Richard Winters Clinics and Demonstrations

" About Richard Winters For nearly three decades Richard Winters has dedicated himself to honing

Want clinics from a horseman who's communicated with horses and people for nearly three decades?

Reviewed by Ann Pruitt, InfoHorse.com · Updated May 2026

Richard Winters teaching round-pen groundwork with a young horse at a horsemanship clinic

Richard Winters showing a reined cow horse, working a cow at an NRCHA event — Richard Winters showing a reined cow horse, working a cow at an Nrcha event

"Richard has a way of infusing an inspirational message with humor and humanity. The takeaway for me is always simply feeling better." Rick Lamb, The Horse Show

Who Is Richard Winters?

Richard Winters is one of the most accomplished and sought-after horsemanship clinicians in the world — and his story began without a single horse of his own. Raised in town, he rode his bicycle to a local stable at age twelve and became the proverbial "stable brat." As a teenager he spent four summers wrangling dude horses in the mountains, then went to work for the legendary California bridle-horse trainer Troy Henry — his first taste of higher-level horsemanship. Richard was later privileged to ride with the late, great Tom Dorrance and Ray Hunt, mentors whose influence still runs through everything he teaches. Over more than four decades he has started literally hundreds of horses that have gone on to nearly every equine discipline imaginable, building a reputation from the rodeo arena and high-desert ranches of the West to the international clinic and expo stage.

Richard Winters rides a young horse down a steep trail, building the confidence and trust that anchor his horsemanship method

What Has Richard Winters Won?

Richard's competition record reads like a horseman's bucket list:
• 2009 Road to the Horse Colt Starting Champion — he out-rode John Lyons and Tommy Garland to win the world's premier colt-starting championship in Franklin, Tennessee, then returned for six years as the event's Horseman's Host.
• 2005 Nrcha World Champion (National Reined Cow Horse Association).
• International Colt Starting Champion, earned in Poland.
• 2015 Nrcha Hackamore Circuit Champion, Pueblo, Colorado.
• 2016 Nrcha Snaffle Bit Futurity Intermediate Open Champion aboard Dual N Tomcat.
• Top-five finalist at the Cowboy Dressage World Finals.
He also served as Artist in Residence and Director of the Horse Program at the Thacher School in California.

Richard Winters, 2016 NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Intermediate Open Champion aboard Dual N Tomcat — Richard Winters, 2016 Nrcha Snaffle Bit Futurity Intermediate Open Champion aboard Dual N Tomcat

What Clinics Does Richard Winters Offer?

Richard and his wife Cheryl travel the country teaching horsemanship any rider can use:
Horsemanship Clinic — establishes trust and respect with your horse through equine psychology, ground-work exercises, focused riding, handling spooky situations, rein management, and lead changes.
Advanced Horsemanship Clinic — built on Richard's "4 Part Harmony" exercises to develop body control and suppleness through the head and neck, shoulders, rib cage, and hindquarters for stops, spins, and flying lead changes.
Richard also hosts immersive "Ride the Rancho" clinics and a popular All-Women's Horsemanship Retreat. See his groundwork and riding approach in action:

How Can I Learn From Richard Winters at Home?

Beyond the clinic arena, Richard is the author of From Rider to Horseman (Western Horseman) and Bit Basics, and he has produced an extensive library of instructional DVDs, videos, and audio. Whether you ride English or western, compete or trail ride, his step-by-step approach meets you where you are and takes you to the next level.

Richard and Cheryl Winters mounted together at their ranch arena

Where Is Richard Winters Based?

Richard and Cheryl are based in Weatherford, Texas, and travel nationwide for clinics, expos, and demonstrations. Visit wintersranch.com for his current schedule, online store, and free training content.

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The Solution Section (FAQ)

Who is Richard Winters?

Per Richard Winters: "For nearly three decades Richard Winters has dedicated himself to honing his horsemanship skills and to passing this knowledge onto others." Richard's vast experience includes starting literally hundreds of horses that have gone on to almost every equine discipline imaginable. His credentials extend from the rodeo arena and high desert ranches of the west to the highly sought-after horsemanship clinician he is today. On any given weekend, Richard and Cheryl Winters can be found conducting horsemanship clinics up and down the west coast and across the country. In recent years, Richard has dedicated himself more fully to the training and showing of reined cow horses.

