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HERD HELPERS Joe Dub, a big sorrel with a blaze, stands out in the herd work pen not only for his size, but also for his cow savvy. By Kate Bradley Byars Photograph by Carolyn Simancik
Tall with striking white markings, Joe Dub stands out in the pen, not only for is presence, but also for his work ethic.
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ot just any ole mount will do for Chris Dawson when he assists cutters in the herd work pen. A show horse that wants to “cow down” is not what he’s after, but rather a cow smart horse that understands when to work and when to stand still. For Dawson, that is partner Joseph Dublin Dawson, affectionately called “Joe Dub.” “He came off a ranch and I have no papers on him. The cool thing about him is that he will do exactly what you want him to do,” said the National Reined Cow Horse Association Million Dollar Rider from Perrin, Texas. “A
34 MAY/JUNE 2022 | REINED COW HORSE NEWS
show horse, when you use them [to turn back], they will cow down when you want them to be still, draw a cow to them when you need to drive it away, or drive one when you need to draw it to you. Horses that work cows every day for a living, they are tricky to turn back on, you know?” Whether assisting a Youth or Non Pro, or working the herd for his fellow Open riders, Dawson can be seen in nearly every set of the herd work all day, every day, of the show. He needs a horse that will work the same hours as he does.
“Joe has had a lot of long, hard days on the ranch he came from, so a day that is 12 hours but only six real hours of work is pretty minimal for him,” says Dawson of the tall sorrel horse. “He is laid back about things and doesn’t get too excited. A horse that gets amped up will sometimes buzz those cows up. It is funny, the more I turn back on a horse, they learn. For instance, when I’m standing in a corner helping a cutter and I’m looking at the herd and looking for the next cow while they are finishing, Joe will tell me if a cow is coming. He’ll tell me, ‘Hey get ready!’ He’ll almost turn back by himself!” While Joe Dub is Dawson’s A-string mount, he has another horse that he’s beginning to use at affiliate shows to help turn back. His goal is to maintain Joe’s willingness to help for as long as possible. To Dawson, a trusted herd helper like Joe is worth his weight in gold. “For me, he is invaluable,” Dawson says. “I know a lot of guys that turn back on show horses, but I don’t know how they do it. A show horse will jar me to death and wear me out; that is a miserable day for me. I want a horse that will let me do the thinking and only step in when I need it. They don’t get a lot of press but help people win a lot of money!”
