Introducing my horse to cows for the first time today?!!?

[Peanut's Girl]

They do cutting at my barn every thursday night and i really want to get my horse used to cows. Also, they really need another person with a quick horse for turnback (where you stand in the middle of the arena and keep the cows from running past you) and they said they'd teach me so why not?

but my horse has never really been introduced to cows. He's seen them from a distance, but never close up. These aren't big cows, they are like 3/4 the size of the horses, but they are fast. My horse is bred for cow work though. His dad is a champion cutting horse and his mom did cutting and team penning, so it's in his blood.

But I was wondering if any of you have any tips to share or things to watch out for?

 

[Yohanson.]

Doing so at a walk, cut a cow from the herd as if you were gonna pen it, and follow it around for a while til he calms down about it, which will probably be when he realizes "Oh, the cow is running from ME. I'm not scared now!".
After that, just go for it!
Oh, and if they have team sorting, that would be easier for him to learn how to work cattle since it's a smaller ring and slower paced.

 

[SLA]

First, take a confident deep seat then take him into the arena and just haze along behind the cows until he figures out that they'll move away from him. Keep working him closer and closer and pushing them harder until he figures out he can control where they go. It shouldn't take him long. Especailly if he's been watching the cutting for awhile.

If he hasn't just sit on the sidelines and let him watch for a half hour or more. Then ask him to haze.

I be you find he's going to like this.

 

[PiggyDog]

Go out into the arena like there aren't cows in it.. Ride around and ask the horse to lope some circles and figure eights and get his focus on you rather then the mooing monsters on the other end of the arena..

Then ride towards them...Sit deep in your saddle... Ask him to move into the herd and then pull a calf or two out.. Once he sees that they will run from him, he shouldn't have a problem...
If he is frightened of them, that's fine to...

For me, the best cow horses are either cow aggressive, or afraid of the cow.. The ones that are just whatever about the cow, normally don't have the cow drive I like to see...

If he is frightened, sit down..Ask him to whoa and just let him check 'em out... Once he has settled down, ask him to move into them again... If he becomes frighened, make him stay where he is and if nessicary work him in some circles to get his focus back on you..

He oughta be fine.. most horses don't have a problem with cows..

 

[Shandi]

I love cutting. I took some lessons and my first live calf was buffalo... they are crazy.

Id say put him in a pen next to them so he can get used to them.