Horseback Riding in Texas

Texas Cattle Working Clinic

Overview

This 3-day cattle working clinic is the perfect way to “get your feet wet”, or to improve your skill, as you learn more about the exciting sports of team sorting and team penning. Appropriate for all skill levels, and limited to 12 participants, it provides ample opportunity for individual instruction, and offers 11 hours of riding and instruction, including a real penning and sorting contest on the final morning. Learn the arts of “reading” each cow, and communicating with your team mates, as you cut, drive, sort, and pen cattle on one of the ranch’s seasoned, well-trained quarter horses. The camaraderie and encouragement of your fellow participants is just the icing on the cattle working cake!

Tucked away among the oak and juniper of the lovely, rolling Hill Country of Texas is the riding center where the clinic takes place. The pleasant atmosphere of the ranch is in keeping with its tranquil setting as is the owner’s quiet and gentle approach to horses and students alike. Your hostess, who is a native of the area, is thoroughly familiar with the varied and abundant flora and fauna to be seen on the trails as well as the country’s history.  You stay in beautifully designed, spacious cabins distant enough from one another for privacy.  Meals are in the headquarters building which was the main house of the old ranch.

Your stay at the ranch can be extended with additional days of instruction or trail riding at the ranch.

Guests stay in beautifully designed, spacious cabins distant enough from one another for privacy.

Most lunches and dinners are served in the main ranch house or outside under a big Oak tree, weather permitting.

  • Overview:
    The horses are a variety of breeds. They are selected for disposition and responsiveness. The tack is Western.
  • Horse Breeds:
    Quarter Horses
  • Tack:
    Western
  • Weight limit:
    200 lbs
  • Hours of Instruction:
    11
  • Instruction and Training:
    Learn the Western riding sports of Team Penning and Team Sorting from knowledgeable staff through two to three hour sessions twice a day. Groups are kept small so that there is opportunity for individual instruction in this team sport.
  • Types of Instruction:
    Clinics and Lessons, Horsemanship Skillbuilding

Golf, fishing, tubing and kayaking are available nearby in the historic town of Bandera. This town, formerly a staging point for the Lonesome Dove style great western cattle drives, provides shopping, dining, dancing and western style night life. The trails adjacent to the ranch are great for hiking or bicycling. Bring your own bicycle or you can rent one in town.

Arrive on Thursday afternoon for a cattle-work weekend, spending each day in instruction before departing on Sunday early afternoon.

San Antonio, Texas

Trip Itinerary

Stays at the ranch can be extended with additional days of instruction or trail riding at the ranch.

Day 1

Plan to arrive at the ranch on Thursday mid to late afternoon or by 6 PM at the latest. Dinner is included Thursday evening and is served at 7PM.

Day 2

Take part in a one hour lesson on Friday morning on one of the ranch’s quality Quarter Horses to start building your cattle working skills.
After time to rest and relax, participate in a second two hour session in the evening before enjoying a good meal and retiring to your comfortable Texas cabin.

Day 3

Saturday is another day with two instructional sessions: a three hour lesson in the morning and then two hours in the afternoon to fully immerse yourself in the process.

Day 4

Sunday consists of a two  hour contest to show off your freshly tuned cow work ability! Say goodbye to new equine and human partners and depart the ranch early afternoon.

Itinerary Addendum

Schedule may be modified according to unavoidable and unanticipated conditions such as weather.

Trip Map

Trip Dates & Pricing

Due to popular demand the November clinic is now fully booked, however the outfitter is offering an additional date in October which comes with a 10% discount - cost is $1,755 per person.

Departure Dates

Trip Starts
Trip Ends
May 30, 2024
Jun 2, 2024
Nov 7, 2024
Nov 10, 2024

Pricing & Options

  • Base Price
  • $1,950

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Do you have questions about this ride itinerary? Do you want to make sure that this it is the right ride for you? Or are you ready to book? Please call or email our experienced and friendly ride consultants for more detailed information. With first-hand knowledge of the exciting tours we offer, the ride consultants at Equitours look forward to answering any questions you might have

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1.800.545.0019

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Contact Biggi Hayes

The instructor was great. She was extremely knowledgeable and was a really good teacher. It was good to get back to basics and improve simple techniques that made a huge difference in my riding. She explained things clearly and gave us an opportunity to work on any issues we had. Both of us in the group were more advanced, but based on my experience, I think she would be excellent with beginners as well.

Gabrielle White, 2012