Becoming Cowgirl Confident
A four-day on-ranch retreat
Cowgirl confidence is a balance of tenderness & toughness, rooted in truth and delivered with tact.
It’s available to everyone, even if you never touch a horse or buy the boots.
You’re a professional woman who sometimes struggles with the demands of leadership, and is eager to retreat from the daily grind to contemplate a style of leadership that feels congruent with who you want to be in the world. We’re here 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 & self-acceptance. Let majestic 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 Range
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 to:
Push back without being labeled “too much” or “too emotional.”
Say no without fear of losing opportunities.
Stand firm without sacrificing relationships.
Hold your ground when you’re the only woman in the room.
That’s where this program is different.
It’s about expanding into the leader you were always meant to be.
This program empowers professional women to embrace their whole selves while fostering authentic relationships and meaningful connections.
For too long, leadership has been about adapting. Adapting to expectations. Adapting to environments. Adapting to systems that weren’t built with women in mind.
But true leadership isn’t about adapting. It’s about defining. Defining who you are and how you show up.
Here are the results you can expect:
Master Relational Intelligence
Cultivate Compassionate and Authentic Leadership
Empower Personal Growth and Professional Impact
Gather up at the Cowhorse Ranch May 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).
Come ready to experience the peace and quiet of nature, forge long-lasting friendships and embrace leadership roles with bigger, faster and stronger creatures who seek nothing more than creating peace and cooperation.
Your Facilitators
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.
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
What’s not included
We can assist you in arranging transfers from YYC to Kananaskis
Our proposed agenda
Friday
Opening ceremony to create a safe container to allow deep connection and exploration.
Arrive between 1:00 and 5:00 PM.
Meet the horses and tour Cowhorse Ranch
Saturday
Morning group meditation led by Nicole to set the stage for the day.
Mindful grooming and connection experience with the horses
Group debrief and discussion
Sunday
Morning group meditation with Nicole
Leadership experience with the horses
Group debrief and discussion
Healing circle with Nicole
Monday
Morning group meditation circle with Nicole
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 refundable until April 15, 2025.
Select your room when full payment is received. Deluxe rooms $3,497, standard or double occupancy $2,997. Book early for your choice of rooms.
Earlybird Bonus: Pay your deposit before April 7 to attend Jocelyn’s 6 week online program Drawing & Defending Unapologetic Open-hearted Boundaries beginning April 15 for FREE (priced at $497).
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.
Two private deluxe rooms with king beds, a shared loft room with queen beds, queen murphy bed in office, double pullout couch in media room.
Relax in the private hot tub or sauna, and enjoy the serene ambiance of the ranch with its tranquil ponds and wildlife.
You will have access to all shared spaces at River Retreat Kananaskis during free time.
PB (Counseling Therapist)
I have been amazed by it all.
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.
JB (MBA, Author)
How incredible the experience has been! 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.
SM (MD)
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.
Embracing personal power
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.
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.
Kick up your heels when you're happy
Run around, toss your mane, buck, snort and fart. Well, maybe not the last one.
Get back to grazing
Once the upset has passed, let it go and get back to what nourishes you. For horses, it’s grazing.
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
Run around, toss your mane, buck, snort and fart. Well, maybe not the last one.
Click here for Faq's
What can women learn from horses?
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.
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