Professional Colt Starting and Horse Training
About Jess:
Jesse Dyck is a second generation horseman. He grew up around horses and had a lot of interest in training from a young age.
“Dad was a professional farrier for 15 years. He was raised poor, his parents couldn’t afford horses so he went to farriers collage in the 70’s with the goal that he could earn a wage in the horse industry and pay for his own horses. He enjoyed training horses and calf roping. However, after years of shoeing horses, back problems forced him to phase out of the shoeing business and he started farming. Times were tough trying to start a farm from nothing and raise a family and to top it off, interest rates were very high at the time. Dad couldn’t afford to keep the horses so he ended up selling them all when us kids started showing up.
From as early as I can remember, I always wanted to be around horses. I pestered Dad long enough that he promised me that if I helped him around the farm that he would buy me a pony. I worked hard all that summer with that goal in mind, I did everything I could to help out. I was so excited the day we went to the local sale barn and bought a couple ponies. I still laugh cause we didn’t even have a horse trailer so we hauled our new ponies home in Dads pig bus.
Those ponies were terrible and had all kinds of bad habits but I thought I was on top of the world and I sure learned a lot riding those spoiled little critters. I was never totally satisfied just riding, I wanted to learn how to train, even if it was just trying to get a horse to pivot on a certain foot or side pass.”
1997
2007
Jess started his first colt with the help of his dad, at 10 years of age. In 1997 his dad, purchased 7 colts which they broke for resale.
“I always wanted to ride better horses but Dad couldn’t afford them so that forced me to try to learn how to make them. I was totally obsessed with learning to train horses. I’d watch any horse training video or read any article I could get my hands on then go out and try to figure it out. I learned a lot of things the hard way through trial and error but it really made me think about what I was doing and I think that helped me learn how to problem solve.”
Over the next few years Jess spent a lot of time in the saddle and in his late teens started taking a small number of outside horses in for training.
Then in 2006 a disease ripped through the family hog farm that was already struggling financially. The extremely high loses was a devastating blow and the family was faced with bankruptcy.
“We all went out and got outside jobs to try to save the farm. God really had His Hand in it all. When He closed that door, He opened a better one.”
In 2007, Jess hung out his shingle as a colt starter and the Dyck family started Lonesum D Ranch, which soon became a full time horse training program.
”Against all odds, we started a new business in the midst of a financial crisis which miraculously took off, I couldn’t believe it! It was hard work but I enjoyed it.”
In 2008 Jess was invited to join Martin Black and his crew to start over 70 head of colts at the Rocking G Ranch in Northern Alberta. This event which became a pivotal point in Jess’s horse training career was featured in an article of the “Western Horseman” magazine.
It was during this time that Jess was introduced to Martin Black and a totally different way of starting horses.
“That was such a great experience for me. It completely revolutionized the way I thought about horse training. What Martin was doing worked on every horse.”
After returning home Jess put into practice what he learned from the experience and over next several years developed his own program.
In 2009, Jess was reserve champion in the 60 day colt starting challenge and won it the following 3 years in a row. He has shown and earned money in reining, ranch horse events as well as the 2011 No Boundaries Equine Challenge Open Champion.
2009
2012
Jesse now has over 25 years working with horses and 15 years of professional experience starting hundreds of colts for a wide variety of events and disciplines.
In 2019, Jess and Jennette, in partnership with Jess’s brother Joel, purchased a ranch in the Interlake area of MB and started 2J Ranch, where they currently run a commercial cow calf operation and continue to raise train and sell horses.
At 2J, horses are allowed to be horses and are ridden outside the arena on the ranch as much as possible.
“‘I’m a big believer in giving horses a job to do, even if that means making a job for the horse. I feel horses learn quicker and are more content during the training if they can see some purpose in what we are doing. I might follow some cows up to water on a real green colt, we’re not actually doing a job but the colt doesn’t know that and he’s learning by it ”
For information on Jess’s horse training ideas, check out the articles page
Jess is a student of the art of the vaquero bridling techniques and enjoys ranch roping.
Rates: $1,250 + GST training + $250 feed and board per month.
Jess only takes a LIMITED number of horses per year.
For availability, CALL or TEXT NOW @ 204-302-1441
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Confidence
It all begins with building confidence and understanding by recognizing and rewarding the smallest try and making each first experience a good one.
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Connection
A strong connection is developed by building upon a solid foundation of clear, consistent communication. With repetition over time the horse develops a clear understanding what is expected.
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Collection
Physical collection comes naturally when mental collection is achieved. The horse with no agenda will not get ahead of you, nor behind you but will be ready, waiting, and will be mentally and physically prepared.
