Evolution of a Reined Cow Horse

AGES & STAGES: THE EVOLUTION OF A REINED COW HORSE

The training of a reined cow horse is a methodical and meticulous process, taking years to reach the end result so prized by the Vaqueros—the finished bridle horse.

Reined cow horses are first eligible to compete in snaffle bit futurities as 3-year-olds. For many successful show horses, this is only the beginning. Beyond the futurities, three more show divisions await. The training process is a progression, with each stage building upon the one before it. The various phases of training beyond the snaffle bit are showcased here in Fort Worth with competitive divisions for cow horses aged 4 and up.

THE HACKAMORE YEARS

When young cow horses are 4- and 5-year-olds, they become eligible for the hackamore class. To showcase the traditional cow horse evolution, the Hackamore Classic was joined with the Snaffle Bit Futurity® in 2016. The Hackamore Classic provides hackamore horses two opportunities to compete in Fort Worth. The horses compete in the three-event herd/rein/cow work derby that makes up the Hackamore Classic; and in the horse show classes where entries perform a rein work pattern and work a cow down the fence immediately after.

The hackamore is the traditional bitless headgear. It consists of a bosal, a braided noseband usually made of rawhide or leather, and a closed rein called a mecate. The customary mecate material is horsehair, but mohair or guide the horse with both sets of reins and are permitted to use one or more fingers between the reins to direct the horse.

Horses may show only one season in the two-rein division. During this

synthetics are also common and legal in the show pen.

In the NRCHA Hackamore Classic derby, there are classes for Open, Intermediate Open, Limited Open, Level 1 Open and Open Novice Horse riders. Non-professional riders may compete in the Non Pro, Intermediate Non Pro and Limited Non Pro or Level 1 Non Pro classes. Eligibility is based on rider earnings. There is also a Non Pro Boxing class (herd/rein/ boxing) for Non Pro riders who do not go down the fence.

PRIMO MORALES

THE TWO-REIN

When reined cow horses turn 6, they are no longer eligible to be shown two-handed. At this age, they begin the transition to bridle horse status via the tworein, when a bridle is added to the hackamore. Two-rein horses are shown one-handed in a bit with shanks, a non-jointed mouthpiece, a port, and a roller, or “cricket.” Under the bridle, horses wear a second headstall with a pencil-thin bosalito, a narrower version of the hackamore bosal with a skinny mecate rein. The rider holds two sets of reins: the closed rawhide romal, which is attached to the bridle bit, and the thin mecate rein, which connects to the bosalito. Riders may

The Hackamore Classic, presented by Oswood Stallion Station, Amateur Championship went to Tylor Todd and Voodoo Whiskey (Shiners Voodoo Dr x Whiskey On Wheels x Paddys Irish Whiskey), who scored a composite 639 (H:206/R:213/C:220).

Katherine DeHaan, DVM, rode Smooth Dera Max (Smooth As A Cat x Dera Dually x Dual Pep), a 2015 gelding bred by Dana or Harry DeHaan, to the 2021 Snaffle Bit Futurity® Non Pro Two Rein class win.

PRIMO MORALES

year, they may also enter the bridle classes. In the two-rein classes, riders first perform a rein work pattern and then work a cow down the fence. You’ll be able to watch the Open and Non Pro two-rein horses in action here in Fort Worth.

THE BRIDLE

A finished bridle horse is considered the most elite competitor in the reined cow horse world. If they started their show career as a 3-year-old, and progressed continuously through the stages of training and competition, these bridle horses are now highly experienced 7-year-olds and older, ready to perform at the highest level. Bridle horses are shown in a shanked, ported bit with a cricket, in the traditional closed romal reins with the popper attached. The rider’s hand must be

PRIMO MORALES

At the 2021 Snaffle Bit Futurity®, Taylor Peters piloted 2014 mare Hot Shiney Lights (CS Lights x Shiners Hot Flash x Shining Spark), bred by Nicole Miller and owned by Scott Wagner, to the Limited Open Bridle class win.

closed on the reins with no fingers between at any time.

At the Snaffle Bit Futurity, bridle horses will compete in the Open, Limited Open, Non Pro, Intermediate Non Pro and Limited Non Pro Bridle class, depending on the rider’s eligibility. They will be judged on rein work and fence work only.

An increasingly popular division at NRCHA premier events is the Bridle Spectacular. Like the futurities and derbies, Bridle Spectacular horses compete in herd work, rein work and fence work or boxing for Boxing division riders – often for very rich purses.

Another avenue for bridle horses is the four-event, or all-around competition, where steer-stopping is added to the herd/rein/fence lineup. The signature event of this kind is the NRCHA World’s Greatest Horseman, part of the annual NRCHA Celebration of Champions, held next February in Fort Worth, Texas.

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