2nd Annual Women’s Applied Horsemanship and
Stockmanship Workshop
September 26th • 27th • 28th 2024
Big Timber, Montana
HOSTED BY
Erica Mannix is partnering with Abby Nelson of Wide Sky Adventures to bring you a workshop in horsemanship and delve into a diversity of applied ranch-related activities. Leave with a greater level of experience and the confidence to pursue new skills for continued practice of horsemanship and stock-handling.
Are you pursuing growth and improvement, or wanting to feel more confident when working? Are you willing to explore your connection to self and others to improve your relationship with your horse and livestock?
This workshop is designed for those in the community who are looking to increase competence in horsemanship and cattle handling within a supportive community of women.
Why this workshop?
Erica’s relationship with horses is initially what fed her connection to the family ranch business and grew her love for land. Pursuit of horsemanship not only drove her own personal growth, it opened up countless opportunities, allowed her to work with really incredible friends and mentors, and has helped her to be more effective on the ranch in many ways. This workshop is an invitation to participate in a learning experience. Our aim is that you go home more grounded, confident, and competent in your skills; knowing that you have developed a new community of women that are there to support you on your journey.
Who is this workshop for?
This workshop is designed for women in the ranching community who are looking to increase competence in horsemanship and cattle handling within a supportive community of women. Are you pursuing growth and improvement, or wanting to feel more confident when working? Are you willing to explore your connection to self and others to improve your relationship with your horse and livestock? You should join us!
What skills do I need to participate well in this workshop?
We have 7 spots available for those of you who can bring your own horse and 3 spots available for those of you who need to lease a horse from Wide Sky.
Whether you are bringing your own horse or leasing from Wide Sky, you need to be able to:
Mount and dismount with zero assistance
Walk, trot and lope your horse with full confidence
Control your horse independently outside the corral
Work cattle on horseback without fear
Agenda
ARRIVAL
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4:00 – 5:30pm Introductions + Team Orientation
5:30-6:30pm During appetizers, Erica intro with demos in Wide Sky Arena
6:30pm Dinner
After dinner Fire, hangout, sleep at home base camp
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At Fairgrounds
Morning Trailer to fairgrounds for the day (10 minute drive)
Fundamentals of horsemanship on horseback in arena
12:00 Lunch at fairgrounds
1:00 – 4:30pm Cutting flag work, more advanced concepts
4:30pm Trailer back to the ranch
5:00 – 6:30pm Down time – walk, read, hang out, or roping instruction
6:30pm Dinner
After Dinner Hangout, sleep at home base
DAY 01
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• Morning Two groups: arena or pen work with cows & group exercises with cows in hayfield or intro to roping
• 12pm Lunch
• Afternoon Open range cow move (bring cows back out to where they go)
• 3:00 Facilitated wrap up
• 4:00 Departure
DAY 02
Applications & Cost
We have two options for this event
Bring your own horse $925 price tag if you bring your own horse and glamp in beautiful Wide Sky canvas tents
Lease a horse: $1250 price tag if you lease a Wide Sky horse and glamp
The Team
Erica Mannix. Erica Mannix grew up on her family’s multi-generation cattle ranch in western Montana. She feels a profound connection to land and ranching, and a love of wild spaces. In truth she attributes much of that to a deep connection to horses, which have helped shape a life of purpose and allowed her a front row seat to incredible wild landscapes.
Erica works on the family ranch doing any number of ranch related jobs, but her time is largely focused on animal health and stockmanship. For the last 4 years in addition to ranching, she has spent her time helping mentor ranch apprentices through the Quivira Coalition’s New Agrarian Program, and continuing her own personal horsemanship journey.
She has been blessed in her life to have found mentors that were willing to share so much time and knowledge with her from colt starting, to reined cow horse training, to low-stress livestock handling. She feels extremely grateful for the opportunity to share some of the lessons she has learned, her connection to horses and livestock, and the wild Montana landscapes with other women.
