Horseback Sports for the Cowgirl

If you are a cowgirl what do you do for fun? This page Cowgirls Horseback Sports gives you a brief description of just a few of the events cowgirls compete in. Cowgirls all over the world saddle up their horses every weekend to compete in their chosen horseback sport, and have fun!

The goal in a cutting event is for the horse and rider to cut from a herd of cows one cow at a time and prevent that cow from regaining the herd. Each competitior has 2.5 minutes in which to show his horse's ability to cut quietly and effectively, and then work the cow just as hard as is necessary to keep it from the herd, the cutting horse is a true athlete.

Unlike cutting horses, however, reining horses must follow the rider's commands and execute all movements on cue without anticipation. In competition, riders are judged over a complex pattern which includes fast and slow lope circles, lead changes,turnarounds, rollbacks and sliding stops. Each manoeuvre in the Reining pattern is marked by a negative or positive score of - 1 1/2,-1/2,0,1/2,1 and 1 1/2 with the base mark 70. There are several patterns which riders might be asked to perform. Each horseback rider in the class will ride the same pattern, which is displayed at least one hour before the class begins.

Western Pleasure horses move with grace and balance and disply a stride of reasonable length, neither short and choppy nor extended. The overall impression should be that the horse is a pleasure to ride, that he is alert and balanced and responsive to the aids. In this class horses are ridden inside the rail of the show pen and not in a circle. The horses are judged at the walk, jog and lope. Each transition is made immediately as it is called for by the steward. After loping, the riders are asked for a stop, then reverse and walk in the opposite direction, then jog and lope. After the second stop, riders may be asked to back their horses either on the rail or line up in the centre of the pen, where they will be asked to back up one at at time before the judge decides on placings.

Campdrafting is a unique Australian horseback sport involving horse and riders working cattle. The riding style is like that of Western riding and the event is somewhat related to cutting, working cow horse, and team penning. In the competition, a rider on horseback must "cut out" one beast from the mob of cattle in the yard or "camp" and block and turn that beast at least two or three times to prove to the judge that they have the beast under control; then push it out of the yard and through a course around pegs involving right and left hand turns in a figure eight, before guiding it through two pegs known as "the gate". Up to a total of 100 points are scored by horse and rider: "Cut out" is worth a total of 26 points; horsework up to a further 70 points; and 4 points for the course. The sport requires consummate skill and horsemanship, and the skill in selecting a beast from the mob that will run well. Great prestige is bestowed on the winning rider and horse of the competition.

Pole bending horseback sport is a timed event that features a horse and one mounted rider, running a weaving or serpentine path around six poles arranged in a line. This event is usually seen in rodeos or gymkanas. The rider will take of in a gallop and run past all the poles turning at the last pole. The rider and horse will make a serpentine path through the poles, that is, passing on alternating hands and leads through the poles. When the last pole is reached, the horse and rider continue in a mirror pattern through the poles back to the first one. When the pattern is completed the horse and rider then gallop back past the poles and through the timer. If the rider knocks over a pole he will be penalized, resulting in either disqualification from the event or a 5-second penalty (per knocked pole).

Embrace the Cowgirl Spirit! Saddle up a horse and go riding!

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