Cowboy Colt College - 2024
IF YOU'RE TIRED OF KICK, PULL, HOPE FOR THE BEST, AND BLAME THE HORSE WHEN IT DOESN'T WORK OUT, THEN THIS CLINIC IS FOR YOU!
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I've been thinking about doing a clinic like this for years. A lot of younger fellers never got the opportunity to meet or learn from Ray Hunt. I've had the privilege of knowing and being around some really good horsemen, from both the ranching and performance horse world, and NONE of their horses looked like Ray's when he rode them. Ray's friend and mentor, Tom Dorrance, was even better.
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Those of you who know me know that I did not always do things this way. I can tell you 900 ways to rope, choke, tie, whip, spur, jerk, pull and force or intimidate a horse into doing a job. I promise you all that stuff gets mediocre results at best. But if you don't know any different way, you don't know any different way.
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When I first met Ray, in 1985, I was skeptical, to say the least. But by noon the first day, I didn't know what that man had with a horse, but I wanted some of it! He could get horses to do things I didn't even know a horse could do!
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Slowly, slowly, I began to learn to THINK (see "First Words" in Buster & Sheryl Stories section) and see things from the horse's perspective. There's always a reason the horse does what he does the way he does it.
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I had some really good ideas about what I wanted a horse to do - stand still while I saddle and get on, go, stop, turn, back up, get in front of that cow - but the WAY I presented those ideas to the horse often wasn't worth a damn. My presentation didn't fit the horse - at that time.
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Ray said everything we want a horse to do involves PREPARATION, to POSITION, for the TRANSITIOIN. The transition happens last, but those are the things we all want our horse to DO. I didn't know much about preparing one, I just wanted him to DO it!
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I believe if you could ask a horse, especially a young horse, what's going on when things are not working out, he'd say "Well, I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do, and besides that I'm afraid for my life."
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You see, humans have been eating horses for a lot longer than they've been riding them. The horse knows this instinctively. The humans says to the horse, "It's JUST a rope. It's JUST a blanket. It's JUST a saddle." The horse thinks, "Maybe this is the ritual they go through just before they eat a horse? This looks DANGEROUS!"
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I could go on, but...I'm not saying that this is THE way to start a colt or interact with horses, but it is the best way I've found so far. I thank the good Lord I was open-minded enough to give it a try, and my horses do too! If I run into something better, I'm going to give that a shot, too.
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Most of you reading this know you're having some kind of trouble with your horses. Some of you will admit it. Maybe a few of you will try to get some help. Ray used to say, "If he's running off with you, bucking you off, or kicking you down, you deserve it! If you had something better to offer, he would not do it!" I have found that to be true.
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This is what I decided, for me anyway, years ago: until you admit to yourself that the way you've been doing things could be improved upon - not necessarily that you're doing things wrong, it could just be improved upon - it's hard to get much better. It doesn't take much effort to be mediocre.
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So, all that being said, I'm offering this clinic just for cowboys - men who make their living a-horseback - men whose lives literally sometimes depend on their horse.
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I will try to share with you some of what I've learned about horses over the last 50 odd years. I'll try to answer any questions you might have. I'm not saying I know all the answers. Hell, I don't even know all the questions yet. But if I think I know, I'll tell you WHY I think I know. If I don't know, we'll take it up with the horse. I know he knows.
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For those of you who are interested and have questions, give me a call. My cell # is (806) 773-2159. If you need a place to stay & eat while you're here, we have a nice bunkhouse and cookhouse with "cowboy rates" for the weekend. Or if you don't want to stay in the bunkhouse, bring your bedroll and teepee and make yourself at home.
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For those of you who are still skeptical and maybe pretty sure you're getting along just fine, heck, come watch! There's no telling what's gonna happen when you mix cowboys and broncs! It should be entertaining. And you might accidentally learn something while you're pretending to look at something over on the other side of the corral.
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I would appreciate it if you would help spread the word about this deal. Tell your buddies and maybe share it on social media if you're into that stuff.
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Maybe I'll see you somewhere on th' dusty side of th' bronc pen -
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Buster
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Clinic dates are May 16-19, 2024. Cost of the clinic is $650 with a $250 deposit. If you would like to come watch the clinic and not participate the cost is $30 per day. Lodging and meals are available for an additional amount please call (806) 773-2159 for pricing.
