Cow Horse Challenge

At this time of year, Logan and I tend to go to a lot of horse events - a lot of fairs, rodeo-type events and others. Last night we went to something we had never been to before - cattle sorting at the Abingdon Cow Horse Challenge.

Let me try my best to explain cattle sorting. My favorite way to explain it is it's like playing pool with horses and cows. There are two pens set up and they are attached by a small passage-way (they kind of look like an '8'). There are 10 young cows with numbers 0-9 and one 'spare cow' without a number. There are two riders on horseback and the object is to get the cows into the other pen in numerical order without letting the spare cow go through. It's different every time because the announcer gives the riders a number to start with - they might have to start with number 4, then go 5,6,7,8,9,0,1,2 and 3. It is WAY harder than it sounds because those cows want to bust through to the other side or not go through at all. The riders have 90 seconds to get the cattle through and if one goes in out of order or the spare cow goes through, they are disqualified.

Now, I can hear my mother now saying 'that's cruel for the cows'. Other than the numerical thing which just makes it more challenging, there is a lot of history in ranch work in competitions like this. Say there is a sick or injured cow or one that just needs to be checked on, riders would have to separate the herd to get to that particular cow or maybe they are selling some of the cows and not the others, they would have to separate them into two herds. If you are familiar with any of these events, team roping and cutting are other 'practical' competitions. I am very sure you can find all of these events if you did a search on youtube!

I couldn't believe the amount of people there last night - it started around 6:30-7:00 (it was supposed to start at 6!) and we left at 9:30 and it was still in full swing going on! I think they said they had around 350 teams there competing (teams could consist of some of the same people - just switched up) - at the rate they were going, they might still be out there this morning! Logan and I both said they should have started it WAY earlier in the day but I don't think they were expecting the turn out that showed up. All in all, it was a lot of fun to watch and while we were there, only 1 team (an all girl team!) got all of the cattle through! Oh - another highlight of my night? Deep-fried Oreos. A funnel-cake-like batter on the outside and on the inside they were warm and soft. YUM! You GOTTA love fair food :)

The horses and riders warm up before the competition.

Trying to pick out the first cow

The first one gets through!

Blocking the entrance so the others don't go through.

Spectators