escape to a simpler time

Answer the call of the west at the ranch that Hollywood chooses for western backdrops.

 

If you’re a professional woman who sometimes struggles with the demands of leadership, and you’re eager to retreat from the daily grind and immerse yourself in a simpler time where values were clearer, this leadership retreat is for you.

Away from the hustle and bustle of your busy life, you’ll discover a safe and supportive space to contemplate a deeper level of self-awareness and self-acceptance, increasing your confidence and leadership skills. Let horses assist you in nurturing your connection to personal power based on competence, confidence and self-mastery rather than the overt and covert forms of dominance that commonly define the term.

Experience the stunning backdrops of Kananaskis Country, surrounded by  accomplished women who share your vision of contributing to teams though a more compassionate form of leadership, where safety for self and others is paramount.

Cowgirl Confident:

Leadership Lessons from the Corral

Why This Isn’t Just Another Leadership Course

 Leadership training teaches you how to communicate, how to manage, how to influence. But it rarely teaches you how to protect your time, energy, and self-worth.

It doesn’t prepare you for:

⚡ How to hold your ground when you’re the only woman in the room.

⚡ How to push back without being labeled “too much” or “too emotional.”

⚡ How to say no without fear of losing opportunities.

⚡ How to stand firm without sacrificing relationships.

 That’s where this program is different.

 This isn’t about fitting into leadership norms that weren’t designed for you.

It’s about expanding into the leader you were always meant to be.

This program empowers professional women embrace their whole selves while fostering authentic relationships and meaningful connections . Participants will develop relational intelligence and leadership skills that amplify their impact, enhance their credibility and confidence, and create lasing change in their personal and professional lives.

Horses can be an active partner in our learning process.  Masters of survival,  horses are prey animals who rely on their finely tuned senses to detect danger by reading the energy in every interaction. They reveal lies and incongruence, test boundaries, avoid bullies and walk all over doormats.

Here are the results you can expect:

Master Relational Intelligence

  • Challenge and reframe limiting beliefs about success and connection. 
  • Cultivate deeper listening, authentic communication, and trust-building skills.
  • Increase awareness of the energy you bring into a room.
  • Learn centering and grounding techniques to inspire harmony, cooperation and productivity.

Cultivate Compassionate and Authentic Leadership

  • Strengthen interpersonal and leadership skills through self-awareness and acceptance.
  •  Foster harmonious and fulfilling relationships that bridge personal and professional worlds.
  • Understand the essence of leadership through influence, not dominance.

Empower Personal Growth and Professional Impact

  • Rediscover joy and meaning in relationships, community, and leadership roles.
  • Recognize your existing skills and credibility so that you can call on them when required.
  •  Develop confidence to set boundaries, connect authentically, and lead with integrity.

Gather up at the Scott Ranch June 16-19, 2025

Follow the trail of cowboys, movie moguls and world leaders to Kananaskis Country in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies, where many a Western has been filmed and where Canada hosts world leaders at the G7/G8 Summit (2002, 2025).

At Cannes last year, the Scott Ranch shared the 2023 Global Production Award Location of the Year with two other southern Alberta ranches.  Movies filmed here include Academy Award winners Legends of the Fall and Unforgiven, as well as eighteen seasons of the Heartland, Canada’s longest running TV series.

Come ready to experience the peace and quiet of nature, forge long-lasting friendships and embrace leadership roles with creatures much bigger, faster and stronger than you that seek nothing more than creating peace and cooperation.

Click here to watch the first two minutes of this video, shot primarily at the Scott Ranch and featuring our host, John Scott. 

Your Facilitators

Susan’s Entrepreneurial Story

Susan Clarke, MA

Susan B. Clarke has been coaching leaders and facilitating teams and groups for over 20 years. Her journey into coaching began after recovering from a terminal cancer diagnosis by uniting diverse doctors and healers, whose collaborative approach profoundly shaped her life and work.

Susan is passionate about helping leaders communicate effectively, bridge differences, and navigate crisis, conflict, and change. As co-founder of Thrive Inc., a boutique team building, facilitation, coaching and consulting firm she created with her partner, CrisMarie Campbell, Susan focuses on empowering leaders, teams, and partnerships for a broad spectrum of clients including Microsoft,  the Gates Foundation, AT&T Wireless, and Johnson & Johnson. 

