Gather around the campfire and stay awhile:
Workshops dedicated to the preservation of the Cowboy lifestyle
Everything from learning ranch skills, to farming and sometimes just a mellow bonfire with some smores and giggles.
Check our calendar for whatever it is that strikes your fancy and join us.
May 9, 2026- Intro to rope handling (#1 in Series)
🤠 Intro to Ranch Roping — Ground School Workshop
If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to rope but didn’t know where to start — this workshop is for you.
This beginner-friendly session teaches rope handling from the ground before you ever throw a rope off your horse. No horse? No rope? No problem. Just bring a passion for learning — we’ll provide the rest (plus a little fun along the way 😉).
This workshop is required before moving on to our second on-horseback workshop and to attend Drag Steer Practices.
What You’ll Learn
You’ll build a strong foundation in rope handling, including:
Rope coiling and handling
Building a proper loop
Feeding and swinging
Aiming, throwing, and pulling slack
How to not hit yourself in the face
How not to hit your horse in the head
Managing your rope with your reins
Parts of the rope and their purpose
Different types of ropes
How to choose the right rope for the job
Take-home drills to keep improving
We’ll wrap up with a friendly final competition — plus a few shenanigans and prizes.
Our Approach
We prioritize:
A supportive, encouraging learning environment
Safety for both horse and rider
Repetition and practical drills
Clear, step-by-step coaching
Skills you can take home and apply immediately
By the end of the workshop, you’ll feel more comfortable in the box, more confident on your run, and better prepared to track and rope your cow.
Come ready to learn, ride, and rope!
Goodies Provided
Everyone will have access to:
Practice ropes
Roping dummies
Cotton roping gloves
Instructional materials
All equipment is provided for use during the workshop.
Workshop Series Overview
This is the first workshop in our 4-part Ranch Roping Series:
Intro to Rope Handling — Learn to swing a rope from the ground
Intro to Sled Steer Roping — Learn to rope from horseback and track using a sled steer
Live Cattle Tracking and Roping — Learn to track, swing, and catch live cattle from horseback
Live Cattle out of the Roping Box — Learn to calmly and correctly position in and leave the box
Details
Price: $50 per person
Spots: Limited to ensure plenty of individual instruction and practice time
Ages: 12+ (minors must be accompanied by a legal guardian)
Rain Policy: Event will be postponed in case of rain
Sales Policy: All sales are final. By purchasing a ticket, you agree to the terms of service.
Liability: All participants must sign a release upon arrival and are responsible for ensuring they and their horses are safe and capable.
Meet Your Instructor — Andrea Silva
Attire
Please wear:
Long-sleeve shirt
Long pants/jeans
Closed-toe shoes
(Clothes that can get a little dusty are recommended.)
Location
Shingle Springs, California — approximately three miles from Lee's Feed.
Attendees will receive the ranch address and gate access code via email after purchasing a ticket.
How to Buy
Tickets are available in the merch store.
Come ready to learn, laugh, and throw some loops!
July 18, 2026 - Live cattle tracking & roping w/ James Ferreira (#3 in Series)
🐮 Ranch Roping: Cow Work Workshop
Ready to take the next step and rope live cattle? This workshop is designed for riders who have never tracked live cattle — or are newer to it — and want to hone their skills with coaching from championship team roper James Ferreira.
This is your opportunity to build confidence working real steers in a controlled, low-pressure setting.
What You’ll Learn
You’ll learn how to:
Read cattle movement
Track and rate a live steer
Properly position and maneuver your horse
Stay balanced and effective in the roping arena
Build confidence working cattle
We will be working with a small herd of quieter cattle to create a safe and supportive learning environment.
Each student will have a chance to maneuver a steer while James coaches you step-by-step, setting you up for success in the roping arena.
Students who already possess the skills to properly handle a rope will be given the opportunity to throw breakaway loops.
Our Approach
We prioritize:
A supportive, encouraging learning environment
Safety for both horse and rider
Repetition and practical drills
Clear, step-by-step coaching
Skills you can take home and apply immediately
By the end of the workshop, you’ll feel more comfortable in the box, more confident on your run, and better prepared to track and rope your cow.
Come ready to learn, ride, and rope!
What to Bring
You & your horse
Your own rope and gloves (extras available if needed)
A saddle with a horn (a roping saddle is not required)
Workshop Series Overview
This is the third workshop in our 4-part Ranch Roping Series:
Intro to Rope Handling — Learn to swing a rope from the ground
Intro to Sled Steer Roping — Learn to rope from horseback and track using a sled steer
Live Cattle Tracking and Roping — Learn to track, swing, and catch live cattle from horseback
Live Cattle out of the Roping Box — Learn to calmly and correctly position in and leave the box
You need to have attended the previous workshop to join this one.
