Some horses are born eager to hunt a cow, while others—no matter how broke—would rather conserve energy and hang back. A horse that’s dull to your leg or slow to react can make working a cow frustrating and unproductive. The goal isn’t just to get through the run—it’s to teach your horse to drive up into a cow with purpose and maintain forward momentum without constant kicking or nagging from you.

In this exercise, you’ll learn how to wake up a horse that’s slow or reluctant to engage by using the cow itself to create energy and accountability. The focus is on making your horse push forward, follow through each stop and turn, and close the gap between stopping and re-engaging. The result? A more responsive, forward-thinking partner that’s ready to work a cow in the sorting pen, or through any working scenario that calls for quick reactions and forward motion.

Before you ever go to the cow, get your horse mentally and physically tuned in. A dull horse often means one that’s mentally checked out and not connected through his body. Spend a few minutes in the dry work getting him collected, soft in the face, and responsive to your leg. Ask for transitions, stops, and rollbacks until he’s willing to move forward when you ask, without you having to kick every stride.

1. Exaggerate your cues

It’s important that you start your cow work practice in a good spot. Make sure your horse is nice and collected, and responding to your cues. He should be moving forward off your leg and be soft in the face when you go to your hand. 

Once he’s collected and focused, it’s time to work a cow. Ride forward with purpose, and push your horse up into the cow, using your legs to encourage him to close the distance. The goal here isn’t to chase or scare the cow—it’s to build confidence and momentum in your horse.

For a horse that’s dull or hesitant, this is where you’ll exaggerate your cues a little. Ask him to overdo it—go all the way up until the cow moves away or hits the fence. You’re teaching him that forward is the right answer every time you put your leg on. If he hangs back or stalls, immediately correct him by driving him up again until he commits to the motion.

2. Drive past the cow

When the cow stops or turns away, resist the urge to just let your horse stop and wait. Instead, take him all the way past the cow. This teaches him to follow through, stay engaged, and not stall out between maneuvers.

Think of it like this: When the cow stops, you stop with it, then immediately turn through and drive forward past the cow’s hip. This reinforces forward motion even after a stop, helping break that sluggish habit of hesitating after every turn. 

This part may look a little rough at first, especially with a lazy horse, but that’s okay. You’re not schooling for polish right now; you’re schooling for effort. The key is to keep your horse thinking, “What’s next?” instead of mentally checking out any time the cow stops.

3. Drive, don’t pull

As soon as you ride past the cow, don’t give your horse time to get lazy. Immediately stop, turn, and reconnect with the cow. 

Use your legs first and your reins second. You’re not pulling him to the cow; you’re riding him to it. Keep him collected as you drive forward, asking for engagement through his body instead of just speed.

If he starts to lose energy between turns, trot a small circle to wake him up and get his body working again, then go right back to the cow. Over time, this repetition builds anticipation in a good way—your horse learns that the job isn’t done until he’s driven forward again.

4. Staying ready

Once your horse starts moving more willingly, it’s time to add just a little more pressure. 

Keep your hands steady and your body in the middle of your horse as you drive him up to the cow. When the cow speeds up, don’t just let your horse flatten out and chase; instead, collect him and ride him forward from your seat and leg, maintaining shape and rhythm. If the cow slows or stops, make sure your horse stops, turns, and then immediately pushes back up to the cow again.

This stage is where the training really starts to click. Your horse begins to understand that forward doesn’t mean run off, and stop doesn’t mean quit. You’re building responsiveness and energy, teaching him to go when asked, and stay ready for what’s next.

5. Know when to stop

When your horse starts to offer honest effort, that’s your cue to stop. Don’t drill past the try. With a horse that’s naturally dull, the real win is getting forward, consistent reactions.

Finish on a good note. Pull him off the cow, trot a few circles to loosen him up, and let him relax. This helps him connect that forward energy with softness, rather than tension or fatigue. The more you quit at the right moment, the quicker he’ll start giving you that effort early in the session.

Over time, you’ll notice that your horse no longer waits to be asked; he’ll start hunting that cow on his own, staying sharp and engaged without you constantly having to push. That’s when you know the lesson has stuck.

—H&R—

Learn from the pros. Multiple-time world champion Kody Ward is one of ranch sorting’s brightest young talents. He’s in the RSNC Hall of Fame and along with competing, he trains horses, gives lessons, and helps riders of all levels get started in the sport. Watch this exercise in action and see the rest of Kody Ward’s new Sorting Smart video series on Ride TV. Use promo code KODY10 for 10% off your first month.