Avalon Equine

06/05/2022

Spots still available for full camp or single day clinics! Dalton Kraft Nikki Nickolson

04/05/2022

How cool is this addition to our rodeo camp this year with focus on the MENTAL ASPECT of our sport!

Matt Wong has spent the last 14 years using his background in hockey to develop athletes to the highest level. Matt has had a lengthy career in Junior Hockey spanning over 10 years split between the AJHL, and Western Hockey League. In 2013, Matt was on the coaching staff that led the Drumheller Dragons to their only South Division title, and league championship appearance. Matt joined the Brooks Bandits in the summer of 2014, and was fortunate to capture 3 AJHL League Championships, 1 Western Canada Cup Championship, and 1 National Junior A Championship. His goalies were often recognized on Provincial, Regional, and National levels. After capturing the National Junior A Championship in 2019, Matt joined the Medicine Hat Tigers where he has worked closely with NHL prospects Mads Sogaard (Ottawa Senators) and Garin Bjorklund (Washington Capitals). Matt’s experience in high performance/high pressure situations will be of value to our students during the week!

“I have a passion for helping kids reach their full potential. I feel my experience at multiple national events is something they can relate to, and use to be successful at their own events. TOGETHER WE WILL SUCCEED!!!”
In his spare time, Matt enjoys riding his horse and is even getting into roping himself too. We are truly so fortunate to have Matt as part of our camp this year to share his extensive background in coaching elite athletes with specific focus on the mental aspects of our sport.

03/25/2022

Dalton Kraft
Despite his wife being one of the main camp coordinators, he’s not a shoe in. He still would be a top pick to have as an instructor due to his vast background and knowledge in everything rodeo. From saddle bronc, to tie down roping and team roping, Dalton has competed and won several titles at the professional level. In his off season he has enjoyed being head coach of his daughters Wildcats Peewee hockey team for 2 seasons and assistant coach for his sons Bulldogs hockey team for the past 5 years.

-1997 & 1999 Alberta High School Rodeo Association Team Roping Champion.
-1999 Canadian High School Rodeo Saddle Bronc Champion.
-Canadian Finals Rodeo Saddle Bronc Qualifier 2000 & 2001.
-2001 Calgary Stampede Champion - Novice Saddle Bronc.
Multiple time Canadian Cowboys Association & Chinook Rodeo Association Finals qualifier in team roping, Tie Down Roping and Saddle Bronc.
Multiple time top 15 finishes in Canadian Professional Rodeo Association in Saddle Bronc, Team Roping and Tie Down Roping.

We can even add that Dalton gave Jared a run for his money with the fun factor last year and we are really looking forward to what shenanigans Dalton and Jared get up to again this year 😉

03/25/2022

New instructor this year (and not even by default because his wife helps to organize), his recent titles speak for themselves. Check out this list of accomplishments:

2021 CCA Champion Header
2021 World Series Finale #13 Reserve Champion Header
2022 Tucson PRCA round two winner
Along with numerous jackpot and rodeo wins.

Travis has a gift for seeing things in horses that can often be missed. Combine this with his talent, horsemanship and enjoyment of teaching others and we've got ourselves an ideal instructor for summer camp.

We are super excited to have Travis with us this year for our Rodeo Camp!

03/25/2022

Jared Pancoast

We are happy to welcome back Jared Pancoast who has been an instructor and supporter from the beginning. Jared is always eager to teach and has a gift of making things fun.

Just a few of his accomplishments:
Chinook Rodeo Association Champion & Foothills Cowboys Association Champion.
- World Series of Team Roping Finals money earner both heading and heeling.
-Canadian Cowboys Association Finals Qualifier.

We are truly fortunate to have Jared at our camp again this year!

03/25/2022

How exciting it this new instructor announcement- Vanessa Kraft!

Vanessa has always had a love for horses, since she was a small girl growing up on her family ranch. She was horse crazy, who would often be found singing to her horses by the barn or riding her horse ba****ck in the field. When she was 5 she started trick-riding and at age 6, began her professional career trick riding at rodeos all over North America. Over the years she became known for signature tricks such as the stein layout, pike vault and very difficult Cordova Back bend. She hung up her trick riding saddle after the 2008 CFR, after 14 years of professional trick riding.
Now married with a family of 5, she keeps busy chasing after her 3 young children, and their dad down the rodeo trail. Being a pick up man and stock contractor for the Calgary stampede. She still rides horses everyday doing everything from, training colts, ranch work, barrel racing, roping events, and a cow-horse enthusiast. She loves learning everything horsemanship. She believes, trick riding creates a truly unique bond with your horse, giving them your trust and confidence.

