Van Hargis Horsemanship Clinic June 6/7
Schedule
Sat, 06 Jun, 2026 at 08:30 am to Sun, 07 Jun, 2026 at 04:00 pm
UTC-05:00Location
Buddy & Edile Lightsey Arena | Caldwell, TX
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Clinic will focus on mastering the basics that form the building blocks of more advanced horsemanship. Each day will end with an in-depth lesson on bits and saddle fit. Clinic will be maxed at 12 riders with unlimited audit spots. Price for riders is $500 and price for auditing is $15 per day. To secure a rider spot, please text Kim Harrison at 512-277-0178 and pay a 50% deposit (Venmo or PayPal). Remaining balance due 2 weeks before clinic. Auditors will pay at the arena (cash, Venmo, PayPal).
LQ spots will be rented directly from arena. More info to come.
About Van:
Van isn’t a clinician who talks about horsemanship—he’s a horseman who lives it.
He started riding at four and was training horses professionally by twelve, when the wife of legendary saddle maker Billy Cook hired him to start her horse. Growing up in Texas, Van spent his early years in the saddle, working cattle on ranches while developing his skills as a trainer and competitor. Over the years, he and the horses he’s trained have competed successfully in both the show ring and rodeo arena, including ranch horse versatility (his specialty), western pleasure, trail, calf roping, team roping, and steer wrestling.
Those real-world experiences shaped Van’s approach to both horses and people. His desire to share what horses have taught him led to the development of his horsemanship seminars in 1991 while living in New Zealand. After returning to Texas, Van established his own training facility near Victoria, where he specializes in colt starting and ranch horse versatility.
Known for his ability to bridge the gap between western and English disciplines, he has worked with everything from ranch horses to show horses in western pleasure, hunter-jumper, and dressage. No matter the discipline, his philosophy remains the same: there’s nothing but the basics—and the basics never change.
With relaxed humor and straight-talk instruction, Van delivers practical horsemanship people can use immediately. His teachings are built around clear communication, solid foundations, and trust—both with horses and in life. Every participant leaves entertained, educated, and better equipped to do right by their horse.
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Where is it happening?
Buddy & Edile Lightsey Arena, 298 Rodeo Dr, Caldwell, TX 77836, United StatesEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
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