Miles Kingdon

          Miles Kingdon was born and raised on a mixed farm in Southern Saskatchewan, riding from an early age and starting colts at 13. He moved out to British Columbia soon after high school to cowboy on some of BC’s largest and most prestigious cattle outfits; Douglas Lake, Nicola Ranch, Empire Valley, the Gang Ranch, the Bar K, Quilchena Cattle Company, eventually becoming cowboss and manager of several. Tim O’Byrne (owner/editor of Working Ranch Magazine) once stated, “Miles has certainly worn out his share of custom saddles”, and that he has.

          Having spent his life ‘ahorseback, learning from the top hands with whom he rode, and also from the school of hard knocks, Miles was always searching for a better way to be with his horse.

          He now teaches workshops on horsemanship, stockmanship and the art of the Bridled Stockhorse, based on the traditional style and values of the old Californios. It is a subtle, signal-balanced ride built on feel, followed by impeccable timing, ultimately resulting in the horse’s  complete understanding of what is being asked of him…an almost imperceptible connection of horse and rider.

          Miles and Possum live on their outfit south of Merritt, Orange Valley Ranch, where he also offers private lessons and 3 day camps.

Mark grafton

  Marks early association with horses began while he hung off his mother’s saddle horn on cattle drives in a Paiute cradle board. Being from a ranching family, horses and cattle were a part of life growing up.  As soon as he was able to sit upright on a horse, retired ranch horses became his mounts and partners.

  At an early age Mark was inspired to become a lifelong student of the horse by his father who honed his skills in the NW States in the Bridle Horse tradition.  He also passed down skills from breaking remount horses and as a horse trainer for the US cavalry prior to WW2.

  In 1961 Marks family moved to the interior of BC to begin a ranching life there. After growing up there Mark decided to go to California to study Animal Science for 4 ½ years there he met Laura who he thought sat a horse pretty good and they were married in 1979. Mark and Laura moved back to BC and have spent the rest of their careers in the ranching community in BC.

  In 2017 Mark was inducted into the BC Cowboy Hall of Fame as a ranch cowboy and horseman.

Richard Kowalzik

Richard’s family always had horses and they rode them everywhere.  If you asked him, Richard would tell you “I don’t recall the first time I saw a hackamore horse but I knew then that’s how I wanted my horse to work.  When I was 13 years old I stacked hay, picked bottles, trapped gophers etc. until I had enough money to buy my first hackamore for $13.00.  It was a good one for the time.”

While he didn’t have anyone to show him how to use it, somewhere along the way he found the O’Connell Hackamore books.  Richard also remembers reading Louis Ortega’s book California Hackamore. Years later, it’s evident that those played a part in forming him into the horseman he is now.

“I always strive to make my next horse better than my last… I guess that’s why I enjoy riding young horses. I respect the history and tradition of transitioning a young horse from the hackamore to the Bridle.  To me, there is nothing like riding a true finished horse “straight up in the bridle”. -RK