princess'. The scenic lake crossing takes about 15 minutes and then head straight up the hill, stay on the main road for about 15 minutes. The arena and community hall will be on your right - you'll see the horse trailers from the road. For more information on team penning, contact Don Baker at 694-3525 or Jeff Giesbrecht at 694-3448.
If you have tips or questions on equipment care, purchases, fit, or anything else to do with equestrian equipment, please mail them to kristi@hiway16.com |
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We update the Events Page regularly - so be sure to check often.
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Western, English, Penning or Trail riding, all equine sports have a voice on Northern B.C. Horse
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If you are new to Northern B.C. Horse, check out all the previous issues on the Archive page.
Kristi is building a great knowledge base about horses, with the emphasis on our area of the world.
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Past articles are all available in the
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Switching to grass
Now that spring has finally sprung, many of you are eagerly anticipating (and so is your horse!) the end of feeding dry hay and the start of living on rich green grass. There are a few things to be careful of before you turn Old Dobbin out!
You need to decide whether you want to have him turned out full time or not. A horse on full time pasture can become obese quite quickly, leading to health problems such as founder, colic, and strains when being ridden from packing the extra weight.
Another problem I have noticed on full time grass is that a horse tends to respond much like a kid with too much sugar. They start their lessons high as kites, full of extra energy for shenanigans like bucking on the longe, trying to race, and so on. Yet all of a sudden, just when you think you have your horse back to normal, he runs out of gas. Pooped, just like that.
I prefer to keep my performance horses on hay year round, with grazing, when possible, for up to two or three hours a day, more for the sake of grazing than for the food value. Other people turn them out for about 12 hours a day, feeding a bit of hay to prevent boredom while off the field.
Once you've decided whether you will do a full time, part time, or minimal time schedule, you can introduce your horse to grass.
A horse needs to have his diet changed gradually. When changing feeds, you should always do it over a period of two weeks if possible. This goes for grain and hay changes, as well as adding springtime grass. It is recommended that you start your horse on grass by allowing him to graze for a couple of hours a day. Much more than that can cause stomach upset and diarrhea.
To start, keep feeding most of his regular hay ration plus a couple of hours a day of grazing. After a few days, if his manure is still firm, you can put him out twice a day for a couple of hours, or extend the time he is on the field. Splitting the feedings up is better for his gut, but sometimes harder to fit into our busy lifestyles.
If you plan on turning him out for longer periods of time, add a little bit more time every few days until your horse is out on grass for about 12 hours per day. By this time, he will likely have started turning his nose up at the hay, but keep making a little bit available just in case he needs it.
Monitor your horse frequently even once he is turned out on pasture. He'll still need to be checked for weight and condition (especially if a pony or already prone to founder), have his feet done regularly, and have his other health care performed as scheduled.
If you have tips or questions you'd like to share with other local equestrians, please mail them to kristi@hiway16.com |
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How to work with a coach
Once you are in with a coach, be prepared to do your part in the student-teacher relationship. Show up on time for your lessons - especially if your coach is busy with other students and horses, they will appreciate your punctuality.
If you have questions, ask them! As some people say, the only stupid question is the one that doesn't get asked. You may feel silly, but a good coach will recognize your quest for knowledge and should treat you with respect.
Be prepared to try some things that may make you uncomfortable - sometimes in lessons you may need to put aside your fears and trust to your coach. On the other hand, your coach should never put you in a really dangerous situation (at least not deliberately, all horse activities are dangerous to some degree).
You may find during the course of your lessons that your horse is unsuitable in some way for the disciplines you are taking lessons in. You will need to think long and hard on that, and discuss the matter with your coach. You have several options, such as selling this horse and buying one better suited, or switching disciplines to better suit the horse, or to continue lessons on a school horse provided by the teacher, or even to keep going on your own horse but accepting that you won't get as far. A supportive coach will help you through those times of frustration without being negative towards you or your horse.
Be prepared to move on. You will progress - that is what taking lessons is all about. You might find yourself very happy for several years with one trainer, then one day realize that you are no longer going down the same path, or that you have progressed beyond the scope of the instructor to teach you. Don't feel bad - it happens! Talk it over with your coach, how you are feeling about wanting to move on. All coaches have their limits and want what is best for you. Handled tactfully, you will part friends and perhaps even get a referral from your first coach!
And you'll already have a good idea on how to find that next coach...
If you have tips or questions you'd like to share with other local equestrians, please mail them to kristi@hiway16.com |
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