Cow Horse for Cutters Returns

OW FORC HORSE CUTTERS

Janet Westfall makes a triumphant return to the cow horse arena.

By Abigail Boatwright

Riders accustomed to the routines of the cutting pen tried out cow horse in the Cow Horse for Cutters class on October 20. Out of eight riders, Janet Westfall, of Granbury, Texas, rose to the top aboard Julie Gibbons-owned and -bred 2014 black gelding Unos Blue Lightening (Uno What Time It Is x Miss Vibrant Chex x Nu Chex To Cash).

Each rider completed a reining pattern and boxed for 50 seconds before having the option to go down the fence. Westfall and “Blue” scored a 141 in the rein work and a 146 in the cow work for a total store of 287. Westfall received a custom pair of Serna Boots, as did the other top four riders.

Westfall competed in cow horse decades ago, but has lately stuck to cutting alongside her trainer husband, Russ. When she had the chance to compete in this class, she connected with National Reined Cow Horse Association Two Million Dollar Rider Todd Crawford to borrow Blue. The horse-and-rider team met the day before they competed.

Her strategy was to complete as clean a run as she could. And she tried to think ahead to make sure she completed the pattern correctly.

“The romal reins felt so foreign to me because [in reining] we ride with split reins, with our reins down,” Westfall said. “So it was pretty much the complete opposite of what I do. I just tried not to embarrass myself.”

After this class, Westfall is eager to try again—this time, with a bit more speed. She is thankful to Blue’s owner and Crawford for their help.

“Todd kept telling me to push him a little harder and go a little faster, and I was probably a little tentative, but if I get the chance again, that’s what I’ll do,” Westfall said. “Everybody is really nice—all of this was awesome. Showing and seeing some old faces I know was super fun. Maybe one day I’ll come back with a 3-year-old.”

Tim Drummond was reserve aboard Devon Camilleri’s Just Call Me Earl (Once In A Blue Boon x CP Peekn Sneakn Blue x Peeka Pep). The 2015 red roan gelding was bred by Lassen Land and Livestock Co. They scored a 142.5 in the rein work and a 144 in the cow work for a 286.5 total score.

Riding a seasoned reined cow horse, Janet Westfall successfully ran her reining pattern then boxed her way to the No. 1 spot in the invitational event.

Don Rich Saddlery (270) 791-6448