trainer-aspirants, many of whom have gone on to make names for themselves as noted horsemen. Clay Johnson, who worked for Williams and Smith in the 1990s, became a noted cutting horse trainer, winning the National Cutting Horse Association Futurity in 2013 on a fi lly named Dual Smart Kitty. Other protégés have made names for themselves in performance and ranch horse circles. The men have built their reputations using many
methods some consider old school. However, they’re not hesitant to implement a new technique advocated by a popular clinician, but only if it complements the tried-and-true methods that clients prefer. “We might have implemented some of these newer
ways, but we have never taken any of the old ways out,” says Williams. “We have implemented fl exing, and emphasizing the face and shoulders, ribs and hip more, but we still use the old ways like tying a foot up,
tscra.org
hobbling, sacking one out and lots of pasture riding. People like our approach, so unless we get a letter from Craig Haythorn or Bill Smith [about something we’re doing], we’re going to be very selective about changes.”
The bronc pen For Williams and Smith, everything starts in the
bronc pen, a circular, solid-wall structure measuring approximately 30 feet in diameter. The overall objec- tive of the bronc pen experience is to be able to catch the colt, saddle and ride him going both directions without commotion or excitement. “Sometimes it’s hard to get your hands on these
colts,” says Williams. “They were halter-broke as weanlings and most were turned out and not touched for a long time. So on the fi rst day we’ll let them in the bronc pen and they can trot around on a long rope until they let us get our hands on them.”
MORE November 2016 The Cattleman 87
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