August 18, 2010, Montana Workhorse Workshop, Eureka, Montana
Doc driving Kate and Ann on a ranch track
2010 Montana Workhorse Workshops
will be held in northwest Montana at Therriault Creek Ranch near the historic town of Eureka. Specialty Workshops may be held at other locations.
Ranch workshops are 5 full days of hands-on instruction and practice with emphasis on safety, gentle (and effective) techniques, horse husbandry, and the basics of harnessing, hitching, driving and working horses in harness. Doc has a great collection of historic, horsedrawn vehicles and equipment as well as some modern horsedrawn equipment. Depending on the focus of the workshop, students will learn about and may operate horse-drawn wagons, carts, plows, discs, harrows, mowers, hay rakes, buck rake, hay loader, manure spreader, fore carts, stone boats, a grader, and so on. Students learn about and try their hand at many horse powered tasks including skidding poles and logs, manuvering obstacle courses while ground driving horses, or with horses hitched to a vehicle.
The horses are driven and worked single and in two horse teams in the workshops for first time students, and hitches of up to six in advanced and specialty workshops for returning students.
Except for specialty workshops, each class is limited to just five hands-on students to maximize personal instruction and driving time, allowing us to accommodate individual learning styles. Throughout the week the content is determined, to a large degree, by what each student most wants to learn and experience. The approach is informal, relaxed, and flexible – we have fun.
Therriault Creek Ranch Workhorse Workshop dates for 2010 (Note: Doc is also teaching other workshops in different parts of the country)
Doc’s workshops seem to fill earlier and earlier each year. The less flexible your schedule, the earlier you might want to try to book.
There are occasionally cancellations in the workshops that Doc hosts at his ranch. If you would like to be placed on a waiting list, please e-mail Doc.
Ranch workshops
Learn safety; gentle and effective techniques; and the basics of harnessing, hitching, driving, and working horses in harness while using Doc’s horses, and the equipment of a working horse powered ranch.
Special people, great horses, and a historic Montana mountain ranch, all set the
Ann and Kate being driven by a student in a June 2010 workshop
stage for a week of complete immersion into the world of driving and working horses in harness. Limited to only five hands-on students, the workshops are a personal, small group learning experience and a unique western adventure.
Doug Hammill D.V.M. draws upon over 50 years of horse experience to mentor each student at their own individual skill level.
Workhorse Workshop content is extremely comprehensive in scope, and custom tailored to each group. The wide selection of horse drawn vehicles and machinery, the many horse powered jobs performed, and the mountainous terrain, hay meadows and agricultural land provide driving experiences that enhance learning and guarantee enjoyment.
Staff
Misty helps demonstrate collar fit
Doc’s Clydesdale and Suffolk horses, and one very special mule, conduct all aspects of the Workhorse Workshops personally with the assistance of Doc, and potentially a visit and story or two from his mentor and stepfather, Tom Triplett. Some workshops may include other horses, mules and instructors.
Getting there
For workshops at Therriault Creek Ranch, participants meet for a hosted get- acquainted dinner in Eureka, Montana the evening before the workshop begins. The destination for those who come by air is Glacier International Airport at Kalispell, Montana. For those wishing to travel by train, Amtrak provides rail service to the town of Whitefish, Montana. The trip to the ranch after dinner is just 6 miles over paved and rocked roads. Transportation to and from the Amtrak depot and Glacier National Airport may be arranged for a nominal fee.
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Accomodations:
2010 lodging is provided.
What to bring:
Therriault Creek Ranch sits at 2800 feet elevation in the Rocky Mountains. Expect cool to cold nights (30 to 50 F) and cool to hot days (50 to 85 F).
- Sleeping bag or bedding, and pillow
- Socks, underwear, etc.
- Comfortable, rugged, preferably high-top footwear (suitable for irregular ground)
- Washcloth, towel, hygiene articles
- Rain gear and waterproof boots
- Durable pants and shirts (some long sleeved)
- Cap or hat for sunshade
- Leather gloves for driving – thin, form fitted
- Warm clothes – coat, jacket, sweat shirts, vest, hat, and gloves
- Sunglasses, sun screen, water bottle
- Flashlight, camera, film (binoculars optional)
- Bandana or neckerchief
- Favorite songs, stories, poems, etc.
- Musical instruments
- Desire to learn and a sense of humor
- Insect repellant
Cost
Ranch workshops: The price for the workshops in 2010 will be $1050. This is comprised of a non-refundable booking fee of $350, with a $350 installment payment due 90 days before the workshop, and a final payment of $350 due 30 days before the workshop.
Each workshop is limited to five hands-on students. If you’d like to bring a family member or friend along to observe, the observing price will be half the hands-on price, or $525.
For specialty workshops, contact Doc for prices and details
To contact Doc or Cathi
Email: workshops@dochammill.com , cathi@dochammill.com
Doc: 406 – 250 – 8252
Cathi: 406 – 890 – 3083
- June 6-12, 2010 - For first time students
- July 18-24, 2010 - For first time students
- August 15- 21, 2010
- August 29-September 4, 2010
