Meet Method Ambassador Bo Van Duys
Born into a family of horse lovers, Bo started riding as a 3-year-old. When it was time for a horse of her own, her parents got her Ned, a Gypsy Vanner. The easygoing gelding was the perfect horse for Bo to learn with and grow her horsemanship skills. The two started out taking English riding lessons and eventually competed in local shows.
A couple of years later, when Holly, Bo’s mother, decided to try reining and began taking lessons, it wasn’t long before Bo followed suit. While the Van Duys lived in South Florida, Bo trained under Dave Moore Performance Horses, and then, when the family moved to Colorado, she trained with Shane Brown Performance Horses. Bo loved the sport and went on to have a standout youth career.
From the start, the Method played a large part in Bo’s horsemanship journey. Holly is a longtime Downunder Horsemanship follower and introduced Bo to the Method when Bo was a little girl. “The best thing about the Method is that you get results quickly,” Bo says. “There’s no better program to get good, willing, all-around horses. It keeps you and your horse safe and you get results.”
Often, when their reiners’ show careers were finished, Bo’s family would send the horses to the Downunder Horsemanship Ranch for additional training in the Method so that they could be enjoyed by the whole family as trail horses. “I used the Method at home, but when I saw the results the clinicians got with the horses and how good they are, I wanted to learn more and improve my skills,” Bo says.
After visiting the ranch in 2015, Bo made plans to turn her dream into a reality and attend the Clinician Academy. “It’s an extraordinary opportunity, and as soon as I had the chance, I took the leap to be part of the team,” Bo says.
She excelled in the course and now enjoys sharing her knowledge with other horsemen. “I love training horses and I’ve always enjoyed helping people,” Bo says. “There are a lot of people getting involved with horses who don’t realize exactly what they’re signing up for. If you don’t know what you’re doing, it can be dangerous. My priority is helping people get the right start and keeping them safe while they enjoy their horses.”
Bo is based in Westcliffe, Colorado, where she trains horses for the public and teaches private lessons and clinics that focus on the Fundamentals level of the Method. Learn all about Bo on her website and contact her directly at 954-881-8508 or [email protected].
