Key Ranch Testimonials

Bob's Story

My Cowboy Journey Moving to Alberta was something I really looked forward to. I have had family here for many years and they always told me how great this province is. So here I am, and what would be the best way to indoctrinate myself into the world and history of this spectacular province. That would be of course learning how to ride a horse, Cowboy Style. Since I was young boy in Timmins, I wanted to ride and often fantasized about being on the open range riding my horse, roping and herding cattle and just plain enjoying the beauty the province has to offer. So, on that note, my efforts to find someone commenced. A teacher who would not only be willing to instruct me on how to ride, but would also provide me with the mount. After literally months of searching and talking to everyone involved in the equine world from Claresholm to Crossfield, after purchasing all of the necessary gear, I was told about a cowboy, ropper and a practitioner of natural horsemanship who may help me reach my goal. Everyone who knew him stated the same, he is an honest man and an honest teacher and his name is; Keith Stewart. I called Keith and told him my story and I was hoping he could spend sometime with me, just to talk about riding and maybe where I could find an opportunity to learn. He suggested I come down to the Key Ranch to discuss the possibilities to learn to ride with him as my teacher. After meeting Keith and just basically telling him I was between a rock and a hard place and what I hoped to do; he said: Well, when would you like to start. I guess he appreciated my honesty. And so the journey begins. Bob Le Blanc

Rod Honig, Creative Director, Highwood Communications, Black Diamond, Alberta

About the clinic: I attended one of Keith's summer clinics and can sum it all up by saying that Keith's patience and calm demeanor made learning comfortable and the working ranch skills achievable. You can see Keith's passion for tradition and his respect for horse, stock and people in every move he makes. I felt at home and his wealth of knowledge made me want to learn more. I count Keith as a friend and a mentor. About roping at Key Ranch: I can't say enough about the kind attention and hospitality Keith and Denice have shown me since the very 1st time I showed up at Key Ranch. I came as a stranger and now feel as if I am part of a tight-knit "family like" crew. The people, the events and the good time I have EVERY time I'm there, make the experience one of life's little pleasures.

Tom Towers, Rancher, Red Deer, Alberta

Just found your web site and was reminded of how much I have enjoyed the people involved in ranch roping and especially you two. Thank you Keith for introducing me to a great pastime which we can use daily at home. I will be at more events this coming year and especially those in your beautiful part of the world. Take care and we will see you in the New Year for more learning,training,and good times.

Miss Myalee Evans, Project Engineer, Toromont Systems

Feedback from Feb 09 Horsemanship Workshop

For an instructor I know it can be extremely challenging to teach that many horses and riders at such varying levels of experience, abilities and goals. I was extremely impressed with Keith's ability to manage this challenge and also to field such a wide variety of questions so easily and in such a short amount of time. Not only was he extremely knowledgeable but I found his teaching methods to be clear, concise and augmented by his mounted demonstrations.

I think everyone was able to see some improvement during the workshop and to go home with lots of new ideas to try - I know I did.

I have been working with my horse Miles on some of the exercises Keith gave me. I always start with 10-20min of ground work before I ride him just getting him to move around and yield his hinds and fronts as well as backing from a hand cue. I also started incorporating this into everything else I do with him - bringing him in the barn or turning him out, always insisting that he yields and is respectful.

He was definitely more sticky to one side so we've been working on this and he's been doing very well although he always needs a bit more energy from me to that side. I've also been doing lots of yielding back and forth to the sides throughout my ride, practicing one-rein stops and insisting that he give his hinds quickly and easily off my leg.

He's much stiffer to give his head and neck to the right so I practice this side more and I've gone back to asking quietly at the halt, walk, and slow jog. I got a little over eager and asked for too much last week and he started bracing against me getting panicky and wanting to stand up and go backwards. I decided he can only physically do that if his hinds are straight behind him - i.e. obviously NOT yielding. So I took a few steps back and slowed it down. He can be a very sensitive horse to work with but he's not unfair if I just listen to him. I went back the ground and then at a walk and he's doing awesome again and is calm and happy.

We haven't had any more "explosions" since the workshop and even when he comes out a bit fresh I find he gets tired of acting up in a hurry once I start going through these exercises with him!

On a side note I find it interesting that there are not more English riders that get involved with this. I really don't think my horse knows (or cares) what style of saddle I put on his back so long as it fits! And I have yet to find anything between the two styles that is mutually exclusive anyways. I see no differences between a well ridden Western horse and a well ridden English horse - not only that but I've seen bridle horses demonstrate collection and control that would make a lot of Grand Prix dressage horses look bad.

But all in all I was thrilled with the help Keith was able to give me and can't wait for the next workshop. I know it's a lot of work to organize these events but it's greatly appreciated both by me and my horse!