We are so excited to add Vanessa to our stellar line up of instructors!

03/23/2022

Here are the ‘master minds’ behind the scenes organizing the camp and are also excited to be instructors again.

Nikki Nickolson
Nikki is co-facilitator of Avalon Equine. In addition to holding a diploma in Child and Youth Care Counselling where she has served as an asset to both school and community settings in the forms of mental health facilitation and behavior management, Nikki has spent the majority of her life dedicating it to horses. She holds a strong knowledge for horsemanship and enjoys teaching it and it’s benefits to nothers. She lives by the rule of being a “lifetime student”, knowing that horses and humans alike are always teaching and encouraging us to become better versions of ourselves.
- Multiple amateur rodeo association finalist.
- Co-producer of Border City Performance Horse Sale.
- Irvine School Equestrian Program Volunteer- has worked with students on horsemanship, equine nutrition, horse anatomy, introduction to bitting / tack function.

&

Linda Kraft
Linda graduated from the University of Alberta Canada in addition to being the school’s Athletic Director. She teaches Physical Education and Health Studies to junior high students in addition to facilitating the schools Equestrian riding program and recently an Equine Interaction program for Junior High Students. Linda serves as a board member on the Irvine and District Agricultural Society where her vision is to see an indoor riding facility built next to the school, allowing for greater accessibility for students to be able to participate in equine assisted learning throughout the school day. Linda is the owner/operator of ‘Avalon Equine’, and her main area of expertise is in supporting pre-teens’ and teens’ self esteem by focusing on confidence building, resiliency, self concept, self awareness and how to express and manage emotions effectively.

03/23/2022

New instructor highlight- Dustin Grant! We had Dustin lined up last year however due to an injury, he wasn’t able to join us. We are excited to welcome him back this year (minus any injuries 😉).

When Dustin isn’t busy ranching, farming, or running his kids to extracurricular activities, you’ll find him on the back of a horse. His talents and passions led him to become knowledgeable in horsemanship in multiple disciplines.

A short list of his accomplishments include:
Agribition Ranch Horse Champion x2
Canada’s Greatest Cowhorse- Top 5
Super Ranch Horse Champion
SCHA money earner
SRCHA money earner
As well as a judge for multiple cow horse events.

We are grateful Dustin jumped on board with us as a guest instructor to build on and teach working cow horse skills.

03/23/2022

Our annual Rodeo Camp is filling fast and check out this line up of instructors. Stay tuned for more bios and announcements of new instructors!

Please welcome new this this year to our camp- Kareen Warren
Here is a small list of this very talented lady’s accomplishments who we are so excited to have at our camp this year!
ABRA Champion
LRA Champion
LRA Finalist
CCA Finalist
SBRA Champion
Multiple futurity and derby finalist and champion.
High point derby horse of the year, super stakes money earner.

Kareen is a true all around cowgirl who achieves success in everything she does. Her abilities, work ethic, and knowledge of horsemanship is what contributes to her success and what makes her such an asset to our rodeo camp this year.

03/18/2022

02/03/2022

NOTE CHANGE OF DATES! All pre registered participants have been notified / confirmed.

02/02/2022

Our annual rodeo camp dates, more info to come!

01/21/2022

12/24/2021

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas ❤️

12/05/2021

I DID NOT KNOW... by Alissa Kelly

I did not know a horse could bring people into your life that end up meaning the most to you.
I did not know a horse could make the hardest days of your life bearable.
I did not know a horse could teach you to put others first.
I did not know a horse could remind you time and time again that your gut is always right.
I did not know a horse could break your heart.
I did not know a horse could pick you up when you have fallen apart.
I did not know a horse could teach you to dream again, after you thought it was not possible.
I did not know a horse could make you believe in yourself.
I did not know a horse could teach responsibility, work ethic, and dedication.
I did not know a horse could make you believe in something when no one else does.
I did not know a horse could make you learn to forgive and forget.
I did not know a horse could humble you faster than you can say humble.
I did not know a horse could make you a winner.
I did not know a horse could also teach you how to lose gracefully.
I did not know a horse could instill patience in you.
I did not know a horse could make you listen better.
I did not know a horse could give you their heart.
I did not know a horse could change your life.
I did not know a horse could do all these things...
but now I know. ❤️❤️

11/11/2021

Lest we forget ❤️

11/10/2021

Was such a great night with this great group of polite, kind and insightful young men. Well done Medicine Hat Tigers, lots of fun and laughs had by all!

