Lighthoof Tuesday Video: Duck Cutting

What a unique way for young riders to learn the mechanics of cutting!

Cutting is the quintessential western discipline, capitalizing on a cow horse’s natural ability to read and track a cow: in the show pen setting, a horse and rider separate a steer from a herd and then play “keep away,” preventing the steer from returning to the herd. In a real-world ranch application, cutting is a critical skill to separate a cow, calf or steer from the herd, perhaps for medical treatment or for moving cattle into new groupings.

A great cutting horse can often whip right out from underneath a rider if they’re not ready, so this unique idea is a great way for young riders in particular to learn the basic maneuvers of cutting without the risk and intimidation of riding on a real herd: this young cowgirl shows us how it’s done with a stick horse and a flock of ducks.

She does a great job, matching the duck’s movements and giving ground in her turns as to not pressure the duck any more than necessary:

This run reportedly scored a 151: well done, young rider! We’ll look for you in the youth pens in a few years.

Go riding!