Starting Your Horse on Cattle Clinic

What a great day for a clinic, and what a great group of folks!  We had a great time at the "Starting Your Horse on Cattle" Clinic on Sunday, November 6, 2011.  People came from as close as Earth and from as far as Albuquerque!  First, we did dry work, teaching your horse softness and the correct turn to make on a cow.  Then, we added the cattle.  We worked cattle around the perimeter of the pen and then out of the herd.  I hope that someone learned something they didn't know or solidified something they already knew.  Every time that I have a clinic, it reminds me of how important it is to never stop learning.  I still attend clinics and try to listen to everyone that may know a little something about horses.  Knowledge is power!  Knowledge is also the power that we need over horses, not the physical kind, because we would never win that battle!  Being around different horses and other people also assures me that God has placed me here for them.  Most people go through life taking and taking.  I want to be remembered as someone that gave back, however little or meaningless it may be!  After all, if it is about me and not making the horse better and enriching others lives then I have missed the whole point of being here!

I would like to give a special thanks to Alan Scott for use of his facility, Ron Baird of Ogden, Utah and Trey Sparkman of Victoria, Texas for the use of their horses, Thurman Myers for renting his cattle, and the awesome people that participated!

Check back for future dates of more clinics, products, and events brought to you by JL Horses and Cowboy Leather and Sand Hills Cowboy Cutting!

Ranch Cutting in Muleshoe!

                   Sand Hills Cowboy Cutting

And “Starting Your Horse on Cattle”

Beginner and Green Horse Clinic

Sunday November 6, 2011 in Muleshoe, Texas

Clinic starts at 9:30am

$35 per rider/horse

If you are a beginner, have a green horse, or always wanted to experience cutting, this clinic is for you.  The basics of horse mechanics and working a cow will be taught with one on one time with a cow!  Come join us!

Ranch Cutting at 1:00pm

$100 per rider/horse

You must pre-enter by October 28, 2011.  Those entering after that date or on day of event will be assessed a $20 late fee!

Cowboy Class (no NCHA earnings horse/rider)

Open Class (any horse/rider)

Rules will be a modified version of the NCHA official rules.  The modification will pertain only to reining the horse, and riders will have 2.5 minutes to cut 3 head.  Each rider can use 0-4 herd holders.

For more information or to sign-up call Jared at 210-913-3884!

Sand Hills Cowboy Cutting Results!

Open Class Results - (l to r) 2nd place, Paul J. Smith, Friona, Texas, 1st place, Mark McWilliams, Wills Point, Texas, 3rd tie, Mark McWilliams, and, 3rd tie, Steve Friskup, Muleshoe, Texas (not pictured)

 Ranch Class - (l to r) 3rd place, Romni Durrett, Wildorado, Texas, 1st and 2nd places, Tripp Townsen, Earth, Texas

Cowboy Class - (l to r) 1st place, Billy Burns, Clarendon, Texas, 3rd place, Romni Durrett, Wildorado, Texas, 4th place, Chump Madrid, Fort Sumner, NM, and 2nd place, Logan McWilliams, Muleshoe, Texas

Happy Independence Day!  We had a great turn-out at our first Sand Hills Cowboy Cutting!  We had 23 entries from all over our area.  The Open Class had 5 entries, the Ranch Class had seven, and 11 horses showed in the Cowboy Class.  There was some great horses, horsemanship, and cowboy/cowgirls showing their talents.  The day was great with enough breeze to keep us cool and lots of sun.  It doesn't get much better than that!

I would like to give a special thanks to the following:

Gold Sponsor:  Muleshoe Livestock Auction
Silver Sponsor:  Muleshoe State Bank
Open Class Buckle Sponsor:  Muleshoe Vet Clinic
Ranch and Cowboy Class Buckle Sponsor:  Clovis Livestock Auction
All Classes Saddle Pad Sponsor:  Jeff Smith Cowboy Classic Saddles
All Classes Headstall Sponsor:  JL Cowboy Leather
Arena Help:  Logan McWilliams, Mark McWilliams, Steve Friskup, and Buddy Embry
Cattle:  Buddy Embry, Judd Timmons, and Thurman Myers
Office:  Linda Johnson
National Anthem:  Chay Lee
Flag Presentation:  Jaxon Lee and Emma Lee

Thanks for all your help!

I would also like to thank Jesus Christ for saving my life, giving me the opportunity to live in this great country, and being able to do what I love!  Thanks to all the people, both past and present, for your sacrifices for our great country!  It is not taken for granted!

Check back in the future for details on my next event!  I am tentatively trying to schedule an event in Hereford in the fall!  If you have any suggestions, want to help, or would like to be a sponsor, call me at 210-913-3884!

