Prairie Oak Ranch

07/30/2024

Will tentatively schedule next flag/ ranch versatility nite Sept 26 and Oct 24. Thursday evenings 6:30-8:30 at Melody Ranch. Stay tuned for details as we get closer to the dates.

07/26/2024

The flag/ obstacle clinic last night at Melody Ranch was filled with fun and education, so much so we ran a bit late and didn’t get photos. Next time; until then you will have to take the word of Prairie Oak Ranch that we rode the Wright Way 😜Everyone had a good time most of all the ones who had never worked a flag.
Thanks to our little helper Lyric ❤️

07/19/2024

Pleased to announce Flag and Ranch Versatility practice nite July 25, @6:00 pm. is fully booked. Thank you Melody Ranch for allowing us this opportunity to spend time with my clients and their horses to further develope their skills of communication. It will be a fun filled evening. Stay tuned.

07/03/2024

The Princeton Rodeo Clubs VIP area in memory of Terry.

06/29/2024

Offering Ranch versatility and flag nite July 25 2024, Ranch, High River AB.
Never worked a flag but always wanted to, need a tune up for the next Ranch Horse Versatility Show or just want fun time with your horse, here is your opportunity. Maximum riders 7
Can’t make it send me a video of your last show or ride and I can help with my on line coaching program.
Message me for more details.

06/25/2024

Pleased to offer on line coaching/ lessons for you and your horse. Dont have time to haul in, live in a different province or country send me a video. Pm me for further info. It’s been challenging to learn the technical side but very rewarding for my students.

05/20/2024

Great weekend of cutting with NCHA of Scandinavia. My students did very well. Congratulations to Hans Sjöberg. Fagerberg Sjoberg. Harpsoe Lundqvist , and - Karin Tiberg. All reaching their show goals. A great group of folks and nice to meet Facebook friends in person

05/01/2024

We are happy to announce that the Prairie Oak Ranch lesson program will continue at Melody Ranch formerly Medicine Tree Equine in High River.
Flag nite and ranch versatility nights will be available starting June 15 2024
Come check it out footing has been reworked. Thanks Justin and Courtney

04/12/2024

This time next month I will be enjoying time in Sweden with Hans Sjöberg and Lotta Fagerberg Sjöberg getting ready for the NCHA cutting. my travelling buddies are Richelle Rochelle and Zephyr Rogue Brenda Hermanson. Let the good times roll.

03/17/2024

A great day spent with Dave Elliott and The heart bar ranch
Thank you for a great day of education
Always great to visit with Dave. Something is always learned

10/07/2023

My office view today

06/25/2023

Congratulations to Sara Bietz on her successful trail and ranch riding class with Alberta Ranch Horse Versatility today in Didsbury.
You have worked extremely hard on the skills for this event over the past year. I see continued success in the future.
Well done

05/08/2023

02/24/2023

So true

Wednesday Wisdom 🐴

02/22/2023

Booked full …….Thank you all
We will create a wait list.
if you have been touch and haven’t heard from please touch base if you want on the list.

It’s going to be a great clinic

Geoff Hoar Ranch Versatility Clinic
April 02,2023. Medicine Tree Equine
High River Alberta
Two groups morning and afternoon sessions
Lunch included
More details to follow this next week
Hosted by Prairie Oak Ranch and Cub Wright
403 850 0617

Price per session 240.00 gst included. 120.00 non refundable deposit unless Geoff cancelled. Send to [email protected]
Thank you
Am session 9-12
Lunch
Pm session 1-4
Horsemanship and flag work. If the skill level is there then roping the dummy will be offered possibly. This will be Geoff’s decision.
Auditors welcome but to be paid in advance no drop ins. 20.00 per session lunch is not included but will be available
Sorry last time it proved disruptive and no one paid 😢
This was an amazing clinic to introduce riders to Ranch Versatility now is the time to move forward.
It is being received very well so spots are filling quickly

Afternoon session has room for one more spots

Morning session has room for four more spots

11/27/2022

Great clinic today with Geoff Hoar at Medicine Tree Equine.
Students all did very well and are anxious for the 2023 show season

11/19/2022

Another trip down memory lane. Ian loves cutting and was a huge supporter even after moving out west. Listen to the Non Pro Song

Ian Tyson possibly is eastern Canada's most authentic cowboy, whose attitude towards cutting horses can be summed up by one word-enthusiasm.

11/19/2022

Oh so true.

10/11/2022

We have two openings due to cancellation for the Geoff Hoar (introduction to ranch versatility) Clinic
November 26,2022 at Medicine Tree Equine High River Alberta
We have a morning spot and possibly an afternoon spot.
A morning session 9-12 lunch provided
An afternoon session 1-4 lunch provided
Auditors welcome 20.00 lunch/ snack will be for sale.
This is great opportunity to ride with Geoff.
Price is 240.00 per session per horse. Limit to five in each session. First come first serve with a 50% non refundable deposit unless Geoff or Medicine Tree need to cancell
Call Cub 403 850 0617 to register or message me here
Should be a lot of fun.

Update just four spots left as of October 15
Geoff is a true horseman. Cutting, cow horse , teamster, roping and runs a great ranch. He has nice style of teaching and willing to share his knowledge.

10/07/2022

More words of wisdom from my friend and mentor Barbra Schulte

Just for Today ... You are enough.

