Herd Helpers

When Clay Volmer lends a hand in the herd work pen, he relies on a horse that can stay focused all day.

By Kate Bradley Byars Photograph by Primo Morales

It is not unheard of for a turnback horse that herd help rides to do double duty, but for “Cruiser,” his two jobs are quite different. When owner and trainer Clay Volmer needs a solid horse to help in the herd, the 7-year-old gelding gets the call. That is, if Volmer’s son, Boyd Wilson, isn’t showing him in the National Reined Cow Horse Association Youth class simultaneously.

“My main turnback horse is Quik Draw Pistol and I started him as a 3-year-old in the snaffle bit,” Volmer said. “He had a little extra speed and when he turned 4, I started turning back on him. I bought him from the owners and I’ve hauled him ever since.”

In addition to having the grit and speed to help in the herd arena, Cruiser still has all the buttons needed to carry Boyd to place in classes such as the Box

When not turning back with Clay Volmer in the saddle, Quik Draw Pistol is Boyd Wilson’s Youth show mount. Drive Box, Youth Boxing or the Youth Boxing Spectacular. The 2015 gelding, sired by Metallic Cat and out of the Peptoboonsmal daughter Silver Pepto Pistol, was bred by Jose Garcia and is owned by Volmer. Volmer said the horse has the motor and the know-how for both duties.

“Usually, I like an extremely tough horse that can go all day, be cow smart and stay focused,” he explained. “I can sit on one all day long [in the herd arena], so I don’t want the horse to mess around. I look for a horse that pays attention.

“It takes a while for those horses to get used to and be good at being used. Once you have one that you enjoy, it is hard to let them go. People offer a lot of money for a nice turnback horse and a lot of them go on to have big-time rope horse careers.”

But for Cruiser, who has a lot of years left in his career, the dual job of Youth show horse and herd helper suits him fine.

“A good turn back horse can read a cow and get in the right spot,” Volmer said. “Cruiser, I turned back on him the first time at the World’s Greatest [Horseman], and that is an important one. He’s never let me down. He’s a good one.”