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Working Equitation Team Cattle Trial Competition
Sunday, April 19, 2026 in the Blain's Farm & Fleet Coliseum starting
The Cattle Trial honors the history and roots of Working Equitation, which is practical ranching, including effective cow work. The Working Equitation Cattle Trial is the fourth competition in Official Working Equitation shows. Called the “Spirit of the Sport” by many, the Cattle Trial brings together the skills and partnership demonstrated in the other three WE trials, which are Dressage, Ease of Handling, and Speed.
The Midwest Horse Fair Team Cattle Trial Competition is a chance for cowboys and cowgirls to choose their best working ranch horse and enter together as a team of three! A timed event, the team with the fastest combined times, minus penalty points, will be declared the winners and receive sets of custom Molly’s Custom Silver Spurs. Awards are immediately following the competition.
Working Equitation is for riders of all ages, youth to seasoned competitors; backgrounds, Western to English; and diversities; any breed but a mini is welcome! Cow-sense, teamwork, and a little luck are all that’s needed in this competition!
Only four teams will be accepted, so lasso your favorite working ranch hand friend into this adventure, and apply together. Individual applicants will be teamed up as needed.
How does the Working Equitation Cattle Trial work?
The Cattle trial tests the ability of a horse and rider to work cattle individually and with teammates. This is a team event: 3 to 4 riders work together to cut pre-selected cows from a herd one at a time in accordance with a pre-established order, and herd them into a holding pen separate from the rest of the herd. The objective is to demonstrate the abilities of cutting/herding/containing cattle efficiently and accurately.
● When the cattle are settled behind the foul line, the Judge indicates the official start of each test by ringing a bell (or blowing a whistle).
● The rider is given their cow number immediately before the bell. The rider has 60 seconds to salute the Judge and cross the start/foul line (the salute must occur outside the foul line).
● The rider has 3 minutes (180 seconds) to complete the test. Time will start 60 seconds after the Judge has rung the bell or when the rider’s horse’s nose passes over the foul line.
● Time will stop when the selected cow has all four feet in the holding pen, all other cattle are in the herd zone, and all horses are in the penning zone, or when the 3-minute time period is up.
The sequence is as follows: When the cow has all four feet in the holding pen, the flagger will drop the flag. The official timekeeper will stop the clock when there are no other cattle in the penning zone and all horses are in the penning zone. It is recommended that riders be given an audible signal when 30 seconds of time are remaining.
Team members assist in maintaining the remaining cattle in the Herd zone. As soon as the rider has cut his/her selected animal and herded it over the foul line, one or more team riders may assist the designated rider with herding it into the holding pen. If the remaining team member moves into the Herd zone, she/he must leave the zone immediately with a penalty or the rider will be disqualified.
Hazing (slapping the hand, romel, rein ends, lariat, or garrocha against the leg or the saddle) is allowed as long as no contact with any of the cattle occurs. Contact with cattle by hands, feet, ropes, bats, poles, garrocha, or any other equipment will result in a disqualification. The cattle should be handled as safely as possible to minimize any potential for injury to horses, riders, or cattle. If the Judge feels that a potentially dangerous situation exists, the Judge will ring the bell to stop the test, at which point all riders must immediately cease herding any cattle.
Penalties, Points deducted, added to time
Penalty time is added to the elapsed time for each occurrence of the following infractions:
a. Failure to salute the Judge: 5-second penalty.
b. A herd cow crosses the foul line with all four feet: 10-second penalty.
c. Team member’s horse steps over the foul line into the herd zone with 1 or more feet: 10-second penalty.
d. Outside assistance (L2 - L5): 10-second penalty.
(not applicable in this MHF competition)
