Horsemanship clinic set

Hot Springs County ropers and ranchers have a unique opportunity coming up to learn skills from some of the best in the world, Dave and Gwynn Weaver, when they hold a pair of clinics at the fairgrounds, Aug. 29 – Sept. 2.

The Weavers are renowned for their skills in horsemanship, working with cows, roping and branding, having traveled as far away as New Zealand to present their various clinics.

The first clinic will be the cow working clinic, Aug. 29 and 30, from 10 a.m. til 2 p.m. both days.

The clinic is designed to focus on the fundamentals of working your cattle by learning exercises and schooling tips to get your horse watching a cow with genuine interest and stockmanhip tips to help you better understand, work and handle cattle.

The Weavers use real working situations you’d run across in a ranch environment. The pair blend a unique combination of their ranch experience and cutting pen influences to maximize the horse’s working advantage.

The second clinic, Aug. 31 through Sept. 2, is a ranch roping clinic which will focus on traditional ranch roping techniques and will provide instruction on preparation, positioning, roping shots, cattle handling, running rope and some groundwork for branding and doctoring situations.

You do not need to have previous roping experience, but you do need to be able to ride with a stable seat and control your horse at a walk, a trot and a lope.

Spectators are welcome at the clinics for a nominal fee.

Those wishing to attend the clinics may register online at thecalifornios.com.

For more information or if you have questions about the clinics, please call Melissa Gardner at 307-351-0859.