Our Horses and Horseback Riding

Horses Essential to our Lifestyle (Click to Enlarge)

Central to Ranch Life

Horseback riding is our primary activity and mode of transportation. From beginner to advanced rider you can spend hours in the comfortable western saddle, riding trusty ranch horses. We want the horseback experiences to be fun for everyone…including the horse.

Essential

In these parts, horses and horseback riding are essential to our way of life. We feed’em, groom’em, ride’em and sometimes cuss’em…but we can’t get along without’em!

Using horses to drive cattle (click to enlarge)

Experienced, Well Trained Horses

Our horses are very experienced and well trained. They have been exposed to riding in the wild around all types of game and cattle and in all kinds of weather. They are all capable of hard work and can step up when asked. We will teach, or remind you, of their basic care and behavior so you will understand how to ride safely during your stay at Concho Hills.

LIfe on the Ranch…

… At Concho Hills

Used to Get the Job Done

At Concho Hills we have developed a riding program unique to cowboy culture. Cowboys use horses to manipulate cattle, get to places not easily accessed on foot, and for transportation. Getting any animal to move where you want it to be requires understanding the principles of animal interactions, what they perceive as pressure and how to apply and release pressure. Cowboys ride for many hours and can position their horse precisely and maintain the appropriate distance to other animals and riders while crossing or avoiding the many obstacles they encounter.

Seems like a good horse can read the rider’s mind. They can’t! They are trained. Cowboys spend a lot of time training their ranch horses. They need a horse that is trained move where the rider wants it and when asked, and to stop quickly. A ranch horse needs to understand what the rider wants with minimum use of the reins to help the horse’s disposition and because the rider is using his hands for other tasks like using a rope, opening gates, cracking a whip, or even playing a harmonica.

Riding Ranch Style

Here you will “ride a horse” instead of “going for a ride on a horse.” We have no trails, and the horse does not know where to go. Our horses look to the rider for leadership and to be told what to do, and where to go. They also need consistency in that communication. To accomplish this, you will begin to learn (if you don’t already know) to ride “ranch style” or western reinsman. In this style of riding, the horse understands what you want primarily from your position in the saddle and the use of your legs. Unlike other riding styles, our horses are mostly ridden with loose reins. You will learn why and how this helps the horse and the rider.

Horseback riding is a physical activity. Rider fitness is important for safety (yours and your fellow riders), reducing soreness, as well as being associated with reduced injury outcomes. Everyone should be physically able to mount and dismount their horse without assistance. We will provide you a list of exercises to help determine or improve your rider fitness.

Intro to Western Reinsman Clinic

To resolve the dilemma of keeping our horses able to perform ranch work and that our guests may not have western reinsman riding experience or understanding, we decided to provide our guests our Intro to Western Reinsman Clinic.

In this clinic, each of our guests, regardless of experience, learns or reviews how our equipment works and its effects on the animals. Our guests are fitted to the most appropriate saddle, reminded how to sit the western saddle, and the importance of an independent seat. We discuss horses, bits and rein control, and participate in a clinic in the round pen and arena as to how our horses have been trained. We know “every time you ride a horse you train a horse,” so being consistent will enhance the horse’s performance, one’s safety, enjoyment, and the enjoyment of other riders.

Safety requires that our guests feel confident being able to turn the horse during a trot and canter before leaving the arena. Only AFTER being able to control one’s horse safely in the arena, do we take people out on the range. For riders unfamiliar with our style of riding, it takes time to absorb the techniques and put them into practice. How much time it takes depends upon the individual.

Horseback Riding Orientation (Click to Enlarge)

Horses -Practice in the Arena (click to enlarge)

Experience Not Necessary

Don’t ride? Don’t worry! If you’ve a mind to, we have the staff and ability to teach the basics of western riding. Sometimes being a beginner to western reinsman riding gives one an advantage compared to others trained in a different riding style. Riding is a skill and it takes time, practice, and some physical ability to become competent. So give yourself some time to be comfortable and safe in the saddle.

Ridin’ the Range

You will apply your riding style and your skills on the range. The techniques don’t change. The way you ride on the range is the same as how you rode in the arena. You just have more things to look at and enjoy. Each ride builds confidence while improving your riding skills and horsemanship. As one’s competence increases, their enjoyment of the range increases.

Some guests have not used the muscles used for riding horses in a long time and can find themselves a little sore. We recommend less frequent riders to allow for shorter rides with breaks to “get back in the saddle.”

Step Your Riding up a Notch

You might choose to try your hand at pole bending, barrel patterns, and a little competitive fun. Our staff is always willing to share their knowledge.

Riding is a skill and depending upon what one wishes to do on the horse, from cross country riding to working cattle, you will need to acquire the competence to accomplish the goal.

“It’s all about the horses”……and having FUN!

Riding Lessons and Tips

We teach a riding style passed down to us by Ed Krauss. Ed was a registered cutting horse trainer with the National Cutting Horse Association. It is with great sadness that our friend, mentor, and riding instructor Ed Krauss passed away in October 2019. We will miss him more than words can say. We have posted a Tribute to Ed Krauss here.

We will do our best to offer lessons using his style and wisdom. If you are interested, you can view our YouTube Channel here: Concho Hills Guest Ranch YouTube. We are in the process of making some videos of riding tips, our ranch, and the area.

Horses - Ed Krauss Cutting (Click to Enlarge)