Buckaroo Texan Blog

On September 10, 2011 I attended another Ranch Horse Versatility Show.  I took my trusty steed Mr. Qien Sabe 501, aka Button for my mount for the day.   We entered all five events.   It was a test to see how many skills were really honed between us, due to not getting to work any cattle since July, when I had to sell all my cows.  Also, the extremely hot weather had made our workouts very slow and easy paced. 

The day was to be a bit milder than the last show, only range in the mid 90’s for temperature highs.   The morning started out nice and the trailer ride was going good except about 30 miles from the show, I heard a big pop, looked in the rear view mirror and trailer tire was flying in all directions.  The force was with me as I was able to find a tire place and get back on the road in 30 minutes.  I got signed up and entered my first class Ranch Cutting without any warm up.   We placed 4^th.

 The next class was Working Ranch Horse and we had a really smooth run.  Button was really soft, really eyeing the cow and we ended up 2^nd.

The Ranch Trail class had 2 lead changes, dragging double post in a circle, roping a barrel, loping and trotting through a box, carrying a sack of leaves, dismounting and picking up the off fore foot and the near hind foot.  We placed 1^st.

The Ranch Riding class is generally Button’s least favorite.  After working cattle and going through obstacles I think he thinks, “What is the point of walking, trotting and loping around this arena some more”.  He was a trooper and was just right with me on all my cues.  I was able to stay very consistent and very easy to give subtle cues mostly with my body and legs.   We placed 1^st.

 The Halter class is not always a good class for my little bay, but our consistent work with being supple and working towards carrying collection more and more paid off.  His whole presence is a different horse than he was a year ago.   We placed 1st.  After the scores were tallied we were Ranch Horse Versatility Champion, this day.  

I was asked what I thought was contributing to our continued success at Ranch Horse Versatility.   I owe a lot of gratitude and thanks to my mentor Buck Brannaman for the continuing development of my horsemanship skills.  I appreciate the support and guidance from professional farriers Kate and Sam Gooding, also great friends.  My friend and holistic veterinarian Madalyn Ward, who had been a guiding force in directing my horses and myself to better health and well being.

Photos by Carol Akers.

  A Ranch roping clinic is coming up on February 26 & 27, 2011 at Elkanah Ranch,  518 FM hwy 107, Gateville, Texas.  Contact Jeff Spooner at 254-383-4651 for more information.   This style of roping is typically used at brandings.  It is a calm, loss stree way of handling cattle.  It is not about speed.  It is about Horsemanship, skill and finesse.  Clinic includes ranch rope with two hondos, dinner each day,numerous basic head and heal shotts, practice on roping dummy, roping from your horse and how to handle the cow after it has been roped.  Sunday afternoon concludes with a small competition with prizes paid out.

 The following tells about a session with a yearling filly getting haltered.  Each colt can be handled differently and should be handled as the situation presents itself.  You will be able to pick up ideas on halter training your baby!

I am looking forward to seeing Sassafras today.  I have 3 horses I need to work with tied up in the round pen, near her pen.  I will go work with her first while the others wait for me.

 I take my bucket of brushes, rope and a halter with long soft lead and head over to her pen.  She sees me coming and nickers.  That’s a good sign.   I open her gate to let her into the small pen where I have set down the brush bucket and laid down my ropes.   She comes right in, this is where she gets fed so it is a comfortable place for her.  

She starts walking the pen and I don’t waste time, I pick up my rope and at the first opportunity, I throw a side arm loop on her.  She wheels away but the rope stays on,  it is not on her neck, and with a flip of the rope the wrong way, it comes off.  No worries, I just recoil calmly and throw a side arm loop again as she comes by me, left to right.  It settles nicely over her neck, she bolts to the other side of the pen, and then as I apply a little pressure, she stops and faces me.

Now she is ready for the fun stuff.  No getting sweaty today.  She remembers, hey that person turned out to be good yesterday!!   I approach and start to rub her, she stays put and really lets down.  I rub her face, put the coil over her face,  rub some more, block as she attempts  to pull her head away a time or two. She settles and stays with me.  Great she is ready for the halter!  I  back away from her, let out a couple of coils and reach for the halter on the fence.  She actually takes a step with me.    I reward her big time.  I go slow here.  Let her sniff the  halter and rub it on her neck first, then alternate rubbing  with  my hand then the halter and still holding the coils of my rope in the left hand.  I slip the halter on with no fuss and no resistance from her.  No big deal she says as she  licks and chews.  I clip the lead rope on and slide the coil of rope over her head and off.   I spend a few moments just rubbing her all over again.  

