Meet Our Cayuses

Most of our horses are from Mt Currie or the Lil’wat Nation, where they spent their early years running free learning the ways of the British Columbia wilderness. They go by several names, Lil’wat Range Horses, Mt Currie Cayuse, or Lil’wat Cayuse. We just call them our Mt Currie boys.

We usually get our horses when they are between two and three years old, and it takes us about two to three years to train them. We have over 35 trained cayuses that work between our locations, each with their own distinct personality. To ensure an enjoyable experience for all, we match the guest’s riding ability and level of experience to the spirit and character of the horse. I hope you enjoy learning a bit about each of our boys, (that’s right there are no mares) because they are indeed our family.

Working Herd

A brown horse with a dark mane standing outdoors on a dirt ground with trees and mountains in the background, equipped with a saddle and bridle.

  • genuinely graceful mix, Ty is one of our smoothest horses. Long-legged and gaited, Ty is a smooth ride at any gait, and this smoothness is appreciated by all that ride him. Specializing in our ranch rides, you often find Ty at full tilt in the field.

Close-up of a brown horse's face with dark eyes, standing outdoors with trees and a fence in the background.

  • Pan is one of our newest entrants into the string and is being ridden predominantly by our wranglers to finalize his training. Curious and affectionate, Pan is a real pet, and is regularly the first to come investigate. When not working, Pan is often seen prancing around in the field, showing off his good looks!

Close-up of a brown horse with a white blaze on its face, standing near a tree with green leaves.

  • Trained as a jumping horse in his earlier years, Whiskey came to the ranch when he was 8, and quickly became a rock-solid choice for backcountry riding. Since then, he has carried many kids to all corners of our tenure, and is our most requested horse for returning guests.

Close-up of a brown horse with a white stripe on its head, eating hay outdoors with green trees and a fence in the background.

  • Rufio is one of two working paints that we have at the ranch and comes from a distinct line in the Mt. Currie herd. Firey at first, Rufio has since settled right down and become an exceptionally forward-going lead horse for our wranglers. What he lacks in stature, he more than makes up for in personality.

A close-up of a black horse with a white star-shaped mark on its forehead, standing outdoors on dirt and straw with a wooden fence and green trees in the background.

  • Lonesome is a cornerstone of our mountain string. Wide-set, strong and independent, Lonesome is everything you want from a mountain horse. Often found alongside his brother Rocky, Lonesome is no stranger to our backcountry trails, truly knowing them like the back of his hoof!

Close-up of a chestnut horse with a white blaze on its face, standing on a dirt paddock with green trees and mountains in the background.

  • Pepper by name, pepper by nature, this horse has got some fire. Perfect for our intermediate and advanced guests, Pepper is as forward-going and responsive as it gets. Happy to lead or follow, he promises a wonderful experience for those looking for an exciting ride.

A brown horse with a blue halter standing next to a wooden fence in a lush green forest.

  • Mickey is one of our Mt. Currie warmbloods. Noted for his majestic mane, Mickey is great for all riding abilities and is a fan favourite amongst our regular guests. Mickey can often be found bossing the other horses around with his best buddy, Gus.

Close-up of a horse with a pink halter, standing outdoors on hay with trees, mountains, and a clear blue sky in the background.

  • Reno is our only pure Quarter-horse at the ranch and is regularly requested by return guests, due to his smoothness and responsiveness. His buckskin coat means he changes colour with the seasons, making him a unique horse in the herd.

A brown horse with a saddle and bridle tied to a tree in a forest.

  • One of the main lead horses at the ranch, Captain has spent the 3 years since finishing his training leading a large number of our overnight trips. The distinctive star on his face is the shape of the Calgary Flames logo, but you don’t have to be a fan to enjoy what this horse has to offer!

Two horses standing on a gravel path near a wooden fence, with trees and electrical wires in the background.

  • Max ‘the Couch’ is one of our veteran horses, and is credited with helping to train most of the herd as it now stands. The ultimate ‘uncle horse’, Max has spent his years on the trail carrying even the most unwilling Dads, husbands and boyfriends, quickly converting them into lifelong horse lovers.

Close-up of a brown horse with a white mark on its forehead, outdoors with trees and a building in the background.

  • Harking back to the era of the Morgan gene pool in the Mt. Currie herd, Cliff is a doppelganger of Max. Cliff’s curious attitude and love of chin scratches mean he is warming up to people well, and his training has progressed well in the later stages of the season. It won’t be long before he is with his buddies on the trail.

