Judges Bios
Darcee Jean Gundlock – Judging English Handy Horse and Western Trail
Started riding 45 years ago and has been a breeder of purebred AQHA,
Arabian, Morgan and Appaloosa horses as well as showing on both breed and open show circuits.
Previously certified as CEF Western Coach and General Performance Judge,as well as Junior and recorded Judge for a variety of working western associations.
Personal riding preferences have been cutting, reining, working cow horse, team penning and team sorting.
In 2013 Darcee Jean started the Southern Alberta Cowboy Challenge (Extreme Trail) and will be further promoting the sport and sanctioning shows in 2014."
Karen A Jarvie
EC Level 1 English Riding Coach
Certified for 33 years
Okanagan College Equestrian Program
Horsemanship & Riding Instructor
NCCP Level 1 & 2 Theory
St Johns First Aid
Current RCMP background check
1972- 1988 Owner/ Partnership of Ranchland Recreation Stable.
A commercial boarding, training, lesson facility.
Competed in Western Canada and the U.S.A for clients on the Quarter and Paint horse, Hunter/ Jumper and Dressage circuits.
Self employed
1988- 2013 Owned and operated with my husband, Painted Trak Farms of Lethbridge AB.
A horse breeding operation raising hunters, jumpers and dressage prospects. Offspring have been marketed throughout North America and Japan.
Owned and operated Painted Trak Stables of Lethbridge AB.
Our business consisted of 60 boarding clients and 75 riding lesson students, I was the Head Riding Coach employing and managing 5 other junior coaches. We showed extensively in Western Canada with up to 20 horse / riders combinations. We successfully competed at the Battle of the Breeds, AHHS, ASJA, Spruce Meadows as well as other hunter/jumper shows on the A circuit. .
Equine Expertise
Training, coaching, showing (Hunter, Jumper, Dressage, Western, Driving) breeding management (stallions, mares and foals), stable management, Vet work (worming, vaccinating, wounds, health issues, lameness, bandaging etc) clipping, braiding, fitting for show
Association Memberships
Alberta Equestrian Federation
Equine Canada
American Paint Horse Association
Chris Ferguson
Before dedicating himself full time to his career as a performance horse farrier Chris Ferguson spent sixteen years as a professional NRHA trainer. His accomplishments include;
NRHA Open Futurity Finalist,
NRHA Open Derby Finalist,
Reserve Champion National Reining Breeders Classic,
All American Quarter Horse Congress Open Futurity Finalist,
Southwest Reining Horse Association Futurity Champion,
Kansas Open Derby Champion, and,
Canadian Supreme Open Champion.
Chris has spent years riding and training performance horses in the western disciplines and coaching non pros to the top of the sport of reining.
Donna Ferguson
Donna Ferguson is a certified Equine Canada Coach 2 who has been coaching for 25 years. She has also been certified with the CHA and the American Riding Instructors Association. Donna’s students find success in the hunter, jumper and equitation rings. Their recent accomplishments include;
2013 Jump Alberta Most Improved Rider,
2013 Developing Rider 0.75m Champion,
Forth, 2013 Jump Alberta 0.75m Open Jumper,
Third, 2013 Jump Alberta 0.9m Medal,
Forth, 2013 Jump Alberta 0.9m Junior / Amateur Jumper,
Second, 2013 Developing Rider 0.85m Jumper,
2014 1.0m RMSJ Winter Series Champion,
2013 Jump Alberta 0.9m Mini Prix Champion,
2013 Jump Alberta 0.9m Medal Champion,
2013 Jump Alberta 0.9m Junior / Amateur Reserve Champion.
Donna operates as Tailwind Equestrian in Coaldale and offers performance based riding programs for beginners to advanced riders with an emphasis on preparing horses and riders for competition. Donna also trains performance horses for the English disciplines.
During ten years living in The United States, Donna often judged hunter / jumper shows for organizations such as The Greater Oklahoma Hunter / Jumper Association and the North Texas Hunter / Jumper Association.