Hold the end
The horse must first box the cow, holding it at the end of the arena while maintaining control and staying in proper working position.
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Event Archive • 2026
Friday Night • South Point Arena, Las Vegas
Cow Horse Challenge
$250,000 • Cow Work Under The Lights • August 14, 2026
The best in reined cow horse brought the fence work to Friday night, going head-to-head down the wall in front of a packed South Point Arena.
$250,000Purse
15Qualified Riders
448Winning Composite
Aug 14Friday Night
2026 Champion
Erin Taormino
aboard Hazardouz Material
Taormino and the Metallic Cat stallion owned by Linda Mars were lights-out under the Friday night lights, marking a 226 in the cow work to seal a 448 composite and a $55,000 payday. After runs at The Run For A Million in 2022, 2024, and 2025, and a reserve championship in 2024, the pair finally put it all together in Las Vegas.
222Rein Work
226Cow Work
448Composite
$55,000Champion's Share
“He's so athletic and so talented that my preparation for him is minimal. He's one of the best horses I've ever had.”
Erin TaorminoThe Format
Fifteen riders. One cow. The fence decided it.
In 2026 the Cow Horse Challenge brought the best riders and horses in reined cow horse to Las Vegas, with the cow work headlining Friday night at South Point Arena and $250,000 on the line.
Friday stacked four events under the lights: the Breakaway Roping Showcase presented by Shorty's Caboy Hattery, the Youth Cow Horse Challenge Cow Work, the $30,000 Cowboy Heritage Ranch Challenge presented by Markel, and the Cow Horse Challenge Cow Work at 7:00 PM.
The field of 15 earned its way to Las Vegas five at a time, through three of the biggest stages in the sport.
The 2026 Field
Qualified riders
Fifteen earned the trip to Las Vegas.
15 Qualified • Three Events, Five Spots EachET
Erin Taormino
2026 ChampionTC
Todd Crawford
CD
Chris Dawson
SD
Sarah Dawson
ND
Nick Dowers
SH
Shawn Hays
SP
Shadd Parkinson
KP
Kelby Phillips
BR
Boyd Rice
TR
Tucker Robinson
SS
Shane Steffen
JT
Jake Telford
KT
Kyle Trahern
JW
Jordan Williams
JW
Justin Wright
The Sport
What is cow work?
The cow work, also called the fence work, is the final, adrenaline-fueled stage of reined cow horse competition. After horse and rider enter the arena, a single cow is pushed through the gate at the opposite end, and the clock on control starts immediately.
The key to a good score is maintaining control of the cow at all times.
Down the wall
The rider allows the cow to run down the long side of the arena. Horse and rider must turn the cow at least one time in each direction on the fence.
Take it to the middle
They take the cow into the middle of the arena and drive it in a circle each way, proving control in open ground.
The most controlled cow work, with the highest degree of difficulty and the best form, scores the highest.
About the NRCHA
Based in Pilot Point, Texas, the National Reined Cow Horse Association was formed in 1949 in California with the goal of preserving and educating the public about the rich history of this traditional horsemanship. The NRCHA promotes the sport, ensures high standards of competition, and works to keep the Vaquero tradition alive in today's equine industry, supported by affiliate clubs across the United States, Europe, and abroad. Learn more at nrcha.com.
The 2026 Chapter Is In The Books
One cow through the gate. A quarter million down the fence.
The road to 2027 is already underway, and the next field is taking shape.