Close-up of a brown horse standing in a muddy paddock with trees and mountains in the background.

  • Logan is one of our specialist ranch horses, specializing in the 1 and 2-hour rides. His calm nature and laid-back attitude make him perfect for someone who is riding for the first time. His dun colouring stands out and makes for a great horse for photos.

Close-up of a white and gray speckled horse with dark ears standing outdoors on grass, with trees and mountains in the background.

  • The other of our two ‘Dalmatians’, Dakota is the older brother to Caddy. Originally the pack horse to Caddy before coming to the ranch, Dakota has seen it all and is no stranger to carrying guests of all abilities on our wide range of trails.

Close-up of a chestnut horse with a white stripe on its face standing outdoors on a farm with mountains and trees in the background.

  • Buster was brought to the ranch in 2020 and was quickly admired by all for his good looks. He settled right into mountain horse life, being described by several guests as ‘the perfect gentleman’. This calm and gentle giant is a welcome companion for those seeking a backcountry adventure.

Close-up of a black horse's head in a fenced outdoor area with trees and a red barn in the background.

  • Bevis is a purebred Canadian, a breed of horse that the RCMP gifted to Queen Elizabeth II in 2012, and was known to be one of her favourite horses. Bevis follows suit, blowing guests away with his responsiveness and forward-going attitude. Naturally collected, he is a photogenic old soul and is living his golden years at our ranch.

A brown horse with a black mane, equipped with a saddle and a green halter, standing on dirt ground in a fenced outdoor area with trees and mountains in the background.

  • Billy is the youngest of our 4-year-old, and could not even be touched when we first got him. With a lot of patience and care, he is now being handled regularly and can be packed and saddled without issue. Once Billy comes around to his training, he will certainly be an all-star in the herd.

Close-up of a brown horse with a dark mane standing in an outdoor enclosure with trees and fencing in the background.

  • Gus ‘the Bus’ is one of our best ‘uncle’ horses, used to train our young Mt. Currie boys. The calm and relaxed nature that makes him so adept at helping to train the young horses transfers to the trail as well, where he is perfect for the nervous or first-time rider.

A brown horse with a red halter and riding saddle standing on a dirt surface in a fenced outdoor area with mountains in the background.

  • Cute as a Biscuit, and as round as one, Biscuit is certainly quite the character. One of our shorter horses, Biscuit is built for mountain travel, with built-in All Wheel Drive courtesy of a truly square stature. His feisty personality makes him an excellent ride both in the mountains and at the ranch, so don’t let his short size fool you!

A close-up of a brown horse with a black mane wearing a white halter, standing outdoors near a wooden fence with trees and mountains in the background.

  • Another of our Mt. Currie boys, Bingo is one of our most recent introductions to our guest horse string. Bingo is known for exhibiting ‘flehmen’, lifting his upper lip to get a good smell of the tasty treat being offered to him.

Close-up of a brown and white horse with a saddle, standing on grassy field with mountains and trees in the background under a clear blue sky.

  • The second of our two working paints, Moose is truly a striking horse. Tall and long-legged, he is shaping up to be one of the largest horses at the ranch.

    Coming from running quarter-horse stock in the Mt. Currie herd, Moose is sure to be a guest favourite once he has finished his training.

Close-up of a black horse with a white star on its forehead, outdoors with green trees in the background.

  • Pat, another of our up-and-comers, is progressing well with his training and is currently being ridden by our wranglers to finalize his progression. Pat is a gentle giant on the ground and is becoming calmer with every ride, but also has some pep in his step once the pace picks up. He promises to be a keeper with what we’ve seen so far.

Close-up of a dark brown horse outdoors with green trees in the background.

  • An unsung hero of our horses-in-training, Angus has progressed extremely well with his training thus far. Arriving at the ranch 9 months ago with no training, Angus has been ridden all over our tenure and is shaping up to be an amazing ride.

Close-up of a brown horse's face with a white mark on its forehead, set against a green, grassy background.

  • So named for his friendly nature as a young colt, Amigo excelled as a lead horse in his first summer working. A younger relative of Gus, Amigo exhibits the sensibilities of a level-headed horse, but with a forward-going attitude, he has captured the hearts of all the wranglers that have ridden him.

A close-up of a brown horse with a white blaze on its face standing outdoors in a fenced area, with trees and mountains in the background.

