Beef Cattle Short Course Ranch Horse Program set Aug. 2 in College Station
New World screwworm, freeze branding and other issues highlight agenda
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Ranch Horse Program will be a preconference event on Aug. 2 in conjunction with the Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course, BCSC, set for Aug. 3-5 on the Texas A&M University campus in Bryan-College Station.
The Ranch Horse Program will run from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Thomas G. Hildebrand, DVM ’56 Equine Complex, 3240 F and B Road, College Station. The program is a joint effort between AgriLife Extension, the Department of Animal Science, the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and the Texas A&M Institute for Equine Sciences.
The popular horse program had 160 participants last year. It is free for all Beef Cattle Short Course participants or $125 at the door for those not attending the short course. Register online for the Ranch Horse Program only.
“The ranch horse remains one of the most versatile and valuable tools available to cattle producers, combining athleticism, training and instinct to accomplish tasks that technology simply can’t replace,” said Jennifer Zoller, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension horse specialist in Department of Animal Science, Bryan-College Station. “The Texas A&M Ranch Horse Program gives participants an opportunity to strengthen those practical horsemanship skills while promoting sound stockmanship and preserving the working ranch horse tradition for the next generation.”
On the agenda
The morning program will include the following topics and speakers:
- Welcome and TAMU Horse Happenings, Zoller.
- Ranch Horse Health – Biosecurity and New World Screwworm Considerations, Terry Hensley, DVM, Texas A&M Veterinary Medicine and Diagnostic Laboratory assistant agency director for diagnostic services, Bryan-College Station.
- Freeze Branding, Paige Linne, senior lecturer of equine science and Ranch Horse Team coach, Department of Animal Science, Bryan-College Station.
- King Ranch Horse Program, Lee Roy Montalvo, quarter horse manager for King Ranch.
- Toxic Plants, Vanessa Corriher-Olson, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension forage specialist at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and Research Center at Overton and professor in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences.
Following lunch, there will be a Ranch Horsemanship program from 1:30-3 p.m. in the arena featuring Montalvo. During his arena presentation, he will demonstrate the horsemanship and stockmanship practices used at the historic King Ranch, highlighting the techniques that develop dependable ranch horses and promote effective cattle handling. Attendees will gain insight into the practical skills and traditions that are still essential to modern ranch operations.