Academy

Learn, Ride & Compete

This program is open for the 2024 season! Our Rodeo Academy is a 6 month commitment for the rider who is passionate about learning about all aspects of rodeo, from competing in the events to maintaining the horses. This program is open to all ages from 8 - 75! Lessons and rodeo categories will be divided by age. All lessons and rodeos will be held at the ranch in Kamloops, BC! Our 2024 season starts April 1st and ends October 1st. There is limited spots so we do recommend signing up right away :)

2024 Registration Open Now!

Lessons...

The academy includes twice a week, one hour group lessons. It also includes a weekly online Mindset lesson as well as an online Horsemanship lesson. One of your riding lessons each week will be to practice the Online Horsemanship Lesson you received earlier that week. Lessons will be offered Monday to Friday. Your day and time will be confirmed upon registration! Lessons are instructed by our Horsemanship/Rodeo experts Kelcie Mills & Sydney Deley as well as our up and coming assistant coaches. Exact layout and groups will be provided when our registration closes March 15th. Our lesson plan follows the Training Thru Trust method, it is a natural horsemanship method based on horse psychology that has helped thousands of horses and riders all over the world.

Lessons over the 6 months will be covering everything listed below...

Horsemanship- How to ride and properly communicate with horses
Horse Training- Exercises to train and maintain a rodeo horse
Liberty Work- Round pen work where you learn about pecking order, horse psychology and how to use your energy/build of pressure to communicate with horses
Rodeo Events- Barrel Racing, Pole Bending & Roping
Western Events- Working Cow Horse, Reining & Bridle-less riding could also be included
Horse Care-Grooming, Wellness, Vet/Wound/Injury Care, Stretching & Massage
Warm-Up/Cool Down- routines for you and your horse
Energy Work- how to control your emotions in and out of the rodeo arena and how your energy affects your horse
Mindset- how to become clear on your goals with or without horses and building a clear path from where you are to where you want to be.

Here are just a few of the things we feel the students gain from this opportunity...

Confidence- they learn how to not only become confident in themselves but how to build confidence in their horse
Work Ethic- as much as we love this lifestyle it requires hard work to just keep these animals alive & healthy.. let alone ride them
Lifelong Friends- our students grow, learn and achieve their goals alongside people with the same interests!
Fresh Air- in today's world we are surrounded by screens day in and day out. This gives our students, youth or adults, the chance to get outside and enjoy nature.
Communication Skills- learning to communicate with an animal correctly directly relates to our everyday life. Our program helps to create clear, consistent communication skills
Sportsmanship- this is a non-negotiable rule on our ranch for the past 50 years of teaching people about horses. We are about supporting each other. It's never about what you win, it's who you become in the process.

*Each student will have to opportunity to re-schedule 3 lessons. In this case if the student is sick or away, we will schedule a make-up lesson.

Clinics & Rodeos...

Included in your academy registration is the entry to a one day in clinic in April & May as well as three Rodeos and a Finals hosted at the ranch in Kamloops. Rodeo Weeks will have only one riding lesson, making the rodeo the second time you would ride that week. These rodeos will have all the rodeo events we have practiced and give you a chance to compete and HAVE FUN! Events will include barrel racing, pole bending, horsemanship & more. Events available to students upon request are goat tying, stake race, breakaway roping, goat tail tying, reining, working cow horse & team roping. We will have buckles and prizes in each category for the monthly rodeos and even MORE for our Finals! Invite your family and get your western attire on! Our 2024 rodeo schedule will be posted by March 15th.

Price...

$800 plus GST per month. Limited spots available! $400 deposit required to hold your spot. This can be paid by e-transfer. Please reach out to Kelcie before sending your deposit to confirm availability! Payments are due on the first of every month. All late payments will be charged an additional $50 and lessons will be put on hold until payment is received. We will not offer make-ups for missed lessons due to late payments.

Sponsorship...

Each student will be required to bring in an outside sponsorship/fundraising amount of $200 to go towards prizes! A letter and details of how students can go about obtaining sponsorship will be provided. Your sponsorship must be received by April 1st.

What's new in 2024 Summary!

Weekly Online Mindset Lesson every Monday
Weekly Online Horsemanship Lesson every week
Opportunity to practice your horsemanship in your second lesson per week without being in a strict "lesson" setting
Two additional one day weekend clinics. One in April & May
Each student is required to bring in $200 in sponsorship to go towards prizes
On rodeo/clinics weeks you will only receive one in person riding lesson.
A year end banquet & dance where we will present prizes to our winners and celebrate!