Sunday, April 20, 2014

Trained Cutting Horses For Sale Are Prized For Their Skills

By Essie Osborn


Cutting is the event in Western Horse Shows in which a horse and its rider work as one entity. The goal is to isolate and separate a heifer, which is a young female cow, or a steer, which is a castrated bull, away from the rest of the herd. That isolation is maintained for a brief, yet specific, period of time. Cutting Horses For Sale are highly trained and thus, come at a premium price.

These intelligent animals possess the instinct to cut out a heifer or steer quickly. They are well-trained and perform in perfect unison with the rider. They turn quickly and respond to signals given by shifting the weight in the saddle rather than by the use of the reins.

The American Quarter Horse, with its shorter body and ability to make those sharp turns, is especially suited to perform in this event. When the horse and rider separate the bovine, the cow will try to rejoin its herd. Then the cowboy loosens his grip on the reins allowing the horse to take control.

This horse will work the heifer skillfully, turning it away from the herd at every turn. Typically, the event requires two and a half minutes of maintaining its isolation. Two or three cows are cut during each run. Point systems are set up to judge each entrant.

Obviously, the cutting horse is a specially bred and extensively trained animal. When such a horse is offered for sale, the price is high. It is not required, but most of these animals are registered quarter horses.

Cash prizes can total thousands of dollars for the top contenders. Unlike the race horse, or the one competing in other speed events, this horse does not undergo strenuous physical exertion for extended periods of time. Therefore, it can compete frequently without a rest period between days.

No running is involved. The horse follows the cow, draws back over its hocks and follows the direction taken by the cow. The rider gives the horse its head and focuses on the cows neck. The rider may use leg aids or shifting of weight in the saddle to steady the horse, but the reins are not used as they are in most other riding competitions.

These special equines are advertised for sale from Australia to America. The classified ads list some of their most important features. Included are color, breed, registration status, date of birth and the height of the animal.

The color can range from buckskin to sorrel and from bay to black. The most frequent registration is by the American Quarter Horse Association. Depending on the rules of each event, registration may or may not be required.

A horse is measured in a certain way. Its height is measured in hands. Each hand is approximately four inches. This system began centuries ago when the width of a hand was the standard of measurement. Height is measured at the withers, the spot in front of the saddle.

As mentioned, most cutting horses are either registered quarter horses or quarter horse types. They have shorter bodies, typically. Thus, their conformation is suited to making the sharp turns necessary to compete successfully in this event.




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