Hill College starting a new Ranch Horse Team and will host first Ranch Horse Clinic Nov. 23

  Robin DeMott
  Wednesday, September 25, 2019 12:00 PM
  Athletics

Hillsboro, TX

New being offered this year at Hill College is a Ranch Horse Team. This is an extracurricular opportunity for horse-oriented students to improve their horsemanship skills, training abilities, and showmanship through educational clinics and practice sessions. Students have the opportunity to participate in the Stock Horse of Texas (SHTX) and Intercollegiate Stock Horse Competitions, as well as, the American Stock Horse Association (ASHA), and the National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA). 

As a member of the Ranch Horse Team students will learn positive horsemanship skills from the coach and various other equine professionals. These skills are demonstrated at competitions against other colleges and universities, similar to intercollegiate rodeo, competing against other teams such as Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Tarleton State, North Central Texas Junior College, Stephen F. Austin University, and others at competitions held in Bryan, Vernon, Amarillo, Abilene, Fort Worth, Lubbock, and Austin to name a few. These competitions are offered through the Stock Horse of Texas (SHTX) Association. 

To be eligible, students must be enrolled in 12 credit hours and maintain a 2.0 grade point average. Students are required to provide their own horse and equipment. Annual membership is only $30 for the SHTX. The Team will compete in typical ranch/stock horse classes/events including: trail, western pleasure, reining and working cowhorse. There are four shows a year, two in the fall and two in the spring. The first show is Sept. 26-28 at Brazos County Expo, Bryan and the second show is Oct. 24-27 in Abilene. The first show of the spring semester will be in early March again at the Brazos County Expo, Bryan and the last one will be in early April at Texas Tech University in Lubbock. 

The College will host a SHTX Ranch/Stock Horse Clinic Saturday, Nov. 23, at the Hill College Rodeo Grounds. Horses and riders at all levels are welcome. The clinic fee is $125 and limited to 30 riders. There will be two clinicians, and the clinic will focus on working cowhorse and reining. The clinic is open to the public and is free to observe. 

“We are excited to get the Ranch Horse Team started at Hill College and host our first SHTX clinic. It is a fantastic opportunity for students to improve their horsemanship skills. It’s about your horse and horsemanship,” said Butler. 

The Hill College Ranch Horse Team is coached and coordinated by Lucas Butler. He has been the Assistant Rodeo Coach at Hill College since the fall of 2016. Previously he assisted the rodeo program at Tarleton State University for two years. Butler attended Panola College and competed on the men’s rodeo team. While there, he qualified

for the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) in saddle bronc riding and earned an associate degree. After Panola he transferred to Tarleton to compete on the men’s rodeo team. While there, he received bachelor’s degree in agriculture service and development and a master’s degree in agriculture consumer resources. Butler and his wife, Kelsey, who is an alum of Hill College, live and work training horses on 4K Ranch in Milford 

SHTX was formed in 1996 by a panel of horsemen who believed in a true ranch/stock horse. These visionary individuals based every aspect of SHTX, from our clinic program to our four-class system on the idea of “helping people ride a better horse.” 

SHTX provides affordable riding and training clinics that are fun and challenging. Clinics are designed to teach riders how to make their horses better and more pleasurable to ride. From the basics to advanced concepts, SHTX clinics offer tips and drills that riders can apply in their own practice sessions at home. SHTX shows help riders evaluate their progress training their own horses. Exhibitors don’t need fancy clothes, a sliver show saddle or a big name trainer. Just their horse, good working tack and the desire to have a good time. SHTX provides a place to learn and compete for all levels of horse and rider, from youth and novice riders to intermediate non-pros and professional trainers, and from young horses in training to seasoned ranch and all around stock horses.