In the Arena: Cutting & Reined Cow Horse

IN THE ARENA

by Sage Faulkner

Cutting & Reined Cow Horse

In addition to the usual rodeo events of roping, barrels and rough stock; the National High School Rodeo Association also includes boys and girls cutting and reined cow horse competitions. Erica Johnson-Valdez, reined cow horse director of the NMHSRA, says that the reined cow horse competition is fairly new to high school rodeo, having been added at the national level in 2014. She says NM has a rich cow horse history and there are several multi-generational youth members in the NMHSRA. “Reined cow horse is one of the few events that is co-ed, the girls can compete against the boys.” Erica’s goal as a new director is to increase participation across the association in the event. The most participation she has seen is seven competitors, and she thinks there is a lot of room to grow. “I hope to provide a fun and educational experience for our members.” Danli Valdez, 16-year-old daughter of Erica and her husband Bobby, is a sophomore, homeschooling through the Christian Light program. Danli tells me she really enjoys the cow work. But, she says, “Patterns stress me out!” She keeps her horses legged up and works on reining drills at home. She says she sometimes works cattle at home but tries to ride with a trainer as much as she can. Focusing on horseman-

(top right) Danli Valdez, Animas, New Mexico, cutting. (right & bottom far right) Sterlin Mitchel, Lamy, New Mexico, team roping and cutting. ship has helped all her other events, but she says that cutting and reined cow horse competition are a much different way of thinking than the traditional rodeo events and it is hard to jump from one style to the other. Danli also competes in team roping, barrel racing, and breakaway roping. When I asked her what she would say to another high school member thinking about participating, she said “there is a lot to it, but it is fun, and different. Learning the different patterns and how to control your cow is hard, but the more you do it, the more comfortable you get. The group of kids that compete and their parents are really encouraging.”

Sterlin Mitchel, the 16-year-old son of Grant and Connie Mitchell, attends Mosquero Online School where he is currently a junior. He has been competing in the cutting and reined cow horse events, along with team roping, in NMHSRA since his freshman year, but he has competed in other reined cow horse competitions since he was seven. He says he likes NMHSRA and competes in three events; team roping, reined cow horse and boys cutting. He feels like the reined cow horse and the cutting events give him the opportunity to work on his horsemanship. His first year of NMHSRA competition allowed him to compete against his older brother, Trey. They ended up tied as state champions in the reined cow horse event. He also team roped with his brother and says it was a lot of fun getting to rope and compete with him. This year he is team roping with Riley Ybarra. Always an ambassador for his events, especially reined cow horse, Sterlin invites other contestants to consider competing, saying “There are good kids in all the events in high school rodeo. But to encourage them to enter in the reined cow horse, I always tell them, you get to chase a cow!”

Sterlin qualified for and attended the Junior High School National Finals in the eighth grade. He has attended the High School National Finals the last three years, in both reined cow horse and boys cutting. He says Nationals is fun because you get to compete, and you get to meet lots of different people from all over the country. He says it makes you work really hard so that you get to go back and see your friends and compete again. Sterlin adds that both reined cow horse and cutting take a special horse. “I am thankful to everyone over the years who has helped me. I am thankful to Singleton Ranches for letting me ride such wonderful horses!” Congratulations to all the contestants in the reined cow horse and cutting events and we look forward to the program growing! For more information on NMHSRA and these events go to www. nmhsra.com. ▫