2026 Biography of Demonstrators

 Shelby Ketcham is the owner and founder of SJR Horsemanship; her facility is based out of Kuna Idaho. She trains horses, teaches clinics and also a runs lesson program for kids and adults. She strives to develop a strong and trusting relationship between horse and rider, both on the ground and under saddle.  A few examples of what she teaches are liberty work, trick training, groundwork, trail, working equitation and horsemanship for all levels and disciplines. She has been competing in many disciplines with different breeds for over a decade including many high placing’s in Extreme Mustang Makeover Competitions. She won the 2021 Impact of the Horse Competition held in Heber City, Utah and was the Adult Champion of the Idaho Mustang Mania Open Show in 2021, 2022, and 2024.  She also competes in the Idaho State Horse Association and competes in all classes and disciplines! Shelby is a Board of Director on the Idaho Horse Council, Western Riding Club and the Idaho State Horse Association as well as a member of the Idaho Horse   Board. 

  Ryan was born and raised in Rocky Mountain House Alberta and continues to call this community home. He has spent the last 30 years focusing on his career as a professional colt starter, with his first pay cheque being earned at the age of 12. Ryan believes that as horsemen, we never stop learning, and can often be heard saying “when I know better, I do better.” After 30 years in the colt starting business, Ryan has developed a program that is proven to provide horses the foundation that is required to produce confident and willing equine partners, regardless of discipline. Though Ryan’s passion is young horses, he will often have horses in training for “problem solving” and fine tuning.   Ryan’s program focuses on teaching young horses trust, respect and work ethic, that follows them throughout their careers. He accomplishes this by building confidence and avoiding situations that cause fear and trauma. “If you don’t get one scared, you’ll never have a fear response to overcome.” A confident foundation results in a versatile and usable horse. Ryan believes that confidence and versatility is extremely important for the health, wellbeing, mind and future of all horses, but especially performance horses “even our performance horses are all around horses, we use them for everything.” When not working with client horses, giving lessons or offering clinics, Ryan spends his time on the back of one of the families’ personal horses, either ranch rodeoing, riding in the foothills of Alberta, or fine tuning his wife and kids rodeo horses. If you can’t find him in the arena, mountains or pasture, he is likely hauling someone somewhere for lessons, clinics or rodeos. Ryan is a huge supporter of his wife and kids and spends a great deal of time making sure their horses are in top performance condition year-round.     “If you miss the beginning, the basics, then you are destined to go back and visit the beginning” – Buck Brannaman 

 I was born and raised in Star Valley Wyoming where my family raised

cattle, sheep, and horses. As early as 4 years old I was riding horses with my Dad

and siblings working cattle and pleasure riding. My dad was a close student of Ray

Hunt in the 80s and 90s; he used the techniques he learned from Ray to start colts

to be good using horses and trained all manner of performance horses from barrels

to cutting. I was fortunate enough to learn everything I could from my dad on

being a true horseman; to work with the horse and not against and apply those

ideals in my everyday life.

After serving an LDS mission and marrying, Cindy Scott of Rigby Idaho,

the love of my life, I was a hungry young adult putting us through college. I

decided to start colts for the public for my income. Riding horses for the public I

rode a lot of different breeds and conformations where it quickly became apparent

how much proper fitting saddles and tack matters. This is when I built my first

saddle on a wade tree with the features of a performance saddle. When my clients

came to ride their horses I had started most would ride my saddle and commission

me to build them one just like it. This is when Diamond Ranch Saddlery was born.

My family livestock brand is a diamond with a question mark in the middle I

have been fortunate enough to have this brand be passed down through 4

generations to me. Every animal that packs the brand has to meet a certain criteria

and I can think of no better way than to stamp my saddle with the same brand.

They too are held to the same high standard. As the saddle shop grew so did our

family, and 2 sweet children joined us on our journey. Between the saddles,

children, and horse breeding program; I strive to make every saddle better than the

last and every horse more broke than the last to represent the brand they all carry.

Born and raised in Stevensville, Montana, Mike Price has spent his life surrounded by the beauty of the American West. After moving to Whitehall at age 20, he found his true home where he, along with his wife Kristy and their two sons, Gabe and Trent, train and ride mules daily.

