Growing up in Merritt and taking part in high school rodeo throughout his time at MSS, Mike Gill couldn’t imagine starting each season without first attending a rodeo school somewhere.
“No matter what, I always refreshed,” he said. “You could call it a spring tune-up.”
With that in mind, Gill is hosting a two-day rodeo school of his own the first weekend of April to help the next generation of young cowboys and cowgirls learn the ropes and get up to speed, so to speak. The school will be held at the rodeo grounds in Collettville.
“It’s actually for boys and girls between the ages of eight and 15 who want to compete in Little Britches and eventually high school rodeos,” Gill said.
“At the school in April, I’ll be focusing on two events — steer riding and chute dogging. The first one, boys and girls can do. The dogging is just for the guys.
“It’ll be two full days of good teaching and hopefully a whole bunch of inspiration.”
Gill has a wealth of experience to draw on. Back in the day, he was a four-time qualifier to both the Canadian High School Finals Rodeo and to the National High School Finals Rodeo (which is held in the States).
Gill has also been a qualifier to the Canadian College National Finals and to the Canadian Finals Rodeo. In 2012, he was the British Columbia Rodeo Asociation’s season leader in bullriding.
Gill continues to compete when he has time.
“When I don’t have a Little Britches Rodeo to go to with my step-daughter (Ande Walker), I’ll go to a BCRA rodeo. I try to get to 10 to 12 a year,” he said.
Gill is welcoming both beginners and experienced rodeo participants to his April school.
“I have a few tools and mechanical devices, like a steer saver and a drop barrel, that really help the youngsters who are just getting started,” Gill said. “I’m hoping for at least 20 kids each day.”
Word is getting around about Gill’s school, and he’s already received registrations and expressions of interest from Kamloops, Williams Lake and as far away as Vancouver Island.
“It’s helpful for the parents as well,” Gill said, “especially those that don’t have a rodeo background. They’re more than welcome to attend, watch, listen and learn.”
For more information about the rodeo school in April, contact Mike at 250-315-9625, April Schneider at 250-280-1728 or email [email protected].