Colt to Cowhorse Event Criteria

This competition is to celebrate the many useful and common sense horse training techniques that are out there.  We have compiled these criteria because we believe the training a horse gets early in life is the most important of all.  The techniques we are focusing on here, are those that make a horse better prepared for training under saddle.  Many of these criteria can be accomplished many different ways.  We want you to focus on the best use of pressure and release and the softest, most successful cues because those will be the most rewarded in this competition.  This event will be judged by an experienced AQHA Judge.  He will be looking for the best use of pressure and release in the handler and the soft and educated responses in the horse.  The lighter and more effortless it is, the more "successful" a run will be.

Not all horses can accomplish everything listed below and some take longer than others to learn to do everything here.  Go at your colts speed and remember, this is about softness and pressure/release.  Enjoy the journey here and let this competition be an experience that helps you always stive to be the best horseman you can be.  ENJOY!

Class #1

Lead
Lead horse forward with soft cue

Stop
Stop horse on softest cue possible

Back
Back horse on softest cue possible

Desensitize with Rope & Sack
Show horses comfort level being rubbed or touched over entire body with a rope or a sack on a stick.

Flex
Bring the horses nose softly around to the side (laterally)... using the halter or the tip of your finger.  Both sides.

Pick up Feet
Pick up all 4 of horses feet with the lightest pressure you can.

Ears
Touch/Rub the horses ears to show his comfort level with being touched and rubbed there.  Both sides.

Give to Pressure

  • Forequarter Yield - move horses front feet away from handler
  • Hindquarter Yield - move the horses back feet away from handler
  • Break at Poll - From the front of the horse, with your hand, ask the horse to soften at the poll with the softest cue possible.  (This does not have to be excessive, these are colts, just do the best your colt can here).
  • Sidepass - Move horse laterally away frpm the handler with the lightest pressure possible.  Front and back end of the horse need to move at the same time.



Class #2

Clippers
Hanlder rubs bladeless clippers around horses head and muzzle. 

Drive or Longe
Initiate movement from behind the horse with any cue handler wishes, remember softer is best.  Ask horse to go forward, turn left circle, turn right circle and stop on softest command possible and with some form of restraint (i.e. rope or Longe Line).

Cross Bridge
While leading, ask horse to cross bridge calmly and quietly.

Cross Tarp
While leading, ask horse to cross tarp calmly and quietly.

Walk thru curtain
While leading, ask horse to cross trhough a curtain calmly and quietly.

Load into trailer
While leading, or pointing horse in, ask horse to enter trailer calmly and quietly.

Ground Tie
Ask horse to stand with the lead rope on the ground. 

Saddle
Ask horse to stand ground tied while accepting handler blanketing and saddling him/her.

Hobble
Ask horse to stand ground tied while accepting handler hobbling him/her.

Round Penning
  • Directional Movement - Ask horse to go (at the trot)
*left
*stop and face
*right
*stop and face

  • Speed Control - Ask the horse to
*walk
*trot
*lope
*stop

Stop on Command

Walk to handler on Command
Ask horse to stand ground tied while handler walks away and then asks horse to come with the softest cue possible.

Back on Command
Ask horse to back away from handler with the softest cue possible.

Sidepass to handler
Ask horse to sidepass toward handler with the softest cue possible.




If you need help accomplishing these tasks, consider signing up for one or our clinics (see info. below).  Clinics are $20 each and all proceeds go directly into our prize money.  If you have any other questions give us a call at:

405-590-0466
Mike Vanzant

Upcoming Clinics
The following clinics are designed to help you prepare for the competition.  All clinic proceeds go directly into the prize money for the event.

Below are the two different clinic locations to choose from.  Both locations will try to cover all exercises throughout their clinic schedule.

Clinic #1
$20
date pending
time pending
McClain County Expo. Center
Purcell, Ok
Mike Vanzant
www.vanzantranchsorting.com
405-590-0466
Call to confirm your spot!


Clinic #2
$20.00
January 31, 2010
1 pm
WestWay Training Facility
1802 W. Central
Stroud, OK
918-332-6033
info@westwaytraining.com
Call to confirm your spot!