In addition to their work at Thrive Inc, Susan and CrisMarie are also authors of the business book: The Beauty of Conflict: Harnessing Your Team’s Competitive Advantage.

Jocelyn Hastie, CPA

Through finding her heart in horses and country living as an adult, Jocelyn discovered to her horror that her leadership style alternated between bullying and bribery.

As prey animals, horses rely on their finely tuned senses for safety. They read the energy in each interaction, revealing lies and incongruence. Horses test boundaries, walk on doormats and avoid bullies.

Once she could guide a horse at liberty (without a halter or  lead rope) in a 60-foot round pen with the wave of her arm, Jocelyn grasped the essence of leadership—becoming a leader that others CHOOSE to follow out of trust and mutual respect.

A leader worthy of being followed.

A life-long learner, Jocelyn has a unique combination of three decades of both finance supervisory/management in the energy industry (CPA 1991) and in breeding, training, and showing Peruvian Horses. She is a  Certified Equine Gestaltist (2012), a Distinguished Toastmaster (2019) and communications coach,  and holds a certificate of completion in the Foundations of Woman-Centered Coaching (2023).

Nicole St. Michel, MA

Nicole will be leading our morning group meditations and an evening healing circles. With a master’s in counselling psychology, she is registered as a Canadian Certified Counsellor.

Classically trained in India, Nicole has been teaching Yoga and Meditation for more than fifteen years and has had the privilege of learning alongside several great masters. A very creative person by nature, Nicole loves to channel her energy through music, art, and movement.

What’s included:

  • Individual attention with a maximum of 12 participants, often split into two groups.
  • Accommodation at either River Retreat Kananaskis or Serene Cowhorse Ranch.
  • All meals from arrival for afternoon snacks on Monday until lunch on Thursday served at River Ranch Kananaskis or Scott Ranch (breakfast, lunch, afternoon snacks, supper).
  • Transportation between River Ranch Kananaskis and Scott Ranch
  • Tour of the movie sites on Scott Ranch
  • Equine activities including experiencing herd dynamics, mindful grooming, and leadership (no riding)
  • Meditation and sound bathing
  • Private access to the River Ranch Kananaskis facilities
  • Cost is $4,497 double or $4,997 single plus 5% GST in Canadian funds. ($0.71 USD to $1.00 CAD at time of writing. Link to currency converter here).

What’s not included:

  • Airfare and transportation to Kananaskis (closest airport is Calgary, Alberta – YYC)
  • Transfers from Serene Cowhorse Ranch to River Retreat Kananaskis daily
  • Personal, medical, or trip cancellation insurance

We can assist you in arranging transfers from YYC to Kananaskis

Optional add-on menu

Contact us for details and pricing on these optional activities:

  • Photo shoot at movie set with horses
  • Massage
  • Reiki
  • Reflexology
  • Private equine sessions with Susan or Jocelyn
  • Additional days’ accommodation
  • Horseback riding at Homeplace Ranch (additional day required)

Our proposed agenda

Monday

  • Opening ceremony to create a safe container to allow deep connection and exploration.
  • Movie night

Tuesday

  • Morning group meditation led by Nicole to set the stage for the day.
  • Tour of Scott Ranch movie sets and study of herd dynamics
  • Mindful grooming and connection experience with the horses
  • Group debrief and discussion
  • Campfire with entertainment

Wednesday

  • Morning group meditation with Nicole
  • Leadership experience with the horses
  • Group debrief and discussion
  • Healing circle with Nicole

Thursday

  • Meals including breakfast and group or box lunch
  • Morning group meditation
  • Group debrief and closing ceremony 
  • Departure by 3:00

Payment details & refund policy

Click here to make your down payment of $500 to secure your spot and make your accommodation choices. This payment is fully refundable until March 15, 2025.

We offer discounts for early payments and cash payments.

Experience Kananaskis Country, where world leaders gather

One of the most beautiful places on earth, Kananaskis is the host site chosen for the 2002 G8 Summit,  and the upcoming 2025 G7 summit.

River Ranch Kananaskis

Home of all group events and most meals. 