What's the basic Horsemanship Clinic — and what does it cover?

Per Richard Winters, the Horsemanship Clinic is designed to establish trust and respect with your equine partner. Riding exercises are practical and instill confidence in each rider's abilities. Areas covered:

Equine Psychology
Ground Work Exercises
Focused Riding
Handling Spooky Situations
Rein Management
Lead Changes

What's the Advanced Horsemanship Clinic — and what's "4 Part Harmony"?

Per Richard Winters, the Advanced Horsemanship Clinic revolves around body control and maneuvers necessary for upper levels of performance. Centerpiece: Richard's "4 Part Harmony" exercises — establishing communication and suppleness across:

Head and neck
Shoulders
Rib cage
Hind quarters

Per Richard, the clinic prepares you to perform at a higher level regardless of your discipline — covering stops, spins, lead changes, collection, and refinement.

What's Richard's Performance Horse Training — and what about the Reined Cow Horse focus?

Per Richard Winters: while Richard continues to train horses from many disciplines, his passion and focus is with the Reined Cow Horses. The training program prepares horses for the Snaffle Bit Futurity, continued development, and showing in the Hackamore and Bridle Horse classes. Per Richard: more and more non-pro enthusiasts are finding his teaching methods an invaluable resource as they pursue their own Reined Cow Horse goals.

What's the Intern Certification Program (ICP)?

Per Richard Winters: the Intern Certification Program (ICP) is a 30-day program designed for the serious horseman or horsewoman who dreams of pursuing horsemanship on a vocational level. ICP students:

Work and ride alongside Richard daily
Are invited to bring a young horse to be started AND a saddle horse
Participate in summer clinics during their stay
Are given opportunities to further develop teaching skills

Per Richard, the ICP is invitation-only — for a select group of serious students.

What are the Ultimate Horse Course I and II — and the All-Women's Retreat?

Per Richard Winters:

Ultimate Horse Course I — a week of consistent, uninterrupted, quality instruction with Richard's coaching through each new challenge. Covers everything from ground work to trail riding, confidence building, and cattle working. Per Richard: "My goal is to elevate your current horsemanship experience to a new level of knowledge and leadership."

Ultimate Horse Course II — for graduates of UHC I or Advancing Horsemanship clinic. Participants must be comfortable and confident trotting and loping their horses consistently in a group setting. Per Richard: "Richard will challenge each participant to 'step up to the plate' and be the horseman their horse deserves."

All-Women's Horsemanship Retreat — a weekend where women with the same interest and love for horses are pampered and enjoy each other's company while spending hours with their equine partners.

Can I host a clinic — and what training DVDs are available?

Per Richard Winters: yes — Richard offers Horsemanship, Advancing Horsemanship, Colt Starting, and Cattle Working clinics for all levels and disciplines, hosted in your area, designed to meet your needs. Call 805-640-0956 for pricing details.

4 DVD sets:

Making the Equine DVD Connection — comprehensive course nearly 6 hours in length, divided into 15 different segments. Covers ground manners, trailer loading, proper equipment, control, rein management.
"Step It Up!" — components of proper stops, spins, lead changes, plus total body control. With special guest Ted Robinson, NRCHA World Champion. A must-have for the advancing rider.
Colt Starting Live — view in real time as Richard demonstrates colt starting techniques refined over 30 years. Ground work, saddling, first rides of a young unstarted colt — performed before a live audience at The Equine Affaire in Pomona, California.
Equine Problem Solving Tactics for Transformation DVD — 7 hours, 2-disc training DVD with the preparation and procedures Richard has used for over 25 years to build solid relationships with equine partners.

How do I see Richard's schedule and contact him?

Per Richard Winters: visit the website to view the schedule and sign up for clinics or other events. Per the company: "Make sure you make Richard Winters part of your training education and plan to watch Richard Winters on RFDTV!"

To contact Richard: (805) 640-0956, email Richard@WintersRanch.com. Address: 300 Stanley Lane, Poolville, Texas 76487. Pricing varies by clinic, DVD, and program; pricing as quoted is subject to change due to economic factors — confirm current pricing with Richard directly when scoping.