How do you enter a cutting herd correctly?

Entering the cutting herd correctly is the first scored element of the run and establishes the conditions for everything that follows — a correct herd entry that keeps the cattle calm, settled, and bunched gives the rider the best possible environment for selecting a good cow and making a clean separation, while an incorrect entry that scatters or disturbs the cattle creates problems that compound through the entire run. The correct entry approaches the herd from the front and center — riding toward the cattle from the direction of the judges rather than from the sides — which allows the rider to read the cattle's position and attitude before committing to the entry and gives the horse a straight approach that is less disruptive than an angled one. The speed of the entry should be slow and deliberate, with the horse walking into the herd rather than trotting or loping in, because cattle react to speed and the quiet entry that keeps the herd settled is directly produced by the pace at which the horse moves into them. As the horse moves into the herd, the rider should keep the horse's movement as straight and purposeful as possible rather than weaving through the cattle, which creates unnecessary disturbance and may scatter individual cattle out of the herd before the target cow has been selected. The herd holders positioned on either side of the herd play a critical role in keeping the cattle settled during the entry — experienced competitors understand how to work in coordination with the herd holders by approaching from angles that allow the holders to assist in keeping the herd together rather than inadvertently working against them. The entry should feel quiet, deliberate, and unhurried — the rider who rushes the entry to get to the cow work quickly typically produces worse results than the rider who takes the time to enter correctly.