Spanish Mustang: Who’s Chasing Who?

My Spanish Mustang cow clinic

By Jennifer Klitzke

“Dressage, trail riding, obstacles, jumping fences…hmmm…what else could I try with Indy?” I asked my friend. She encouraged us to give team penning a try. “You mean, working with COWS?” I asked. I would never have imagined that this devoted dressage rider would be working with cows, but I thought I’d give it a try.

Naturally I expected my bold little Spanish Mustang to take to cows no problem. Well, not so. When Indy saw the little black calf running towards him, he spun around and bolted the other way, much like an Andalusian in a bullfight. I was about ready to give up the thought of working cows until Hi Circle Vee Ranch in St. Francis, MN offered an “Introducing Your Horse to Cows” Clinic.

This low-key, confidence-building cow clinic was just what Indy needed. Twenty-two horse/rider teams began by walking along the outside of two round pens that contained three cows each. After a few laps, the horses relaxed to the smells and movement of those strange alien creatures. Then each of us were given five minutes inside of the round pen with the cows as an experienced cow wrangler coached us on how to move the cows around.

Once Indy realized that he was empowered to push the youngsters around, his first fearful encounter with cows was replaced with fearlessness. Within a few minutes of coaching, Indy was staying right on the hip of the calf and cutting it off to move it the other way, walk, trot and canter.

Now this devoted dressage rider has joined a cow sorting league, and it turns out that our dressage training has met practical application.

Video: Spanish Mustang: Introducing Your Horse to Cows Clinic>

My Spanish Mustang cow clinic