Rafter M Ranch and Arena hosts
“Ranch Roping School” with Bob Sagely

of Sage Horsemanship

A Two-Day, One of a Kind - Western Pennsylvania Experience

June ? - June ?, 2003

Have you ever wanted to learn to rope but thought team roping was too fast or too expensive to try? Are you looking for a new activity to do with your horse? Are you an arena roper who wants to improve your skills with livestock or horsemanship?   If you answer yes to any of these a Sage Horsemanship Ranch Roping clinic ought to be in your future.

Ranch roping for safe livestock handling has always been around but is experiencing a revival of sorts. Ranchers are beginning to realize that roping cattle for branding and doctoring purposes is much less stressful, when done correctly, than handling through squeeze chutes and calf tables. As an equine sport it is one of the fastest growing horse activities in the US, primarily because it does not take an expensive or highly trained horse to participate and everything is done at the walk or trot. It is a great entry level sport or past time for those who might want to become team ropers and just plain fun all on its own. It is an excellent way to improve team penning skills as you begin to read cattle better the more you rope.

The ranch roping taught in a Sage Horsemanship clinic simulates the humane cattle handling practices of the bygone era of the Californio vaquero. The vaqueros were artists with a rope, throwing a variety of plain and fancy loops with a long reata made of rawhide and roping everything from cows to grizzly bears. Using from fifty to eighty five feet of reata or more, these men perfected the roping of livestock in the New World. No other culture, outside of the stockmen of the New World, has taken roping to this kind of refinement.

Working at a walk or a trot you will learn to read cattle, work as a team with other riders to set up shots, develop safe horsemanship habits and get a better "handle" on your horse. Best of all, you will give your horse a real job to do, improving his cooperation and ability in other areas. This "so old it's new again" style of roping is exciting and available to anyone with a little heart and willingness to learn. You don't have to be an expert rider (though you should not be a complete novice or inexperienced with horses) and you don't need any prior experience with cattle. Come join us at Bob Matis’ Rafter M Ranch and Arena for a weekend of good, clean fun (OK, you might just get a little down and dirty with the cows) while improving your horsemanship and maybe realizing a dream. We never get faster than a trot and you will learn at your own pace, starting with lots of groundwork for you and your horse. Before you ever latch onto a calf you will do plenty of roping of a dummy (fake) calf, from the ground and from horseback. Even if your horse has never worked cattle or been roped on you can do this with the help of some quality instruction at the clinic.

At the clinic you can:

• Learn how to develop a better cooperation with your horse by giving him a job to do.
• Learn how to help your horse accept a swinging rope and to maneuver without needing to pull him around by the reins.
•  Learn how to herd and sort livestock without stress to the animals.
• Learn how to rope and handle cattle for branding and doctoring*, just like it was done in the old days.
• Learn what the real purpose is for the western style horse and cowboy gear you may own.
• Just have one heck of a good time with your horse.

* We will not actually be branding or doctoring animals and will only be simulating those procedures. We will rope and humanely handle and restrain the animals while they are roped.

Requirements –

• A horse that you are comfortable riding now. (This is not a horsemanship clinic for problem horses but you will learn horsemanship skills relevant to cow work.)
• A western saddle. A roping saddle is not necessary but no treeless saddles, please.
• A nylon catch rope or lariat (fifty foot long minimum recommended) or reata if you are lucky enough to own one. For those who don't own a catch rope, arrangements can be made for the purchase of the correct type rope for this style of work through Bob Sagely.
• Slip on or lace-up cowboy boots (no tennis shoes, work boots or other inappropriate for riding footwear.
• An open and willing mind.
• $125 clinic registration fee (includes a $25 cattle/arena fee).

Optional Equipment:

• Chaps or chinks
• Right or left hand glove (or both if you prefer)
• Rubber coverings should be removed from horn and horn wrapped with a 2" wide strip of latigo or "mulehide". Covering available at clinic.
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 No other experience is necessary. Come join the fun.

Contact Bob Matis at                  or Bob Sagely at 724-459-3873 or by email at sagehorseman at sagehorsemanship.com .