  • Mellow is, as his name suggests, pretty Mellow. Another of our new introductions to the guest string, Mellow is perfect if you are looking for a surefooted, laid-back ride. His playful nature means he can often be found playing around in the backfield with the other Mt. Currie boys

Close-up of a brown horse with a white star on its forehead, standing in a fenced outdoor area with green trees and wooden fencing in the background.

  • Red is one of our newest acquisitions, being picked up from Grand Forks, BC in 2021. Since arriving at the ranch, Red has become a staff favourite due to his agility and adaptability.

A light-colored horse with a green halter standing behind a wooden fence on a cloudy day.

  • Lightning is another one of our newest additions from the Mount Currie herd. He is what we consider “born broke”, meaning he transitioned from an unhandled, wild colt to accepting human touch & riders on his back quite quickly and seamlessly. He is already confidently leading the pack on training rides around the ranch and will soon experience our backcountry trails as well. He boasts a unique coat colour (buckskin paint) and exceptionally cuddly nature, and we don’t doubt he will soon become a fan-favourite in the herd.

A close-up of a black horse with a white star-shaped marking on its forehead, standing outdoors with trees, a mountain, and a wooden fence in the background.
A brown horse laying down on hay in an outdoor farm setting, with another horse standing nearby and trees and mountains in the background.

  • Meet Finn, a spirited two-year-old colt with standout qualities. Despite his young age, Finn's remarkable size sets him apart, with potential to grow even larger (as large as our boy Guinness).

    Initially showing a hint of rebellion, Finn has quickly proved his worth, finding his stride and displaying a keen attitude and innate abilities.

    Fun Fact: Finn got his name from a naming contest we ran on our Instagram account (congrats Sam!)

A brown horse with a white star on its forehead standing outside near a wooden fence, with trees, a building, and a mountain in the background under a clear blue sky.

  • Introducing Earnie, a striking bay adorned by a distinct white splotch on his forehead, amidst our growing bay population. Earnie, at the tender age of two, already stands as tall as Doc despite being a year younger. Anticipated to reach a substantial 16 and 1/2 hands at maturity, Earnie promises to be a sizable presence in our herd.

  • Thunder arrived at the ranch in January 2023 from the local Mt Currie herd. He has a curious and friendly disposition but took a bit longer than his buddy Lightning to warm up to human handling. He continues to prove himself as an exceptional mountain horse and is becoming more accepting of human interactions as his training progresses. We look forward to seeing how he evolves in his training this summer with our wranglers on both our trails around the ranch & in our backcountry tenure

Close-up of three horses, with one black horse in the center and two brown horses on either side, on a farm with trees and mountains in the background.

  • Rocky is another cornerstone of our mountain string, having been a regular on our backcountry trips since he finished his training 9 years ago. Perfectly proportioned, he promises an exceptional ride for every experience level, young or old. He is a true Mt. Currie mountain horse, and will not disappoint.

A white horse with black spots wearing a wide-brimmed straw hat and saddled for riding, standing outdoors in a wooded area.
Close-up of a brown horse with a reddish mane, standing outdoors near a wooden fence with mountains and green trees in the background.

  • One of our two ‘Dalmatians’, Caddy is one of our most forward-going horses, with exceptional endurance, allowing him to keep up with much bigger horses. Push-button and responsive, Caddy is perfect for a confident beginner, and even the most accomplished of riders will appreciate this horse’s willingness.

A close-up of a brown horse with black mane standing on a dry grassy area, with a wooden fence, trees, mountains, and cloudy sky in the background.

  • Oscar is our biggest horse and has lived at the ranch his whole life. His mother was sold to the German National Equestrian team, and he was brought to the ranch when he was only 5 weeks old. Oscar is most often found on our backcountry rides, where his strength, power and forward-going nature make him a favourite of beginners and advanced riders alike.

  • Meet Bert, the companion to Earnie in our equine duo, both of whom bear no resemblance to their Muppet namesakes, and, we hope, exhibit none of their antics. 3 year old Bert epitomizes the ideal mountain horse build: compact, well-proportioned, and sturdy. Poised to make a significant contribution to our herd, Bert embodies the qualities we seek in our equine companions.

Close-up of a brown horse with a dark mane, outdoors on a cloudy day, with mountains and trees in the background.
Close-up of a brown horse with a mane, standing outdoors in a green, rural setting.

