The Western States Horse Expo is thrilled to announce that Chris Cox will be speaking at the 2012 Western States Horse Expo.
Chris Cox is an accomplished clinician and master horseman. With 25 years of experience, Cox has developed a successful partnership between horse and rider, making him one of the most respected individuals in the industry.
Born into the ranching business, Cox moved with his family from Florida to an island off the coast of northeast Australia to raise cattle as a toddler. During his time on the 100 square-mile Prince of Wales Island, Cox worked as a hand on numerous ranches on the mainland, developing a distinct relationship with the horses. His horse, Major, served many roles for Cox, including: a work partner, a means of transportation, daily entertainment and even companionship.
Although Australia helped to shape his younger years, Cox perfected his horsemanship skills and focused on returning to the United States. At the age of 18, Cox took the first step to fulfilling his dream and headed back to America. Following a brief period of ranch work in Florida, Cox began training mustangs for the Bureau of Land Management. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Cox trained horses and provided clinics for individuals of all skill levels who were interested in developing and perfecting their abilities.
Cox continues to offer a horsemanship program that has proven to be immensely popular with people of all ages. The success stories are the result of commitment and devotion to understanding the horse, as well as self-examination of one’s own limitations.
With the Chris Cox Horsemanship television show that airs on RFD-TV, along with the nationwide “Come Ride the Journey” tour stops and his appearances at equine expositions, Cox has touched the lives of many horse enthusiasts. He has shown them a straightforward, practical way to gain a better relationship with their horses. Winning back-to-back championships at the 2007 and 2008 Road to the Horses colt starting contests proved the effectiveness of his methods and his clear passion for horses.
Cox is not only a successful clinician, but he competes at the highest levels of performance horse competition. As a team roper, he competes as both a header and a healer. He often has more than 20 horses in training at his ranch, and maintains a demanding schedule full of clinics, tours and competitions.
Cox currently resides at his Diamond Double C Ranch near Mineral Wells, Texas, where he offers progressive six-day horsemanship clinics several times a year.
Be sure to hear Chris Cox talk at the 2012 Western States Horse Expo in Sacramento, CA. For dates and more be sure to visit our website.
Horse Expo Pomona is excited and honored to announce that Kerry Kuhn will also be among its demonstrating clinicians this year.
Hailing from southern Kansas, Kerry Kuhn is one of the foremost horseman in the world today. Like Richard Winters, one of our other clinicians, Kerry has spent nearly 30 years of his life dedicated to working with horses and teaching what he has learned to others. Kerry’s style of communication is refreshing to most audiences and his talent for making his topics both informative and entertaining is something that makes listening to him speak a true pleasure.
Like almost any kind of animal, horses respond favorably and powerfully to encouragement. Kerry’s method of horsemanship revolves around what is going on in the horse’s mind being personal, practical, and positive. He is dedicated to teaching his students to create an environment for their horses that is just that. Be sure to come to the Pomona Horse Expo to hear him speak next February.
To read more about Kerry and the other Horse Expo clinicians, please click here.
What makes the Parelli Method so unique is its focus on natural horsemanship, or how horses relate and communicate with their natural world. Horses are animals who share a strong connection with their natural environment, and the Parelli Method takes this into account when training them. Another wonderful fact about the Parelli Method is that its approach is compatible with all types of breeds, disciplines, and styles of riding. Whether you’re jumping, going cross-country, or simply happy hacking the Parelli Method is effective because it embraces the true nature of a horse and its innate psychology. This method is applied by riders of all ages, skill sets, and disciplines all over the world.
Why?
Riders who want to build a meaningful and lasting connection with their horse employ the Parelli Method because they understand that acts of love and understanding will go much farther than force and coercion when building an enduring relationship with their animal. Whether you’re an experienced rider or just beginning the Parelli Method is a great starting point from which to build trust and a sense of teamwork with one’s horse.
To read more about Pat Parelli and the other Horse Expo clinicians, please click here.
In another one of our most recent articles we outlined rounds one through three of one of the most action-packed events that will be taking place in February at the Horse Expo in Pomona: Project Cowboy. This article will be giving more information on Project Cowboy, namely rounds four through six of the event where hundreds of horsemen compete to for $10,000, exposure, and the title “the Great American Horseman.”
