Chris Littlefield's ranching background taught him the value of training an all-around athlete. He says exposing young horses to a variety of environments and giving them different jobs is the best way to prepare them for the show ring, whether they're aimed for roping, cutting or reined cow horse competition.
VERSATILITY IS THE CORNERSTONE of my program. I like to train horses that aren't specialized for one event, but instead are able to perform in a variety of competitions.
A cowboy once told me, "A real cowboy should be able to do it all-ride, rope, shoe horses, train horses, work cattle and fix fence." I feel the same way about a good horse; he should have well-developed foundation skills, no matter what the task at hand. Some horses are trained for only one specific purpose, such as cutting or reining. And while he might be really good in one area, sometimes a young horse gets too specialized, limiting his abilities in the long run. I've seen world champion reining horses that are scared of a cow, and I've seen some really good cutting horses that can't take the pressure of roping. So I see great value...
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