MEDICINE HAT, AB - The Irvine Rodeo Grounds is probably the last place you'd expect to see the Medicine Hat Ti...

10/20/2021

Huge thanks to the Community Foundations of South Eastern Alberta for the grant to facilitate this program in addition to Prairie Rose Public School Division and Dr. Reagan Weeks for their continued support!

Irvine School hosted an Equine Interaction Program at the hamlet’s rodeo grounds during the fall for students that were recommended to the program by principals, teachers or Prairie Rose Public School’s family school liaison workers.

10/17/2021

How do horses see?

Note: This is one article in a series about horse vision. I’ve compiled all of them, including more information and references, in this blogpost: Horse Vision. Horses are animals who evolved in ope…

10/11/2021

Always a good reminder ❤️

09/26/2021

Despite a long history of human–horse relationship, horse-related incidents and accidents do occur amongst professional and non professional horse handlers. Recent studies show that their occurrence depend more on the frequency and amount of interactions with horses than on the level of competency, suggesting a strong need for specific research and training of individuals working with horses. In the present study, we review the current scientific knowledge on human–horse relationships.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168159107001414

Despite a long history of human–horse relationship, horse-related incidents and accidents do occur amongst professional and non professional horse han…

09/06/2021

Article with link to the full study.

https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/9/11/862

Humans should control their emotions around horses: Researchers show that horses read our emotional state and are affected whether it is directed towards them or not.

08/29/2021

Love this!

Mike Tomlinson's "aha moment" about research was when he realized that people are benefitting from horses in ways they never realized. "We can all see how horses improve the life of a child with a disability, but the subtle yet extremely important benefits to those without diagnosed issues is just now appearing in the research. It is looking like horses help those who think nothing is wrong as much as those who have obvious needs."

C. Mike Tomlinson DVM MBA
HHRF Board Member, Past President

07/17/2021

Day 5 and that’s a wrap! Showcase Friday was a success and fun had by all.

Huge thanks to all of our wonderful camp participants, parents, grandparents and everyone who made this week so awesome!

Special thanks to Irvine Rodeo Club for the use of the great facility and all of their hard work to get it ready for us during their upgrades. To our ‘lunch ladies’ Jessie Proskow and Jenell Petkus and also Suzanne Bennett for the fabulous baking and picking up extra supplies wherever needed. Last but not least our incredible instructors Nikki Nickolson, Dalton Kraft and Jared Pancoast for all of their hard work and continuing to make the camp a huge success.

07/16/2021

Day 4 after hours fun included a water fight, horse painting and a pizza party / movie night thanks to Enerplus!

Huge thank you to Enerplus / Patrick Stadnicki who sponsored our camp again this year and provided every participant with bags, water bottles, t-shirts and roping gloves!

07/16/2021

Here are some Day 4 highlights:

Huge thank you to Laurel Wood from Rebel Power Yoga for coming out to do an amazing session on body awareness and importance of your core engagement when riding (and so much more)!

Then it was off for a ride through Irvine and over to Irvine Hotel / Bar and Muffin Shop to say thank you for donating coupons for a treat of choice to every camp kid. Thank you so much Lou and Marg!

07/16/2021

Here are some highlights from Day 3 (my apologizes I am way behind on my post updates).

It was truly such an honour and special treat to have Andrea Anderson their famous horse ‘Maverick’ come out to our 2021 Avalon Equine Rodeo Skills Summer Camp.

Andrea started off with some discussion snd talked individually with every kid about themselves and their horse. We then broke off into smaller groups and kids were able to work with their own horses and receive individual feedback.

Andrea is a truly such an inspirational and incredible teacher as she was able to help the kids to relate back to their rodeo disciplines and help everyone work towards increasing their communication and understanding with their horse.

We are so genuinely grateful for this incredible learning opportunity to spend the day with one of the most talented and gifted lady’s in the equine world. Jim Anderson

07/14/2021

Day 2 of rodeo camp in the books! Wow, what an amazing group of kids and facilitators we have! Huge thank you to Nikki Nickolson Dalton Kraft, Jared Pancoast and Laurel Wood our camp facilitators. Huge thank you to Morley Forsyth for volunteering his time to come out and teach the kids about team sorting! Super fun day, thanks to all the parents and grandparents and everyone for helping to make our rodeo camp awesome.