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Clinician Bud Lyon teaches the Saturday clinic to a sold-out session Feb. 15. (Jenni Dawson photo)

WCRH 3-day Ranch Horse Kick-off with Bud Lyon starts ’25 season

Special to the Horsetrader

TEMECULA — West Coast Ranch Horse launched its 2025 season with a Ranch Horse Kick-off event Feb. 14-16, featuring four sold-out clinic sessions led by multiple world champion and ranch horse expert Bud Lyon of Whitesboro, Texas. Forty riders and 75 auditors benefited from Bud’s well-structured session and practical coaching, gaining insights to elevate their ranch riding, ranch rail, and ranch trail performance.

Beyond the clinics, held at California Ranch Company, attendees enjoyed a rope handling and drag clinic as well as a Saturday night happy hour, fostering camaraderie among fellow ranch horse enthusiasts.

For Bud, the event was a homecoming of sorts, riding at the same facility where he learned as a youth under Todd Crawford, now in Blanchard, Okla. His return was met enthusiastically, as the original Saturday clinic sessions sold out in just nine minutes! Due to overwhelming demand, WCRH added a Friday session, ensuring more riders could learn from one of the nation’s best.

Murray Griggs teaches ranch rail at the schooling show. (Jenni Dawson photo)

On Sunday, riders put their new skills to the test in a mock show and clinic, receiving live feedback from AQHA Professional Horsemen and World Show judges Gary Roberts and Murray Griggs. This Schooling Show is a popular annual event where the clinician-judges provide critiques and offer riders takeaways for the upcoming season. The three Sunday sessions, like the clinics, also sold out — with a strong turnout of auditors eager to learn from the experts.

Many members made a weekend of it, and attendee feedback was overwhelmingly positive; participants expressed their appreciation for Bud, Gary, and Murray’s expertise as well as their and generosity in sharing knowledge.

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Bud Lyon fields questions from the auditors during the Ranch Horse Kick-off event. (Jenni Dawson photo)

With fresh insights and sharpened skills, competitors are more prepared than ever to ride with confidence into the 2025 ranch horse season, which starts March 29-30 with the Ranch Horse Challenge at Green Acres Ranch in Temecula.

The four-show WCRH Ranch Horse Classic Buckle Series follows, with competitions May 10 (Tucalota Creek Ranch), and on June 7, Aug. 24, and Sept. 28 at California Ranch Company. The 2025 WCRH season culminates in the highly anticipated 6th Annual Ranch Horse Rendezvous, Oct. 16-19 at California Ranch Company.

More than just a horse show, the Rendezvous is an equestrian celebration, featuring a clinic day, live music, a catered dinner, vendors, a bonfire, a silent auction, and futurities. The weekend also includes a full-scale horse show with divisions for all levels, division buckles, a high-point saddle, and many more prizes!

Murray Griggs and WCRH member Sylvia Collins discuss her ranch trail run at the schooling show. (Jenni Dawson photo)
Kelly Callahan and Dusty in their first ranch horse show; the annual schooling show is an ideal introduction. (Jenni Dawson photo)
Bud Lyon bids farewell to the Friday clinic riders after a successful (and cold!) session. (Jenni Dawson photo)

MORE ONLINE: https://www.westcoastranchhorse.com

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