- Personal Performance Coach for all riders | Cutting Horse Trainer and Educator | Author, Speaker, Clinician - https://barbraschulte.com -

“Part 2: Cutting Video Analysis Approaching the Herd”

This is Part 2 in this multiple part video analysis series in which I dig deep into concrete, key fundamentals you can immediately use in your cutting runs.

For the series, I’m using a Youtube video posted by Cutting Horse Central during which Austin Shepard coaches his son, Cade to a big championship at the Breeder’s Invitational. Austin has a Go-Pro camera mounted on his hat. While the quality of video is not ideal, there are priceless, classic coaching points made by Austin.

This video depicts “real life” in the cutting pen as experienced by the cutter being coached. That’s why I thought it would benefit you!

In this multiple part series, I identify incremental key take aways you can use during very specific segments of a show run.

Video Time Window for Part II
2:00 – 2:21

1. Focus as You Walk to the Herd 2:00 – 2:05

During these 5 seconds of the video you won’t see Austin or Cade, nor will you hear sound except for a little ambient audio buzz.

You’re probably thinking, now Barb … WHY in world would you call attention to this part of the video?

Here’s why.

How you walk to the herd … what you are thinking … where you look … and your posture … are important for two reasons:

KEY POINTS to help you focus as you walk to the herd:

2. Assimilate Information From Your Helpers as You Near the Herd 2:05 – 2:21

Cade is not in the frame of the video yet at 2:05, but momentarily Austin begins to locate several cattle for Cade, “Gray cow and the white cow. See the white cow there, Cade looking away from us by the red mott?”

As Cade gets closer to the herd, Austin continues to talk about where the white cow is located, and he adds, “That may be the left-eared baldie over there by her (the white cow).”

KEY POINTS to help you assimilate information from your helpers as you near the herd:

1. As you approach the herd and a helper coaches you, i.e., locates cattle or reminds you of something he or she thinks you need to remember:

2. The decision about which cow you will ultimately cut is always yours. Your helpers can give you information and coaching about what to do, but situations change in a heartbeat and you will always have to make the decision. (I completely understand that this can be intimidating and unnerving.)

In Part 3 of this multiple part series, I will talk about decision making in the herd. I will also talk about how to walk through the herd so to set up a clean cut in the middle of the arena. See you then!