I brought some worm paste with me and I don’t waste time,  I handle her mouth some more and in goes the wormer, no big deal.  She said it did taste funny, but she forgave me  as I keep rubbing and making a big fuss over her.  I step back and get a brush and get to work.  Its’ a sea of horse  hair flying around in the wind, and she says it does feel so good!!!

I brush a few strokes and encourage her to move a  step my way.  Then I switch sides and encourage her to move towards me again.  In a few moments we have a pile of horsehair on the ground and she is moving a few steps at a time towards me.  She will give her head to either side with a hint of suggestion from the rope.  The rope touching her hindquarters is now getting some meaning to step over with her front and step under with her hind, on around towards me for a rub.   As I work round her with the brush, I pick up each leg a couple of times after rubbing it. 

Well done,  I end this session with her wanting more rubbing.  I take off the halter  and walk off.  I open the gate and she comes right through with a confident aire.  She looks my way with pride.   She knows she did good.   I smile and think “we are on our way, baby.!”

  My training is in the Buckaroo Way and I offer consultation services to those who believe in partnership of horse and rider. 
 Honoring the horse and horsemanship through the western buckaroo way- Jeannie

Photos by:  Kathy Greer

The afternoon class at the Texas  BUCK BRANNAMAN CLINIC in March  2010 was Beginning Ranch Roping.

The ranch ropers gathered on the first day with their ropes in hand and watched Buck Brannaman demonstrate 3 different hip shots.  He recommended a soft rope 45 to 60 feet in length for this style of roping.     He had us work on our swing before we started throwing loops at the roping dummy.   He told us to imagine swinging a milk pail over and around your head and back down by your side.    With a proper swing you will not spill your milk!!

1. The first shot we worked on was the “ride by flank shot”.  We would approach the calf or roping dummy that was headed left to right.  This entailed swinging our loop forward and over our heads and with an angle, like the shoulder of the calf.   As we rode by perpendicular to the calf, the time to deliver the loop was when our leg was even with the tail of the calf.  We would look at the flank of the calf and follow through with our loop and deliver our swing as if wiping the table across the back of the calf.   One third of the loop would go all the way under the calf and out the other side and wrap around the hind legs, one third would be standing up against the calf’s legs under his flank and one third of the loop would be on the right side of the calf’s rear legs angled back toward the person who just threw the loop.  The power is in the swing as you come from behind you forward.  It does not need to be swung hard to have a lot of power and effectiveness.

2. The second shot we practiced is called the “hip shot”.  This is a standing shot. You position your horse at about a forty-five degree angle to the calf ’s hip (right side of calf) and swing your rope on the right side of your horse, forward swing and over your head.  Again, the power in the throw is when you bring your arm forward from behind you.  In this shot you focus on the hip and as you pull your rope forward in your swing you quickly open you fingers and point them at the hip.  This allows the loop to travel faster and hit the calf over the hip and then the tip follows under the flank and stands up nicely around the hind legs until the header can draw the calf into the loop.

3.  The third shot is the “trap shot”.  This is delivered from behind the calf, in his blind spot. Your horse is positioned off to the left of the calf.  Your swing is a forward swing but angled over the left side of the calf and your horse.
When you deliver the loop, your drop your arm down as you bring if forward down the right side of your horse and wipe the table across the back of the calf for the throw.   This shot is usually done with you and your horse being closer to the calf and your tip is over the back of the calf in your swing to help you judge when you have the loop ready to be delivered.

After working on our swings and roping the three shots on the roping dummy, we were ready to rope live corriente cattle.   You have to practice adjusting your swing in relation to your horse and the moving calf.   If you ever thought that riding was like doing 8 things at once, well we just added about 4 to 5 more things going on a once.   You need to be able to pat your head and rub your tummy type of coordination to do ranch roping, but you need to do that to have good rider and horse communication. 

The work was fun, you needed to feel of your horse with a lot of concentration. Horsemanship skills at the highest level were being developed.  Buck always stressed our horsemanship first and the roping second.   The roping is just a job for the horse to do.   Classic dressage in western saddles!   “All dressage is, is good riding.” said Buck Brannaman.

Jeannie
J Bar B Ranch
Honoring the horse and horsemanship 

My training is in the Buckaroo Way and I offer consultation services to those who believe in partnership of horse and rider.   My approach includes everything from evaluating the compatibility of horse and rider, developing programs of fitness for horse and rider to compete in various events, to offering experienced feedback on horse management, diets, and supplements.