What to Expect at Your First Northern Lights Versatility Ranch Horse Clinic and Schooling Competition
gning up and planning to attend any new activity for the first time can seem overwhelming, but here is a helpful way to get your um, “hoof” in the door for ranch horse versatility. It is important to know that every rider and every horse all are at different levels of development and we all have our strengths and skills we need to work on. If you jump right in, you’ll fit right in. You will only be “new” once.
You spend the weekend on your horse in a learning environment. You participate in an all-day clinic on the first day followed by a low- key schooling competition on the second day. On both days you are coached by certified clinicians on all skills a horse on a ranch would be expected to perform. On day two, you compete only with horse/rider teams of your level of ability. At the end of the second day, you receive an itemized score sheet that shows the skills that can use improvement and you’ll go home with some great ideas on what to work on.
Unlike a typical horse show, you participate in all five of the classes:
When you register, you will receive a letter that tells you what to bring, where to be and when and what you will need: A cowboy hat, boots, collared Western shirt, appetite (we do share some good grub,) and a smile! That’s IT – oh, and your horse or mule...yes we welcome all breeds! If you are the competitive sort and want to test your roping skills, bring that rope too!
Many riders look at the variety of skills involved in ranch versatility and realize there is a lot to learn. A number of riders come from trail riding, pleasure classes, barrels, reining, team penning, etc. and are bored with just one discipline. It is helpful if you can lope in a circle, stop your horse, side-pass, trot fast and slow, walk and back-up. Clinicians talk about equipment, conformation, reading a cow, and how to use the most subtle cues necessary to get your horse to do what you want.
Many first time horses have never seen cattle – let alone cut a cow out of a herd. Our clinicians will help you develop and fine tune all the skills you need. You will identify resources that can help you, and discover a whole new world of fun with your horse.
Northern Lights Versatility Ranch events are not cutthroat, although some of us do enjoy the friendly competition among friends! A better way to look at this is you are only competing against yourself and your performance in the past. There is an occasional jackpot, your points do accumulate for National and Regional awards long term and seasonally, but earning money isn't the main focus. You may win a saddle or buckles and other great prizes at the National level and the Northern Lights Champion and Reserve Champion buckles are beautiful, but most people want to have a good time and improve their horsemanship, and that’s what you can expect at your first event and throughout the season.
The men and women in the Northern Lights Versatility Ranch Horse Association invite you to learn, improve, and promote the American Western Ranch Horse/mule. Make this year your year to launch your horsemanship skills to a higher level! Attend our combined clinic/schooling competitions, meet new friends, and get expert instruction in a small group setting.
Your membership in NLVRHA and NVRHA will get you up to speed with information and upcoming events.
Put the Northern Lights Versatility Ranch Horse schedule in your calendar now and make a plan to join us this year.
You spend the weekend on your horse in a learning environment. You participate in an all-day clinic on the first day followed by a low- key schooling competition on the second day. On both days you are coached by certified clinicians on all skills a horse on a ranch would be expected to perform. On day two, you compete only with horse/rider teams of your level of ability. At the end of the second day, you receive an itemized score sheet that shows the skills that can use improvement and you’ll go home with some great ideas on what to work on.
Unlike a typical horse show, you participate in all five of the classes:
- Ranch Riding (see NVRHA web site for authorized patterns)
- Ranch Trail
- Ranch Cutting
- Working Ranch (reining and boxing-for Novice, or reining/boxing/fence work/circling or roping for upper division)
- Form-to-function Conformation class
When you register, you will receive a letter that tells you what to bring, where to be and when and what you will need: A cowboy hat, boots, collared Western shirt, appetite (we do share some good grub,) and a smile! That’s IT – oh, and your horse or mule...yes we welcome all breeds! If you are the competitive sort and want to test your roping skills, bring that rope too!
Many riders look at the variety of skills involved in ranch versatility and realize there is a lot to learn. A number of riders come from trail riding, pleasure classes, barrels, reining, team penning, etc. and are bored with just one discipline. It is helpful if you can lope in a circle, stop your horse, side-pass, trot fast and slow, walk and back-up. Clinicians talk about equipment, conformation, reading a cow, and how to use the most subtle cues necessary to get your horse to do what you want.
Many first time horses have never seen cattle – let alone cut a cow out of a herd. Our clinicians will help you develop and fine tune all the skills you need. You will identify resources that can help you, and discover a whole new world of fun with your horse.
Northern Lights Versatility Ranch events are not cutthroat, although some of us do enjoy the friendly competition among friends! A better way to look at this is you are only competing against yourself and your performance in the past. There is an occasional jackpot, your points do accumulate for National and Regional awards long term and seasonally, but earning money isn't the main focus. You may win a saddle or buckles and other great prizes at the National level and the Northern Lights Champion and Reserve Champion buckles are beautiful, but most people want to have a good time and improve their horsemanship, and that’s what you can expect at your first event and throughout the season.
The men and women in the Northern Lights Versatility Ranch Horse Association invite you to learn, improve, and promote the American Western Ranch Horse/mule. Make this year your year to launch your horsemanship skills to a higher level! Attend our combined clinic/schooling competitions, meet new friends, and get expert instruction in a small group setting.
Your membership in NLVRHA and NVRHA will get you up to speed with information and upcoming events.
Put the Northern Lights Versatility Ranch Horse schedule in your calendar now and make a plan to join us this year.
