Casper, Wyoming – Saddle up with the Semper Fi Fund and America’s Fund Jinx McCain Horsemanship Program for a week of cowboying at the Lone Star Ranch near Casper, Wyoming.

This is our second year at the storied Lone Star Ranch and the perfect place to put our horsemanship skills learned in previous clinics into practical application. The Lone Star is an historic Wyoming cattle ranch, not a “Dude Ranch,” that still does all its ranching the traditional way from the back of a horse.

We’ll spend the better part of a week working alongside the Lone Star cowboys and cowgirls as we help them complete their spring branding and then drive their 500 cow/calf herd into a high mountain valley in the heart of the Rocky Mountains.

Come live the dream with us as we learn cowboy skills first hand and get the chance to experience western ranch life at its finest. We’ll sleep in a bunk house, enjoy home cooked meals prepared by the rancher’s family, ride the same ranch horses as used by the LS cowboys, and cover vast rolling terrain under the big Wyoming sky. We’ll learn cattle gathering, sorting, roping and dragging, flanking, branding, castrating, and vaccinating calves.

Once the branding is finished, we’ll drive the herd up into the mountains to their summer pasture. You and your horse will become a team, riding the canyons, tree lines, stream crossings, and mountainous terrain in pursuit of the wily bovines. You’ll feel terrific each day as take in the magnificent vistas, breath deep the fresh mountain air, feel your heart beat in rhythm with your horse, and see the long black line of cows moving in the direction you set for them. At the completion of a full day of riding, you’ll enjoy a robust meal around the fire and tall tales from your fellow service members recounting the day’s events. For the daring, we’ll make the trip into a deep river canyon and get the chance to jump from the cliff into a snow-fed stream 20 feet below.

This clinic is open to 12 wounded, ill, or injured service members and veterans, and their spouses.

Here are some pre-requisites:

– Due to demands of riding all day, every day, for 5 straight days, going up and down mountains, I ask only those under 225 lbs (for the sake of the horse), in reasonable physical condition, and gung-ho attitude apply—this is terrific fun, but can be physically demanding on the horse and the rider.
– Because we are using the Lone Star’s ranch horses, I ask that only those that have participated in a previous Jinx McCain Horsemanship Clinic apply so I know you’re riding abilities. These are ranch horses used to working a full day carrying a skilled cowboy on their back. I’m looking for riders that are confident in their own abilities more than I’m looking for riders with years of experience. If you’re a confident rider, but have not been to one of our previous clinics, then please call me to see if I will make an exception in your case. For those with no riding experience, please sign up for one of our clinics prior to this event so you qualify to attend.
– We welcome all wounded, ill, and injured service members, veterans, and their spouses as long as you meet the physical requirements, have previous JMHP experience, are self-sufficient, and have a gung-ho attitude. My goal is to get you horseback in this adventure of a lifetime, so please call me if you’re uncertain.

When (Dates and Times T.B.D. – Late May / Early June) :

: fly into Casper, Wyoming
: Double Rafter Cattle Drive
: fly home from Casper, Wyoming

Where:

Lone Star Ranch
Casper, Wyoming

Contact:

For more information and to sign up for this adventure, please contact:
John Mayer
Jinx McCain Horsemanship Program Foreman
(830) 992-9581
john.mayer@semperfifund.org