And the Competition Begins…

It was a long, hot summer... but one I will never forget. Weekends went by and Team Penning was fading out at RHO.  Tom delved into Team Sorting.  I wasn’t sure what that was about.  Sue encouraged me the most.  “You will love it… it’s much easier than penning and a slower pace.

I spent most of my time learning how to perfect this art of sorting. She was right.  The first day in the arena was exhilarating!  Sorting is easier and much better for a cutting horse to handle.  Penning is really about chasing cows.  That goes against the horse’s mindset. With sorting, the horse has to cut the correct number cow out of the heard and push it back over the line.  So, in all essence, it was cutting at a different level.  This came easy to Chill.  She was a cutter… and a good one... and she was the one who taught me how to play this game!  I loved it... and we were getting good at it, too. 

  RHO Horse and Cattle Company took our troops on the road.  I wasn’t sure how Chill would perform outside of our home arena.  Our first trip was to a local Equestrian Center, a beautiful, upscale English barn with wide aisles and black wrought iron grating on the stalls. Those English folk damn sure didn’t know what hit ‘em when we plowed into their grounds!  In a cloud of dust… cows mooing, horses neighing and hat-bearing, spur-wearing cowpokes arrived! Well, ain’t this somethin’.  

 I still find it funny to see massive warmbloods with riders in tall black boots and black velvet riding helmets turn and face a herd of cattle! Many of our friends board there.  The Equestrian Center owners were warm, kind people who enjoyed the festivities when our barn arrived.  There was food, drink and friends and lots of laughs in between.

It was there we met Gail and Norm. I knew Gail and was pleased to see her again.  She is a talented makeup artist who frequently painted my daughter at times of prom, weddings and special occasions.  Long ago we spoke about riding and our horses.  Gail always tried to convince me to go on a trail ride someday with her.  Not being a “trail” person, I always avoided the subject.  I told her where my barn was and all about Tom Riley. She shared her story about Arlo, her giant mammoth of a rescue quarter horse who had all types of behavioral issues.  This particular sorting day at the Equestrian Center, Gail and I reconnected.  She watched and learned and was bitten by the sorting bug instantly.

This day was fun.  It was our first time sorting away from home.  Our barn did awesome and of course, Karl took home the trophy! I was proud to be a part of RHO and everyone knew we were definitely strong riders…we just confirmed that fact!