There are many colt starters out there – and many are very good. They can be patient and take their time getting each young horse started with a positive low stress approach. Then there are the trainers that work with competitive horses with the objective to show the horse and build its resume of accomplishments.

Showing and training a horse are two distinct skills. Not all horse folks have the talent and stomach to complete the full cycle on a horse. Training can be slow and tedious but builds wonderful mounts. Showing is sometimes a demonstration of smoke and mirrors – making things look good under pressure, sometimes to the long term detriment of the horse.

Trainers that take green colts from the very beginning aiming to show them competitively throughout Canada and the USA are rare. You will see the big name trainers in the big NRCHA events south of the border but many of these trainers have young assistants to get the colts started and ready to show.

Massimo Garlanda has been involved in our program from selecting stallions and helping us highgrade our broodmare band right through to planning our show schedule for each horse. He builds rapport with the horse slowly, over time and develops a personal relationship with each one. They are all unique and require a different approach to perform their very best.

We regularly attend the shows in Alberta with the Alberta Reined Cow Horse Association (ARHCA) and the Alberta Stock Horse Association (ASHA). We’ve also shown in the Montana Reined Cow Horse Association in Kalispell, and the Arizona Reined Cow Horse Association in Queen Creek. When the horses are doing really well, we travel further afield. We have shown Purdy Bossy at the Las Vegas, NV Stallion Stakes and the Celebration of Champions in Fort Worth, TX. Those big shows require another level of organization. It has taken years of heading south for the winter to build a list of suitable stop-over barns and a travel routine that works for the horses. Travel can be hard on the horse so there’s a lot to consider; selecting the best route for the weather, finding training arenas and accommodations to acclimate to the warmer temperatures, sourcing or packing feed and supplements to maintain the same routine, scouting the location and planning for the specific logistics of the show arenas. Massimo takes it all in stride and is able to bring our horses to show their very best on the world stage. His personal preparation is a well guarded secret – but he always shows up ready to ride and show!

From our Sundre location, we have access to great rehabilitation services. We make use of these as well as regular farrier, veterinary, dental and body work. We use our Equine BEMER on the horses anytime they seem just a little ‘off’. You can tell they appreciate the special treatment by the way they yawn and stretch out.

Depending on the string of horses Massimo has under training in the fall and their owners’ goals, he may spend up to three months of the winter with us in Arizona. There, the horses enjoy warm weather and bright daytime light. We’ve even had owners join us for a winter get-away to enjoy a ride in the warm and scenic Verde Valley for a few days.

Our little ranch in Cottonwood is perfectly situated to be cooler than Phoenix or Scottsdale, in the ranch country of the Mingus Mountains. It is an easy day’s travel to Las Vegas or a long day to Fort Worth. There are many cutting and cowhorse events to enjoy as the days warm up in early spring. We use these small shows as warm-up events before we head home for competition season.

Massimo can help your horse by solidifying the basic training and tuning up the manoeuvres for a great competitive horse – ready for the Open class or the Non Pro. He is a talented rider and insightful trainer. GIve us a call and arrange to ride with him. You can improve your flag work or dry work in a low stress environment and see what we have to offer.

Bring your horse in for a couple months before the season starts and benefit from our indoor training arena while it’s cold and miserable outside. When your horse is ready, Massimo will give you a few lessons to get you back in sync with your horse – show you the cues and guide you through the subtle changes you may need to make to your riding. His communication is clear and easy to understand, whether you’ve ridden your whole life or are brand new. You and your horse can get back in shape and hit the show season running!