Cutting Buffalo
by Luanne Brownd
The buffalo’s revenge against cattle for taking over the Plains might lie in the cutting practice arena. An increasing number of cutting-horse trainers use buffalo to reduce practice-cattle expenses and enhance their cutting-horse training programs.
Tim Frasier, a cutting-horse trainer from Gainesville, Texas, says successful use of buffalo lies in proper selection and training. Frasier emphasizes that an early investment of time and purchasing the right type of buffalo are crucial elements for their usability and longevity as cattle substitutes.
Why Buffalo?
The benefit of using buffalo as cattle replacements lies in their behavioral patterns and stamina.
“One buffalo calf will replace a large number of cattle because of his longevity,” Frasier says. “If buffalo are fed well and broke right, buffalo calves will stay fresh for an indefinite period of time – at least 1 year, and in one extraordinary case I know of a group that was used for 4 years. Ten to 15 head of buffalo calves will easily do the work of 100 head of cattle.”
Ronnie Sharp, a 40-year veteran National Cutting Horse Association judge, testifies that a buffalo will give many good works per day. He’s been enthralled with the concept of cutting buffalo since the 1960s when a lone buffalo made the herd at a Missouri cutting event.
“The same 25 head of cattle had been worked all day, so of course they were sour,” Sharp recalls. “Someone finally cut the buffalo, and he worked great for him and every other cutter who used that buffalo that day.”
Sharp now utilizes buffalo for his training program in Hamilton, Texas.
Gary Gonzales, a Paso Robles, Calif., trainer who won the Pacific Coast Cutting Horse Association Futurity in 2001, starts his 2-year-olds on buffalo.
“Colts don’t need long workouts to get something positive done on buffalo,” he says. “Good buffalo give the movements I need as compared to sour cattle. So in two or three works the colts are able to accomplish something.”
Buffalo Benefits for Training Horses
Buffalo are predictable, a substantial attribute cattle lack.
“Most cutters have experienced frustration over the inability to work on a horse’s specific problem because of the unpredictability of cattle,” Frasier points out. “Properly programmed buffalo resolve that challenge by working the same pattern in front of a horse every time.”
Frasier points out that once a trainer knows the movements each buffalo will make, he can pick the one he needs to work on a horse’s specific problem. For example, if a horse is weak when releasing to the left, a trainer knows which buffalo to use to work his horse in that direction.
Frasier emphasizes the importance of returning to cattle work after solving the horse’s problems and building confidence while working buffalo.
“If a colt is getting beat up by cattle, I can give him a winning work on a buffalo, and then go back to cattle,” Frasier says. “But buffalo and cattle training must be combined,” he asserts. “I don’t recommend finishing horses on buffalo, unless that’s what’ll be used in competition – and I haven’t seen any at the (NCHA) Futurity,” Frasier laughs.
Older nonpro horses benefit from working buffalo at home because the horses get a nice practice session without being overworked, Frasier adds. Buffalo typically provide a flat pattern, moving back and forth and turning into the horse. If a horse gets bored, Frasier produces the 3-dimensional work cattle provide by opening a gate behind the horse, which draws the buffalo toward the horse and the gate.
To read the rest of this article, check out the November issue of Western Horseman. Subscribe by calling 800-877-5278 .