Abby Nelson. Abby is a student of the natural world, and a mule and horse enthusiast. Prior to creating these fun and meaningful experiences, she spent 18 years working for federal and state agencies as a wildlife biologist. Given this line of work, Abby traveled thousands of miles each year covering some of the most remote and wild landscapes in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem – a lot of which was made possible by the strong legs, backs and minds of her horses and mules. For the past 8 years Abby has lived and worked on her in-laws family ranch in Big Timber, MT where she currently resides with her husband Alex, and their four-year old daughter Mabel.
Equines have enriched Abby’s life in so many ways throughout her lifetime riding, and it is a dream for her to offer experiences where people can simply enjoy this beautiful ranch on the back of a horse, or learn about the land, cows and wildlife while exploring themselves and developing skills.
Kelsey Nelson. Kelsey Nelson is a skilled horsewoman with a background in rangeland management, low-stress livestock handling, and backcountry packing. With experience working on ranches in the west and leading pack strings through the Sierra Nevada and Bob Marshall Wilderness, she blends practical horsemanship with a deep understanding of the trust and connection that is required between horse and rider.
Her riding foundation was built in the dressage and jumper arenas, where she learned the value of balance, precision, and feel. She later transitioned into reined cow horse and ranch work, refining her ability to read cattle and develop a responsive, athletic horse. With such a diverse background, she is able to pull from each of these disciplines to help build feel, softness, and confidence in the saddle.
Kelsey is passionate about helping riders develop a strong partnership with their horses or mules through clear communication, thoughtful mechanics, and reverence for the animal’s natural instincts. When she’s not in the saddle you can find Kelsey gardening, biking, writing, and cooking for friends.
Cheri Trousil. On their family ranch in Steamboat Springs, CO, Cheri and her husband Ed embrace ranching life in the mountains, while expressing their love & commitment to land preservation, building community and the healing power of nature. In 1999 Cheri, Ed and their two small boys, acquired the Humble Ranch. The family ranch quickly became home to the Colorado non-profit Humble Ranch Education and Therapy Center. As a practicing Physical Therapist, Cheri partnered with horses initially offering hippotherapy; quickly expanded the center to provide therapeutic riding and a variety of equine assisted learning opportunities. Today, Cheri and Ed are still passionate about serving their community, and preserving ranch lands. Cheri continues to offer equine assisted therapies and loves collaborating with community agencies such as Hospice, the School District and the local hospital. Additionally, Cheri is a certified Qigong Instructor and has hosted several women’s retreats sharing qigong and providing a platform for women to connect with themselves, each other and nature.
Frequently Asked Questions
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It takes a lot of time and cost for us to put together these events (food, facilitators, lodging, travel, etc.) we are currently not giving refunds, if you have outstanding circumstances please reach out and we can evaluate. We reserve the right to use your ticket as a donation to Women In Ranching.
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Each individual attending the event is required to register separately. Registrations are not transferable or inclusive of additional attendees. If you’re coming with family or friends, please ensure that everyone completes their own registration to secure their spot. We are unable to provide accommodations for youth and children under the age of 21 years old due to insurance coverage.
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Yes, as part of the full experience and being in community together we strongly encourage all participants to stay at the overnight accommodations as it is an integral part of the event’s design unless you purchase a Day Pass. If you have mobility issues, disabilities, or other circumstances that make staying in Redwing Ranch housing difficult, email: info@redwingranch.farm to discuss accommodations further.
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For the event, please wear comfortable clothes suited for all weather, dress in layers to adapt to changing temperatures, and bring a reusable water bottle and thermos for your beverages. Additionally, if you take any medications, please bring them with you and keep them on hand.
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Yes, meals will be provided during this event.
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Depending on the location, there are times when beer or wine is available to complement a supper meal. We ask that you not bring alcohol or any illegal drugs with you. Those would be grounds for removal from the gathering.
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Part of building community is creating boundaries and supporting one another to show up fully. Please find good caretakers for your loved ones so you can arrive and be fully present.
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The information collected during registration and in the post-event survey helps us enhance your event experience, improve future events, and secure proper funding. We use this data for event logistics, tailoring content to meet your needs, gathering feedback for continuous improvement, and fulfilling grant reporting requirements. Rest assured, your privacy is important to us, and all information is handled with confidentiality.
What we mean by “Women”
Let us be clear, if you identify yourself as a woman, no matter the complexity, we welcome you at Women in Ranching.