This summer, the Confident Cowgirls Clinic is stepping into a whole new season of growth. From July 9–12, we are expanding to four unforgettable days and unveiling a refreshed format designed to help you build confidence in and out of the saddle—all while having an exceptional amount of fun.

Whether you are looking to sharpen your skills, try something new, or simply reconnect with why you love riding, this immersive experience blends horsemanship, personal development, adventure, and community in one inspiring setting. Each day features a half-day riding clinic led by a different clinician, covering a dynamic range of disciplines including roping, horsemanship, cattle work, and an introduction to endurance riding and competitive trail. Every afternoon also offers guided trail rides, ranging from 2.5 hours to an adventurous 6 hours, allowing you to apply your skills, challenge yourself, and enjoy the landscape.

Beyond the arena, the clinic focuses on the whole rider. Daily classroom sessions will guide you through goal setting, vision board creation, and yoga, giving you practical tools to strengthen your mindset, improve your riding, and clarify where you want to go—both personally and in the saddle.

Evenings are designed for connection and restoration. All lunches and dinners are included, with relaxed time each night for drinks, reflection, and meaningful conversations, plus free time to explore Waterton if you choose. The week also features a special highlight: a Friday night concert with Aly Williams, an exciting up-and-coming local artist, bringing live music and celebration to the experience.

To suit different interests and riding goals, two participation options are available:

1. Boots in the Dirt: Ride in all clinics and trail rides for a fully hands-on experience. Includes lunch and dinner, 3 nights stalling for your horse, and the Friday night concert!
   ​$995 + tax (Limit 15 attendees) SOLD OUT!
2. Boots on the Fence: Watch the clinics, attend the concert, and join the group ride on Thursday afternoon. Includes lunch and dinner, 3 nights stalling for your horse, and the Friday night concert!
   ​$495+ Tax (Limit 10 attendees)

The Confident Cowgirls Clinic is more than a riding event—it is a confidence-building retreat, a learning experience, and a celebration of community. Come challenge yourself, laugh a lot, and leave feeling stronger, clearer, and more confident than when you arrived.

​Once registered, please sign the applicable waiver:
Over the Age of Majority
Under the Age of Majority

Cattlework Clinician: Renee Gareau with RG Training and Performance Horses

Renee has been involved in the equine industry for 15 years. Starting many young horses and starting them on working cattle. She loves watching horse and rider come together. She will guide building on the basic cow working strategies and really working on reading a cow and helping your horse get to the right place at the right time!

Visit her Facebook or Instagram

​Endurance and Competitive Trail Clinician: Amy Nelson with Merry Leqs Equine

​Amy has been riding and training horses for the past 25 years in Canmore, Alberta. As an active member of the Bow Valley Riding Association and Trail Riding Alberta Conference, she has been clocking mileage over 2000 km per year on horseback in some of the most rugged and beautiful terrain in Canada. TRAC has welcomed Amy in her role running Intro Clinics and as the Ride Manager for Mount Up in the Mountains, held in the Ghost River Valley every June. Distance riding explores capabilities of horses and riders, and is a true test of the horse/rider bond.

Visit her Facebook or Instagram

​​​General Horsemanship Clinician and Yoga Instructor: Emma Atkinson with Pristine Performance Horses

A former Rocking Heart Ranch Colt Starting Competitor, and competitor in many other areas, Emma has a passion for training horses. Her goal is to facilitate and develop communication that results in well rounded, engaged and confident creatures. She has mentored youth and adults alike, aiding them in the growth of their equestrian skills. Developing a connection to animals has allowed her to learn how to communicate through a different lens. Through her journey she was introduced to yoga and fell in love with the versatility it has to offer. Becoming a yoga instructor allowed her to understand the authentic self and to embrace the qualities we encompass.

Goal Setting and Vision Board: Melody Garner-Skiba, Co-owner of Rocking Heart Ranch

Roping Clinician: Taylor Bunnage

She competed at her first rodeo when she was 8 and started roping at the Jr. High level. She quickly found her competitive self loved roping the most and made that her main focus as she college rodeoed on a scholarship for both Weber State and Utah State University. She graduated with her bachelors in teaching which helps her a lot as a clinician as she was taught to recognize when her students are learning as well as different teaching strategies. She’s earned her pro card at both the CPRA and WPRA level in breakaway roping and also had the opportunity to compete at the Rocky Mt. Cup (Calgary Stampede breakaway before it was added to the rodeo) in 2024. Her biggest achievement is her family! She is a mom to 2 beautiful little girls. She loves that they get to be raised in this agriculture lifestyle!

For our clinic you can expect ground work where we breakdown the basics of the swing to working on positioning and being a team with our horse behind the cow. We will focus on fundamentals, mental confidence, and horsemanship as it applies to breakaway roping. Whether you are a beginner roper learning how to swing or an experienced competitor you will find ways to learn and improve.

Musician: Aly Williams