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Special Winter Clinics
Natural Horsemanship, Ranch Horse, Ranch Roping at Bent Creek Western Vacations, a guest ranch in Southern Alberta Canada. Horsemanship, Ranch Horse and Cowboy 101. Horsemanship clinic for Natural Horsemanship, Horse whispering. Specialized equine clinics; horsmanship, ranch roping, ranch horse and our very own Cowboy 101.
Our Philosphy ... CROSSING RIVERS

It's not about getting wet ... it's about new challenges for you and your horse. Changing the way we think ... from domination to partnership.

Bent Creek Western Vacations welcomes you to experience a 3 or 5 day clinic.
Guest clinician Phil Martindale, an Alberta rancher and winner of ranch horse competitions right in the heart of "cowboy country" (Phil, Gerry and Marty Gardner were the winning team at the 2009 Canadian Ranch Roping Finals) is teaming up again with Gerry, a nationally certified coach and provincially certified teacher. This team approach with a limited number of participants provides you with the kind of expertise you should expect in a learning environment.

Join a winning team at a clinic of your choice.



Package it your way!

· Choose one clinic or combine two!
· Your horse or ours.
· All-inclusive - meals and accommodation - or - lunch only!

Book early ... space is limited.
(Two Clinicians with 12 participants for a 6 to 1 ratio!)

Guests are encouraged to arrive anytime after 6:30PM, the evening before their clinic.




CROSSING RIVERS HORSEMANSHIP
Summer Program

Horsemanship
August 9, 10
A 2 day clinic / 2 nights accommodation


Improve your human-horse relationship by learning how to implement correct, consistent communication. Our horsemanship clinics teach techniques transferable to any equine discipline but with special emphasis on the ranch horse. Develop leadership skills and gain respect from your horse as you move towards the goal of a partnering relationship. Problem solving techniques as well and question and answer sessions will be conducted.

Defining Partnership:
Enduring marriages, great friendships, successfull business partnerships - we see examples daily. So ... how can you achieve "Willing Partnership" with your horse? You can begin by thinking in terms of responsibilities of BOTH partners! How do you and your horse score?
We want to help you, the leader in the partnership, develop:
Consideration of your partner;
To ride in balance;
Use explicit and consistent aides;
Assume leadership;
Trust your partner.

 Responsibilities we want to develop in the horse:
Respond promptly to suggestions;
Move correctly;
Execute freely and willingly;
Respect his leader;
Trust his partner

Ranch Horse / Cattle Handling
August 11, 12 and 13
A 3 day clinic / 3 nights accommodation

Here is your opportunity to put your horsemanship techniques to work in a practical way. Understand the nature of cattle and their responsiveness to low-stress handling techniques. Learn how to move one, two or several using a fluid, methodical approach. Get your horse "hooked on" to cattle through understanding the horse's instinctive ability to rate. If you participate in or are considering equine sports such as cutting, team penning, ranch horse, ranch roping or working cow horse ... this clinic is for you. If Ranch roping appeals to you, you'll have the opportunity to learn heading and healing techniques. We'll see how different, more sophisticated loops are beneficial in different situations. Try techniques real ranch cowboys use to catch and doctor cattle in a low stress and humane way. Proper handling of cattle on the open range or in the feedlot is an art. Experience the western pride of good horsemanship and low stress cattle handling techniques.




* Book a private clinic with a minimum group of four ... call toll free 866 553-3974.

Cowboy 101 (Boot Camp)
July 26 - 30
A 5 day clinic / 6 nights accommodation

Seeking employment at a ranch or guest ranch or just want to try your hand at "cowboyin'? Combining a unique blend of horsemanship skills, ranch horse, cattle handling, ranch roping and horse packing. Cowboy 101 exposes participants to traditional skills still used on many of today's ranches. Certificates are awarded on the final day for graduates of Cowboy 101.

Itinerary
Participants for a clinic beginning Monday may arrive anytime after 6:30PM Sunday evening.

Monday and Tuesday . Horsemanship. Participants are introduced to techniques of horse/human communication as they apply to any equine discipline. Learn how to "suggest" to your horse to willingly: walk-out/jog/trot/and lope ... without kicking or spurring; stop ... without tugging on reins; turn on forequarters and haunches, sidepass, two-track, rollback... all these in a quiet easy-going way. Get to where you want to be ... make the horse believe it is his idea! Willing partnership.

Wednesday - Introductions to theories in cattle handling. Techniques in moving cattle, in a quiet, low-stress environment will be taught and practiced from horseback.

Thursday - Advanced horsemanship theory and how it relates to the ranch horse. Cattle handling ; sorting, cutting, penning techniques. Introduction to cattle roping. Cattle handling, sorting, cutting, penning techniques. Introduction to cattle ranch roping ... the Backhand, Houlihand, Scoop-Loop, Overhand ... head and hip shots ... techniques for open range doctoring or ranch roping competition.*Participants divide into groups of varying roping skills ... beginners may work from the ground

Thursday Afternoon - Horse packing. An introduction to the packing horses, handling and care in practical ranch use and back country pack trips. Learn how to saddle and pack a horse, tie a single and double diamond hitch.

Friday - Practicum day (putting it all together!). We saddle the horses and head out to the pasture to check/move cattle, identify any critters requiring doctoring and pack salt blocks to the pasture.

Friday Evening - wind-up banquet and graduation certificates.

Saturday Farewells to your hosts, instructors, new friends, equine partners (ours) and last but not least ... our dogs

Email us NOW

or call us toll-free 866 553-3974

Bent Creek Western Vacations
Box 542
Fort Macleod, Alberta Canada
TOL OZO

cowboss@bentcreek.ca

Toll Free (In North America):
(866) 553 3974

Phone/Fax: (403) 553 3781

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