Working Western...What Is It Anyhow?

There are several divisions which make up the Working Western disciplines, most commonly Trail, Reining, Western Riding, Cutting and Working Cow or Reined Cow. I could add fun events such as team sorting and team penning, though they aren’t classified as Working Western in a traditional sense. Of course, for Working Cow and Cutting classes, you need cattle and a horse that can work them, however even if you don’t have the ability to do so (or the horse who will), you can still participate in the Working Western world.

Of these, three are the most commonly held at a majority of shows. Probably my favorite, is Reining. Originally called “stock horse”, Reining is essentially a test of the athletic ability and skills a horse may need to work on a cattle ranch, --only without the cattle -- by completing maneuvers such as circles and spins performing one of a number of specific patterns. Most all the elements of a Reining horse class are basic movements necessary for completing ranch tasks. Another class I absolutely love is Trail. This is a class wherein horses negotiate obstacles while navigating a pattern through them, either halted, walking, jogging or loping, and through which the horse completes each obstacle in order. Western Riding is an old class that has seemed to have made a comeback in recent years, and consists of a set pattern where the horse completes multiple lead changes in each direction at the lope, preferably flying changes.

Then there are the cattle events, though the Working Cow also has a Reining aspect in addition to actually working the cow. They have to perform a Reining pattern, box the cow away from his herd and run the cow (both down the fence, and in a circle). Whereas in Cutting, the objective is to quietly ride into the herd, single out one cow and keep it separated from the herd for a length of time. Hence, “cutting” the cow away from the herd. Both of these classes take [slightly or considerably, depending on horse and trainer] longer as a general rule to train than the other Working Western divisions, because the horse must become acclimated to being ridden around and tracking cattle.

At some point in the future, I’ll go more in depth on both the training and competition aspects of these classes and divisions, but for now I’ll close by saying, if you haven’t had the pleasure of watching any of them, please do yourself a favor and treat yourself. You’ll be glad you did.

~SFTS