Battleground to Breaking Ground cow horse workshop set for Oct. 9-10 in Anderson
Hands-on training at Thomas Ranch will focus on cattle handling, stockmanship and ranch horsemanship
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service’s Battleground to Breaking Ground program will host a Working Cow Horse Hands-On Learning Workshop Oct. 9-10 at Thomas Ranch, 10365 Summer Lane, Anderson.
The two-day workshop is designed for proficient riders who want to develop cattle-working skills they can use in ranch operations. Mounted rider registration is $75 and limited to 15 participants. Observer registration is $40 and also limited to 15 participants. Registration is available at agriliferegister.tamu.edu/agec-ev-060.
Matt Nichols, ranch manager at Texas A&M’s Thomas Ranch, will lead discussions, mounted demonstrations and hands-on exercises. The training will focus on how horses and cattle interact and how riders can position their horses to influence cattle movement safely.
Building practical cattle-working skills
Mounted participants will practice reading cattle movement, boxing cattle, gathering cattle from a pasture, sorting and moving cattle through gates. They will also work as a team while applying pressure-and-release principles to move and control livestock.
The workshop emphasizes safety, low-stress livestock handling and skills used in everyday ranch operations. Participants will learn about cattle behavior, flight zones and points of balance as they develop their communication with their horses.
Observer registration is available for those who want to attend discussions and watch the mounted instruction without riding.
What riders need to know
The workshop is not a beginner riding course. Riders must be comfortable at the walk, trot and lope and bring a physically sound horse suitable for working cattle. Participants must trailer their horses to and from Thomas Ranch each day; overnight boarding and on-site stalling are not available.
Riders are responsible for ensuring their horses are healthy and current on recommended vaccinations. Appropriate riding attire, including boots, is required, and a riding helmet is recommended.
The first 10 active-duty military and veteran applicants are eligible for a $362 stipend and must bring proof of status.
For more information, contact BJ Groskreutz, program coordinator, Department of Agricultural Economics. at [email protected].
