Ramon is a 37-year-old, blue-eyed Mexican vaquero (Spanish for cowboy) who has been around horses, mules, and donkeys since his earliest age.
Like many good horsemen, Ramon started out working with donkeys and mules. While there is no guarantee that someone who can train horses can also train mules and donkeys, people who start out training mules are often successful at training horses.
Ramon learned his craft south of the border with the famed Mexican equestrian Tiodoro Cardenas. Cardenas trained trick horses and dancing horses for singers and dancers like Mexico's legendary Visente Fernandes, known in his native country as the King of the Rancheros.
In starting horses, Ramon focused on techniques that were safe, efficient and gentle. He applied those principles every time he worked with a new horse.
He's put those skills to work for many years as a ranch cowboy, spending hours and hours in the saddle, mostly in challenging country and big outfits. Much of that career has been here in Wyoming our 250,000-acre ranch as lead cowboy. In addition, Ramon headed the training program and started all colts for the Flitner Ranch quarter horse breeding program. After leading the way at the ranch side, he switched in 2010 to The Hideout Guest Ranch side of the operation sharing his experience with our guests.
Over the years, Ramon has ridden, started and worked with over 1500 horses, mostly young and green horses, which are the most challenging and risky to work with. Ramon has spent countless miles and days on horseback in challenging country year after year, season after season, all without a serious accident.
Ramon is known for his honesty, values, authenticity and as a humble and cheerful person who looks to get the best out of any situation or relationship. During the off season Ramon trains & starts horses for outside horse owners, and has a reputation of getting the job done even with some pretty difficult horses.
Last year Ramon participated in the Extreme Mustang Makeover in Ft. Collins Colorado winning the cattle-work and reining division. This year Ramon has been selected to participate in the Supreme Extreme Mustang Makeover!
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What can Ramon do for you and your horse?
- Colt Starting & colt starting clinics
- Foundation Work
- Trouble shooting, loading & unloading
- Cattle work, team penning, sorting
- Roping & Ranch Roping
- Ramon Castro is a certified BLM Mustang Trainer