  • This beauty is Doc, aptly named for his discerning nature evident in the keen gaze of his eyes and his composed reactions to his surroundings. He shares the same calm disposition as his full brother, Thunder, whom we acquired earlier this spring. Witnessing Thunder's transformation from an untrained colt to confidently carrying guests by season's end was truly remarkable. We have full confidence that he will follow in Thunder's impressive hoofprints.

  • Elvis is one of our upcoming stars, currently in the final stages of his training. Nicknamed ‘whatever’, this horse's laid-back attitude and calmness mean he is likely to become an exceptional uncle horse. His distinctive mane and coloration mean this horse is worthy to share the name of the King!

In-Training

A brown horse with a knotted halter stands on dirt ground in an outdoor paddock, with a backdrop of trees, mountains, and a clear blue sky.

  • Arriving with Blondie in the Fall of 2024, Blondie is currently under training with his wrangler. Cool, calm and collected, Pete has shown a natural affinity for leading out in front on his own. He’s a real sweetheart with a love for snacks and will make a wonderful guest horse in a year or two for our smaller guests.

A black horse wearing a blue halter on a dirt ground with trees and fencing in the background.
A light-colored horse with a saddle and bridle standing in a dirt and gravel area near a metal fence.

  • Arriving with buddy Cash, Bandit is a little more hesitant to his new world. A sweetheart and calm nature, he’s getting used to new movements and sounds, and leads beautifully. This winter he’ll learn to move under saddle and get some rides done ready for next Spring.

  • Cash arrived with buddy Bandit in the Spring of 2025. His calm demeanour meant he very quickly welcomed the attention of the wranglers and is quickly coming along with groundwork, being led and moving under saddle.

A gray and white horse with a red halter standing on snow-covered ground in a fenced outdoor area, with trees, a mountain, and cloudy sky in the background.

  • Fred’s story began at a Draft Horse Auction in Ontario, where he was purchased by a company in Valemont, BC, with plans for backcountry training. However, time constraints left his training incomplete, and in October 2024, Copper Cayuse Outfitters stepped in to give him the future he deserves.

    This strong and capable gelding is well-socialized, halter-broke, and has experience with harness work, saddling (both pack and western), and groundwork. While Fred’s training journey may take time—particularly as he builds trust—his potential is undeniable. Whether as a heavy saddle horse, a reliable draft horse, or a pack horse for backcountry expeditions, Fred is on the path to becoming a dependable and hardworking member of the team.

Black horse with a blue halter in a snow-covered outdoor pen, wooden fences, trees, and snow-capped mountains in the background.

  • Onyx’s journey began at an auction sale, where he was rescued as an untrained two-year-old by Horses for Adoption in Langley, BC. In the summer of 2024, Copper Cayuse Outfitters (CCO) gave him a second chance, welcoming him into their herd. This young gelding has since been socialized with both people and horses, learning the basics of handling.

    Though still early in his training, Onyx is halter-broke and has been lightly ridden. With the right guidance, he shows great promise as a tender, willing, and forward-moving horse. His future lies as a light mount for advanced riders, particularly youth, making him an exciting prospect for those looking to develop a young, eager partner on the trails.

Cayuse Alumni - enjoying hay-field retirement

Close-up of a black horse's face with a white star-shaped marking on its forehead, standing on green grass with trees and mountains in the background, and other horses grazing nearby.

  • Ringo is another of our long-standing veterans and was ridden by CCO Partner Don for many years, helping him break in new trails and discover secrets in our tenure. In his golden years of work, Ringo was an adept kids' horse; perfect companion for beginners and nervous riders looking for a steadfast ride.

    Ringo is now retired, enjoy his remaining years relaxing.

    Thank you for your hard work over the years Ringo!

A chestnut horse with a blond mane standing in a grassy field with trees and mountains in the background.

  • An extremely experienced backcountry horse, Duke spent many years as a pack horse for a local hunter. During his 7 years at the ranch, Duke excelled at packing our guests all around our tenure and enjoyed his golden years down at the ranch, carrying guests both young and old on our shorter rides.

    Duke is now retired, enjoy his remaining years relaxing.

    Thank you for your hard work over the years Duke!

Close-up of a black horse with a brown mane standing near trees in a park or forested area.

  • Smokey was regularly called our best kids horse, mainly due to the fact he once carried a sleeping kid halfway down the mountain without letting him fall!

    Smokey’s now enjoying his retirement eating grass in a neighbours field with companions.

    Thank you for your hard work over the years!