Sand Hill Cowboy Cutting!

Sand Hills Cowboy Cutting

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Dusty Rhodes Arena, Muleshoe, Texas

Join us for Cowboy Church at 8:30am!  Books open at 9:00am and Cowboy Class starts at 10:00am!

COWBOY CLASS (horse and rider with no NCHA Earnings)

RANCH CLASS (horse and rider $2000 or less combined NCHA earnings)

OPEN CLASS (any horse and any rider)

Rules will be a modified version of the NCHA official rules.  The modification will pertain only to reining the horse, and riders will have 2.5 minutes to cut 2 head.  Each rider can use 0-4 herd holders.

Entry Fee:  $100 per rider/per class

$50 deposit per entry must be post marked by June 25, 2011.  All entries/deposits post marked after June 25, 2011 will be subject to a $25 late fee.  Limited to 2 horses per rider per class.

For more information call Jared at 210-913-3884

Mail entries/deposits to: Jared Lee/SHCC, 809 W 17^th Street, Muleshoe, Texas 79347

Handmade chinks for sale!

This pair of chinks is for sale right now!  They are 100% handmade by me.  They have an inside pocket on left, 4-5" fringe, 4 tin conchos on either leg, fancy triple thick yokes, tie front/buckle back, and knots with tabs fasteners.  They are made out of a heavy 5+ oz. pebble grain leather.  These should last for years.  Each pair of leggins I make are 100% original!  If you need any details on these call me at 210-913-3884!

NEW COWBOY GEAR!

Here is a new pair of tapaderas that I made for a cowboy in the Friona area.  They are smooth-out with leather woven seams and stiffeners are tooled with his intitials.  They have oxbow stirrups and should put up with years of abuse.  I can build these to just about any specs, so get in touch with me with your needs.

Here are 5 new headstalls that I just finished for a South Texas cowboy.  There are 2 split ear and 3 browband headstalls.  There are limitless designs that can be used on headstalls.  Contact me for pricing and with your design ideas.

Lastly, here is a new pair of batwing leggins that I just finished for a cowboy from Muleshoe.  These chaps have tooled yokes and stiffeners, fringe, inside pockets, and a knife scabbard.  They are step-ins.  Leggins, like headstalls, can have limitless designs.  Dream up what you can and contact me with your ideas!

A few thoughts!

In light of a few events that have taken place in the last few weeks, I thought I would write my thoughts on the subject.  Many of you have heard over the last few days of the video that has been released of the abuse at a  Panhandle calf ranch.  If you haven't seen the video, I wouldn't suggest watching it.  It is horrific images of the treatment of calves at that facility.  I only watched it once and couldn't bring myself to share it with anyone.  It also brought to mind a recent episode that I witnessed.  The treatment of a horse for not performing the way the owner thought it should was brutal and out of place.  These events have had me thinking, which is a good thing or a bad thing depending on where you sit.

For my entire life I have always had a place in my heart for animals.  That love has grown from my youth to adulthood and has become a passion for livestock, horses, and dogs.  The first thing that someone should learn in horsemanship is that it is about the horse first and foremost!  If someone is in it for themselves, their ego, a paycheck, fame, or prizes, they may need to look at what is really drawing them.  I know that many cowboys use horses as a means by which to make a living, and I have used horses for the same purpose.  However, there should be a deeper meaning in our livelihood than just drawing a paycheck.  The passion I have draws deeply on helping horse achieve their highest potential through good, clear communication, giving them purpose and a future.  Not so much unlike what God does to those of us who chose to follow him.  Through true purpose and passion many benefits may come along with it.  But if that is the purpose in itself, then I think we tend to lose the point!

Second, anyone who doesn't have compassion for less inferior beings is missing another point in their lives.  It shutters me to think what people may do to other weaker humans if they can treat animals with such disregard.  God has called us to love and serve others.  In the "me" society of today, that tends to be forgotten.  I will be the first to admit a few times in my life that I have treated animals with less that respectful actions but never borderline abuse!  I have definitely learned from those times and grown as a livestock handler as well as a person.  The Bible says in Proverbs 12:10, "Good people take care of their animals, but wicked people are cruel to theirs."  I am not saying that I am an animal rights activist, but good in our world is sometimes overshadowed by the thoughtless actions of those who cannot control themselves.

I will continue my plight to become a true horseman, stockman, and follower of Jesus.  With His help in continuing to change me into His image, hopefully the process will be shorter and sweeter.  Compassion, education, and the willingness to get past ourselves are the things that will lead me in this process.  It is my desire that God continues allowing me situations, opportunities, and forums to relay these things to those willing to listen.