This event run in conjuction with Stonehurst Farm was extremely popular. The Lawrence family run monthly cattle working days and the NRC decided to co-opt one of these for our members. Sophie Ward (who has been to several of these days already) kindly organised it for the members. Two groups of 10 riders filled within a couple of days of advertising the event!
The morning group comprised ‘intermediate riders’ who had been to previous cattle fun days and the afternoon group comprised the ‘newbies’.
The Maxs have a large fenced arena that they use for this event. A group of approx 15-20 head of yearling cattle were used for the day. The session started with tuning up skills needed to work cattle such as quick changes of pace, stopping, turning etc without the cattle (they were having a rest under the trees). Then the cattle were moved into the pen along with the 10 riders and horses. Firstly we just moved our horses quietly around the cattle getting them used to the stock and then the real fun started! We were given tasks to individually move one cow out of the mob and move it down to the far end of the arena and then moved onto other group tasks where teams of riders cut out certain cattle from the mob and were timed on how long it took them. The horses coped with the cattle remarkable well and the competitive streak seriously came out in some of our members. It was a terrifically entertaining and fun day. Thanks must go to Sophie and the Max family.
The Maxs have a large fenced arena that they use for this event. A group of approx 15-20 head of yearling cattle were used for the day. The session started with tuning up skills needed to work cattle such as quick changes of pace, stopping, turning etc without the cattle (they were having a rest under the trees). Then the cattle were moved into the pen along with the 10 riders and horses. Firstly we just moved our horses quietly around the cattle getting them used to the stock and then the real fun started! We were given tasks to individually move one cow out of the mob and move it down to the far end of the arena and then moved onto other group tasks where teams of riders cut out certain cattle from the mob and were timed on how long it took them. The horses coped with the cattle remarkable well and the competitive streak seriously came out in some of our members. It was a terrifically entertaining and fun day. Thanks must go to Sophie and the Max family.