April Ranch Cutting in Muleshoe

APRIL RANCH CUTTING

MULESHOE, TEXAS

 

Saturday, April 19, 2014

 

Open Ranch Class

Junior Ranch Class

Other classes available!

$100 per rider/horse

(includes $50 cattle fee and $50 jackpot)

 

All Ranch classes will follow NCHA rules with the exception of the reining rule!

 

Books open at 2pm

Open Ranch Class starts at 3pm

All other classes will follow

Come join us 4 miles East of Muleshoe, Texas on Hwy 84!  Plenty of fresh cattle and an indoor facility!

For more information call

806-782-5285

Sul Ross University Ranch Horse Team

To those of you that have been waiting to see this post sorry for the delay!  Seems like I have been running around like a chicken with my head cut off!

On Wednesday, March 19, 2014, I had the great pleasure of going to Sul Ross University in Alpine, Texas.  I got there late on Wednesday evening after being asked to come down and work with their ranch horse team and hold a benefit clinic and schooling show to help raise money for the team.  On Thursday, I got the opportunity to teach a beginning horsemanship class for Dr. Elliott.  It was a great group of students that were willing to learn what they could about riding and horsemanship.  There were a lot of good questions and good participation.

Following the horsemanship class I got to meet and work with the team for the first time.  What a great group of young people riding some really nice young horses!!!!!  We discussed groundwork to compliment mounted work.  The team was really interested in becoming better and adding to their already advanced skills.

On Friday, I got to gather cattle at the Means Ranch, in Valentine, Texas, to use that evening for practice as well as in the Sunday clinic.  What a pleasure to get to go out on a historic, generational ranch with a true-to-life working cowboy, Bode Means!  We gathered the cattle without many issues, loaded them, and headed back to Alpine.  When we returned, we all met at the arena.  The team got the opportunity to work some cattle, i.e. boxing, driving, and fence work.

The Sunday working cow horse clinic was a great success.  There were many interested participants wanting to learn more about horsemanship and helping raise money for the team.  Dry work or reining was the concentration of the morning.  Groundwork and mounted work allowed the class to learn how to decipher the needs of their horses.

After a great lunch at the Reata Restaurant, we got the opportunity to work a few head of cattle.  Learning where to position your horse on a cow and how to control that cow was the order for the afternoon.  I got the opportunity to score a schooling show for each of the riders after the clinic.  Man, what a day!  Even through the weather was cold, overcast, and windy, everyone seemed to enjoy the day and maybe even learn something!

I have a big list of "Thank You's" to send out for a great week of horsemanship!  First, I would like to thank Dr. Elliott and Dr. Housewright for letting me invade their world for a few days and work with the team and horsemanship class.  Next, I would like to thank all the team for their participation and wish them good luck this year as they show!  I would like to thank Bode Means and the Means Ranch for providing cattle for the clinic.  Also, a big shout goes out to R3 Cattle Company and Shelly Hall for the use of their horses that week.  To Dana Jones, thank you so much for the photos of the events, they are awesome!  Thanks to my family for allowing me to be gone for a few days and taking care of my cattle, horses, and dogs while away!  Lastly, thanks to God for the safe travel and the passion He has given me for horses and people!

  





I would like to say to everyone I met in Alpine that I learn way more about horses, people, and myself than you will ever learn in one of my clinics, and for that, thank you!  Be patient and work hard and your efforts will pay off!  If something is worth doing it is worth our best effort!  I am a better person for knowing each of you and calling you my friends!

RANCH CUTTING RESULTS

The weather in Muleshoe was pretty cool the morning of March 8 but ended up being really pleasant in the afternoon.  We had a good turn out at the Ranch Cutting.  There were 8 entries in the OPEN Ranch Cutting and 6 in the Junior Ranch Cutting (horses 5 years and younger).  We had a really nice crowd cheering from the stands, too!

Coby Summers of Dimmitt, Texas rode Pretty Little Boonlight and Steve Lewis of Canyon, Texas rode Peppy Will Pep to a tie for first place in the OPEN Class.  They both had really nice runs of 73.  They split first and second prizes and took home $200 each.

Steve Lewis aboard Pistol Packin Catt took the honors in the Junior Class by winning with a score of 70.  He pocketed $180 for his efforts.  Winning $120 for second place, Justin Gibbs, of Muleshoe, rode Ever So Klever to a score of 69.

