VRH Skill Building Program
The VRH Skill Building Programs at Barnes Ranch offers opportunities for riders and horses of all ages, skill levels, and breeds to learn or
enhance their skills in the multi-skilled event of Versatility Ranch
Horse.
We feel that the versatility ranch horse event – with its numerous classes and skills – gives a rider and horse the motivation to move from being an average rider or event specific rider to becoming a horseman.
A Challenging and Rewarding Journey
This event requires the rider to “manage” the horse emotionally and physically. The rider needs to know how to control the horse’s energy and emotions – bringing them up for the cattle classes and down for the dry work classes. To be successful, the rider has to become a balanced rider using appropriate cues without getting in the horse’s way. Riders learn how to ride differently and cue differently for different VRH classes and skills. For example, a rider’s seat and use of the reins and legs are different in reining than in cattle work. Of course, the horse has to be good-minded and willing to work with the rider emotionally and physically. All this adds up to a challenging and very rewarding journey.
Introduction to VRH
Regardless of your skill level or experience, we believe that the best way to begin your journey into versatility ranch horse is by attending the 3-day Introduction to VRH Clinic. This extended clinic:
- serves as an overview of the entire event;
- provides information, rules, and details about each VRH class;
- provides an introduction or review of the foundation maneuvers that will be necessary to be successful in the various VRH skills;
- provides practice time in each of the VRH classes. . . an opportunity to gauge what the rider and the horse are good at and what skills need to be learned or improved.
We suggest that at the end of each day of the introductory clinic that you make a list of classes and specific class skills within that class that you and your horse do well. Also, make a list of classes and specific class skills that you and your horse need to learn or to improve on.
At the end of the 3-day clinic, you will have an organized “Lesson Plan” for instruction and training in the versatility ranch horse event.
From there, you can decide how quickly you would like to progress in VRH. The following factors will help with that decision:
- Finances available for instruction
- Time available for instruction
- How far along you are in your riding skills and the different VRH skills/classes
- How far along your horse is in his understanding and willingness in three basic gaits (walk, trot, lope), smoothness of transitions from one gait to another, degree of collection, and then the additional VRH specific skills such as reining, cattle work (working ranch horse & cutting), roping (intermediate & advanced divisions only), trail class, pattern class.
Lessons vs. Clinics
In 2012 Barnes Ranch made the decision to change its approach to instructing this multi-skilled event. While the 3-Day Intro to VRH Clinic is an overview of the event, its classes, and skills, the follow-up skill-building program is designed to assist riders and horses with different skill levels learn specific skills. Along with the required all-around VRH ranch and riding skills, the clinic format does not allow sufficient time to meet the individual needs of the rider and horse. Some skills the rider is proficient in; some skills the horse is proficient in; some skills both the horse and rider need to learn from the basics. By combining all the skill level combinations of many different riders and horses into the same clinic setting, an individual rider and horse gets a very limited amount of time to work on their own needs.
We have decided to eliminate formal clinics from our VRH Skill-Building Program and concentrate on customizing the learning experience for individual riders and horses with private, semi-private, and small group lessons.
This change allows for each individual rider and horse to implement their own “Lesson Plan” and progress faster, while having the flexibility to schedule lessons at times that are most convenient to him or her.
Jeff and Gerrie Barnes are instructors – specializing in customizing the riding experience to the rider/horse team in a safe, supportive, professional manner. Both Jeff and Gerrie are VRH judges and actively participated in shaping the VRH event from its inception. Gerrie is also a CHA-certified riding instructor and AQHA Professional Horseman.
The VRH skills learned at Barnes Ranch are transferable to the three national versatility ranch horse associations with Colorado Affiliates.
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What others have accomplished through skill-building--
"Thank you both for an excellent day and for your excellent instruction. I feel Brass and I had a breakthrough. I know we have to take baby steps forward, but I feel we're heading in right direction!"--Julie Neukomm
"Barnes Ranch has created and developed an outstanding program from very new riders to highly skilled riders. The approach is rider-centered and has sequential levels for successful, safe and meaningful education of rider and horse."--Peggy Waller
"The skill-building program at Barnes Ranch has helped rider and horses learn multiple skills in a safe, sequential manner, with one skill building on another. I and many others found that we advanced much faster than we expected. It was also great fun!"--Sandy Blackstone
"The Barnes Ranch VRH Skill-Building program does not focus on just one discipline. The approach is far-reaching from basic equitation required in ranch riding to advanced multi-skill maneuvers required in working ranch horse and ranch cutting - combining a unique blend of art and science... all with an emphasis on safety."--Ken & Birgit Berry
"Your VRH Skill Building Program is exactly what I have been looking for and is a gift to many. Thanks to you both for all that you put out for the benefit of we learners."--Emily J
