Craig Hamilton gives roping clinics all over the United States, Canada, and Australia. His clients and students range from weekend ropers to professionals and include working professional cowboys at some of the largest cattle ranches in the world.
Craig is a third generation NFR qualifier (his father Bill is a NFR world champion and 15 time qualifier) and desert cattle rancher, and holds multiple titles such as the Arizona Cow Punchers Association All Around Champion. These skills, as well as his unequaled ability to help you work with your horse and your horsemanship to improve roping and competition make him uniquely qualified as a roping clinician. But above all, he can see what you need to improve, and more importantly, tell you how to get that change.
Come to his clinic and see why.
Team Roping Clinics (1-5 days)
Craig has qualified twice for the NFR, which is limited to the top 15 professional ropers in the world. His team roping clinics are intense, and incredibly detailed. However, he is able to teach all levels, from rank beginners to professionals. As with all of Craig’s clinics, the content is tailored to the participants. In general, Craig will start with theory and ground work, and start working with horses and cattle once he has demonstrated the foundation needed for success. For example, some of the skills and techniques covered in these clinics include:
Rating cattle - teaching horses to anticipate their position and to adjust their speed and direction to place you in proper roping position.
Correct stops and speed control - teaching the horse how to use his body to best take the pressures and stresses of roping so as to minimize injury to themselves and the cattle.
Composure under stress - using techniques both physical and mental to help a horse be better able to handle and accept the mental stresses that occur in any sport horse activity.
For the human part, in addition to learning the proper and most effective ways to swing and deliver a rope, Craig also teaches many other crucial aspects of the sport.
For example:
Body positions - how your balance, power and timing are affected by the four major body lines.
Staying ahead of your horse - how to ride through acceleration to best be able to stay ahead of the power surge so that you can be more athletic and effective at higher speeds.
Ahead of the play- how to look ahead of where you are at to see what is coming up so that you are better able to anticipate and respond correctly and safely.
Mental conditioning - Craig teaches many Professional lessons on how to achieve a winning state of mind. Things such as "controlled aggression" "conditioned reflex" and many valuable tips and techniques to stay focused and effective while under the mental stresses of competition.
Safety- In Craig’s opinion there is no greater facet of the sport. Team roping is inherently dangerous just as with any speed horse event, and the opportunity to have a qualified Professional roper help point out the potential danger areas and how to avoid them is invaluable for anyone interested in this event. In general these clinics are limited to 16-20 participants, depending on skill level.
Advanced Roping Clinics can be arranged.
Ranch Roping Clinics (1-5 days)
Craig is a ranch raised working cowboy and has a wealth of knowledge gained through lifelong ranching in the desert mountain ranges of Arizona. In addition to learning working cowmanship, t
hese clinics will include foundation roping skills, and general techniques for doctoring cattle. This clinic is focused on practical skills needed on the ranch, rather than speed in competitive events. Some of these skills are,
Reading cattle, "Cowmanship" - These are the techniques and skills required to work cattle more effectively and safely using minimum effort and movement on our part to maximize our effectiveness and to minimize stress on the cattle.
Learning how to work cattle how they want to be worked - How to recognize your, “bubble" or your circle of influence on a cow, and their "bubble" of self preservation which determines how, where, and when they will move.
Ranch roping techniques - how and where to position your body and swing your loop to maximize your catches under real working conditions.
Cattle and horse control - catching the animal is only the first step, then the real work begins. Learn how to better control your horse and the captured cow to minimize stress on the animal and to avoid entanglements and "rimfires".
Learn how to work together - by working as a team a pair of cowboys are much more effective than either is by themselves, but only if they are on the same page.
Learn real working cowboy philosophy - for example, "If you see a wreck coming, be somewhere else when it gets there!"
Depending on the agenda, these clinics are limited to 15-30 participants.
Competitive Events (1- 5 days)
Craig works with barrel racers, bulldoggers, calf ropers, any timed rodeo event. He focuses on improving horsemanship, timing, accuracy, confidence, and getting that relationship with the horse that will improve results. The ideal number of participants will vary based on the clinic focus.
Introduction to roping clinics (afternoon or evening) These clinics are usually very well attended and are for people who have never picked up a rope before. Usually it's just a 3-4 hour evening clinic. These are fun and can be arranged before or after the primary clinic. Craig requests that each participant bring a 30 foot extra soft rope and a willing attitude. He will present foundation exercises to develop good throwing technique.
Private lessons/clinics (Variable)
If there are people in your area that would like Craig to come to their place to work with a particular problem horse or to spend a day or an afternoon working with them on a particular issue, we will be happy to accommodate you as Craig’s schedule allows. Please contact us for additional details.
Craig is very versatile. If your needs aren’t represented here, please contact us, and let us know what kind of clinic you would like.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us!
