Although we’ve been pretty eventing focused around here lately, we still like doing lots of different things with our horses. On Saturday we hauled the ponies out for some cattle sorting. I had fun last time we tried cattle sorting even though Nilla hated it. I’ve been looking forward to trying it with Levi since he likes cattle work and we figured Eugene would probably like it too. This was a practice sorting and you got 6 goes and lunch for $35 bucks. Pretty sweet deal!
We started out by getting them warmed up in another arena and letting Eugene just stand and watch the cattle because he was losing his mind a bit. The lighting in the picture is terrible, but I think Eugene is adorable. He was sticking his head over the wall to watch the cattle.
For anyone who doesn’t know how cattle sorting works, here’s a rough explanation. There are two rounds pens attached with an opening between the two and 10 cows numbered 0 through 9 on one side. Two riders enter the arena and are given a random number. The goal is to move all the cows from one side to the other in order starting with the assigned cow. If a cow goes across in the wrong order, you’re out. If you get all of them across, the fastest team wins.
The cattle at this sorting were really frisky. Even the people who knew what they were doing and regular compete in sorting were having a rough time. The cattle were racing through the opening at any chance they got so it was really hard to get just the one you needed.
Once Eugene had calmed down a bit it was time to take a try. We forgot to turn on our helmet cams for the first 2 attempts, but they went pretty badly. But we got to run out our time even if the cattle went across in the wrong order, so we kept practicing. On our third try, we finally remembered to turn the helmet cams on. I got our first cattle (#6) across right away and then it took me a while to cut #7 out of the pack.
Cutting out #6
Levi likes going after cattle – he even reached out and bit one when it didn’t move fast enough – but he gets annoyed with all the stop and go. I think the conflicting aids piss him off. Like I ask him to go, then stop, then go and he’s just like pick one dammit. Anyway, we had a little rodeo about that while trying to get #7:
If you watch the little video here, you can hear my comment “that’s not what we’re doing.” And he just stops and pricks his ears and goes back to getting the cow.
This ranch was huge (they probably had space for at least 100 temporary horses and trailers for an event) and they were running two pens so we got to go back and forth between the two for a change of environment. It was nice to be in the indoor because it was pretty hot out, but the light was a lot better outside. They also swapped out the cattle with new ones a few times while we were there. But none of the herds were sluggish and it remained difficult to get them sorted in the right order. Usually they’d get all out of order and we’d just pick one from what was left and sort that one. Like so:
We found that Levi preferred to sort and Eugene preferred to stay in the hole, which would work out well if we were planning on doing this regularly. We did switch it up regularly and Eugene got more into it by the end.
While I fully admit that we’re not good at this, we have done it before – both on our own horses and at a ranch on vacation – and the cattle have never been this active. Normally they’re lazy and just hang out until you go after them. At this sorting, they were racing all over the place. We watched a bunch of rounds with really good teams of riders who couldn’t manage them either. Before going, I thought 6 tries seemed like a lot, but they went by fast and it was not easy so the extra practice was appreciated.
In fact, we only saw one pair get all of the cows across in order under time the whole time we were there. I didn’t take any pictures (because I don’t believe in putting pictures of other people’s kids online), but there was an adorable little girl doing sorting with her mom. She had to be like 4 years old and was in a special western saddle with a little backrest and seatbelt to keep her on. But she picked each cow out, pointed her mare at it, cut them one by one and beat the clock. It was really fun to watch.
We finished up all of our rounds before lunch and then took the ponies back to the trailer to get untacked and relax while we had lunch. Lunch was catered BBQ and it was pretty good. My husband had ribs and tri-tip while i had chicken. Gotta say it again: 6 rounds and lunch for $35 is a steal. I only wish this place were closer or I’d go more often.
I hope everyone else had a good weekend. Don’t forget to get your entries in for the Easter contest because it closes on the 4th.
This looks like a freaking blast. I love the helmet cam and the gifs!
I do love the helmet cams for when it would be impossible to get pictures.
This looks like so much fun! While I don’t know if Batty would like it, he’d certainly be willing to try!
Some horses really get into it. Eugene was not so sure about it. Levi likes the cows but not the standing still part. I think it depends on the horse.
If there is some standing still, Batt’ll be sure to love it!
That looks so fun! Levi is too funny, I’m glad he listened to you mid tantrum!
I’m not sure I’ll get to do an egg hunt. Though with all the snow we’re getting right now, I might be able to bake up some treats tonight! Fingers crossed because I really want to play!
Snow seems like it would work for the hut, you could just put some treats out in the snow and see if they can find them.
It definitely would! Unfortunately, my grocery store had almost none of the ingredients for your treats. I might still do a hunt for fun though with some store bought cookies. I know we won’t be eligible for the fancy pony, but I think it will be entertaining!
What does your store not have? I’ve never had an issue finding any of the ingredients and honestly the recipe is really flexible. Sometimes I’m out of one thing or another and just swap stuff around. I think you NEED bran and molasses and everything else is negotiable. I do often save some $ by buying the flax from the feed store bulk section.
I couldn’t find the bran NOR the flax seeds! I’m sure they must have them someplace, but no one seemed to know where. Just have been short on time with all the holidays and what not. I do want to try the cake pops though, so one of these days it will definitely happen!
This looks awesome, even with the sassy pony! I’d love to try this, but maybe a bigger “the cows aren’t going to eat you” version!
Some of these cows were pretty brazen too. I stopped one on Levi and it was facing us sort of squaring off, then it just said screw it and barged right past us. Normally cows run away from horses.
What a blast! You guys would have a great team with those two of you decided to do it more.
I tried to convince my husband we should get some calves to practice with when we get our own property. He somehow didn’t think that was a good plan.
This looks awesome! Cupid is okay with cows across the fence, but I’m sure he would have no idea what to do with them!
Most of the time you just walk towards them and they wander off. My husband’s mare is terrified of cattle though and looses her mind if she even hears them.
“That’s not what we’re doing” LOL. I wish there was footage of Levi biting the cow. I can’t wait to try this on my mustang.
Sadly the bite was during our first round when we forgot to turn on the cameras. I praised him for it though.
How fun!
It was really fun.
Looks like a lot of fun! When Amber is feeling better I want to try this with her. She seems to love cows and I’d love to try this!
It’s a lot of fun.
Remus would probably have a heart attack if he got that close to a cow (No one told him that he was a quarter horse with COW Bred in him LOL). But how fun! and what a great time to have. Fun fun fun.
I always wanted to do the SHOT horse events in Texas (Stock horses) they do 4 events there and one is cow sorting (the other is pleasure, trail and patterns I think). I had a friend that i watched to them and it looked like so much fun!!
So fun!! I’ve always wanted to try that.
I hope you do sometime.
I love this – this is awesome!