Building Confidence in the Box-Drive

Learn how the box-drive class can build your confidence and refine your skills before tackling full fence runs. Get ready to drive, box, and position your way to success in the arena with help from reined cow horse trainer Shadd Parkinson.

- BY SHADD PARKINSON, WITH NICHOLE CHIRICO PHOTOS BY KIRSTEN ZIEGLER

When the NRCHA introduced a provisional class called beginning fence work in 2020, it filled a crucial gap for riders ready to move beyond boxing but not yet ready for full fence runs. Now officially known as box-drive, this class has become a popular steppingstone for non-pro riders eager to level up their skills in a more approachable way.

The box-drive class gives competitors the opportunity to build confidence by boxing a cow, driving it down the fence, and boxing again, without the added complexity of making turns or circling. It's a class designed to develop feel, timing, and cow sense in a controlled setting while still capturing the thrill of working down the fence.

In this article, we'll break down what the box-drive class entails, what to expect when you step into the arena, and how to prepare your horse at home, so you can enter the show pen confident, capable, and ready to ride with purpose.

Building Blocks of Fence Work

I like to look at the box-drive as a transition class for riders who are just getting comfortable running next to a cow going down the fence. It’s a great event for riders who are looking to build confidence before going down the fence. It's also a great class for riders who don't ever plan to go down the fence but would like to do more than boxing.

It gives you the opportunity to learn the basic principles of fence work and get comfortable with taking a cow through the corner all while learning positioning down the fence without having to make a turn or do any circling in the middle of the pen.

It also sharpens your ability to read a cow and understand how to manage its “bubble.” Does your cow need you to get up close to create movement, or is it more sensitive and responsive to subtle pressure? The box-drive helps you develop that feel so that you know when to push, when to back off, and how to stay in control of the situation without overdoing it.