A fun, safe run in the ranch sorting pen depends on a rider’s confidence in themselves and in their horse.
Confidence around cattle has never been a problem for a kid raised on a South Dakota ranch. Sorting between 4,500 and 8,500 cattle every day ingrained many of the basics I still fall back on when competing in Cinch RSNC ranch sorting events.
However, when a rider is new to ranch sorting, there are a few check boxes I use to determine their confidence working cattle and their skill levels on the back of a horse.
WATCH OUR RANCH SORTING MASTERCLASS FEATURING LOGAN WOLFE
Find the Right Horse (And People)
To gain the confidence you need to sort cattle, you must have a horse that fits your skill level; a horse that isn’t going to intimidate you but instead teach you how to be comfortable around cattle.
It’s also important to surround yourself with people who are in your corner. When I’m coaching riders, I focus on improving a rider’s horsemanship while also helping them better understand what a competition will feel like. I don’t want people to get discouraged at a competition and not come back.
At events, I’m there to cheer riders on. I want them giving their best every time they sort, to always remember there’s another run, and to not let any mistakes keep them from trying again.
DIVE INTO THE WORLD OF RANCH SORTING
Right, Left, and Smooth
Everybody thinks sorting is easy since you have a little pen to work with, but it requires good horsemanship and communication. A horse that listens is going to be more efficient than one that just runs and guns.
Consistency is what you need to win at an event like the Cinch RSNC World Finals in June. So I like to focus on important fundamentals that will take you from the beginner level all the way to the open. Your horse needs to go left and right to move and sort with efficiency, which means you need to have control of his body to be able to create the right angle to hold cattle. Having control of the front end will also help your vision stay clear. Problems arise when your horse swings around and puts his back to the cattle.
If your horse can’t freely move, you can’t sort. If he’s stiff and unable to move his body, that’s when you get
behind the motion, and things get fast and out of control. Include suppling exercises into your daily riding routine to help him soften up and gain control of his feet.
RANCH SORTING TACK AND GEAR MUST-HAVES
Steady to Success
The Cinch RSNC added Western Heritage classes to their shows, which are essentially no-lope sorts. The addition has been extremely beneficial to the sport because it allows beginners beginners to slow everything down and sort cattle at a speed at which they’re comfortable riding.
A horse can’t focus on what you’re asking him to do if you’re constantly kicking him and pulling on him to get him to speed up his legs and sort cattle. Instead, you should be using your reins to help guide your horse’s shoulders, using your leg to help shape your horse to the cow you’re trying to sort. And that’s easier to think about when you slow everything down and stop stressing about the timer.
Dave Schaffner, Goldthwaite, Texas, has been riding, training, and selling performance horses for years. He is a Cinch RSNC competitor and helps all levels of ranch sorters through his lessons and clinics. To learn more about Schaffner visit facebook.com/ridin.with.dave.