  • Elegant, private ensuites with bidet toilets and heated bathroom floors provide a touch of luxury, ensuring every moment feels indulgent
  • Luxurious amenities including plush robes, cozy slippers, and spa-quality lotions, hand soaps, and shower gels invite you to unwind
  • Restful nights on a king-or queen-sized bed with a pillow-top mattress, wrapped in the finest linens, accompanied by a serene sitting area – perfect for unwinding after a day of adventure
  • Modern conveniences like USB outlets keep you connected during your stay
  • Enjoy shared spaces including the welcoming Broadbent Lounge and three expansive decks, offering spectacular views of the Highwood River and the majestic Canadian Rockies
  • Dine surrounded by nature in the Conservatory, featuring a charming wood-burning stove
  • Direct access to the Highwood River, renowned for its crystal-clear waters and some of Canada’s best fly fishing spots
  • Explore picturesque walking paths that lead to hidden seating areas, or lose yourself in a good read at the covered gazebo with a community library
  • Gather around the covered bar, communal seating area, and firepit for evenings beneath a star-filled sky, sharing stories with fellow travelers from around the globe

Serene Cowhorse Ranch

Additional accomodations. 

  • A variety of guest rooms available with king or queen beds.
  • Relax in the private hot tub or sauna, and enjoy the serene ambiance of our ranch with tranquil ponds and wildlife. 
  • You must have transportation as Serene Cowhorse Ranch is a thirty minute drive from River Retreat Kananaskis through some of the most scenic drives you’ll ever experience
  • You will have access to all shared spaces at River Retreat Kananaskis during free time.

Testimonials

“Just wrapping up a day at the retreat, The Cowgirl’s Code and just still purposing the day and how incredible the experience has been. Just the whole piece, the connection with other participants, the connection with the horses and the insights that we were able to get from discussing that amongst ourselves and our friends. I’m taking a piece away from that that was so much deeper than I had expected coming here.

I can’t recommend Jocelyn’s course enough, her retreat. If you get the opportunity, sign up and do it. ‘Cause it’s amazing and I think everyone has taken away something different, a little piece of their own and sharing that has been really been quite a magical day. “

“I think everybody came with a different life experience, a different journey, different things that they maybe are challenging currently and things they have overcome. So there was a lot of sharing of personal experiences but also a lot of learning through the horses of different skills that we can translate to work, to home, to all our relationships outside of the horse world, too, which is really fascinating. So, also strongly recommend it.”

“I have been amazed by all of it. It was integrated with experience with the horses, other women, being able to be vulnerable, understand my leadership style, being able to learn how to lean in and to lean on myself and the confidence of showing up for myself through this.

Jocelyn was able to create and guide me through a day that allowed reflection, insight, being courageous, and allowing myself to be vulnerable. I enjoyed the time with the horses, and Jocelyn’s guidance in seeing a bigger point of view in how I can show up in the world. It’s been a remarkable experience.”

What can women learn from horses?

Most of us believe that dogs teach us lessons about loyalty and unconditional love. My experience has been that horses put us in touch with our personal power – power based on competence, confidence and self-mastery rather than the overt and covert forms of dominance that commonly define the term.

Horses are clearly bigger and stronger than humans, but are willing to follow our lead if we prove ourselves to be someone who is calm, congruent and grounded. Experience the magic of earning your leadership stripes with these majestic creatures and your relationships will be changed forever.   

Acknowledge your emotions.

When a horse is spooked by a plastic bag, instinct tells them they are in grave danger whether or not it’s true. Once the “danger” has passed, horses don’t pretend that they weren’t scared. “Wow, that was really scary. I’m glad it’s over,” is much healthier than denying the emotions. We humans, on the other hand, look around to see if anyone else saw us trip on the sidewalk crack.

Get back to grazing.

Once the upset has passed, let it go and get back to what nourishes you. For horses, it’s grazing.

Hang with your friends.

Make time to be with those who nourish your soul. Talk things over with them to gain perspective. If you watch out for them while they nap, they’ll do the same for you. Share a laugh.

Be polite to your herdmates or you may get kicked or bitten.

Your behaviour has a big impact on your relationships. Being honest in your interactions diminishes resentment and lashing out.

Don't kick and bite if a dirty look will get your point across.

When a dominant horse is displeased with a lower-ranking member, “side-eye” is often just as effective in changing behaviour as a kick or bite. 

Kick up your heels when you're happy.

 Run around, toss your mane, buck, snort and fart. Well, maybe not the last one.

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