If you missed this event, check back on this blog for the next one.  We are planning to have one in April and will have the date out as soon as possible.  If you want to see what ranch cutting is all about, come out and watch.  Admission is FREE!  Besides, there was young man cooking burgers and hot dogs that could compete with any around!!!!!  See you soon!

Ranch Cutting Competition in Muleshoe, Texas

RANCH CUTTING
Saturday, March 8, 2014

Open NCHA Class
Open Ranch Class
Youth Ranch Class
Other classes available!

$100 per rider/horse
(includes $50 cattle fee and $50 jackpot)

NCHA rules will apply for NCHA class.
All Ranch classes will follow NCHA rules with the exception of the reining rule!

Cutting practice starts at 12pm $40 per run
Books open at 2pm
NCHA Open Class starts at 3pm
All ranch classes will follow

Come join us 4 miles East of Muleshoe, Texas on Hwy 84!  Plenty of fresh cattle and an indoor facility!

For more information call
806-782-5285

WTAMU Ranch Horse Team Clinic!!!!

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!

The Next Generation!

I have to write about something that I witnessed first hand this weekend.  I was checking in horses and assigning stalls at a well known horse sale in our area on Friday.  The weather was just awful!  The highs were in the mid 20's with windchills recording below 10 degrees.  The little bit of rain followed by ice and snow put a nice icing on the cake for the sale!  I enjoy  being around that sale because I get to work with a few people I really enjoy, meet new friends and see old ones, and get to look at some good horses.  Plus, who could turn down the opportunity to be outside all day in beautiful weather!!!!

As I was standing waiting on more horses to arrive, a young man that I had checked in earlier came and stood next to me.  I could feel him staring at me so I said, "How's it going, bud?"  He answered by asking me, "Aren't you the guy I met at Edd's that one time some years ago?"  Well I'll be darn!  It sure was!  I had met him one time while he was working for a friend on mine riding colts.  We exchanged introductions again and began a conversation pertaining to what he was doing, what horses he had in the sale, and what he planned on doing in the future.  He is a student at Texas Tech and almost finished with his degree.  He told me he dreams of working for a top named horse trainer and riding cutting horses.  After a nice conversation, he went his way, and I continued on mine.  It was really nice seeing a kid that took the time to remember me and acknowledge that.

The next evening as we stood in the brisk breeze watching the snow cover the ground, the kid rode by riding his little mare ponying his "old kid horse."  He was smiling ear to ear!  I asked if he made out alright in the sale.  He happily told me what he got for both horses.  The prices were really good, meeting more than his expectations and being very fair prices to the buyers!  He trotted off to his stalls.

As I was walking looking for a certain horse for it's new owner, I noticed this kid at his stalls.  He was rubbing on his mares forehead and talking quietly in her ear as he removed her halter.  As he continued I walked over to him.  With tears in his eyes, he looked up at me and said, "Dang, this is really hard.  This is the first time I have ever done this."  I told him, "Things that are worth doing are worth the emotion.  If those ponies didn't mean anything it would be easy!"  He proceeded to ask me for my number and ask if he could come ride with me sometime.  As we shook hands, we wished each other well and parted ways.

WOW!  I was so taken!  I thought a lot about it over the last couple days!  I am so glad that there is a generation following mine that has the desire to take horsemanship into the future for the right reasons.  Money and fame make the world go around, but, I will say it again, if fortune and fame are the reasons you own/train/ride horses then maybe you're missing the whole point!  Buck Brannaman says that one of the reasons he does clinics is because the next Tom Dorrance or Ray Hunt may be out there waiting to come forward!  If anything that I do influences anyone to make a better way for horses and people then my work is accomplished!  Keep working younger generations!  We need you!

Handmade buckaroo chinks!

Here is a great pair of 100% handmade buckaroo chinks. These are made from 5 oz. quality leather and are 32" long and have adjustable button and tab closures. They are adjustable from 22"+. The fringe is 4-6" long and bottoms are square. There is a string ring and an inside pocket (big enough for a can of snuff, keys, needles, etc.) on the left side. There is one small stainless concho on each side and stainless buckle with 1" heavy leather belt.

 

These are good working chinks and have enough look for shows.  I have these ready to ship so give me a call if you interested.  I am asking $175 for these.  Also call me if you are interested in a completely custom pair.  I will be able to make a few pair before Christmas!