452. WORKING COW HORSE

(a) Both the cow work portion of this event and the reined work

portion are mandatory. Scoring emphasis on the cow work portion

shall be based on the horse maintaining control of the cow at all

times, exhibiting superior cow sense and natural cow working ability

without excessive reining or spurring. Failure of an exhibitor to

attempt to complete the cow work portion of the class, as well as the

reined work, will result in the exhibitor not being considered an

entry in the class. A horse which attempts to complete the cow work

and has not been disqualified will be scored accordingly at the judge’s

discretion. A horse going off pattern in the reined work will receive

a score of zero. A horse which attempts both the reined work and the

cow work portion may be placed, even if disqualified in one portion

of the class. (Example: If a horse is disqualified and receives a 0 score

for the reined work, but scores a 70 for the cow work, its total score

would be a 70 and the horse would be eligible for placing.) However,

the fall of a horse and rider being judged shall be cause for disqualification

and not eligible to be placed.

(b) The approved pattern will be used and each contestant will

cause his horse to travel at the gait indicated for each part of the pattern.

When judging reined work, the judge should refer to the reining

portion of the handbook for guidelines.

(c) In approved working cow horse classes, any of the eight

approved AQHA working cow horse patterns may be used. One of

the eight is to be selected by the judge of the class and used by all

contestants in the class.

(d) For an ideal cow work, each contestant, upon receiving a cow

in the arena, shall hold the cow on the prescribed end of the arena for

sufficient time to demonstrate the ability of the horse to contain the

cow on that end. After a reasonable amount of time, the contestant

shall take the cow down the fence, making at least one turn each way

on the fence. The contestant shall then take the cow to an open part

of the arena and circle it at least once in each direction.

(e) The judge should take into consideration the size of the

arena, condition of ground and the disposition and degree of difficulty

exhibited by the cattle worked.

(f) At the discretion of the judge, cow work may be done immediately

following each individual’s pattern work or immediately after

completion of pattern work by all horses being exhibited.

(g) Horse should keep working until judge blows whistle. If

exhibitor quits working before the judge blows the whistle, a score of

0 will be given.

(h) The contestant’s horse shall be penalized for general bad

manners such as:

5 Point Penalties

-Not getting one turn each way -Deliberate spurring or use

(5 points each way) of the romal forward of the

cinch

 

3 Point Penalties

-Biting or striking the cow -Knocking down the cow

-Hanging up on the fence without having a working

(Refusing to turn) advantage

-Exhausting or overworking the

cow before circling

2 Point Penalties

-Going past the corner of the

arena before turning the cow when

going down the fence

1 Point Penalties

-Loss of working advantage -Using the corner or the end

-Horses that run past the cow of the arena to turn the cow

shall be penalized 1 point for when going down the fence

every horse’s length past the -Each time the arena is

cow, when the horse’s buttocks crossed to use the opposite

pass the cow’s head by one horse’s fence to achieve a turn

length, he is one length past -Slipping a rein

-Failure to pass middle marker

on first turn before turning cow

0 - Score

-Turn tail -During the cow work, use

-Fingers between the reins of two hands on the reins,

-Leaving the work area before except with junior horses

the pattern or work is complete ridden two-handed in a

(a) Any horse that is out of bosal or snaffle bit.

control while working the cow, -The judge may blow his

thus endangering the rider (i.e. whistle at any time to

Crossing the path of the cow) terminate the work.

shall be called off the cow -A score of zero will be

(b) Any horse that runs over charged if the work is not

the cow thus causing the fall complete at that point

of horse and/or rider shall terminate

the work at that time.

(i) If time and number of cattle permit, the judge may, at his

discretion, award new cattle, to enable the contestant to show his

horse’s ability on the cow, based on the following criteria:

(1) The cow won’t or can’t run;

(2) The cow won’t leave the end of the arena;

(3) The cow is blind or won’t yield to the horse;

(4) The cow leaves the arena.

(j) Scoring will be on the basis of 0 to 100, with 70 denoting an

average performance. The same basis of scoring shall apply to both

the reined work and cow work. In the event of a tie, the entry with

the highest cow work will be declared the winner.

