Stock Work for trotting horse - need ideas!

[ktbussey]

Help! I've spent a few days planning my OF and CM/AR Performance entries for the upcoming Red River Live Show this weekend, and find myself a bit stumped for a "Stock Work" entry for a trotting horse. Ideas please!

[sassymiss]

How fast is he trotting? Like a Palouse trot or more like a Zippo trot?

Anyway, here are my initial thoughts:

trotting behind the cattle herd - pushing them in the gate, to the barn, wherever (ranch work) -- this is what I do with my Margurita resin -- she's jogging

Trotting with one cow, keeping it away from the herd (cutting) -- if the horse's head is turned a bit so its looking at the cow

Starting to work a calf down the rail or pushing it off the rail for ring work (working cow horse) -- though usually done at a canter, the calf often slows or is slow to start after pulling him from the herd/end so you could be pushing it to go faster and still be working your pattern

Trotting into the box before roping if you had a chute set up

Trotting behind the running calf to collect your rope (which would still be around the calf's neck) after breakaway roping -- the riders follow the calf back to the chute after catching it to get their rope since they don't dismount after the catch

Hope those help. :)

[ktbussey]

Trotting behind the running calf to collect your rope (which would still be around the calf's neck) after breakaway roping -- the riders follow the calf back to the chute after catching it to get their rope since they don't dismount after the catch

Hope those help. :)

It's a Palouse trot and I LOVE the idea of trotting behind the running calf after breakaway roping. Thanks so much!

[Mary]

Great ideas!

Stock horses have to get where they're going somehow. It could be trotting toward any creative set-up you could pull together related to range work. Or even rodeo - getting to the chute for a roping or steer wrestling run ...

Also, could be ponying another horse - 2nd horse in training; 2nd horse being taken to it's rider ...

Personally I think the Palouse has a world of untapped performance potential, with some thought.