Details
Price: $280 per rider/horse
Spots: Limited to ensure plenty of individual instruction and practice time
Ages: 12+ (minors must be accompanied by a legal guardian)
Rain Policy: Event will be postponed in case of rain
Sales Policy: All sales are final. By purchasing a ticket, you agree to the terms of service.
Liability: All participants must sign a release upon arrival and are responsible for ensuring they and their horses are safe and capable.
Meet Your Instructor — James Ferreira
James Ferreira is a renowned roping coach and professional horse trainer. A lifelong roper, James won a world championship in dummy roping at just 8 years old and went on to train reined cow horses and team roping horses professionally.
He has competed in countless jackpots and rodeos, winning as both a header (7) and a heeler (8), and has extensive experience cowboying and branding. His deep knowledge and passion for horsemanship make him an outstanding teacher for riders of all levels.
Attire
Please wear:
Long-sleeve shirt
Long pants/jeans
Closed-toe shoes
(Clothes that can get a little dusty are recommended.)
Location
Shingle Springs, California — approximately three miles from Lee's Feed.
Attendees will receive the ranch address and gate access code via email after purchasing a ticket.
How to Buy
Tickets are available in the merch store.
Come ready to learn, laugh, and throw some loops!
August 29, 2026 - Live cattle out of the roping box w/ James Ferreira (#4 in series)
🤠 Roping Fundamentals: Building Confidence in the Box
Ready to build confidence in the box and sharpen your fundamentals? This beginner-friendly workshop is designed to walk you step-by-step through the essential skills you need to successfully rope.
What You’ll Learn
In this hands-on session, we’ll focus on the building blocks that create consistent, confident runs:
How to calmly and correctly get your horse into the box
Proper positioning and setup for a strong run
Leaving the box with timing and control
Tracking a cow with purpose
Delivering a clean, confident loop
Whether you’re brand new to roping or looking to solidify your foundation, this workshop emphasizes horsemanship, timing, body position, and clear communication between you and your horse.
Our Approach
We prioritize:
A supportive, encouraging learning environment
Safety for both horse and rider
Repetition and practical drills
Clear, step-by-step coaching
Skills you can take home and apply immediately
By the end of the workshop, you’ll feel more comfortable in the box, more confident on your run, and better prepared to track and rope your cow.
Come ready to learn, ride, and rope!
What to Bring
You & your horse
Your own rope and gloves (extras available if needed)
A saddle with a horn (a roping saddle is not required)
Workshop Series Overview
This is the second workshop in our 4-part Ranch Roping Series:
Intro to Rope Handling — Learn to swing a rope from the ground
Intro to Sled Steer Roping — Learn to rope from horseback and track using a sled steer
Live Cattle Tracking and Roping — Learn to track, swing, and catch live cattle from horseback
Live Cattle out of the Roping Box — Learn to calmly and correctly position in and leave the box
You need to have attended the previous workshop to join this one.
Details
Price: $300 per rider/horse
Spots: Limited to ensure plenty of individual instruction and practice time
Ages: 12+ (minors must be accompanied by a legal guardian)
Rain Policy: Event will be postponed in case of rain
Sales Policy: All sales are final. By purchasing a ticket, you agree to the terms of service.
Liability: All participants must sign a release upon arrival and are responsible for ensuring they and their horses are safe and capable.
Meet Your Instructor — James Ferreira
James Ferreira is a renowned roping coach and professional horse trainer. A lifelong roper, James won a world championship in dummy roping at just 8 years old and went on to train reined cow horses and team roping horses professionally.
He has competed in countless jackpots and rodeos, winning as both a header (7) and a heeler (8), and has extensive experience cowboying and branding. His deep knowledge and passion for horsemanship make him an outstanding teacher for riders of all levels.
Attire
Please wear:
Long-sleeve shirt
Long pants/jeans
Closed-toe shoes
(Clothes that can get a little dusty are recommended.)
Location
Shingle Springs, California — approximately three miles from Lee's Feed.
Attendees will receive the ranch address and gate access code via email after purchasing a ticket.
How to Buy
Tickets are available in the merch store.
Come ready to learn, laugh, and throw some loops!
Horses & Hexes - Halloween Hoe Down @ The Starfall Ranch
Our famous Horses & Hexes Halloween Hoedown is back! Live music, campfire, ghost stories, costume contest and riotous group games. This is a private event for friends of The Starfall Ranch.
