Developing Your Cutter
Cara Brewer, a seasoned cutting horse trainer, provides a comprehensive insight into her training techniques and philosophies, offering invaluable guidance for both horse and rider. From utilizing buffalo in training sessions to maintain horse interest and agility to discussing the importance of mental preparation before entering the herd, Brewer emphasizes the significance of thoughtful and strategic training approaches. She delves into various aspects of cutting horse training, including developing focus on the cow's movements, maintaining straight stops, and managing hot or anxious horses. Brewer also offers practical advice on horse development, style refinement, and introducing young horses to cutting events. Through demonstrations, coaching sessions, and drills, she shares her wealth of knowledge, ensuring that both novice and experienced riders gain valuable insights into the art of cutting horse training. Additionally, Brewer explores the use of training tools such as flags and provides a glimpse into her historical bit collection, showcasing her dedication to the craft and her commitment to preserving traditional training methods.
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Different Training Tools
In this video, Cara Brewer goes over 3 training tools that she uses when training her cutting horses. She explains how she will work her horses on a buffalo rather than a cow because they handle the heat better than cows and it keeps the horse's interested and on their toes.
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Using Your Horse's Strengths
Cara explains how it's a riders job to teach a horse how to use their different attributes and strengths.
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Opening Up Your Horse's Front End
In this video, Cara explains what it means to open up your horse's front end. She talks about how when they're putting weight on their hind end, it allows the front to open up and have more reach.
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Understanding Your Horse's Personality
Cara introduces the horses she's currently riding and explains how their bloodlines and breeding play a role in their personality.
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Controlling the Speed of Your Cow
Cara explais how you can use your distance to control the speed of your cow. She also demonstrates how you can use this to train your horse to rate their speed on the cow.
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Knowing When to Stop Training
Cara talks about how it's important to stop training on your horse when before burning them out. She explains how it's important to leave them in a good spot where they're relaxed and confident in what you taught them rather than pushing them until they have a bad experience.
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Teaching Your Horse to Read the Cow
In this video, Cara talks about how she teaches a horse to focus on what the cow is doing so he can learn to follow the cow's movemements and not rely on what she's asking her horse to do.
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Learning to Control the Cow
Cara demonstrates what you should do to help you and your horse read the cow you're working. She talks about why you want your horse's nose to come first towards the cow and not his shoulder.
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Dry Work in Cutting
Cara explains what dry work in cutting is and talks about some of the things she likes to do with her horses.
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Starting a Cutting Horse
In this video, Cara explains her process for starting cutting horses. She goes over when she starts riding them, what she teaches them before introducing them to a cow, and what she does when she first starts one working a cow.
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Working with a Hot Horse
Cara introduces us to a 7-year-old mare that has a tendency to get hot or over excited. She explains why you need to ride and train a hot horse differently. Then, Cara talks about how she handles hot horses.
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Mentally Preparing Your Horse to Cut a Cow
Cara explains how she mentally prepares her horse before going into a herd of cows. She talks about the different things you should and shouldn't be feeling, and then demonstrates with her horse.
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Holding Your Horse Straight in a Stop
A lot of horses will become squirmy or not stop straight when working a cow. Cara explains how she keeps her horse straight during a stop which helps keep them focused.
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Keeping an Anxious Horse Focused
Cara explains how some horses will become nervous when working on a cow and become distracted. She talks about the methods she uses at home to help an anxious horse stay focused on the cow they're working.
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How Much Work Does Each Horse Need?
Cara explains why she works each horse differently depending on their needs. She explains why a senior horse doesn't need as much training in between shows as a younger horse and talks about how she keeps them fit during their time off.
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Different Cues for Going Forward and Stopping
Cara explains the difference between pressing on your horse and kicking him. Then talks about how it's important to have your horse constantly thinking about stopping, no matter what cues you're using. She demonstrates all of this and talks through as she goes.
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Beating the Cow to the Stop
Cara talks about why the only place you want to beat a cow to is the stop. She explains how this is part of the control your horse has over the cow and why it's so important in the cutting.
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How To Keep a Horse from Anticipating the Cow
Cara explains the negatives of your horse anticipating the cows next move. Then, she talks about the best ways to prevent him from anticipating anything.
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Picking a Cow
Cara explains what you should look for when deciding which one to cut from the herd at a show. She talks about how she studies the cows and gets to know a new herd.
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Introducing a 2-Year-Old to Cutting
In this video, Cara explains how she introduces 2-year-old horses to cows and how she begins teaching them the foundation of cutting.
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Working a Cow with a 2-Year Old
Cara cuts a cow from the herd on a green 2-year-old. She explains how the horse feels and what she's going to do to mentally prepare him to work a cow.
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Training Tools for a 2-Year-Old
Cara talks about the training tools she uses with her 2-year-old horses when training them for the cutting events.
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Working Through Anticipation with a 2-Year-Old
Cara works a 2-year-old mare on several cows. She works through small issues that come up and helps the mare through anticipating the cows next move.
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Developing a Horse’s Style
In this video, Cara talks about how she develops a horse's style and what you should be paying attention to with young cutting horses.