Thanks again,

Myalee

Bob's Story Part 2

Key Ranch-The Journey Continues

Here I am, fulfilling a lifelong dream of hopefully becoming an expert horseman good enough to become a cowboy, so I can ride and rope on the open range like I dreamt of doing as a teenager. This is where I hope this journey takes me.

As I prepared myself for this, I was somewhat apprehensive and nervous. After all what do I know about this animal, such an integral part of Albertan history! Somewhere around 1100 pounds of horse, who can, at the drop of a hat, decide it doesn’t want to be ridden by you. So I begin my journey from Key Ranch and beyond.

After arriving at the ranch, Keith introduces me to Gaucho, my mount. He is a buckskin ¼ horse, 15.2 HH, about 7 years old. He is a beautiful horse with an amazing temperament, calm and somewhat aloof, but a horse that doesn’t seem to be bothered by very much around him. Gaucho was trained by Keith and ridden by his daughters and his wife over the past few years of his life on the Key Ranch.

And so we begin, Keith with all the patience in the world is about to teach me how to properly saddle and bridle Gaucho, which proves to be and interesting process for a neophyte horseman. Now you have to understand when I moved to Alberta , I had no clue about horses or the gear one uses in order to ride them. I spent a lot of time and money in order to buy what was needed and still I did not get everything, and also purchase things I did not need, but I sure had a lot of fun spending money in order to get ready for this journey.

The first thing Keith emphasizes is safety. We discuss this at length, in order to ensure my safety and also Gaucho’s safety. The master horseman as I see Keith, emphasizes the importance of “Groundwork”, and then proceeds to show me how it is done. This component is crucial in letting the horse know you are the leader and that he needs to do what you want him to. This also includes learning how to mount the horse off a fence or stairs in our case. Keith continuously emphasizes the importance of groundwork.

Keith is a masterful teacher with great patience and understanding of the most experienced and inexperienced riders. He is thorough and always conscious of safety. His ability to communicate is extremely high. I feel extremely confident that this is the man, the Cowboy and the teacher who will be my guide for a long, long time in my quest to become the best rider I can possibly be.

Yee Haa! And now the time has come, the first ride. Wow what a great feeling to be on this majestic animal. There aren’t a lot ways to describe how someone like me who has dreamed of doing this all his life can feel once mounted on this animal. I really admire what Albertan Cowboys and Ranchers have had been able to accomplish in their history with these amazing animals.

And so the journey continues. BOB

Darren Thatcher

The first time I rode "Boomer" was in January of 2008, and early on I knew he would be a handful! I had only been sorting and penning cattle for a short while and my riding skills were not the greatest, but Boomer just seemed like he would be a good 'fit' at our place so we brought him home.

At first we did very well at sorting competitions, but once we started penning it seemed the pressure was too much for him (us). He started rearing-up when faced with turning the herd back, which became his relief and the situation worsened the harder we tried. I finally took him away from penning, and wanted to take him somewhere that would help me understand his issues while making me a better rider (hopefully). It didn't take long for Keith to figure Boomer out, and while my line of thinking was to leave him there to tone him down some Keith insisted that I be the one to get a handle on him. This was the best thing for both of us! Keith helped me to understand what Boomer was thinking, and how to react when he got 'pressured up'. My riding confidence grew with every lesson, and Boomer's cowy nature became controlled to the point that we could work buffalo with no surprises. He would continue working with us until we found a good place to quit, but not until then!

I went back to sorting competitions in late 2008, and was lucky enough to win a saddle on him in early 2009. This could only have been achieved through the patience and horse sense that Keith was able to bring to the situation. I once again introduced him back to penning this spring (the real test), and while the financial success has been limited the real story has been how we have been able to work together as horse and rider extremely well!

We thank Keith and Denice for all their support and look forward to continuing with our lessons.

Darren Thatcher and Boomer

Justin Hozack

Hey Keith and Denice

Just wanted to say thanks again for all the help this weekend with my little mare. When I got her back from Dale he told me that I would probably be best to just cut my loses as he didn't think it was worth the work/time because she was so broncy and since I am not cowboying on her everyday. Needless to say I was a bit intimidated and feeling at my ropes end because if Dale can't seem to get by her in two months then how was I going to make out with her? I was talking to Megan about it and she said that I needed to come and work with Keith and she suggested that we go to one of your weekend clinics and I am very glad that she did because now I feel like have something to work on with my mare though the ground work, one rein stop, etc. So thanks again and I will definitely be seeing you again in the future and will be passing your name along to anyone that I see who is looking at improving their horsemanship, confidence or wanting to start on becoming better in tune with their horse.

Thanks again,
Justin Hozack

April 12, 2009