The Extreme Wylene Clinic, featuring American horse trainer Wylene Wilson, and co-hosted by two Cochrane horsewomen, will be held Aug. 16 to 19 at Two Jack Farm near Cremona.
Regardless of riding discipline and experience, participants can hone their horsemanship skills under Wilson’s expert guidance. She is known for problem-solving and successful outcomes with horses, even those deemed untrainable and unrideable.
Her approach is as much about riders as it is about horses.
“It’s teaching people to step out of fear and step into fun,” Wilson said from the back of a horse in Kalamazoo, Michigan this week.
“They can learn, laugh and let go. When a rider comes to me, I love to build their confidence and their courage, but more than that, I love for them to build their relationship with their horse through communication.”
She said ultimately, the goal is to have horses that want to be partners with their riders, “and to learn how to elevate their horsemanship and really step it up.”
“Their tools, their technique, and their timing are so important,” Wilson said.
As with all communication, honesty is key – which can be difficult.
“Sometimes my job is just matching the right horses with the right owners and sometimes I have to give bad news and tell owners that maybe it’s not the right fit for them,” she said.
But the main goal is to have fun as well, while staying safe. She refers to her clinics as “teaching riders to do dangerous things safely” and said she adapts her programs around what individual horses and owners need.
“I really want people to laugh and love and have fun while riding their horses,” she said.
“If anybody isn’t smiling by the end of the weekend, they’re just a stick in the mud because we have a good time – we really do.”
Wilson was recently in Alberta at the 2023 Horse Expo in Red Deer, demonstrating her skills in the Colt Starting Competition, where she won the People’s Choice Award.
She grew up in Arizona, riding and competing. Now based in Texas, she has been a professional horse trainer for over 20 years.
According to the event organizers, it was Wilson’s fearless, daredevil style and effervescent personality that garnered her the name “Extreme Wylene.” The "extreme" comes from the change riders and horses make under Wilson’s guidance.
Wilson has competed in rodeo circuits, Extreme Cowboy races, and Extreme Mustang Makeovers. She has completed 14 Extreme Mustang Makeovers, capturing three championship titles and many top finalist positions, and continues to be involved as a judge.
While she still competes, she spends most of her time travelling, teaching confidence-building skills, and hosting horsemanship clinics using her own unique approach.
Wilson has been featured in film productions such as Wild Horse, Wild Ride and NatGeo Wilds Mustang Millionaire series, showcasing her training style.
Wild Horse, Wild Ride is available on YouTube.
Pre-registration for the Aug. 16 to 19 clinic is required. Rider fees start at $750, and auditor fees are $50 per day. For more information, contact clinic hosts Sharon Crawford at 403-837-6205 or [email protected] and Susan Bercha at 403-993-6021 or [email protected].