Mike’s passion for training animals ignited at the young age of seven when he trained his first donkey. This early experience fueled a lifelong dedication to equine training, leading him to learn from several phenomenal trainers and continually seek knowledge through clinics.

For the past 20 years, Mike has been training mules for the public, sharing his expertise and love for these incredible animals. His family enjoys competing in shows and participating in branding events each spring. Above all, they cherish their time spent packing and trail riding, creating lasting memories in the great outdoors.

Mike is thrilled to return to the expo, where he looks forward to sharing his experiences, meeting fellow enthusiasts, and helping others deepen their connection with their mules.

  Lucia Lhotak is professional horsewoman, training for 15years in Washington and recently moved to South Dakota. She has been riding and showing horses for over 25years in eventing, dressage, reined cowhorse, and ranch riding. She specializes in colt starting, ranch riding and reining, emphasizing body mechanics of how a horse balances and travels, while promoting mental soundness of natural horsemanship combined with the lateral work and centered balance learned from classical riding. Her goal with each horse is to bring them to their highest level without losing integrity in her horsemanship. She strives for longevity in a horses career. Her skills in teaching fundamental groundwork become perquisites to support her first rides on colts leading her success in her young horse development. Her program represents all classes of horses and disciplines in performance horses and your everyday family recreational horse.    Lucia's has competed in 13 Colt Starting Challenge USA competitions, being the first woman to compete in National Finals in Las Vegas during the NFR. Today Lucia trains and competes in reining and ranch versatility. 

  Chloe Russell-Evans grew up riding at both dressage and western barns in Arizona and Texas, where a passion for horses became the foundation of her journey. She pursued Equine Studies, deepening her expertise in equine nutrition, training, and instruction. As a PATH-certified instructor, Chloe has served in various capacities, including head instructor, equine manager, and mentor to aspiring instructors. Over time, her focus shifted from traditional therapeutic riding to competitive riding, equine-assisted learning, and training horses, reflecting her evolving interests. Currently, Chloe is an active 4H leader, serves on the county horse council, and operates her own business CARE Equine and Ag,  dedicated to guiding the next generation of equestrians and advancing equine education.  

  A second-generation farrier, I grew up riding shotgun to shoeing appointments with my dad — vowing the whole time that I’d never be a horseshoer. Twenty-one years later, here I am, still under horses and still wondering how he managed to trick me into loving it.  Over two decades, I’ve built a career rooted in soundness, practicality, and pride in craftsmanship. I’ve shod horses competing at national-level events and now run a practice focused primarily on performance horses — from barrel racers to ropers to reiners — with a special emphasis on corrective shoeing and keeping hardworking horses at the top of their game.  I’m an Idaho native (with a memorable stint in Big Piney, Wyoming), a husband of 20 years, dad to four kids, and a very proud grandpa. Somewhere along the way, hoof care stopped being just a trade and became a part of who I am — and I’m grateful for every horse, client, and challenge that’s shaped that journey. 

 I was born and raised on a family ranch. My experience started with ranching, 4h, rodeo queen and rodeo.  I have never outgrown the “pony stage”. No matter where life takes me, the cowboy and ranch lifestyle will always be where my heart truly lives.

In 2003 I turned my passion into a profession and became certified in Equine Massage Therapy! Later that year, I completed and received my Certificate of Massage Therapy for the 2 legged counterparts!  

After school my  journey began and the PASSION for helping others and animals live pain free started 

Over the last 2 decades my thirst for knowledge and genuine love for my craft for both humans and animals has given me a comprehensive palette of healing modalities with Craniosacral Therapy, Lymph Drainage, Reiki, Energy Work, Nutritional Expertise, Iridology, Accupressure and Equine Chiropractic.

I have had the privilege of being equipped with a great assortment of a  toolbox to assist me, with Medical Thermal Imaging, PEMF Therapy, Microcurrent Therapy, Laser Therapy, Essential Oils and Benafab Affiliate. All of these accelerate the body healing process, but can NEVER take place of manual therapy!!

It has been a joy, teaching basic massage classes not only locally but traveling and teaching. I have added energy healing for animals to my class schedule and am working on next fall getting a craniosacral for animals class started! 

While my main work consists of humans and horses. My healing touch has blessed a multitude of Dogs, Cows, Goats, Pigs, Camels, and Cats. 

This journey is not just a profession, its an unwavering commitment to fostering health and harmony, one being at a time!