Meet Your WINNER of the 2026 Young Guns Challenge…

Shayde Primrose!

Congratulations Shayde!

After a great inaugural event, Horse Expo Canada and Rocking Heart Ranch are excited to announce that this event is a go for 2026! If you are an aspiring trainer or know someone who is, please encourage them to apply!

​What is the challenge? The Young Guns Colt Starting Challenge is a partnership between Horse Expo Canada and Rocking Heart Ranch. It is an opportunity for the next generation of horse trainers to compete in a 3-day Colt Starting Event to build experience and their profile. The winner of the challenge will be invited to move up the ranks and be a trainer at the 2026 Horse Expo Trainer’s Challenge.

Where and when is the challenge? The challenge will take place on September 11-13th at Rocking Heart Ranch which is located by Waterton Lakes National Park. Tickets on sale on June 1st, 2026 via horseexpo.ca

What type of Horses? The horses that will be used in the challenge are long two-year-old registered American Quarter Horses from Rocking Heart Ranch. Their bloodlines include some of the great foundational quarter horse breeding like Blue Valentine, Two Eyed Jack, Play Gun, and Peppy San. All horses have been halter broke and through our weanling challenge so they have been handled since they were young and are mentally and physically ready for their next level in training. Horses will be randomly drawn by the contestants.

Challenge Format: The challenge will consist of several round pen sessions for each trainer and wrap up on Sunday with a course of required elements. Two independent judges will judge the event and declare the winner.

Download and View the Event Catalog Here.

Challenge Schedule

Friday, September 11

Saturday, September 12

Sunday, September 13  ** Times may change

Trainer Application Requirements: Though the competition is called Young Guns, it is open to any adult (regardless of age) who has been training for a minimum of 3-5 years and has started at least 10+ horses. The winning trainer will be awarded a spot to compete in the Trainer’s Challenge at Horse Expo, 2027.

Come stay with us for the weekend to watch the trainers take on this challenge at the Rocking Heart Ranch!
Bring your trailer and enjoy onsite camping for $40/night. Camping is unserviced, but guests do have access to the barn, including bathrooms, showers, and a 24-hour loo.
Want to bring your horse too? Horses are welcome to stay as part of our Ride and Relax experience.
To reserve your spot, please email rockingheartranch@gmail.com to register.

Shayde Primrose of Primrose Horsemanship is a 19 year old from Mountain View, Alberta. He bought his first colt at the age of 12 and started him that spring, sparking a passion that quickly grew into a way of life. Over the next three summers, Shayde worked for a local trainer, dedicating himself to learning as much as possible. Since then, he has spent more time in the saddle than in the classroom riding client horses before and after school everyday, and even during spare periods. Most recently, Shayde spent six months working for a trainer on a ranch in Colorado. Now back home, he is starting colts full time for the public.
Shayde focuses on working with the horse to achieve the desired outcome while building a strong foundation. His goal is to give every horse the tools they need to succeed, no matter the direction their future may take. Shayde believes that it is important to stay humble and open minded in order to develop a better understanding of the horse.

Matt Kitchen is a colt starter based in Beaverdell, BC, where he and his wife are raising their two kids while ranching and running custom cattle services. Matt’s program focuses on building a solid foundation in young horses. Matt’s approach is rooted in practical horsemanship—starting in the arena and carrying that foundation out into real working situations. Guided by feel, timing, and a commitment to continual learning from respected mentors and clinicians, Matt’s work speaks for itself. In 2025, Matt was named Runner-Up at the Young Guns Colt Starting Competition and he looks forward to competing again in 2026.

TC Langmuir: Born in High River Alberta in 1995 TC Langmuir had the privileged opportunity to not only grow up in the ranching and rodeo community but also was able to be very involved in the hunter/jumper horse industry throughout his early years. TC began his horsemanship journey very young taking English and western riding lessons at a very young age. He also notes that he was very fortunate that his knowledgeable parents kept kindhearted kid safe horses for him to grow up learning to ride on around the family farm. Through junior high and high school TC spent any time that wasn’t a hockey or football game out with his horses. Either working cattle for neighbouring ranches or just covering miles of back roads and stubble fields on one of his green projects. At night TC spent his time thumbing through endless pages of western horseman magazines reading articles and soaking up any information he could. TC also took time to participate in high school and amateur rodeos competing in bull riding and later switching to saddle bronc.
Over the past 13 years since his high school graduation TC has made a living as a working cowboy. Travelling through BC , AB and SK working cattle for various ranches, training colts and honing his craft as a horsemen and stockman. TC currently resides outside of Bassano Alberta where he operates his own business, 30 mile equine services. He spends his time riding horses for the general public as well as training , marketing and selling working ranch and arena rope horses. He also does contract ranch work including calving, branding and weaning for local ranchers and keeps a modest list of shoeing clients incase he ever gets bored. Also a competitive roper TC can often be found at your local team roping jackpot or rodeo seasoning young horses in a competitive environment.
With almost 20 years experience with green, problem and performance horses TC has countless experiences to draw on when it comes to handling horses in different environments. TC strives to create not only solid foundations but also horses that can stand a real days work or high performance situations and still be gentle enough to pack the kids around on the weekend. TC credits a lot of his ability to do this by following the wisdom provided by some of his influences including but not limited to; Buck Brannaman , Warwick Schiller , Clinton Anderson , Jeremy Beuhler , Miles Baker , Jim Anderson, Nik dowers. With many years experience and application as well as spending hours being a student of the horse TC has developed a colt starting method that not only translates across any breed background or discipline but also creates long lasting willing partnerships that carry on for years.

