• Cow-horse knowledge
• Roping Skills
• Cattle breeds – beef and sport
• Ranch operation – cow/calf, fencing
• Grazing permits and allotments
• Cattle market
• Cattle disease and sickness
• Inoculation and medication
• Reproduction
• Chute work
• Culling
• Pasture rotation and the environment
• Farrier knowledge (shoeing)
• Heard replacement
• Hauling and tying down cattle
• Branding, ear marking and tagging
• Shipping and transportation

We spend the first two days at Lorill Equestrian Center. Students stay in the bunkhouse located on the Center grounds. We spend the next three days at a working cattle ranch in Arizona (the ranch site varies with each session.) At some ranches, we camp out at a remote line shack. The only way to get to the shack is to ride in and ride out! We pack all of our essentials on pack horses, so pack lightly. Plan on ‘roughing it’.

This is very hard work and can be very dangerous to both you ad your mount. You must be in good health. if you are injured, help is very far away. However, we do carry a cellular phone for major emergencies.

Arizona Cowboy College assumes no responsibility for injury or death of any person/persons or their mounts.

All students must sign a release form. Both parents or a legal guardian must sign and notarize and release form for any student under the age of 18.

Equipment

Arizona Cowboy College has excellent horses, saddles and gear for all students. We realize, however, that some of our students prefer to use their own horse or their own equipment. This is okay as long as they are safe. We do not want to see anyone hurt because of bad equipment or a bad horse. We will provide feed and board for students’ horses for all five days of the course.

The first two days at the Center we work hard with every horse to get them ready for round-up camp. If, at this time, you and the instructors agree that your horse is not going to make it, you will be moved to a school horse.

Tentative itinerary 

This is just an idea of what a college session may look like. Every college is different, details are subject to change.

Day One

In-depth Horsemanship Clinic geared toward the equine mind, safety, catching, handling, tying, grooming, saddling, and then riding
horseback to hit the desert for the first time. Always looking for cows.
Introduction to Roping A ground up lesson on the Cowboy’s second most important tool

Day Two

Horse Shoeing School
Out in the Desert again for more cows in tougher terrain.
Roping Lesson #2 with emphasis on “Slack” and the “Dally”

Day Three

Pack up gear and horses and to move to the ranch we will work
Set up “Cow Camp”
Our work begins

Day Four

Saddle up and do whatever it takes to get the job done for the Ranch.
Take care of the horses, eat and get to our bedrolls

Day Five

Pack up gear and horses for the trailer ride back to Lorill Equestrian Center for Graduation Dinner and the biggest story-telling party you have ever been to!

Each student should bring three changes of clothes, a heavy coat, (e.g. a Carhart or lined denim jacket), a pair of boots (cowboy boots are ideal), a cowboy hat and a good sleeping bag.

If you have them, you may want to bring: chaps or chinks, long underwear, rain slicker a pullover, rubber boots, guitar or harmonica, rope, your own saddle, or your own horse. Also, recommended are a good pocket knife or Leatherman type tool, gloves, sunscreen, bug spray, chap stick and canteen.

Directions From Phoenix international Airport

• Take 202 east to 101 North
• Exit at Pima/Princess
• You will now be on Pima Rd. Take north to Dynamite Rd.
• Turn right heading East, take to 152nd St.
• Turn left, go North to Lorill. On the left just North of Dixileta Dr.
• About 45 minutes from the airport.