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While
at CowHorse Ranch, you may work use our state-of-the-art mechanical
cutting cow or work live cattle.
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Click
any photo for larger view. Photo opens in a new window.
150' round arena
90' x 90' cutting pen
120' x 240' 5-rail arena
Entrance gate into 120' x 240' arena
60' x 100' mechanical cow working arena
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We
have four arenas available for your personal use:
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150'
round arena with solid walls and cattle holding pens
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90'
x 90' cutting pen with solid walls
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120'
x 240' 5-rail arena
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60'
x 100' mechanical cow working arena
All
arenas are rock-and dust-free. They have excellent footing and water
sprinkler systems.
Arenas
are available by the hour, the day, or half-day
for one rider or a group. Use them to…
- Introduce
your young horses to cattle in a quiet, no-pressure environment,
far from traffic and other distractions.
-
Tune
up your seasoned horse before competitions.
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Learn
to read and work cattle without the pressure of a clock.
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Teach
your horse to track, stop, turn, and go with cattle using our
state-of-the-art mechanical cutting cow.
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Work
live cattle in any of the arenas, either by yourself or
with turnback help.
Our
arenas feature many amenities, including plenty of flat parking
areas, wash racks, drinking water, hitch rails, etc. If you would
like to bring several horses, we can longe or lope your second horse
while you ride your first, then cool down and hose off your first
horse for you.
Lessons
also are available, and we have good horses
for sale from time to time.
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State-of-the-Art
Mechanical Cuttin’ Cow Try
out the mechanical cow on Sundays at CowHorse Ranch.
Ranch sorting and cutting practice, too.
Click here for more information. Click
any underlined link below for larger view in a new window.  Our
top-of-the-line mechanical cow in its 60'
x 100' working arena can be manually operated remotely from the saddle.
This is especially beneficial for working on specific problem areas (drifting,
fading, left turns, right turns, etc.) or for teaching a youngster to
go with the cow, stop with the cow, wait on the cow, and turn with the
cow.
Infinitely
adjustable speeds regulate turns, traveling speed, and stops. Start slow,
then gradually increase speeds and difficulty of runs, taking the pressure
and fear out of it and encouraging the beginner horse. Many
young horses are soured on cattle because the cows have rushed at them
or underneath them. This can’t happen with the mechanical cutter,
as it only goes back and forth, at whatever speed you dictate, at whatever
distance you and your horse are comfortable. Your
horse learns to work a “target” (life-sized 300-pound bald-faced
heifer). This
mechanical cow also is very useful for someone wanting to learn to sit
a cutting horse without the added hazards of live cattle. With the mechanical
cow, you call the shots, not the cow, and you can progress at your own
comfort level. You can instantaneously repeat any given move that needs
work.
The mechanical cow also may be used hands-free, allowing the computer
to randomly generate runs of 2.5 minutes each. You set the speeds and
stops, then let the cow “do its own thing.” Each run is different
in content, yet equal in degree of difficulty. “Fun” doesn’t
even begin to describe it! [back
to top] Live
Cattle We
maintain a herd of 30 or more cattle at all times, rotating them out for
fresh ones whenever they get tired of playing. You may work live cattle,
either individually or as a herd. Click
photo or underlined links for larger view in a new window. 
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Anyone
wishing to work live cattle will find the 150'
round pen an ideal work environment. You may wish to start your
young horse by tracking a single cow around the pen, then stopping
and turning with the cow, at whatever distance you and your horse
are comfortable, moving gradually closer as confidence is built.
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Cutters
will appreciate the 90'x
90' solid-walled working pen to get a horse focused on his job.
Working one-on-one will really sharpen your horse’s moves,
especially when it comes to “working the middle.” This
is a great practice pen, with plenty of room to be used with turnback
help and herd holders. Its unique design allows for good air circulation
and, like all our arenas, it is rock- and dust-free.
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Working/reined
cow horse enthusiasts will want to take advantage of the good footing
and working size of the 120'
x 240' five-rail arena for fence work. Good footing and proper
moisture content makes “going down the fence” a rewarding
experience. Plenty of room for reining patterns and for circling the
cow.
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Sorting
is an excellent means of learning to work slowly in the herd, to read
cattle, and to build a young horse’s confidence. Sorting can
be done in either of the big arenas.
Turnback
help is always available, of course. [back
to top] |
