How do I select the right cow in a working cow horse class, and does cow selection affect my score?

Cow selection in working cow horse is a meaningful strategic decision that affects both the quality of the run and the score it can achieve. Unlike cutting, where cow selection is entirely the competitor's choice, working cow horse cow work uses a single cow that is driven into the arena, and the competitor's interaction with that cow begins immediately. However, in classes where the competitor has some influence over which cow enters or how the work begins, the choices made in those first moments set the trajectory of the entire run. The ideal cow for working cow horse fence work is athletic enough to show the horse's ability but not so fast or aggressive that it makes correct positioning impossible. A cow that runs straight and hard down the fence gives the horse a clear path for the drive and a definitive turn point at the end. A cow that ducks, stops, or reverses direction erratically makes rating and turning correctly extremely difficult, and while judges recognize the difficulty, a chaotic cow still produces a less clean-looking run than a cooperative one. In competition, the competitor cannot always control which cow they draw, but they can control how they respond to the cow's behavior. A horse and rider who have worked a variety of cattle types in training — including difficult and unpredictable cattle — are better prepared to adapt their strategy to whatever cow enters the arena. A team that has only trained on cooperative cattle tends to fall apart when the cow behaves unexpectedly. When given any choice in cow selection, lean toward cattle that move freely and with clear intention. A cow that hugs the fence, moves at a consistent pace, and shows a definitive turn when it reaches the end of the arena gives the horse the clearest possible picture of what is expected. That clarity produces cleaner, more scoreable work regardless of the horse's level of experience.