My husband and I are addicted to team sorting. We're not particularly good at it -- we don't even compete. We go to sorting practice most weekends, and we chase numbered cows from one pen to the adjacent pen. Then we chase them back again. Now, that might sound like a cowboy version of the old military exercise of digging a hole, then filling it in and digging another, but it's just darned FUN. I really don't know why this activity, unlike any other team sport I've engaged in, has captured my interest so fully -- but it has me.
For those of you who don't know what team sorting is, but might have wondered why all those poor cows are running around with numbers on their backs, here's the scoop (or, since cattle are involved, we'll call it "the poop"). In team sorting (as opposed to single-person or single-man sorts) two riders enter a small round pen occupied by ten numbered cattle (0 - 9) and maybe an extra non-numbered cow or two. In under a minute's time, the riders must bring each cow, one at a time and in order, from the first pen into an adjacent pen through an opening referred to as "the hole." If a cow runs back into the first pen, or if they get out of order, the ride is disqualified.
I've always loved following a cow (or a herd of cattle) around on a horse. I even had the wonderful opportunity to chase buffalo around on horseback one brief and shining summer when I was young. Having the chance to do so weekly is making me feel like a kid all over again. The horses love it; we don't push them to the point where they're angry and sour. We want them to enjoy it, as we do. We like that it makes them think, it challenges them, and that they look at is as a sort of game.
My good ol' girl, Hollywood Royal Lady, turns 26 in April. From what I can tell, Holly had never seen a cow before the age of 25. I had the brainstorm of taking her to the sorting. She was apprehensive and unsure what those stinky critters were -- but suddenly she was lunging at the fence every time the cattle came by. She loves chasing cows as much as I do -- and just as innately. She pins her ears, trots along behind them, and moves sideways like a crab when necessary -- and it's instinctive. Thanks to her breeding, she just knew how to work them.
Boot Scootin' Bandit, my beloved buckskin, was pretty burned out on anything having to do with cattle since his days as an arena roping horse. Moving cattle from pen to pen, though, has restored his faith in bovine-dom. Ol' Buck isn't as crazy about it as Holly, but he clearly is relaxed and happy when we're out there together. Soon I hope all of our horses will be trained on cows -- just for the fun of it. Standby when we take the half-draft half-gaited moose, Gus, for his first practice! He's not exactly light on his feet. At least he's big enough to cover the entire hole without moving.
If you're interested in teaching your horse how to sort, here's my article on horse-meet-cow to help you out: Introducing Your Sorting Horse to Cattle. If you live in the Phoenix area (or are looking for a great excuse to get away from the cold and enjoy our Arizona warmth), my friend Dale is hosting a cattle introduction clinic on February 17th, 2013, for sorting and penning horses. It's aimed at those of you who've either never worked cattle, or who want to introduce your horse to cattle in a safe, slow, low-pressure environment, while having the benefit of some professional coaching and encouragement. Here's Dale's email: drdarnold@live.com. The clinic is a very affordable $100 for four hours of instruction, mounted work, and one-on-one coaching. (Auditors may attend for $20.)
While I'm singing Dale's praises here, I'll add that Dale takes horses in for training, too. Those of you who know me know I won't recommend a trainer unless I know them to be patient, kind, non-abusive, honest, competent, and just all-around-good people.
Hope to see you in the sorting pen!
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