Article May 31, 2004 Issue

TRUST AND UNITY IN CUTTING

Mary Jo Milner

In a cutting-horse contest you ride on a loose rein among a herd of cattle. Then when you get a cow separated from its herd, you release the rein, yet you don't lose the connection with your horse. The cow is bent on returning to the herd and thinks the horse holds the key. It will duck and dodge in front of the horse, looking for a hole.

Good cutting horses draw on inner resources when driving and working cattle. They "read" cattle, or are "cow smart." Cow sense is probably linked to the horse's primal herding instincts—to intelligence and natural curiosity. At the same time, you need to be in tune with the cow so that, as your horse begins to work it, the horse will not feel tension, rigidity, or resistance through the saddle and in the reins and bridle.

If you were leaning one way and the horse were going the other way, imagine what would happen! The rider is moving in unison with the horse, but the harmony is orchestrated. Flexibility is the key. So it's all about trust and expectancy, trust and release.

Mary Jo Milner

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