Cow Working, Ranch Horsemanship and Beginner Roping

If you've always wanted to work cattle with your horse but didn't know how to start, this clinic is for you!  No previous cow work or roping experience is necessary.  This clinic is open to any type of horse.  English or Western riders of all ages and skill levels are welcome.  

Even if you never plan on working with cattle you will develop a much more responsive and handy horse by giving him the opportunity to work cattle, plus you'll have lots of fun!  We'll go slow and start with the basics.

Cattle Drive

You may arrive at the cattle ranch any time after 9:00 AM on Friday. Look for “Dabney Clinic” signs at Sewell Road on Highway 229 directing you to the ranch. The arena will be our headquarters for the clinic. At 10:00 AM we will gather with saddled horses in hand at the arena to begin the clinic.

We will have a short orientation and do a bit of groundwork with our horses before riding out to gather and move a herd of cattle from the pasture to the arena.

In the beginning some horses may be nervous and frightened near the cattle. We will first work through this by going slow and maintaining distance from the herd until the horses are accustomed to seeing the cattle then we will move as close to the herd as your horse is comfortable. If your horse is worried we will pair him with a buddy horse and rider that are experienced with cows until your horse gains confidence in approaching the herd and moving the cows. In this way your horse gradually learns he is dominant over the cow. When he knows the cow will not attack him and he can move the cow away, the horse gains confidence and the cow work becomes fun for him.

Cow Working

We will be working with the cattle in the arena and corrals. This is not for rodeo or competitive sport. We will be teaching and practicing "low stress stockmanship” for practical ranch work skills. We may do some penning, sorting and cutting, not as a timed event but rather the way a real working cowboy handles his daily tasks.

The riders may be grouped into “ranch crews” and assigned tasks that require teamwork and good horsemanship. Tasks could include such things as dividing the herd, taking certain cows to a different location in the arena and holding them there, sorting selected cows away from the herd, putting selected cows in a corral, taking cows through gates and obstacles, and holding or driving the herd in the open without using the fence or corners.

Ranch Horsemanship

Cow work develops a much better communication and partnership with your horse. Your horse will learn how to listen to your cues and move responsively. Working with cattle gives your horse a practical reason for listening to you, really using his body to become more athletic and coordinated and moving in a variety of ways quickly, smoothly and under control with your direction. Riders will learn to properly execute specific movements which are necessary to be successful in ranch and cattle work including turn-on-the-forehand, turn-on-the-haunches, rein back, side-pass, leg yield, roll back, quick gait transitions and solid stops.

Beginner Roping

For riders who are are interested, we will offer beginner roping instruction from the ground on roping dummies and then from horseback.  You will learn the basics including how to hold the rope, build a loop, throw several different types of loops, pull slack, dally on the horn, catch a moving dummy and desensitize your horse to the swinging rope.  You do not need to own a rope or have any prior roping knowledge to participate in this instruction. We will have a variety of ropes for you to use.  You will have the chance to rope live cattle in a controlled environment.

Open Range Cow Working Clinic in Finland - September 2012

Slideshow Cow Working Clinic in Finland - May 2012