Hitched Up & Haunted. Trailer-or-treat cowboy candy crawl
Hitched Up and Haunted Trailer-or-Treat Cowboy Crawl — a spooky and festive farmhouse fundraiser supporting maintenance and upgrades to the South Shingle Springs Horse Arena, a vital space for our local community. Bring your trailer, whether it’s a horse trailer, flatbed, or even a tractor on a trailer, deck it out in your best Halloween décor, and join us in handing out candy to eager trick-or-treaters. Prizes will be awarded for the most creative and festive setups!
Attendees will enjoy an afternoon kicked off with a Grand Entry by the Painted Ladies Rodeo performers, followed up by exhibitions from the Sacramento Sheriffs Drill Team packed. In addition to trick or treating families will peruse Local craft, food and libation booths. You can then participate in a cornucopia of old fashioned games with prizes galore. Participate in the painted pumpkin contest and the costume contest. ]Get roping lessons and meet fluffy highland cattle. Don’t miss this spirited event for a great cause!
Live Cattle Roping Workshop - With James Ferreira
Beginner friendly. You will learn how to read/track/rate/maneuver a steer. This will be a small, quiet herd, great for learning on with minimal pressure. Students who already possesses the skills to appropriately handle a rope will be given an opportunity to breakaway catch.
$250 per horse/rider $50 auditor/spectator
SOLD OUT Beginner Roping - LIVE CATTLE - with James Ferreira
This workshop is designed for folks who have never tracked live cattle or are newer to it and want to hone their skills with coaching from championship team roper James Ferreira. You will learn how to read/track/rate/maneuver live stee in a low pressure environment. This will be a small hear of quieter cattle. Each Student will have a change to maneuver a steer around while James sets you up for success in the roping arena. Students who already possess the skills to property handle a rop will be given an opportunity to throw breakaway loops. $250 per horse/rider, we will limit the amount of spaces, as always, to assure everyone gets one-on-one coaching time with James. The location is the South Shingle Springs Horse Arena. You may purchase tickets below. By purchasing a ticket you agree to our terms of service.
Moonlight & Mustangs - Star Spangled Campout - Jenkinson Lake - Pollock Pines
Ring in the 4th of July next to this pristine mountain lake. The equestrian campground is located on a secluded plateau overlooking the lake far from the other non-horse campers. Take the walking path to the Lake for a refreshing dip. There are miles of trails meandering through pine groves and along the rim of the lake. Brave trail goers can even trek back to the 20’ waterfall located toward the Northeast side of Jenkinson lake. This is a BYOE trip (bring your own everything), you are responsible for bringing everything you need to sustain your stay. You will be camping with a group of other Horse Folks and you will have the opportunity to join in group trail rides, games and campfire shenanigans. For more information on how to join the campout please email hello@thestarfallranch.com or call/test 530.350.6084
Ranch Roping - Drag Steer Practices - Shingle Springs Horse Arena
Learn the ropes with ongoing roping practices which will be held at the Shingle Springs Community Arena. These practices are for beginner/intermediate ropers but you must, at least, know how to swing a rope, your horse must be accustomed to having a rope thrown off of it, and your horse must be desensitized to being around other horses and ATV’s. If you and/or your horse does not already possess these skills please join one of our “Learning To Rope Workshops” prior to attending the Drag Steer practice. To be added to our invite list for Drag Steer Practices please email hello@thestarfallranch.com or call/text 530.350.6084.
Moonlight & Mustangs Marin Campout - Frank Valley - Mount Tamalpais
Frank Valley is a designated horse campground within Mount Tamalpais State Park in Marin County, California. It's a unique area specifically designed for group horse camping, offering 12 corrals, restrooms, non-potable water and access to trails. The park, which is just north of San Francisco, features 6,300 acres of redwood groves and oak woodlands with a summit offering panoramic views. This is a BYOE trip (bring your own everything), you are responsible for bringing everything you need to sustain your stay. You will be camping with a group of other Horse Folks and you will have the opportunity to join in group trail rides, games and campfire shenanigans. Reserve your spot please email hello@thestarfallranch.com or call/test 530.350.6084
Moonlight & Mustangs Camping Season Kick Off - Lake Camanche
If you’ve been wanting to try horse camping this will be an excellent opportunity to dip your toe in the water.
Moonlight & Mustangs will be kicking off the 2025 horse camping season at Turkey Hill Equestrian Campground Memorial Weekend.
Introduction to Ranch Roping
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