Lauryn Rachel Performance Horses: My name is Lauryn and I train horses near Clandonald, Alberta with a focus on colt starting and rodeo performance horses. I grew up in riding clubs and lessons and furthered my knowledge by taking clinics, going to Olds College for my Equine Science Diploma, and working in several different equine operations. I have started colts in the northern BC Rockies for a hunting outfit, as well as for performance trainers and have ridden in a few Cowhorse operations. I have always had a couple personal project horses to work with that have given me the opportunity to learn and grow my horsemanship more. Additionally I have worked as a riding instructor and trail guide and spent a year working as an equine performance veterinary assistant. I have been training horses for the public since 2020 on a part time basis and in July of 2025 I opened up my home facility full time to focus on training client and personal horses.

My well rounded experience comes together in a solid training program that focuses on the whole horse. I am attentive to physical condition, behaviour and training. I really focus on meeting each horse where they are at and adapting my program to their needs. I spend most of my time in the saddle and when I am not riding at home you can likely find me at a rodeo or jackpot somewhere, usually competing in barrel racing and women’s ranch bronc riding.

Belly – RHR Gun N Country
Just like the Belly River, a vital and steady source of life in Alberta, Belly is a bay roan filly who brings strength, reliability, and natural flow to everything she does. Sired by RHR Plenty Blue and out of Hancock Country — one of our proven performers known for producing horses that are “born broke” — Belly blends athleticism with a calm, willing attitude.
This filly is built to be big and powerful, expected to finish around 15.2 hands high, with striking chrome that makes her impossible to overlook. She’s got the foundation and mindset to be a trusted partner on the ranch, in the arena, or anywhere in between.
Like the river she’s named for, Belly has the steady strength and natural grace that make her an essential part of any program — a true source of confidence and performance.
Belly is steady, strong, and ready to flow with you through all your equine adventures.

Bertha – RHR Big N Beautiful
Just like the majestic mountain she’s named after, Bertha is a big, bold, and beautiful blue roan filly built to impress and perform. Sired by RHR Plenty Blue and out of RW Slu Foot Sue, she combines power, strength, and striking good looks in one unforgettable package.
Bertha is built to pull, work, and carry with ease, destined to be a powerhouse in any program. Expected to finish around 15.2 to 15.3 hands high, she has the size and substance to handle the toughest jobs while turning heads with her classic blue roan coat.
With her blend of raw strength and undeniable beauty, Bertha is a filly who commands respect and admiration — a true mountain of a horse ready to stand tall and get the job done.
Bertha is strength, style, and substance — your next big, beautiful partner in the making.

Glacier – RHR Lucky Kitty
This filly is part of our ranch’s planning for the next generation of horses. While we love our big blues, we also want to add in horses that will be under 15HH and have a bit more refinement. This is where Glacier will excel with her sire being Red Hott Cat and her dam being Lucky Blue Lass who goes back to Givemalickin.
She was halter broke by Tara P. and competed in the weanling challenge where Tara brought home Reserve Champion with her and her buddy Kenow. Tara was able to conduct a liberty showmanship piece with this little filly after only 3 weeks as part of the challenge and had her coming to a whistle. It was truly amazing which shows this filly’s great mind.

Yarrow – RHR King B Smoakin
Just like the resilient yarrow plant that helps hold Southern Alberta’s landscape together and plays a unique, vital role in ecological balance, Yarrow is a bay filly built to be strong, dependable, and beautifully balanced — truly something special.
Sired by King Docs Hill (aka Maverick) — known for his size, gentle nature, and easy-starting babies — and out of PC Roan N Smoak, a mare famous for producing level-headed, “born broke” foals, Yarrow is destined to be a big, soggy mare with a calm, willing mind.
Expected to finish around 15.2 hands high, she combines size, substance, and beauty in one impressive package. Like the yarrow plant itself, she’s tough yet graceful — a unique force of nature who can weather any challenge and come through strong, making her a true asset on ranch, trail, or arena.
Yarrow is strength rooted in nature — a gorgeous, steady partner with a special place in your program and in your heart.