05/06/2022

Ah semi retirement is good. Just arrived in San Antonio. Happy cinqo de mayo everyone

04/04/2022

Another amazing run with John Swales

This is "HENDRIXX shown by JOHN C. SWALES - 2022 NRCHA Stallion Stakes (FINALS - Open Derby, Cow)" by NRCHA Video on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos…

04/04/2022

03/24/2022

This would be an excellent opportunity

We are currently looking for a second responsible and experienced stable hand/assistant trainer for our Reining and Working Cow Horse program. Ideal for an aspiring trainer looking to advance their knowledge. Must be willing to work in all kinds of weather, work some holidays, do chores, ride colts, and other tasks that go along with a training facility.
Email resume to [email protected]
Or
Text it to me 403-861-2313
Thanks!

03/11/2022

Don’t forget the upcoming clinic with Kaspian Miller world famous mounted archery instructor. Guaranteed to be a fun filled day
March 26th still have a few spots available.
150.00 for the day and all necessary equipment except your horse.
Message me if interested.

01/04/2022

Remembering a great fellow cutter RIP Bill

William Jani passed away . This is the full obituary where you can express condolences and share memories. Published in the Calgary Herald on 2021-12-31.

01/01/2022

Happy New Year to all. Hopefully 2022 will be kinder to all of us.
It’s time to get back in the saddle. I am riding and teaching again after a few set backs. All is well.
Lessons are starting right away. Special times can be requested for flag works. Roping with Tony Bodi starts Saturday January 08 @ 1:00-3:00 invite a friend call for details.

12/30/2021

Great Tribute to a great man RIP Jack Daines

Jack is an Alberta celebrity, a rodeo legend. He has lived a life of adventure and misadventure, and he leaves a legacy with his family, auction, and rodeo.T...

12/27/2021

Thank you Lee McLean.

TURNED OUT VS. TURNOUT… It’s a world of difference!

It's -38C this morning. Yes. I'm back in for my coffee, sat down in the snug house, watching the horse herd run the quarter mile down from the big hill to the corrals, to water. Many of them are in their twenties. A few are thirty plus. In this group of playful horses, there are no stragglers.

From April until October, our horses and ponies are kept by, worked regularly and really monitored on their grass intake. Their lives are interwoven with our own... and they are never, if we can possibly help it, allowed to get too terribly fat.

When November winds hit and the grass turns brown, the youngsters in training are kept close by and worked throughout the winter. The 'broke' (schooled) horses and ponies are dewormed if necessary, their shoes are pulled, their teeth are done and until next spring, they are bid a fond farewell. They will have water and salt and fairly regular surveillance... some homegrown hay as necessary... but that is all.

They will run, buck, play stallion games, grow hard and yes, even a little snorty. On the dry, native grass that has been carefully saved for the season, they will become truly themselves once again. They are no longer living to please us.

This benign neglect, I believe, is the reason so many of them continue to be seemingly ageless and in good health. We do provide shelter from uncompromising wind and weather and a few of my oldtimers are rugged up and given supplemental feed when their age begins to demand it.

Compare this to what we know is true for most modern horses…

They live in a fifty foot turnout pen and they probably come in at night. They can roll and pace and turn and do the same thing over again, but that’s about it. They live on manmade feed and are lovingly given chemical additives. They wear manmade clothing and often, even their legs are protected or wrapped. They might see other horses but they stand alone. True, they become easier to handle and are far more convenient. In never having a holiday from our agendas, they are expected to cope and adapt.

I’m not going to get in a debate over whether your horse is too valuable to risk turning out – which, if you’ve been paying attention – is a far cry from turnout. Nor will I suggest that my horse doesn’t like a chance to get warm and dry and enjoy an indoor feed. But I am going to say that our modern need to make horses and ponies live like people is not without a price… in breathing disorders, digestive issues, injuries and mental snafus.

So, what’s the answer? For most of today's horses, change will be sadly impossible in order for them to have a real break. Not everyone lives where there is room to turn the horses away, even though we know that horses kept at pasture will contentedly move from twenty to fifty miles each day.

What can we do to allow our horses to 'let down', to relax fully, to grow fit by walking, stretching downward and grazing, as nature intended? What can we actually do?

As a compromise, I’d like to see more horse people do what they can, to give their horses some time off in a real, live herd, no matter the group size or the setting, at some point within the coming year. For the smaller horses and ponies, the easy keepers, running out in winter is the only time that they can do so without fear of founder.

We have clients who bring their usually-boarded horses to us for a month or two each winter, just to get the chance to again know nature. We're so worried about our own connection with our horses, that we have left little room or consideration for their need to connect with each other, in nature, as a group.

Many of us will scoff, knowing that our horses are too valuable, too out of touch with nature to survive this, let alone thrive while living rough. Perhaps we are so tied to competition that we cannot afford to give our horses the time off? Perhaps we are too pressed after a work day, to face taking a long walk out with a halter, rather than opening a stall door?

This, perhaps, is the first clue that our modern horse management is sitting cockeyed? I don't know… and it's certainly not my place to point out which way is right, or which way is wrong. No matter our beliefs, I do know that most of us want only to do what is best for our horses.

Turned out vs. turnout? It's another thing to ponder.

12/07/2021

Buster is the one and only.