Break It Down

Time and time again, I have left the herd feeling all the way from terrific, to close to suicide watch.

We’ve all felt the pain after a poor run.

One time during a clinic, a woman said to me, “I bet you’ve never cried like this.” I said, “Are you kidding? I have the corner on that market. You are an amateur crier.”

It’s easy to lump the whole run together as really good, or really awful, and not think another thing about it. (Well, maybe you ponder it a bit longer if you experience the low end of the totem pole.)

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“Set Yourself Up for a Good Run”

You Have Lots of Power BEFORE Your Run

Recently someone asked if I would write or record a Bobby Knight kind of pep talk so they could play it to themselves before their run.

I’ve been thinking about that suggestion a lot!

My personality is certainly different than Bobby Knight’s personality. However, the concept of having key ideas to say to yourself before your run is a great one. It is critical to your success.

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“Keep Pressure on the Cow!”

Tips to Stay Connected to Your Horse and the Cow at the Same Time

It’s easy to get so wrapped up in all the technical things we need to do moment by moment that we lose a strong connection to the cow.

Maybe you’ve found yourself working the cow in the vicinity of the cow, but not really feeling strongly ON the cow.

Perhaps when things get going fast that invisible bond between you, your horse and the cow gets even blurrier.

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“Yikes! Those Stops On A Fast Cow Can be Harrowing!”

Recently I received this question on my Cutting Horses 101 Facebook page:

“What advice can you give a new cutter that becomes very anxious and out of control when the cow takes off running when practicing in a large round pen … and your biggest fear is the unexpected STOP. Any advice or practice tips you can share to help get control of this?” ~ KGD

This can be a really scary situation … not to mention sometimes a little dangerous.

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“Top Ten Tips for Freshman Cutters”

Help Wanted for New Cutters from Veteran Cutters … Post Your Ideas Here

This month, I thought it would be fun for you to help me respond to the following note I received:

“Hi, Mrs. Schulte! I have just now started to ride cutting horses ……. I was wondering if you had any tips for someone like myself who is just now starting to cut. Thanks!” ~ Liz C

This note gave me pause to reflect on one of my biggest beliefs.

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“The Best Cutting I’ve Ever Attended”

The NCHA Futurity Champions Cup

Each month I typically write a cutting article that shares specific cutting tips.

However, during this past Futurity in Fort Worth, I attended the best cutting event of my lifetime.

The NCHA celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the Futurity by inviting all living Open Champions to compete in a cutting in Will Rogers Coliseum.

The draw began with the 2010 champion rider, Lloyd Cox and ended with the first Futurity Champion rider, Buster Welch.

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“How to Stay Connected to Your Horse as You Ride Through the Herd”

Herdwork can be a huge challenge! There’s a lot going on!

Herd holders are talking. Cattle are changing positions. Your horse needs to stay with you as you both moving fluidly through the herd.

Then, there are all kinds of the things going through your mind about what to do … what not to do … which cow?

It’s easy to become so involved in the moment that you lose connection with your horse. Suddenly you need to make a fast move with a cow and your horse might not respond immediately … and then, it can be too late to get where you need to go.

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“WATCH the COW!”

You’ve heard, “Watch the cow,” sooo many times.

It IS important for a number of reasons.

The cow is what’s happening at any given moment in cutting. It’s like the tennis ball in tennis.

There is one big difference between the cow and a tennis ball.

In tennis, if you take your eye off the ball, you won’t even be in the game! In cutting, if you take your eye off the cow, your horse might cover for you.

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“New Ways to Think About ‘Off the Wall’!”

NO! I’m not talking about your whacky uncle. (This is about cutting horses!!!)

I’m sure you’ve noticed how uncomfortable it can seem when you move out of the middle third of the arena and travel across the pen toward the outer thirds of the arena.

It’s incredible that within the space of five to ten feet, you feel like you go from a sense of having it all “handled” (in the middle of the pen) to being in the North 40 pasture on the ends.

Trying to work the cow and keep it all together with yourself and your horse can be a little tricky on the ends!

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