As you know if you have been to this area of my website there are several testimonials on different people’s experiences at our schools or clinics. Well if you read down through very many of them you will see they are all pretty much one sided, they talk about what a good experience they had or how much they got out of it, yada, yada, yada. Of course nobody wants to write anything negative, I guess maybe they think all I want to hear is good stuff.

But anyway I want to tell you another side, what I see, and what my opinion is of them. We get all levels of abilities at the colt schools and the Alvord Ranch schools. Some make me wonder in the first week if they had any clue what they are in for, or what the heck they were thinking. Some are good enough hands they could, or are, capable of making a living a horseback. But what never ceases to amaze me is how many of these people, (the biggest percent of you know who you are) when they first come make me shake my head and wonder how I’m supposed to pull them through, then actually, by the end of the month I really don’t want to see them leave.
But the reason is, I believe, is not that I am a great teacher, there’s plenty of people to dispute that, but the people that are willing to commit a whole month, and many times more than one, often stepping way out of their comfort zone, and for many struggle financially to make it all happen, are obviously very committed to get something from the experience in spite of me.

I guess I teach as I learned to the greater extent; a lot of experience, a little information, then a lot more experience.
Most everyone hasn’t come for pampering or praise, (good thing cuz that’s not one of my strong points,) they are ready to roll their sleeves up and get the most out of it. As a result every month there are people that I would, and have, had stick around a little longer. People that if I was in a position that I needed to hire them I would, or refer them to other employment.

Last summer we had several students that didn’t know how to coil a rope properly, and by the end of the month were dragging their share of calves along with everyone else. Some that weren’t sure if they could make it on their own out of sight out on a circle.
I guess the thing I admire about these people is their try. With few exceptions they didn’t come for a get-a-way, to escape from work or life, but perhaps they find what this type of life and work have to offer. There is something about the nature of this that brings out the best in people and it’s very rewarding to me to watch these people develop their skills, their self confidence, and the gratification of a job well done.

I can only expose them to some examples and opportunities, and the rest needs to come from within them. I’ve been around people in this line of work my whole life that haven’t progressed as much in years as those people do in a month. These people have the passion and the commitment. They have what it takes, they have made the sacrifices to come and take home what they can.
I just wanted you all to know how much admiration I have for what you’ve done. I’ve often thought if I had all the money to do whatever I wanted, I would keep doing what I’m doing, but for the love of it not the money. I would surround myself with people that had a passion to learn the skills that I love, horses, roping and handling cattle.