Ranches by Experience
The Dude Ranchers’ Association is home to many ranches that offer many specialty experiences. Horsemanship clinics are one of those specialties. All of the ranches have their lively hood invested in their horse program for their guests. Ranging from a mighty few horses to herds over two hundred, each horse is well known and cared for as an individual.
There are a few ranches listed that would love to bring you into or take you deeper into your understanding of how horses operate and how we can effectively communicate with them. Often times you might realize and understand just as much about yourself as you will the horses. Every location, clinician and horse has something to show you. I hope you will find the perfect journey to a clinic below, and even further, attend all of them. If you have any questions about your ranch stay give us a call here at the office.
Youth Horsemanship
Kids staying with family at the ranch have the opportunity to be involved in one of the most educational and fun dude ranch children’s programs available today. It is designed for kids age 8 – 18 with hands-on experiences with their horses. The program starts on Sunday evening and is concluded on Thursday evening with a horse show, complete with trophies and ribbons. Children will be responsible for their own horses and equipment. They learn horse husbandry skills and equipment care. Every morning they will help prepare their horse for the day’s activities.
Cameron Schryver, Thatcher School Director
Join the Zapata Ranch for a week-long natural horsemanship experience with 27-year director of the Thacher Riding School, Cameron Schryver. Cam is invited to clinics around the country on horsemanship and is a two-time World Champion Extreme Cowboy. Days are spent with one-on-one horsemanship instruction, educational demonstrations, rides throughout the surrounding meadows and sand dunes as well as opportunities to work cattle and bison. By applying working ranch horsemanship and riding by feel, you will leave the week feeling a deeper connection to the horse and will better understand how to communicate with them.
Parelli Natural Horsemanship
Experience Parelli Natural Horsemanship put to a purpose. Whether new to horses or highly experienced, you will have the opportunity to expand your skills. Learn to work cattle from the back of a horse, ride long trails or play at liberty in a round pen – we do it all. Horsemanship lessons are always available upon request with no extra charge. Those who are Experienced Riders have opportunities to work with and ride a variety of horses to suit their desired goals. Riding at the Rocking Z is independent – our well-trained horses go where they are told, when they are told to and at exactly the speed that is requested of them. Beginning Riders will find that they learn a huge amount just by spending plenty of hours each day with and on the horses. This is a great place to start, so be bold!
Buck Brannaman Style
McGinnis Meadows Ranch
We ride strictly in the vein of Buck Brannaman style horsemanship. Shayne heads up the program, and has ridden in over 300 clinics with Buck over the last 17 years. All of the wranglers at the ranch are on the same page and most of us have been riding this way for several years now.
Horsemanship isn’t just practiced in an arena. We practice it while working cattle, roping cattle, driving cattle over timbered mountains, or riding up a trail. Not many places give you the opportunity to expand your horsemanship in so many varied environments.
The Dude Ranchers’ Association
Whether you are interested in riding horses or looking for different activities to try, DRA ranches have something for everyone. Filter ranches by activity and other parameters using our find a ranch tool.
