I have owned and operated Duke Ranches Ltd., in Edmonton, Alberta, for over thirty years.
I have been a horseman all my life. When I was a young teenager living near Castor, Alberta, ranchers and farmers sent horses for me to train and ride. I began competing at Rodeos specializing in calf roping and was fortunate to become Canadian Calf Roping Champion in 1966. Winning the Championship gave me the inspiration to reach for my dreams. I wanted to have my own ranch and train horses and most of all to experience independence. Soon after, I was busy training all types of horses including
Cutting horses. As past president of the Canadian Cutting Horse Association, I recall that it was a big thrill to take Cutting horses to England for a command performance for Queen Elizabeth. It became a world-renowned event. With her vast knowledge and appreciation of horses, she was thrilled with the athletic performance of these animals. I have ridden Cutting horses to "Top Ten" positions fourteen times, including four Canadian Championships and two reserve Champions.
Western horses have always played a role in my life. I have spent hours training quarter horses to become the best in their fields in roping, cutting, cattle penning, trail, pleasure and to run barrels. I have spent years breaking horses to first trust me and then to respect me. We teach many Western riding lessons a month at Duke Ranches Ltd. and we have many youngsters taking weeklong riding clinics during the summer.
I began working with jumping horses in the early 1960s. At that time I could see the changes that could be made in training these types of horses. I have been to Europe to watch how stallions are chosen for the sport and met with the best trainers there. I have trained many, many jumping horses over the years. We teach numerous English lessons a month at Duke Ranches Ltd. and several are to people who own their own horses. These customers show their horses at many horse shows throughout Western Canada including Spruce Meadows.
Breeding programs are ongoing at Duke Ranches Ltd. Over the years I have studied pedigrees, conformations and mental ability of stallions to match to great English and Western mares.
People who know me well know that my favorite sayings are:
"The best thing for the inside of a man is the outside of a horse!"
"An hour in the saddle is an hour well spent."