(k) The following characteristics of the horse are considered

faults:

(1) Exaggerated opening of mouth;

(2) Hard or heavy mouth;

(3) Nervous throwing of head;

(4) Lugging on bridle;

(5) Halting or hesitation while being shown, particularly

when being run out, indicating anticipation of being set up;

(6) Losing a cow or being unable to finish a pattern

because of a bad cow, the contestant should be penalized at the

judge’s discretion;

(7) Touching the horse or saddle with the free hand except

during the cow work portion of the class, where the rider may hold

onto the horn.

(l) The characteristics of a good working cow horse are:

(1) Good manners;

(2) Shifty, smooth and having its feet under it at all times;

when stopping, hind feet should be well under it;

(3) A soft mouth and should respond to a light rein, especially

when turning;

(4) Head should be maintained in its natural position;

(5) Work at reasonable speed and still be under control of

the rider.

(m) A show may have up to three approved working cow horse

classes.

(1) If three working cow horse classes are held at a show

they shall be the following:

(A) Senior working cow horse shown with bit;

(B) Junior working cow horse shown with bit;

(C) Hackamore/snaffle bit working cow horse (fiveyear-

olds and younger, shown with a hackamore or snaffle bit).

(1) No horse may be entered in both junior bit and hackamore/

snaffle bit working cow horse classes at the same show;

(2) If two working cow horse classes are to be held at a

show, they shall be the following:

(A) Senior working cow horse shown with bit;

(B) Junior working cow horse shown with either a bit,

hackamore or snaffle bit at the discretion of the exhibitor;

(3) If only one working cow horse class is to be held at a

show, it shall be the following:

(A) Working cow horse - all ages (horses six years old

and older must be shown in bit; horses five years old and younger

may be shown in either bit, hackamore or snaffle bit at the discretion

of the exhibitor).

(n) The judge may request additional work at his/her option.

 

WORKING COW HORSE PATTERN I

1. Start at end of arena. Run down middle past center marker to a

sliding stop.

2. Back at least 10 feet to center. 1/4 turn to left.

3. Pick up right lead, big fast circle, small slow circle.

4. Change leads to left, big fast circle, small slow circle.

5. Change leads to right, do not close this circle.

6. Run around end of arena and down the side (approximately

twenty feet from fence) past center marker and come to a sliding

stop.

7. Complete 3 1/2 spins to the right.

8. Continue back down side and end of arena to other side

(approximately twenty feet from fence) go past center marker and

come to a sliding stop.

9. Complete 3 1/2 spins to the left.

10. Hesitate to complete pattern.

 

WORKING COW HORSE PATTERN II

Mandatory Marker Along Fence or Wall

Ride Pattern as Follows:

Trot to center of arena and stop. Start pattern facing toward judge.

1. Pick up left lead, complete three circles to the left. The first

one large and fast, the second small and slow, the third large and

fast.

2. Change leads at center of arena.

3. Complete three circles to the right. The first one large and

fast, the second small and slow, the third large and fast.

4. Change leads at center of arena.

5. Do not stop, continue on to run downs.

6. Run to far end past the marker to a sliding stop. Hesitate

7. Complete 3 1/2 spins to the left. Hesitate.

8. Run to far end past the marker to a sliding stop. Hesitate

9. Complete 3 1/2 spins to the right. Hesitate.

10. Run past center marker to a sliding stop. Hesitate.

11. Back at least 10 feet in a straight line. Hesitate

12. Hesitate to complete pattern.

WORKING COW HORSE PATTERN III

Mandatory Marker Along Fence or Wall

Ride Pattern as Follows:

Trot to center of arena and stop. Start pattern facing toward judge.

1. Begin on right lead and complete three circles to right, two

big fast circles followed by one small slow circle, change to left

lead.

2. Complete three circles to left, first two big, fast circles fol

lowed by one small slow circle. Change to right lead.

3. Continue loping around end of arena without breaking gait.

4. Run up center of arena to far end past the end marker and

come to a sliding stop.

5. Complete 2 1/2 spins to the right.

6. Run up center of arena past the end marker, come to a slid

ing stop.

7. Complete 2 1/2 spins to the left.

8. Run back to middle of the arena past the center marker and

come to a sliding stop.

