Ranch Horse Team conducts European horsemanship clinics
Four students from Texas Tech University's Department of Animal and Food Sciences gained valuable international experience this summer as they taught a series of special horsemanship clinics in Germany, Switzerland and the Czech Republic.
"It was a great experience for the students to learn how to teach the skills they have learned in the Ranch Horse Program here at Texas Tech," said Kris Wilson, who serves as coach of Tech's award-winning Ranch Horse Team and an assistant professor of animal and food sciences department. "Having the opportunity to do that internationally with a culture and language barrier was difficult, but rewarding."
Among those participating this year were:
"Robin Morris, a graduate student from Colorado City
"Kevin Burns, a senior from Clovis, NM
"Alicia Daugherty, a sophomore from Alpine
"Brianne Aucutt, a junior from Clovis, NM
During the July 21 to Aug. 12 program, Wilson and his students conducted basic horsemanship clinics in Frauenfeld, Switzerland; Prague, Czech Republic; and Wollbach, Germany. There were an average of 20 participants in each clinic, and Wilson and the students worked through translators in order to conduct the clinic's drills and patterns.
During the past three years, the Texas Tech ranch horse program has conducted eight clinics in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Denmark and Holland. The Tech students won the overseas teaching opportunity as part of a competitive grant process through the American Quarter Horse Association. The trip abroad was their third summer in a row to attend.
"I believe this is an experience they'll use for the rest of their lives," Wilson said.
Earlier this year riders from Tech's Ranch Horse Team closed out an undefeated season, overpowering the competition and taking top spots at the Stock Horse of Texas Association's Collegiate Stock Horse Show at the Tech Equestrian Center. The Texas Tech Ranch Horse Team has 27 members, including 17 students that travel to competitions across the nation with their horses.
Written by Norman Martin
CONTACT: Kris Wilson, Assistant Professor, Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Texas Tech University at 806-742-2804 x236 or k.wilson@ttu.edu
Davis College NewsCenter
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