After two previous cancellations of this clinic, we finally had the weather cooperate for a great day on January 26, 2014! Nine members of the West Texas A & M University Ranch Horse Team made the trip to Muleshoe for a day of riding. This was a great group of college students mounted on some really awesome horses! The diverse group has joined together to challenge the nation in Stock Horse Competitions in 2014. There were Texans from Houston to the Panhandle and out-of-staters from New Mexico, Illinois, Kansas, and Arizona. The students brought many disciplines to the table from English to barrel racing to reining to real cowboy work!
We went through three categories of the stock horse competition, ranch pleasure, ranch trail, and cow work. I shared some drills and exercises to improve softness, flexibility, natural collection, and rate. With horsemanship in trail and pleasure in the morning and cow work after a great lunch at Leal's Mexican Food Restaurant, there was plenty of riding!
I believe that this group of individuals, with hard work and determination, can be really competitive for the national title this year. I am very optimistic that this group of young people are going to be able to make a difference not only in the horse world but in the future of our nation. Our future lies with these and other students like them. It is our responsibility to equip them with the tools necessary for success. We must look past ourselves and give willingly of our time, knowledge, and resources to insure a positive future! I know that it will work!!!!
I would like to give a special "Thank You" to Allen Scott for the use of his facility and cattle. We could not have done it without him!