9. Back at least 10 feet in a straight line.

10. Hesitate to complete pattern.

 

WORKING COW HORSE PATTERN IV

Ride Pattern as Follows:

1. Start at end of arena.

2. Run up center of arena past the end marker and come

to a sliding stop. Complete 2 1/2 spins to the left.

3. Run to other end of arena past the end marker and stop.

Complete 2 1/2 spins to the right.

4. Run past the center marker and stop.

5. Back at least 10 feet in a straight line.

6. Complete 1/4 turn to the left, hesitate. Begin on right

lead. Circle to the right. Complete two circles to the right,

the first one small and slow and the second large and fast.

Change leads at the center of the arena.

7. Complete one small, slow circle and one large, fast circle.

Change leads to the left.

8. Complete one small, slow circle and one large, fast circle.

Change leads to the right.

9. Run around end of arena to the other side, past the cen

ter marker, at least 20 feet from fence and come to a sliding

stop.

10. Hesitate to complete pattern.

WORKING COW HORSE PATTERN V

Ride Pattern as Follows:

Trot to center of arena and stop. Start pattern facing away from

judge.

1. Begin at the center of arena, facing right wall or fence. Take

a right lead and complete a circle to the right, away from the

judge.

2. At the center of arena, change leads and do two circles to

the left, of approximately the same size.

3. At the center of arena, change leads.

4. Continue loping to run down.

5. Do a square sliding stop. Hesitate.

6. Do 2 1/2 spins to the right.

7. Run full length of arena past end marker and do a square

sliding stop. Hesitate.

8. Do 2 1/2 spins to the left.

9. Run past center marker of arena, do a square sliding stop.

10. Back at least 10 feet to center of arena.

11. Do 360-degree spin right or left.

12. Do a 360-degree spin opposite direction taken in #11.

13. Hesitate to show completion of pattern.

 

WORKING COW HORSE PATTERN VI

1. Start at end of arena.

2. Run down the middle of the arena, past the end

marker and come to a sliding stop.

3. Complete 3 1/2 spins to the left.

4. Run to the other end of the arena, past the end

marker and come to a sliding stop.

5. Complete 3 1/2 spins to the right.

6. Run back to the middle of the arena, past the center

marker and stop.

7. Back at least 10 feet. Hesitate.

8. Complete 1/4 turn to the left.

9. Beginning on right lead, complete one circle to

right, change leads. Complete one circle to left. Change

leads and begin a large fast circle to the right, but do

not close this circle.

10. Run straight down the right side of the arena past

the center marker and do a sliding stop at least twenty

(20) feet (6 meters) from the wall or fence.

11. Hesitate to complete pattern.

WORKING COW HORSE PATTERN VII

Trot to center of arena and stop. Start pattern facing toward

judge.

1. Begin at center of arena. Pick up right lead and com

plete three circles, the first big, fast, the second small,

slow, the third big, fast. Change leads to the left.

2. Complete three circles, the first big, fast, the second

small, slow, the third, big, fast. Change leads to the

right.

3. Continue loping around end of arena without break

ing gait or changing leads.

4. Run down center of arena, past end marker and come

to a sliding stop. Hesitate.

5. Complete 2 1/2 spins to the right.

6. Run down center of arena past end marker and come

to a sliding stop. Hesitate.

7. Complete 2 1/2 spins to the left.

8. Run past center marker and come to a sliding stop.

9. Back up at least 10 feet.

10. Hesitate to complete pattern.

    

WORKING COW HORSE PATTERN VIII

Trot to center of arena and stop. Start pattern facing toward

judge.

1. Beginning on the left lead complete three circles: two

large, fast circles, then one small slow circle. Change

leads to the right.

2. Complete three circles to the right: two large, fast cir

cles, then one small slow circle. Change leads to the left.

3. Continue around end of arena without breaking gait

or changing leads, run down center of arena past end

marker, come to a square sliding stop.

4. Complete 3 1/2 spins to the left.

5. Run down center of arena past end marker and come

to a square sliding stop.

6. Complete 3 1/2 spins to the right.

7. Run down center of arena past center marker and

come to a square sliding stop.

8. Back up at least 10 feet.

9. Hesitate to complete pattern.