Round Four, or “Can You Handle A Herd?,” is all about teamwork between the members of five teams of five composed of members of the remaining 25 contestants. Five contestants with the lowest scores in Round Three are selected to be Team Captains who in turn select four additional members from the remaining contestants to form their team. Each team is given five minutes to plan a strategy to complete the round’s objective: each team member herding one selected cow from a large herd of cattle. Each contestant is scored on their horsemanship and ability to maneuver their cow out of the herd. In addition to each individuals’ score every each contestant will receive a team score which is added to their individual score. After Round Four is completed, 15 of the 25 remaining contestants with the lowest cumulative scores on rounds one through four will be eliminated, leaving only ten contestants remaining. These contestants are known as the Top 10 and compete in the last two rounds: five and six.
Next is Round Five: “Are You Good With A Filly?” This round challenges the remaining ten contestants’ ability to work with a filly. Contestants are given six minutes to demonstrate their ability to communicate with the filly and spectators, while sharing training techniques and engaging the audience. This will not only test each contestant’s ability to work with the filly and audience but also test their competence in teaching others their skills. Contestants are then given a score on a scale of 1-10 and then proceed to the final round.
At last we’ve come to Round Six, the climactic grand finale and of Project Cowboy. After this round one horsemen will walk away with a $10,000 prize, widespread exposure, and the distinguished title of “the Great American Horseman.” For one horseman, hopes and dreams will be fulfilled and nine unfortunate horsemen will walk away disappointed. Everything has come down to this final challenge: “Ride ‘Em Like You Stole ‘Em.” For the first part of Round Six the final contestants must complete a series of two performances: Horsemanship Maneuvers and a Freestyle Performance. For the Horsemanship Maneuver each contestant is given 90 seconds and four minutes are given for the Freestyle Performance. The Freestyle Performance will test each contestant’s skill and creativity to execute something impressive and entertaining. Each contestant is then given a score for the round which is added to their score from Round Five. The contestant with the highest score wins!
For more information on dates, rules, and entry be sure to visit the Pomona Horse Expo’s site. Be sure to do so soon as the entry deadline is December 1st, 2011.
In our previous article we released some exciting information about of an important event taking place at the Pomona Horse Expo in February: Project Cowboy. If you haven’t had a chance to read our previous article on what Project Cowboy is you can do so here. This article will outline the basic rules and give more information on Project Cowboy for those who are interested in putting their horsemanship skills to the ultimate test for a chance to win $10,000 and exposure to jumpstart their career.
Project Cowboy consists of six rounds, the first of which is “Are You Good in the Saddle?” “Are You Good in the Saddle” is comprised of three elements: Riding Patterns, Obstacle Courses, and Freestyle. In each round contestants will be assessed by judges and receive a score for their performance. Different elements of each round have different point values depending upon the element’s importance.
The second round of the Project Cowboy is “Are You Good on Screen?” This round includes speaking in front of a camera and the judges test for one minute reciting a speech, poem, or song including five words which will be selected by Project Cowboy and assigned at the contestant’s meeting. Timing is vital to a good score as you are responsible for using all sixty seconds of your time but not go over the time allotted. Round two is also a very important round because after it when when the first elimination occurs. All participants with the lowest scores are eliminated until there are only 75 remaining.
Round 3 of Project Cowboy is titled, “Can You Think On Four Feet?,” and with good reason. In this round contestants will be asked three random questions on horsemanship, personal experience, anatomy, and horse mythology. After this round the fifty contestants with the lowest cumulative scores are then eliminated, leaving only the best twenty-five contestants remaining of the hundreds who originally entered. This is where things really start to heat up.
Be sure to stay tuned for our next article which outlines the final three rounds of the Project Cowboy and stay updated on the latest information on the Pomona Horse Expo in February here.
Do you think you have what it takes to be a real cowboy? If so, you may want to consider entering yourself in the Project Cowboy competition at the Horse Expo in Pomona and you could win $10,000 and a series of appearances at prominent horse events to jumpstart your career. Project Cowboy is looking for an individual who truly embodies the spirit of what it means to be a cowboy. It’s not the clothes you wear or the saddle you ride, to the holders of the the Cowboy Project being a cowboy is a state of mind.
So how would one prove themselves to be the ideal cowboy? Project Cowboy includes several rounds of competition that will vigorously challenge the horsemanship and communication skills of the competitors. All competitors, on their own mount, will be challenged to demonstrate their talents and abilities both in the pen and on the screen. As each round of the competition comes to the close unlucky horsemen will find themselves eliminated until one horseman remains. This horseman will receive the illustrious title of “the Great American Horseman.”
Still think you have what it takes? Be sure to register and come to Project Cowboy at the 2012 Pomona Horse Expo in next February.
For more information on dates, rules, and entry be sure to visit the Pomona Horse Expo’s site. Be sure to do so soon as the entry deadline is December 1st, 2011.
