Craig
Cameron

Texas Ranch Roots — From Rodeo to the Clinic Arena

Craig Cameron is an American horse trainer, clinician, cowboy, television host, and competitor best known for his work in horsemanship education, colt starting, and the development of Extreme Cowboy Racing. Over several decades, Cameron became one of the most recognizable horsemen associated with practical cowboy horsemanship and public horse training demonstrations in the United States.

Craig Cameron was born in 1949 in Texas and grew up in a ranching environment where horses and cattle work were part of daily life. His early years around ranch horses and cattle work became foundational to the horsemanship style he later taught publicly throughout his career. Before becoming nationally known as a clinician, Cameron spent years involved in rodeo competition. He competed in Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) events and specialized in bull riding. His rodeo background contributed to his reputation as a practical cowboy horseman rather than a trainer focused solely on arena competition.

Ride Smart — One of Western Television's Best-Known Horsemanship Shows

During the 1980s and 1990s, Cameron increasingly became known through horsemanship clinics and public demonstrations focused on colt starting, trail riding, ranch horsemanship, and rider confidence. His teaching style combined practical ranch experience with entertainment and audience participation, helping him build a large following within the horse industry. Industry profiles frequently described his presentations as emphasizing confidence, communication, control, and safety between horse and rider.

Cameron later launched the television program Ride Smart with Craig Cameron, which aired on RFD-TV and expanded his audience nationally. Through the program, he demonstrated training exercises, horsemanship techniques, obstacle work, trail riding concepts, and cattle-handling exercises. The show became one of the more widely recognized western horse training programs on rural television networks.

Creating EXCA — A New Discipline for Practical Horsemanship

One of Cameron's most important contributions to the horse industry was the creation of Extreme Cowboy Racing, commonly known as EXCA competition. The discipline combines trail obstacles, horsemanship, speed elements, and practical ranch-style challenges into timed competitive courses. He and his wife Dalene televised the first Extreme Cowboy Race at their Bluff Dale ranch in 2005 and formed the Extreme Cowboy Association (EXCA) in 2008 to govern and promote it. Designed to showcase versatility, responsiveness, and rider-horse communication in practical situations outside arena-only competition, the discipline expanded into national and international events.

2010 Road to the Horse Champion

Cameron became closely associated with the colt-starting competition Road to the Horse — one of the best-known horse training competitions in the world. The event brings together selected trainers who work with previously unstarted horses over several days while demonstrating their horsemanship methods before a live audience. Cameron competed multiple times in the event and won the 2010 Road to the Horse Championship. During that competition, he worked with a previously unstarted horse over several days of live competition.

Following his Road to the Horse victory, Cameron stated publicly that the achievement was among the most important moments of his career. The event significantly increased his visibility within the horse industry and further established him as one of the leading public clinicians associated with cowboy horsemanship and colt starting.

• 2010 Road to the Horse Champion
• Creator of Extreme Cowboy Racing (EXCA)
• Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame — inducted 2007
• All Cowboy & Arena Champions Hall of Fame inductee — 2024
• Television host — Ride Smart with Craig Cameron, RFD-TV
• PRCA bull riding competitor

Bluff Dale, Texas — The Cameron Family Legacy

Throughout his career, Cameron operated the Double Horn Ranch in Bluff Dale, Texas, alongside his wife Dalene Cameron. The ranch became a center for clinics, horsemanship education, competitions, and horse training programs. His son Cole Cameron later became active in horsemanship clinics, Extreme Cowboy Racing, and colt-starting competitions, continuing the family's involvement in the horse industry.

In addition to clinics and competitions, Cameron authored instructional books and educational materials focused on horsemanship and western riding, including Ride Smart and other training materials connected to his clinic programs and television instruction.