Ranch Roping Clinic to be held in Berryville, AR

We are all looking forward to traveling to Flake Arena in Berryville, Arkansas this weekend for a ranch roping clinic on Saturday and doing some actual cattle work on Sunday. The Flake family run cattle on about 300 acres of beautiful pasture and have hosted numerous horsemanship clinics and trail rides for us in the past. They are superb hosts and everyone always has a great time.

In this photo a group of riders cross a creek on the Flake property during a trail ride held this past spring.

Mule to Compete in Richmond, Virginia

On Septmeber 21 in Benton, AR a trainers challenge was held at the Arkansas Horse Fest. "Mule" Thornbrugh of the Double Diamond T Ranch in Winslow, AR succeeded in winning the event.

The challenge, patterned aft RFD's Road to the Horse, paired three horse trainers with three untouched horses. The trainers were given three one hour segments in which to work with their horse over the course of three days. Each segment was monitored by judges and the crowd, and scored according to how well each trainer progressed with their horse using only natural horsemanship techniques.


The trainers were Mule Thornbrugh of Winslow, Charles Pelham of Etlan, VA and Moses Woodson of TN. Each trainer is an established clinician with his own brand of horsemanship.

Mule will now go on to the Equine Extravaganza National Finals in Richmond, VA October 31 through November 2 to challenge the winners of the trainer challenges recently held in North Carolina and Illinois and to see who will join East Coast Trainer Challenge Hall of Famers Tommy Garland and Ed Dabney.


www.equineextravaganza.com/trainer_challenge.htm

Krisi Comments About Camp

I attended the first fall Women's Horsemanship Immersion Camp this year. It was a very eye opening experience for me and my horse(s). If you want to learn more about yourself and your horse and become a better rider and horse partner, it would be well worth the time and money. With this being basically a one-on-one clinic you truly get what you and your horse need. You’re not at a clinic where you are lost among many and you hope to pick up a couple of things.

Mule reads the rider and the horse pretty accurately and then provides tools to take home for your specific needs. I had basically bought a car without an owner’s manual and Mule showed me how to use all of the “buttons”. I still have a ways to go but I now have “right – left” to keep me on track with Tracker!
THANKS!
Krisi Barker

In the photo above, Krisi and her horse perform an excercise bridleless at a walk, trot and canter while other participants look on.

Final Women's Horsemanship Immersion Camp for 2008

The final camp for this year will be held November 6 - 9. This will be the third camp held in 2008 at the Double Diamond T Ranch. The previous two camps were tremendously successful, it has been a joy to observe the women (and their horses) grow, discover and achieve what they had never imagined. I loved seeing how thrilled Terri was driving calves through a 'gate' in the middle of the large arena. Maggie who cried a few times over her horse loading in the trailer while she sat in the cab of the truck... Krisi tossing her horses bridle off in the roundpen and riding in complete trust of her horse at a lope with no reins, and Phyllis who was utterly elated upon completing the trail challenge independently through the forest with her horse (in the pouring rain, no less), and Jamie who inspired the award "Most Buckaroo at Heart". Those are but a few of many, many touching and inspiring moments which have occurred during our first two camps this year.

We were a little nervous upon discovering there were no cabins available at Devil's Den for this last camp and wondered how to handle this important detail. A small miracle occurred when we discovered Sunflower Lodge has a beautiful Bed and Breakfast cabin ONLY 3 MILES FROM THE RANCH! What a find! The cabin features a whirlpool and fireplace, lovely gardens and splendid views. The cabin accomodates 4, which will cost participants only 30.00 per night when divided. Lovely!

A special event will be held on the last day of this camp, as women who have attended previous camps will be joining us on Sunday for the chance to participate in the 2008 Women's Extreme Horsemanship Skills Assessment at the ranch. The challenge will focus on using skills acquired during camp and will be a great opportunity for fun and accomplishment. There will be awards, chilli and a camp fire. We're looking forward to seeing you there!

~Laurie

The photo above features camp participant Alice Singleton and her young Paint working that curly haired calf in the cattle work session of the first fall camp.