Hi Gary, in Reined Cow Horse, or Working Cow Horse (same thing) there are usually two sessions. One is a reining pattern (dry work), and the second is working a single cow in the arena. If it is a three day event, they will add a session where you work a herd of cattle (similar to Cutting). The reining pattern session is self explanatory. The second session (fence-work) involving the single cow has a few manuvers you must show. "Boxing" which is holding the cow in one or the other end of the arena, doing some cutting style work with the cow. "Fencing" is where you run the horse along the rail (side of the arena) after the cow, at a certain point along the rail, you'll stop the horse hard and roll back the cow in the other direction. On the first run down you'll turn the cow so it is still between you and the fence, on the second turn you'll turn the horse between the fence and the cow to push it out into the arena for the next step. "Circling" which is where you make the cow do a tight circle one way, and then the other way while in the middle of the arena.

I hope this makes sense, I'll post a video of a trainer called Monty Bruce demonstrating the fence-work part of the class and link it back here :)

Edited to add the link to the video: http://www.barnmice.com/video/monty-bruce-demostrates

-- Edited by Nikki Salo on Thursday 28th of October 2010 10:35:37 AM

-- Edited by Nikki Salo on Thursday 28th of October 2010 11:08:44 AM