Herd Helpers

A regular fixture on herd work days, “Porky” is as well known and as handy as his rider in the cutting pen.

By Kate Bradley Byars Photograph by Carolyn Simancik

The stars of the show in the herd work pen aren’t always the horses showing to the judges, but rather the ones helping to hold the herd. Just like a finished bridle horse, a truly talented turnback horse can take a while to season. However, when that horse knows the job, it is as good as gold.

Take CR Tuff Catolena (Woody Be Tuff x Lucindas Catolena x High Brow Cat), affectionately called “Porky,” for example. The stout sorrel with his flaxen mane and tail and kind eye is noticeable in the arena, and not only because he’s most often piloted by National Reined Cow Horse Association Million Dollar Rider Boyd Rice.

Bred and raised by the Center Ranch’s Finis Welch, Porky was trained by Ronnie Rice and Tarin Rice, and competed in the National Cutting Horse Association Futurity in 2013 with Charles Dorsey in the pilot’s seat.

“He’s a real easy keeper, but he had some stifle issue [after the Futurity],” Rice said. “They started using him on the ranch, then Ronnie and Tarin turned back on him several years. Out of the blue, Finis called me and asked me if I wanted to use Porky to turn back on. It was a quick, ‘Hell yeah’ from me. When Finis passed away [in August of 2020], I still had him. They are selling all the horses and offered to let me buy him. I’ve had him four or five years.”

Reined cow horse requires not only the horse and rider to be at the top of their game for three events, but to also have a top-notch set of helpers in the herd work. That’s where Porky comes in.

“For me, it takes an exceptional horse to turn back. I tell everybody when I’m holding herd or turning back that I may be in the wrong spot, but I don’t want it to be because of my horse. A lot of the time, you ask certain people to help you because of the horse they are riding,” Rice said. “Porky stands out because he’s so pretty and a real honest, good horse to use. He listens and knows what to do. [Todd] Bergen used him and said, ‘Man, this horse knows what to do!’ And he does!”

Next time you’re watching herd work, keep an eye on those herd helpers, the ones on the other side of the cow, doing their job to help that run reach its potential.

Porky and Boyd Rice handle cattle of all kinds when helping in the herd work pen.