By Carrie Jenkinson
Ignacio, Colo.
March 5, 2008

In April of 2007 Ron-D-View Mules hosted the 8th Annual Brad Cameron Mule Clinic in Ignacio, Colorado. In addition to the 23 mules there were 3 horses that benefited from Brads expertise. One horse proved that no matter how gentle they are the first saddling can be pretty scary. She stood to be saddled like she did it every day but when asked to move out she blew up! She bucked and bellered and then threw herself over backward, something no self respecting mule would ever do! But by the end of the afternoon she was carrying the saddle like an old hand and by the end of the clinic she was showing promise of being a good trail horse. There were 15 riders in the Mulemanship clinic that went away with more of an understanding of what it takes to get a nicer, lighter response to the bit.

I have attended several of Brad’s clinics in Ignacio over the years and have always found something new to take away from them. Some times it’s the revelation that all of a sudden something clicks and makes sense. More often, I have to do something wrong to realize how to do it right. Take driving off the halter for example-I just couldn’t get coordinated enough to get my mule to even get the first step right. After backing up all over the arena trying to get her to go around me instead of me around her, I realized that if I stepped into her shoulder she would move away from me. At that point a light came on and the angels sang! My mule looked very pleased that I had finally figured that out. After that I was halter driving like a pro. Well, at least I wasn’t falling all over myself backing up.

Brad has the most patience of anyone I have every seen. When a kindergarten teacher meets her students for the first time she knows that all the children are going to be pretty much alike. Open minds just waiting to be filled with knowledge. When a clinician steps into the arena, he has no idea what will be waiting for him. At the 2007 clinic there were mules and horses of various ages, temperaments and most with a past history. The riders are varied also. One was a young Navajo boy, a young lady who was very horse and mule smart and a man with a draft cross bred mare. There was a lady who thought she knew as much or more than the teacher and a lady riding a very large donkey. Brad was able to bring this very diverse group together with humor and respect. He was able to answer the many questions both by demonstrating with his mule and by some very thorough explanations.

Of course, when speaking of the clinic in Ignacio, one can not fail to mention the food that is served. As Wildhorse Equestrian Center is somewhat out of town, there are no fast food places around! Starting at 7 in the morning, fresh homemade donuts and coffee is served and in the afternoon lunch is served, all for a very low price. This year there was smoked turkey and gravy over mashed potatoes, a feast of BBQ chicken, and sausages and peppers on fresh hoagie buns. Saturday evening Ron-D-View Mules provided a chuckwagon dinner for the participants of the clinic. The whole meal was cooked in Dutch ovens by Poverty Flats Catering and consisted of some of the best chicken fried steak you have ever tasted! There were apple and peach cobblers for dessert that were to die for. After dinner, we were entertained by banjo picking and cowboy poetry. Everyone was invited to participate in the fun.

This year the 9th Annual Brad Cameron Mule Clinic will again be held at the Wildhorse Equestrian Center in Ignacio, Colorado on April 11th to the 14th. For more information please contact Ron-D-View Mules at 970-563-9270 or email at rondviewoutfitting@durangolive.net.