THIS IS A PRIVATE EVENT ORGANIZED FOR DFW HOMESCHOOLERS #FIELDTRIPFRIDAYS. There are limited seats available in this field trip. Each person ages 3+ in attendance must have a ticket.
Please be aware that the first part of this field trip is an important safety briefing that everyone must take together, and it is imperative that you arrive between 9:30 and 10 in order to start promptly at 10. If this timing doesn’t work for you, please don’t book this field trip.
Contact support@delveexperiences.com for any questions.
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DFW Homeschoolers #FieldTripFridays members are invited for an exclusive and rare look into the world of exotic sheep and horse care with this special field trip Wednesday, November 13 at a working ranch about 15 minutes south of Fort Worth.
The event will start promptly at 10 am and continue until 12 pm. To ensure safety and supervision around the animals, please have no more than 2 children per supervising adult.
Learn From a Legacy in the Gypsy Horse World
For 23 years, rancher Linda Brown has been importing/breeding/raising Gypsy Horses from the UK and Ireland. This ranch has worked directly with Romani Traveller people of the UK and Ireland to import the horses, and was instrumental in getting the breed featured in the Fort Worth Stock Show. The horses are known for their calm temperament, long manes, and full feathered feet.
This class will teach you about general horse care and grooming, as well as give you a chance to see the ranch’s driving carts/carriage/harness parts.
You will also gather a unique knowledge of the everyday phrases we use that came from horses in the past.
Overview of Exotic Sheep: Valais Blacknose Sheep and Wensleydales
Additionally, for six years this ranch has been raising the exotic wool breed Valais Blacknose Sheep, legends of the Internet and officially dubbed the “World’s Cutest Sheep”. Since USDA doesn’t allow import of any sheep, learn about the breed up program.
The ranch also is home to some Wensleydale sheep, a British breed coming from the north of England. Wensleydales are also a rare breed, categorized as “at risk” by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust, and this ranch is part of an international effort to maintain the breed both for its high-quality wool and its genetic diversity.
You’ll also discuss different types of wool and their uses, lambing, general care of sheep. And you will meet the flock and get to know differences among the breeds.
Introduction to Working With Wool
Additionally, you will tour the ranch’s wool studio and see an overview of wool processing from raw wool off the sheep to scouring, dyeing, drum carding, spinning, needle and wet felting, and weaving.
You’ll see and the ranch’s processing equipment. You’ll also see the fiber from the three Tibetan Yaks, as well as camel fiber (Note: the ranch traded sheep wool for camel, and it doesn’t have camels, but you can meet the yaks!)
If you’re looking for a deeper dive into wool working than this overview class can provide, you can also watch for future offerings at DelveExperiences.com and Delve Experiences DFW Facebook Page.
Q&A Suited to Group Interest
This field trip is structured to be general interest and a high-level overview of working with exotic horses and sheep. However, Linda is available for deeper ranch operations questions if the group is interested, including how to profit from wool, Section 179 federal tax breaks if owning a ranch, and how the agricultural exemption works.
Additionally, learn about what this ranch has learned about leaving a legacy through its Therapy Program, now running for more than 12 years.
Unique Opportunity on a Working Ranch
This is a WORKING RANCH and not normally open for visitation, so please mark your calendars so not to miss this special opportunity.
The cost for this class is $15 per person, and the experience is recommended for animal enthusiasts age 10+. Ticket proceeds support the ranch’s Veterans and Others Therapy Program, and we appreciate your support.
Parents and guardians, please be advised that we will be discussing certain breeding terminology in simple terms. This is a WORKING RANCH. If you prefer not to have your child exposed to certain words, you will be warned ahead of time and may go for a walk.
If you are staying through lunch, please bring a sack lunch to enjoy while learning about the animals, as food is not included in this experience.
How to Book
To book, select the number and type of tickets in the booking widget (under “Products & Services”). Confirm that the total matches your expectations, and select “Make a Reservation.” You will be prompted to pay immediately to confirm your spot. Please chat with us on this website or contact support@delveexperiences.com if you need any assistance.
Only guests who have booked can leave a review.
Hosted By Delve Experiences Admin Team
