Wilderness Horseback Guide Training Course

Unique Skills

After completing our mentor wilderness guide training, you will have the practical skills, solution-orientated attitude and working knowledge to be a horseback guide in remote wilderness locations. We break down the complex question of how to become a guide by relying on tested, established procedures that have produced scores of competent, empowered guides who have gone on to realize their dreams of living and working in the wilderness. 

Our mentor wilderness guide training covers the broad range of skills that are required for entry level positions in the adventure tourism and guide outfitting industries, including careers at guest ranches, horseback riding stables, fishing lodges, back-country camping sites and more. This guide training is also excellent preparation for starting your own guide outfitting or adventure tourism company, as we expose you to many aspects of the guide outfitting industry. We also teach you the mindset and philosophy to be a mentor guide.

For both our 1 week and 2 week guide training, the first half of the course involves hands-on skills training at our ranch. The second half of your course will be spent in the mountainous back-country, where you will practice your skills and experience what it’s like to work as a horseback guide. Throughout this comprehensive program, you will have experienced wilderness mentor guides as your instructors.

Our horseback guide training is among the most challenging, fulfilling, and empowering experiences you’ll ever have. Join our supportive community as you train at our guest ranch before you ride into the mountains to hone your newly acquired skills with a back-country horse pack trip. The hands-on format of our outdoor guide training coupled with detailed written procedures is suitable for people with a range of outdoors and horse experience to complete beginners. From all aspects of horse-care to wilderness camp procedures and wildlife safety, we’ll teach you the broad set of skills that are essential for every horseback guide. Along the way, you will also learn how to solve problems and overcome challenges with a mindset of positivity, initiative, personal responsibility and contribution to the community allowing you to experience a transformational journey. These tangible and intangible skills will set you on your way to becoming a mentor to others. After completing our wilderness guide training, you’ll have the ability and confidence to lead guests into remote wilderness or embark on your own nature experiences.

Our horseback guide training covers the following topics and skills:

  • Western-style horseback riding

  • How to saddle, shoe and pack horses

  • Wilderness survival skills

  • Mountain horseback riding, with a focus on safe procedures for riding through rugged terrain

  • How to care for horses in remote wilderness settings

  • Wilderness camp and range management during horse pack trips

  • Wildlife safety, with a focus on bear safety

  • How to plan, prepare and lead horse pack trips

  • Local flora and fauna identification

  • Nature Connection, Conservation and Stewardship and Personal Development

  • Responsibility, initiative, contribution, connection and positivity

Who you will become

When you think about how to become a guide, horsemanship and wilderness skills are probably the first things that come to mind. Working as a horseback guide, however, is equal parts skill and character. Your ability to handle stressful situations in an unforgiving environment can quite literally be the difference between life and death. That’s why we integrate personal development and leadership training into every aspect of our guide training. From day one, our outdoor guide training challenges you to step up and take responsibility. And while we leave space for you to learn and make mistakes throughout your journey to becoming a horseback guide, we also hold you to a high level of accountability. The exponential learning curve and amount of personal development that comes with tackling new challenges every day and taking on responsibilities at a rapid pace is astounding. Graduates of our outdoor guide training emerge as empowered, capable leaders who take charge and step up to greater responsibilities, both in their guiding work and in their own lives.

We run one-week and two-week horseback guide training programs. Our two-week programs run in the spring and is ideal for students who want to stay on with us throughout the summer season as guides, or guide at another guest ranch. Our one-week programs run all summer, providing an educational opportunity and the chance to stay on with us to enhance your guide skills.

3 Steps to your unforgettable adventure

Talk with one of our mentor guides

You'll discuss the details & goals of your adventure

enjoy your wilderness adventure with us!

Leave the chaos of city life behind as you reconnect with nature and yourself

We offset guests' flight carbon production by investing in sustainable community forest management

5% of each trip supports conservation efforts in the Chilcotin Ark

Download our free pdf

5 Benefits of Nature that You Need now!

1. Reduces stress
2. Improves memory
3. Fights mental fatigue
4. Boosts creativity
5. Builds relationships