Avalon Equine

10/20/2025

06/05/2022

Spots still available for full camp or single day clinics! Dalton Kraft Nikki Nickolson

04/05/2022

How cool is this addition to our rodeo camp this year with focus on the MENTAL ASPECT of our sport!

Matt Wong has spent the last 14 years using his background in hockey to develop athletes to the highest level. Matt has had a lengthy career in Junior Hockey spanning over 10 years split between the AJHL, and Western Hockey League. In 2013, Matt was on the coaching staff that led the Drumheller Dragons to their only South Division title, and league championship appearance. Matt joined the Brooks Bandits in the summer of 2014, and was fortunate to capture 3 AJHL League Championships, 1 Western Canada Cup Championship, and 1 National Junior A Championship. His goalies were often recognized on Provincial, Regional, and National levels. After capturing the National Junior A Championship in 2019, Matt joined the Medicine Hat Tigers where he has worked closely with NHL prospects Mads Sogaard (Ottawa Senators) and Garin Bjorklund (Washington Capitals). Matt’s experience in high performance/high pressure situations will be of value to our students during the week!

“I have a passion for helping kids reach their full potential. I feel my experience at multiple national events is something they can relate to, and use to be successful at their own events. TOGETHER WE WILL SUCCEED!!!”
In his spare time, Matt enjoys riding his horse and is even getting into roping himself too. We are truly so fortunate to have Matt as part of our camp this year to share his extensive background in coaching elite athletes with specific focus on the mental aspects of our sport.

03/25/2022

Dalton Kraft
Despite his wife being one of the main camp coordinators, he’s not a shoe in. He still would be a top pick to have as an instructor due to his vast background and knowledge in everything rodeo. From saddle bronc, to tie down roping and team roping, Dalton has competed and won several titles at the professional level. In his off season he has enjoyed being head coach of his daughters Wildcats Peewee hockey team for 2 seasons and assistant coach for his sons Bulldogs hockey team for the past 5 years.

-1997 & 1999 Alberta High School Rodeo Association Team Roping Champion.
-1999 Canadian High School Rodeo Saddle Bronc Champion.
-Canadian Finals Rodeo Saddle Bronc Qualifier 2000 & 2001.
-2001 Calgary Stampede Champion - Novice Saddle Bronc.
Multiple time Canadian Cowboys Association & Chinook Rodeo Association Finals qualifier in team roping, Tie Down Roping and Saddle Bronc.
Multiple time top 15 finishes in Canadian Professional Rodeo Association in Saddle Bronc, Team Roping and Tie Down Roping.

We can even add that Dalton gave Jared a run for his money with the fun factor last year and we are really looking forward to what shenanigans Dalton and Jared get up to again this year 😉

03/25/2022

New instructor this year (and not even by default because his wife helps to organize), his recent titles speak for themselves. Check out this list of accomplishments:

2021 CCA Champion Header
2021 World Series Finale #13 Reserve Champion Header
2022 Tucson PRCA round two winner
Along with numerous jackpot and rodeo wins.

Travis has a gift for seeing things in horses that can often be missed. Combine this with his talent, horsemanship and enjoyment of teaching others and we've got ourselves an ideal instructor for summer camp.

We are super excited to have Travis with us this year for our Rodeo Camp!

03/25/2022

Jared Pancoast

We are happy to welcome back Jared Pancoast who has been an instructor and supporter from the beginning. Jared is always eager to teach and has a gift of making things fun.

Just a few of his accomplishments:
Chinook Rodeo Association Champion & Foothills Cowboys Association Champion.
- World Series of Team Roping Finals money earner both heading and heeling.
-Canadian Cowboys Association Finals Qualifier.

We are truly fortunate to have Jared at our camp again this year!

03/25/2022

How exciting it this new instructor announcement- Vanessa Kraft!

Vanessa has always had a love for horses, since she was a small girl growing up on her family ranch. She was horse crazy, who would often be found singing to her horses by the barn or riding her horse ba****ck in the field. When she was 5 she started trick-riding and at age 6, began her professional career trick riding at rodeos all over North America. Over the years she became known for signature tricks such as the stein layout, pike vault and very difficult Cordova Back bend. She hung up her trick riding saddle after the 2008 CFR, after 14 years of professional trick riding.
Now married with a family of 5, she keeps busy chasing after her 3 young children, and their dad down the rodeo trail. Being a pick up man and stock contractor for the Calgary stampede. She still rides horses everyday doing everything from, training colts, ranch work, barrel racing, roping events, and a cow-horse enthusiast. She loves learning everything horsemanship. She believes, trick riding creates a truly unique bond with your horse, giving them your trust and confidence.

We are so excited to add Vanessa to our stellar line up of instructors!

03/23/2022

Here are the ‘master minds’ behind the scenes organizing the camp and are also excited to be instructors again.

Nikki Nickolson
Nikki is co-facilitator of Avalon Equine. In addition to holding a diploma in Child and Youth Care Counselling where she has served as an asset to both school and community settings in the forms of mental health facilitation and behavior management, Nikki has spent the majority of her life dedicating it to horses. She holds a strong knowledge for horsemanship and enjoys teaching it and it’s benefits to nothers. She lives by the rule of being a “lifetime student”, knowing that horses and humans alike are always teaching and encouraging us to become better versions of ourselves.
- Multiple amateur rodeo association finalist.
- Co-producer of Border City Performance Horse Sale.
- Irvine School Equestrian Program Volunteer- has worked with students on horsemanship, equine nutrition, horse anatomy, introduction to bitting / tack function.

&

Linda Kraft
Linda graduated from the University of Alberta Canada in addition to being the school’s Athletic Director. She teaches Physical Education and Health Studies to junior high students in addition to facilitating the schools Equestrian riding program and recently an Equine Interaction program for Junior High Students. Linda serves as a board member on the Irvine and District Agricultural Society where her vision is to see an indoor riding facility built next to the school, allowing for greater accessibility for students to be able to participate in equine assisted learning throughout the school day. Linda is the owner/operator of ‘Avalon Equine’, and her main area of expertise is in supporting pre-teens’ and teens’ self esteem by focusing on confidence building, resiliency, self concept, self awareness and how to express and manage emotions effectively.

03/23/2022

New instructor highlight- Dustin Grant! We had Dustin lined up last year however due to an injury, he wasn’t able to join us. We are excited to welcome him back this year (minus any injuries 😉).

When Dustin isn’t busy ranching, farming, or running his kids to extracurricular activities, you’ll find him on the back of a horse. His talents and passions led him to become knowledgeable in horsemanship in multiple disciplines.

A short list of his accomplishments include:
Agribition Ranch Horse Champion x2
Canada’s Greatest Cowhorse- Top 5
Super Ranch Horse Champion
SCHA money earner
SRCHA money earner
As well as a judge for multiple cow horse events.

We are grateful Dustin jumped on board with us as a guest instructor to build on and teach working cow horse skills.