Mike began his guiding career at the age of 14, working for  Rocky Mountain Retreat Ltd., at Heritage Ranch in Red Deer, leading into guiding at Wilderness Village and Terratima Lodge in Rocky Mountain House. He worked for a bit at the Rocky Mountain Retreat base camp in the Clearwater. He married, and began raising a family, and gradually was in a position to reconnect with his love of trail riding and guiding. 

 

He has successfully guided many trips through the years for family, friends, and friends-of-friends. He also has a way of picking up riders in camp who need a guide, as his trail fluency and backcountry skills are quite trustworthy. Because he began his career working with the general public, he has grown an innate sense of “safety first”, which guides all of his trail decisions. He has a knack for knowing the lay of the land, and is a lover of maps (paper or GPS) and all things geography.  

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Mike's wife Sheri, although not born a horsewoman, has learned through the years of traveling the trails.  She enjoys camp cooking and being in the great outdoors. She enjoys her career as an elementary school teacher, and has recently earned her master’s degree in education. 

 

Our adult children have become great hands on the trail as well, with our son working at summer camp guiding trail rides, wrangling and is certified in equine first aid, wilderness first aid and is an Outdoor Council of Canada Level 1 Field Leader. Our daughter enjoys coaching young and beginning riders (and her parents), as well as training young horses, troubleshooting with problem stock and guiding as well. We enjoy their assistance on the trail.

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Mike and Sheri began Horseback Adventure Trails (or HAT) Outfitting to share their expertise and guide you to breathtaking sites on horseback!